Hell's Kitchen.
The Iruka squad, led by the ninja hound Pakkun, came to a halt in front of a looming skyscraper. Pakkun sniffed the air, then turned his head toward the group. "The target is inside this building."
Umino Iruka was just about to open his mouth to outline a tactical infiltration plan when Uchiha Sasuke started walking straight toward the main entrance.
Two security guards at the door saw the Asian teenager approaching. One of them immediately barked an order: "Hey, kid! Get lost. This isn't a playground."
In a blur of motion, Sasuke appeared between the two men. His fists connected simultaneously with their jaws, dropping them instantly before they could even blink.
Sasuke turned back to Iruka and Lee, his expression indifferent. "Don't waste time. Against trash like this, we don't need tactics."
He turned and headed inside. Pakkun gave a little hop and trotted ahead to lead the way.
"Wait for me!" Lee shouted, his body springing into action as he dashed forward.
Iruka watched them go, a hand covering his forehead as he sighed toward the sky. Troubled youths... they really are a handful to lead.
With a sharp swish, Iruka vanished, flickering into the building after them.
Inside the security room, the monitors flared with activity. An operator spotted the intrusion and immediately slammed the alarm. The building's siren wailed as he yelled into his radio: "Intruders! We have a breach at the main entrance!"
As the alarms screamed, Sasuke was intercepted by six security guards armed with electric batons. They rushed him with grim determination.
Before Sasuke could even lift a finger, Lee arrived with a thunderous cry: "ALRIGHT!"
Lee was a whirlwind, moving so fast he left afterimages in the hallway. He tore through the group before they could react.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The guards were launched into the air, slamming into the ceiling and walls with bone-shattering force. When they hit the floor, they were motionless—each bearing a deep, sunken fist-print in their armor or chest. They hadn't stood a chance against even a single punch from Rock Lee.
On the top floor, Madam Gao was calmly sipping tea when the alarms began to blare. Her brow furrowed slightly.
A moment later, a knock sounded. One of her two armed bodyguards opened the door to reveal a man dressed in ninja attire, a short sword strapped to his back. He bowed to Gao. "Three intruders have entered. The first-floor security has already been neutralized."
Madam Gao didn't seem particularly bothered by the speed of the breach. She turned to one of her guards. "Get the security feed up on the main screen. I want to see who has the audacity to move against the Hand."
To the other guard, she commanded: "Take a squad down and kill them. Let them learn that anyone who tries to disturb the peace of this house meets only death."
The guards moved quickly. One manipulated a terminal, and soon the electronic screen on the wall flickered to life, showing the Iruka squad. Gao's eyes narrowed at the sight of the three Asians—specifically the two teenagers. She completely ignored Pakkun. After all, who would worry about a pug that looked like a harmless pet?
Who sent them? she wondered silently.
Sasuke's team took the stairs. No one even considered the elevator; it was too easy for an opponent to trap or drop the car. Even if they weren't afraid of the fall, they weren't about to leave such an obvious opening.
As they burst onto the third floor, they were met by nine heavily armed tactical operatives. Without a word, the men opened fire with submachine guns.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
A storm of lead tore through the air, hundreds of rounds forming a lethal metal curtain designed to shred the trio. The tactical team smirked, expecting to see a fountain of blood and shredded fabric.
Instead, the bullets slammed into... wood. Three logs splintered under the hail of gunfire. The operatives froze, their fingers lingering on the triggers in total confusion.
Zip! Zip! Zip!
A dozen shuriken whistled through the air from the stairwell. They moved with lightning speed and uncanny precision. Before the tactical team could dive for cover, the blades struck home. One shuriken even split a ballistic helmet down the center, embedding itself deep in the operative's skull.
Despite their body armor and helmets, the squad was wiped out instantly.
As the bodies hit the floor, Sasuke, Iruka, and Lee stepped out from the shadows of the stairwell. Sasuke crooked a finger. A series of nearly invisible transparent wires connected the shuriken; with a sharp tug, the blades tore free from the corpses and flew back into his hand.
Because they were high-quality tools provided by the System, they remained gleaming and bloodless despite the carnage.
"Sasuke," Iruka praised, "your Uchiha Shurikenjutsu is becoming truly impressive."
Sasuke's face remained a mask of cool detachment. "Compared to that man... I am still far behind."
A flash of awkwardness crossed Iruka's face. Even in a whole new world, the shadows of the past still haunted Sasuke. It was hard to fathom the weight of the hatred the boy carried.
Lee, oblivious to the heavy mood, chimed in with his usual energy. "Sasuke! You aren't the only genius here; I'm a genius of hard work! Please, let me handle the next wave of enemies!"
Sasuke stowed his tools back into his pouch. "Fine. Do what you want with the next group. But Madam Gao... she belongs to me."
"I promised Lord Hayate I would be the one to bring her back."