After receiving the safety signal, Iruka led the students out of the underground tunnel they had dug earlier.
[Writing up to here, I hope readers will remember our domain name. Go to Chaoquan for the best Taiwanese books.]
Looking at their surroundings, everyone was at a loss.
More than half of the Konoha Ninja Academy had been reduced to ruins; its former appearance was completely unrecognizable.
At this time, many Ninjas were still clearing rocks and rubble, searching for people and items that hadn't been evacuated in time.
"Iruka-sensei, th-this place—"
Everyone was overwhelmed and didn't know what to do.
Iruka patted the student's head.
At this moment, someone in the crowd whispered, "Teacher, where's Naruto? Masahiko-sensei—he should be fine too, right?"
Iruka smiled and said, "Masahiko is very strong, how could anything happen to him?"
He led the children across the ruins and onto the main street.
Soon, Iruka's expression gradually soured, eventually turning into shock and disbelief.
On the streets, rumors about the Sea of Lightning and Heaven's Burial were spreading everywhere. At the same time, rumors that "Masahiko died along with the enemy" were also circulating.
"Teacher, this—this isn't true, is it?"
After her initial confusion, Ino ran up to ask Iruka, clutching a sliver of hope.
Iruka opened his mouth, but for a moment, he didn't know how to answer.
He was just an ordinary teacher and didn't know exactly what had happened.
"Teacher—"
Sobbing could already be heard from the crowd.
Although Masahiko hadn't taught them for very long, they had learned a lot during their year together, and many had benefited greatly from him.
Shikamaru looked up at the sky, his fists clenched tight, feeling as though the sky itself was a blur.
Just then.
"I don't believe it!"
"Teacher is so strong, how could anything happen to him?"
Kiba Inuzuka roared loudly and turned to run toward the Hokage Building. "I'm going to ask Hokage-sama and find out for sure!"
"I'm going too!"
"I'm going to ask too—"
The voices grew louder and louder.
Shikamaru was stunned, then wiped his eyes and silently followed them.
At Konoha Hospital, the atmosphere was somber, and faint sobbing could be heard from the research lab.
Before them—
One was a charred corpse.
The other could no longer be called a corpse, but rather a collection of parts pieced together; even then, they couldn't form a complete body.
Just seeing this, everyone couldn't help but imagine the scene, their hearts filled with unbearable sorrow.
Kanpō scanned the room and took a deep breath. "What are you crying for? Until the identity of the corpse is confirmed, we cannot conclude that Mr. Mahiko is dead!"
Most of the Medical Ninjas present had received guidance and help from Masahiko.
But now was not the time for tears—
Kanpō stared at everyone.
"Remember our duty. This corpse can be confirmed as Hiruko's, but the key now is the other corpse."
His face was serious, and even a bit angry. "If even we give up, who else will find out the truth?"
"We're going to provide support as well. We must find out who it belongs to, without missing a single detail!"
"Yes!"
A loud response echoed through the room.
Everyone began to get busy.
Anko sat on the stairs at the end of the corridor, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes.
In the corridor, Hayate Gekkō was about to walk over but was pulled back by someone else.
Uzuki Yugao shook her head gently.
Now—
It was clearly not the time for comfort.
She looked toward the research lab and said in a low voice, "Let's go. Konoha needs manpower right now; we don't have time for sorrow."
"Yeah."
Hayate Gekkō followed her with heavy steps, looking back every few paces.
He couldn't believe it.
His classmate Masahiko, after rising like a miracle, had vanished so abruptly.
Walking out of the hospital, Hayate Gekkō felt as though the sky was gray and gloomy.
The Hokage Office.
Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane had been summoned.
"Hiruzen, I told you before, forcing Danzo away was an unwise move—"
"Enough!"
After hearing this, Mitokado Homura couldn't help but get angry. "Koharu, you shouldn't say such things!"
"You guys—yes, Masahiko being killed in action is regrettable, but right now, we should be thinking about how to fill this gap so Konoha doesn't weaken."
Koharu Utatane's tone softened.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Koharu Utatane, frowning in silence, his gaze sharp and terrifying.
Koharu Utatane was so startled that she took half a step back.
That kind of look—
She had never seen such a cold, terrifying gaze from Hiruzen Sarutobi before.
She swallowed hard and didn't dare speak further.
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke slowly, "Old friend, your words undoubtedly negate Masahiko's contributions—tell me, can I still trust you?"
"Hiruzen! I'm also thinking of Konoha's best interests—"
Koharu Utatane hurriedly defended herself.
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand and said, "Since that is your attitude, then leave."
Koharu Utatane opened her mouth to speak, but Mitokado Homura looked away, also clearly dissatisfied.
She lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that—"
"Leave."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath.
Koharu Utatane remained silent, bowed slightly, and left.
Only then did Mitokado Homura ask, "Hiruzen, what exactly is the situation?"
"Take a look."
Hiruzen Sarutobi handed him a scroll.
Mitokado Homura took it and immediately frowned, seemingly deep in thought.
"Don't worry about the handwriting for now; I can guarantee that what's written there is true."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
Mitokado Homura took a deep breath and said, "If that's the case, it's simply astonishing—Wood Release, only Tenzo can use that here."
Using Wood Release to isolate and bind, preventing any escape via Earth Release or similar methods—
That really is ruthless!
His gaze was cold.
"At the time, on the surface, there was only Uchiha Itachi?"
"Yes."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was smoking his pipe.
Mitokado Homura was silent for a long time before saying, "That shouldn't be right."
"Yeah, I can't figure it out either—"
Hiruzen Sarutobi replied wearily.
He looked at Mitokado Homura and said, "The corpse might not be Masahiko's. As long as we haven't seen his body, there's still a glimmer of hope."
"Then—where is Masahiko?"
After his initial confusion, Mitokado Homura felt his old friend was likely in self-denial; out of sympathy, he didn't want to directly expose it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head gently and fell silent again.
Just then, a commotion came from outside. He looked at Mitokado Homura. "Go and comfort those children. I—"
I need to deal with the spies in the Village first."
"Yeah."
Deep in a mountain within the Land of Iron.
A group of Iron-Eating Beasts were lying in a bamboo forest, snapping off bamboo shoots and enjoying them.
Deep within the bamboo forest.
In a cave deep within this large valley, Iron Palm lay in his nest, completely ignoring the temporarily unconscious Masahiko nearby.
A moment later, Masahiko sat up, rubbed his temples, and looked around.
"Is this your habitat?"
"Yeah."
Iron Palm turned his head slightly and let out a silent yawn. "Look around yourself, or take a rest. If you're hungry, go find some bamboo shoots or bamboo to eat—"
As he spoke, he had already fallen asleep.
Masahiko was speechless.
Looking for bamboo shoots—
He wasn't a panda.
Masahiko sat up, and after forming hand signs, a Water Jellyfish landed on his chest.
Afterward, Chakra spread through his body via body fluids, healing his internal and external injuries.
Half a minute later, the burns and scorch marks on his skin gradually faded away.
"Phew!"
Fortunately, when he noticed something was wrong earlier, Masahiko had prepared a plan. He had 'Future Naruto' use a Remote Summoning Jutsu coordinated with a Reverse Summoning at any time; otherwise, he would have been done for.
However.
By a stroke of luck, it made his 'exit' even more complete and logical.
The reason Masahiko wanted to leave Konoha temporarily was partly to focus on integrating Shikotsumyaku and Byakugan, and the other was to practice Sage Mode.
The Iron-Eating Beast Clan's Sage Mode was unlike the quick success of the Three Great Sage Regions; it required long-term cultivation and adaptation.
Shadow Clone training could only practice the process of sensing Nature Energy; it couldn't make the body adapt to this power.
Furthermore.
During this time, he could use another identity to carry out some necessary arrangements.