Evan was speechless.
Utterly, completely speechless.
What is wrong with this old man?
People just took a dump on your head, and you're still hesitating?
"Lord Third, Lord Hokage—so many people died today. Konoha deserves an explanation, doesn't it?" Evan pressed, unwilling to let it go.
Minato sighed inwardly.
He felt suffocated too.
He kept his expression cold.
"Lord Third, at the very least, we should send people to apprehend Pakura and investigate this thoroughly."
"No matter the final conclusion, Sunagakure must be held accountable."
Evan gave him a small, subtle nod.
For all his idealism and naivety, Minato in his youth still had real fire in him.
When it was time to fight, he wouldn't back down.
Unfortunately, the one who truly had the final say—
was still this indecisive old man.
"Minato, immediately dispatch ANBU to capture Pakura."
Hiruzen finally spoke. "As for the attack on the Hokage Building… Shikaku, you'll lead the investigation. We'll decide after the truth is clear."
"Yes."
Evan could only curse him in his heart.
His beautifully designed three-birds-with-one-stone plan—
thanks to Hiruzen's hesitation—
had turned into a mere two birds with one stone.
The original plan:
Kill Koharu and Homura—
the two elders who coveted his swordsmanship.
Destroy the Scroll of Seals.
Frame Pakura and Sunagakure, ignite another war, then gorge himself on experience points in the bloodshed.
And now…
He'd still achieved the first two, but the war was stalled.
Staying here any longer was pointless.
Better to go find Yugao, or Anko…
Or go check whether Pakura had escaped safely—
and vent the killing intent in his body properly.
"Hmph."
He snorted coldly and let obvious dissatisfaction show on his face, then turned and walked away.
"Evan-kun personally joined the battle," Minato said quietly. "His mood is bound to be unstable."
Hiruzen looked at Evan's back, eyes full of grief.
"I understand how he feels. Watching comrades die right in front of him…"
"He must be heartbroken."
—
After that little massacre—
Evan had stockpiled several hundred thousand experience.
Killing really was the most efficient way.
With this slaughter, he finally hit his first small milestone.
He didn't hesitate.
He decided to upgrade his Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation.
Every boy grows up wanting to pilot a giant mech.
Evan was no exception—
he really wanted to see what would happen
when a red-eyed Susanoo ran into his ancestral Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation.
DING! Spent 1,000,000 Hatred Points. Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation refreshed successfully.
Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation (Level 2): Next upgrade requires 2,000,000 Hatred Points.
As the system voice faded—
Golden light exploded in Evan's eyes.
Radiance coiled around him, dense with intricate patterns that seemed almost alive—
like celestial marks floating and weaving around him, giving off a faint divine pressure.
Delighted, Evan focused his mind.
A colossal golden giant began to form.
Armored from head to toe, its body deep and resplendent, armor plates clearly defined.
A blazing plume like a fire phoenix crowned its helmet, as if ready to soar.
Dragon heads jutted from both shoulders, roaring silently, clouds curling from their jaws.
A gem gleamed at its breastplate, with faint hanging tassels swaying like flowing sakura threads.
Its armored "skirt" fanned out, shimmering, trailing behind like a dragon's tail.
Even at just Level 2,
this thing was already terrifying.
Judging by appearance alone, it was comparable to a fourth-stage Susanoo.
As for the power hidden inside…
He'd need to find some red-eyed disease carrier to test it on.
Evan could barely hold back his excitement.
Very good. Very, very good.
Tonight had been incredibly profitable.
Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and all those Konoha shinobi who died by his hand—
could rest in peace now.
He withdrew his aura completely,
gauged the direction Pakura had escaped in,
and flashed away into the night.
—
At the same time—
Pakura and Jun had already used the chaos to slip out of Konoha.
The two women walked in silence.
Both were still badly shaken by what they'd seen.
When Pakura recalled the sea of corpses, the indiscriminate killing of friend and foe alike…
she involuntarily shivered.
Evan was a maniac.
A truly deranged, heartless, inhuman beast.
He went crazy enough to massacre even his own village.
Jun's small face was paper-white.
She remembered the Sand shinobi who died screaming—
and the way they writhed under the Life and Death Seal—
and her stomach turned.
"Teacher… how could he do something like that?" her voice trembled.
Pakura's expression was complicated.
All the nights spent sharing a bed with that man—
and yet she realized she barely knew him at all.
Evan… just what kind of person are you?
"It'll be alright, Jun. Let's get back to Suna first," Pakura said, forcing her voice to steady. "I'll get the antidote for you. I promise."
"…Okay."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, the sound of multiple figures cutting through the air came from behind.
Pakura's heart jolted. She turned around.
Dozens of masked figures were pursuing them—
all wearing ANBU gear.
Her pupils shrank.
Konoha had dispatched more than ten ANBU just to hunt her down?
Just what the hell…
had Evan done to Konoha?
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