Chapter 62: Neji, Everyone is Giving You Weird Looks

Chapter 62: Neji, Everyone is Giving You Weird Looks

"Well..." Sakura hesitated.

"Don't hesitate, Sakura! Didn't we agree to get stronger together and protect Konoha?" Naruto shouted.

"Alright... fine, but I can't train for too long. I don't want to end up with bulky muscles like you guys; that would be awful." Sakura grumbled.

And with that, they all sprinted off into the distance.

As they watched their retreating figures, Tsunade and Shikaku's faces twitched.

There was something odd about Naruto these days; the more they saw him, the weirder he seemed.

"Lastly, as for Rentu, I have no idea how strong he is either. He's been in a slump for too long and hasn't shown his skills in a while," Hyuuga Neji finished, turning to leave.

Soon, only Tsunade and Shikaku were left.

Tsunade turned to Shikaku and asked, "What do you make of Neji's words just now?"

"I can only pray that it's not true," Shikaku replied helplessly, shrugging his shoulders. "But if it is... I think we have no choice but to surrender immediately."

"Yes... we can only hope it's not true, but... the more we interact with them, the more it feels like it might be..." Tsunade sighed. "What about you, Shikaku? How much of it do you believe?"

"Eight out of ten," Shikaku answered after a moment's thought.

"I see..." Tsunade murmured, then turned and walked away with a sigh.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

In the outskirts of Konoha, at the edge of the wasteland that had been destroyed by Konoha's Rock Lee's punch, a coughing sound echoed.

One of the Root members, Yuinushiro, staggered to his feet. Looking at the desolate land stretching for several kilometers around him and the other patch of forest a hundred meters away, he was stunned.

"Where am I? Weren't I supposed to be monitoring the Fifth Hokage with Yamanaka Ao on Danzo-sama's orders? Ah... my head hurts..." Yuinushiro clutched his head, trying to recall what had happened.

"I remember... that guy named Tang fought the Fifth Hokage, and in the end, they both unleashed an incredibly terrifying aura...

Then... Tang appeared in front of the Fifth and threw a punch!

Damn! A punch? Yes, a punch! Could this... Could this desolate land be the result of that guy Tang's punch? What kind of monster is he?

Humans shouldn't be able to possess such power! He's a monster! A monster in Konoha! I must report this to Danzo-sama immediately!

Wait... Wasn't I with Yamanaka Ao?

Where is he?

Come to think of it... He was with me, and I was grazed by the punch's wind, but he... unfortunately took the brunt of it... Ah..."

Yuinushiro looked once more at the distant forest and the desolate land stretching for kilometers, then sighed. "Yamanaka Ao, your sacrifice will not be in vain! Danzo-sama and I will remember you!"

With that, Yuinushiro's figure flashed and disappeared.

Soon after, at Root headquarters, the leader listened to Yuinushiro's report, his aged face filled with skepticism.

"Are you sure you're not joking with me, Yuinushiro?" the leader asked.

"If you don't believe me, Danzo-sama, you can go and see for yourself," Yuinushiro replied, lowering his head.

"Hmph! I will go and see for myself! Lead the way!" Danzo ordered.

And so, following Yuinushiro, Danzo left the Root headquarters and soon arrived in the outskirts of Konoha, only to stand there, stunned.

"It's true... What kind of monstrous power is this... That damn Tsunade! She actually kept such a dangerous person in Konoha!

What is she trying to do? Destroy Konoha?!"

By the end of his monologue, Danzo's face was twisted with anger.

After hearing this, Danzo stormed off, his face twisted in rage.

In the Fire Shadow's office, Tsunade slumped tiredly in her chair, staring up at the ceiling.

"Lady Tsunade, are you alright?" Shizune asked worriedly.

"Konoha... it might really end during my tenure.

Akatsuki... the Empire..."

Tsunade muttered.

"There's nothing we can do about it, Lady Tsunade.

No one could come up with a good solution to the problems you're facing right now." Shizune offered comfort.

"Hmph... even as the leader of this village, I'm so weak. What can I really do for the village?

Are we just supposed to let Akatsuki and the Empire manipulate us?

No... absolutely not!"

Tsunade muttered to herself, then suddenly stood up straight and declared, "Shizune, continue to mobilize more people. Notify all ninja currently on missions to return immediately! We must establish the Martial Arts Class!"

"Yes, Lady Tsunade!"

Several more days passed.

The impact of the Empire's Rock Lee's punch was too great to be concealed.

Konoha eventually explained it away by saying that the Cloud Shadow had deployed a Tailed Beast to attack Konoha, but fortunately, the great Fifth Hokage had stopped it.

When the villagers received the news, they began to curse the Cloud Shadow's despicable actions while praising the greatness of the Fifth Hokage.

At the same time.

Konoha's Ten Rookies had also returned one after another.

As soon as they crossed the gates of Konoha.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio breathed a long sigh of relief:

"Ah! We're finally back! This trip was exhausting, all because of that Naruto brat! I haven't had a proper bath in so long."

Ino sigented as she looked at the familiar streets.

"Barbecue! Barbecue! Barbecue! I want barbecue!" Choji drooled, his mouth watering at the thought.

"Let's be patient for a little longer.

We should go see Naruto, Sakura, and the others first.

Why haven't we heard anything from those guys in two months? It's really strange."

Shikamaru muttered.

Suddenly, a familiar shout rang out from behind them:

"Yo! Shikamaru, Ino, Choji!"

"Oh, it's Lee, Tenten, Neji, and Sensei!"

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio turned around and greeted them when they saw who it was.

"What a coincidence, we just got back to the village, and we run into all of you. This must be the guidance of youth!"

Lee exclaimed excitedly.

"Ahh..."

Tenten and Ino facepalmed.

That guy, Lee, had just finished a mission, yet he was still so energetic!

Shikamaru, on the other hand, scanned the area with his eyes, a puzzled look on his face:

"Neji... there's something odd about your expression. You seem a bit off."

"Hmm?"

Neji, who had been called out, also turned to look at the passersby who were giving him strange looks.

"It does seem a bit odd. Why just me?" He furrowed his brows as well.

"Maybe after this mission, Neji, you've become even more vibrant and full of youthful energy, and everyone loves that about you."

Guy gave Neji a thumbs-up.

"No, that can't be the reason..." Neji shook his head, his eyes filled with confusion.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end