The investigation into the Flame Gym had been ongoing in the Hidden Leaf Village for ten full days.
Details from his battle with Hanzo, including the techniques used by both sides and numerous other specifics, were all compiled in Sakumo Hatake's handbook.
Might Duy's attempt to challenge the Flame Gym was, for the Hidden Leaf, another step in their probing strategy.
As time passed, the village had resolved to take action against the Flame Gym.
They could no longer allow it to exist freely, as its presence threatened the Hidden Leaf's influence among the nations.
During this period, following the deaths of two Hokage, the Hidden Leaf had regained its peak strength.
It did not fear conflict.
On the contrary, it was eager for battle.
At the entrance of the Flame Gym, Might Duy stood on the steps, taking a deep breath of the scorching air. His fists were clenched, and an uncontrollable fighting spirit radiated from his entire being.
"Hello!" he shouted, his voice echoing clearly and powerfully across the vast courtyard. "I am Might Duy! I have come today to challenge the Flame Gym!!"
The gate slammed open with a thunderous crash.
A fiery glow spread from the dim interior, and a tall, calm figure emerged.
Red came to a slow stop before Duy, his gaze fixed on the Ninja Beast Egg behind him. "The Ninja Beast behind you... has entered the final stage of incubation."
Might Duy remained silent for a moment before smiling.
"Then let me see if you are worthy of being its Trainer."
Duy's eyes lit up, and he flashed a brilliant, sunrise-like smile.
"I will surely burn through this challenge with the passion of youth!!"
At that moment, a white-haired figure approached slowly from a distance.
Sakumo Hatake.
His eyes settled on Red, growing intensely serious.
During this time, Jiraiya had sent word that he no longer wished to be involved in matters of the Land of Rain and had gone alone to train at Mount Myōboku.
This had infuriated the Lord Hokage, but with Jiraiya's withdrawal, the Third Hokage had no choice but to order Sakumo Hatake to accelerate the probing of this area.
Thinking of this, Sakumo's blade silently aimed at Red.
But Red did not even shift his gaze, merely glancing briefly at Sakumo with utter disregard for the White Fang of the Leaf.
He turned away. "Come in."
Might Duy took a deep breath and stepped inside the Flame Gym.
The interior glowed with a magma-like red light, the walls embedded with stone slabs carved in ancient patterns, as if documenting some fire-based civilization.
At the center was an arena as vast as those used in the Chunin Exams.
Red walked straight to the middle of the arena, standing alone yet exuding an oppressive presence like the heart of a volcano.
"Begin, challenger."
Might Duy nodded and stepped onto the arena, one foot at a time.
The moment his foot touched the center, Duy slowly raised his hand, the bandages on his fingers fluttering in the wind.
In the next second, the air around him began to tremble, cyan energy surging like flames.
Sakumo Hatake watched from the sidelines, deep in thought.
Red knew full well that if his battle with Might Duy escalated to a fever pitch, the Hidden Leaf would launch a full-scale assault.
At that moment, numerous Root and Anbu operatives appeared around the perimeter of the Flame Gym area.
Sakumo Hatake finally accepted Lord Hokage's directive and formally moved against the Flame Gym, with his team naturally following suit.
Under the looming tension, Red clenched his fists.
Slowly raising both hands, his posture resembled the commencement of an ancient ritual.
Three flickering flames suddenly materialized behind Red.
One of the fiery masses instantly plummeted downward.
The sky seemed torn open by a scorching rift, with blazing light shooting straight through the ceiling.
The flames dispersed.
A majestic roar shook the arena, causing the ground to tremble slightly.
BOOM!!
A shadow emerged from the flames!
Arcanine!!!
Wreathed in blazing fire, its mane like burning golden warfare, an overwhelming pressure swept forward.
As Arcanine's four hooves touched the ground, the surface instantly seared with deep marks.
It lifted its head, eyes sharp with dancing flames, as if gazing down upon challengers.
In a different dimension, Shiroishi observed the encirclement by the Hidden Leaf Village ninja.
Outside the Flame Gym, there were ten core Leaf ninjas, with the rest being weaker genin.
Among the ten, two were jonin-level, while the others were either special jonin or notably strong chunin.
Shiroishi closed his record board, his fingers lightly brushing his mask.
In the next moment, his presence vanished completely, as if he had dissolved into the darkness.
"Begin."
He murmured softly.
Space shattered like a mirror behind him, a slender crack silently expanding.
...
The Anbu were preparing to advance again.
"The—the ground is moving?! Watch your feet!"
Before the words finished, countless clumps of soil churned like stirred ocean currents.
Immediately after, a silvery shadow bloomed from the earth as if unfolding.
Poipole.
Its spiked carapace reflected a cold silver gleam under the moonlight, its internal toxins spreading through the soil like countless slithering silver threads, rapidly expanding.
Then, bizarre plants sprouted from the ground—leaves laced with potent venom, petals dripping with acid, resembling flora from a nightmare.
"What is this?!"
Before anyone could react, a venomous vine tore through the air, instantly piercing an Anbu member's throat.
Blood sprayed.
Panic seized everyone.
"Enemy!"
They attempted to form hand seals to counterattack.
But it was too late.
A soft sound echoed through space.
Shiroishi stepped out from the dark fissure, a Rain Ninja headband adorning his forehead.
The two jonin had just turned.
"Bloom..."
Shiroishi raised his hand gently.
Swoosh!
Two streaks of silver light instantly pierced through the chests of the two jonin, blood exploding in the air.
Not even a scream had time to escape.
Their bodies slumped to the ground.
The remaining eight Anbu retreated several steps.
But the toxic plants had already sealed all escape routes.
Shiroishi advanced slowly, silvery petals sprouting and withering at his feet like a bloody welcoming ceremony.
"Do not interfere with the gym challenge."
His voice was soft, yet carried the finality of a death sentence.
...
Inside the Flame Gym.
The intense aura between Might Duy and Arcanine had heated the air to distortion, the arena poised as if volcanic combat could erupt at any moment.
At that moment, Sakumo Hatake suddenly stood up!
The scent of blood.
A killing intent from outside, overwhelmingly thick.
"A battle outside?!"
His expression turned gravely serious!
As he moved to rush toward the exit.
A blur suddenly landed before him.
Red.
His speed was like a flash of fire, instantly blocking Hatake's path.
"Leaf ninja."
Red's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable, quiet pressure.
"Did you not come to challenge the gym?"
Hatake frowned deeply. "Was it your people who attacked?"
"I am only responsible for matters within the Gym. I know nothing about external affairs."
Red lifted his gaze, black pupils seeming to conceal flames within.
"Since you've stepped into the Flame Gym, first fulfill your role as a challenger."
Sakumo Hatake found himself in a very troublesome position.
"Here, I'll give you two choices. First, abandon your mission and save your Hidden Leaf comrades outside. Second, complete the trial, and I'll tell you the secret of the Flame Gym."
At this moment, Sakumo Hatake snapped back to reality. Red wasn't referring to companions outside the Gym.
Could it be the other Hidden Leaf ninjas in his own camp?