Bang!
Clatter!
At this very moment, far away in the center of the village—inside the Sarutobi clan residence—
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, watched through the crystal ball as the rampaging Naruto was suppressed with ease… without even a single house being damaged.
His old face darkened instantly.
With a furious sweep of his arm, he sent the pipe, documents, and assorted items on the desk crashing to the floor.
"Damn it!"
"Where the hell did that brat from the Uchiha come from?!"
"He's proficient in ninjutsu, dōjutsu, space–time techniques, sealing arts—and now he even possesses power similar to the Nine-Tails?!"
"Who are you really?! And what exactly do you want in my Konoha?!"
His gaze locked onto the only thing left intact on the desk—the crystal ball.
His eyes were dark enough to frighten anyone.
But soon, when he saw Kai say 'I'll do it myself'—
He suddenly burst out laughing.
"Pfft—hahahaha!"
"What an arrogant little brat!"
"Does he really think the medical corps are freeloaders?"
Slowly, he bent down, picked up his pipe, lit it, and placed it between his lips, his expression filled with disdain.
"These medics were personally cultivated by me!"
"And he won't let them treat the patient—he insists on doing it himself?"
"Fine. Then let me see."
"When the jinchūriki dies under your foolishness, let's see how you still dare step foot in Konoha."
As he spoke, a grin crept onto his face—one completely unfitting for his age.
It wasn't that an old man had turned bad.
It was that a bad man had grown old.
Three minutes later—
Bang!
Crack!
The pipe, slammed to the ground repeatedly, finally snapped in half.
The Third Hokage's aged eyes widened violently.
Even the deep wrinkles on his face seemed to loosen.
"H-Healed…?"
"He actually healed him?!"
"Wait—he really knows medical treatment?!"
Back at the battlefield—
The realization that Kai wasn't just overwhelmingly strong, but also possessed terrifying healing abilities, caused Shikaku's tightly knit brows to finally relax.
There was nothing more reassuring than discovering the person you chose to follow… was practically omnipotent.
If there was something better—
It was that this boss was also willing to delegate power.
Nearby, Yamanaka Inoichi—who had hesitated and wavered earlier—wore an expression so complicated it was impossible to read.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Awe.
And then—
Fear.
So close.
Just a little closer, and he would've made the same choice as Aburame Shibi.
Just a little closer, and the Yamanaka clan might've been erased from Konoha's history.
At this moment, when he looked at Nara Shikaku, his eyes were filled with gratitude and respect.
Thank goodness he had listened to the mind of the three clans.
Clack.
In the corner, the medical squad captain's instruments slipped from his hands and fell to the ground.
But he didn't even notice.
He simply stared blankly at Naruto.
At the perfectly restored skin.
His face was filled with disbelief.
"H-How… is this possible…?"
He clenched his teeth, forcing the words out.
He couldn't believe it.
He refused to believe it.
"He's a combat-type ninja—how could he possess healing abilities this powerful?!"
"How could he?!"
In that instant, his worldview shattered.
His pride was crushed into the dirt.
And fear followed close behind.
He feared what Kai might do to him next.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Footsteps approached.
Clear.
Unhurried.
In the noisy crowd, they sounded impossibly distinct.
The captain heard them perfectly.
Thump.
His heart pounded violently.
Cold sweat poured down his forehead, sliding past his brow and dripping into his eyelashes, stinging his eyes.
But he didn't dare move.
Didn't even dare wipe them.
Like a lamb awaiting judgment, he stood there silently.
Time had never felt so slow.
"Ah—he—"
From behind, Akimichi Chōza's clan head tried to speak, intending to plead for mercy.
But Shikaku immediately raised a hand to stop him.
"Wait," Shikaku said quietly.
"But medical-nin are an irreplaceable resource for Konoha," Chōza whispered anxiously.
Medical ninjas were strategic assets in every village.
Even for Konoha.
Especially for the Akimichi clan—whose members were frequently injured due to their techniques.
They practically relied on medical-nin to survive.
He was genuinely afraid Kai might kill the man in anger.
But under Shikaku's gaze, he swallowed the rest of his words and stood still.
Soon—
Kai's voice reached them.
"Well? Wasn't it fine when I did it?"
He stepped upward, planting one foot on the other, standing calmly in midair before the captain.
Then he gently patted the man's shoulder, his tone earnest.
"Little Naruto's external injuries are healed. Nutritional recovery is up to you."
And then—
He turned around and left.
No punishment.
No killing.
Because those who stand at the peak of a field inevitably carry pride.
You couldn't just kill everyone who talked back.
Even Emperor Taizong tolerated Wei Zheng's endless criticism.
Why wouldn't he?
What Kai wanted wasn't blood.
It was to shatter their arrogance—and force them to recognize reality.
"…I didn't die…"
Color finally returned to the medical captain's pale face.
His back was drenched in sweat.
He truly believed he'd been one step from death.
After a long silence, he lifted his head and looked at Kai's retreating back.
Then—
He smiled.
"Alright. Take the kid to the medical department."
His voice was lighter now.
The tension dissolved.
People began leaving one by one.
Before long, only a few remained in the forest.
Shikaku, the others—and Uchiha Fugaku—slowly turned their gazes toward Jiraiya.
The atmosphere stiffened once more.
Shikaku took a deep breath and asked coldly:
"Jiraiya-sama. May I ask—what exactly is your purpose in returning to the village?"
"…Me?"
Jiraiya pointed at himself, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Ahem… if I said I came back to gather material, would you believe me?"
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