ATTACK (III)

Hokage's Office

The flickering glow of the pipe's embers illuminated Sarutobi Hiruzen's aged face, his eyes reflecting a mix of weariness and sharp calculation. For decades, he had borne the mantle of Hokage, protecting Konoha from external threats and internal discord alike. Yet now, as shadows lengthened in his office, he found himself grappling with questions that gnawed at his conscience.

The storm of calamities encircling the village showed no signs of abating. And the breach of secrecy—secrets that should have been unassailable—troubled him deeply. Only two individuals knew of these classified matters: himself and Danzo Shimura. Tsunade's sudden awareness of these matters was not only unexpected but deeply concerning. Who could have leaked such sensitive information? Who was aiding her, manipulating events from behind the curtain?

A flicker of doubt surfaced in his thoughts. Could it have been Danzo? The man was notorious for his unscrupulous methods and relentless ambition, but betraying this secret would jeopardize even him. Hiruzen himself would just loose his hokage postion but Danzo would loose his life. Hiruzen shook his head. Danzo was cunning, but he was no fool.

"Then who?" Hiruzen murmured to himself, his voice low and filled with frustration. It had to be someone who bore deep enmity toward Konoha—a shadowy hand orchestrating events from the dark.

These have destroyed the image he painstrikingly built over years. Years of hard works and plans went down the drains, all because of this. And Tsunade..

His musings were interrupted by a deafening explosion. The floor shook violently, books and scrolls tumbling from shelves, as the walls of his office reverberated with the force.

Hiruzen leapt to his feet and hurried to the window. A plume of thick black smoke rose from the southern district—the location of the Root base. His expression hardened.

"ANBU!" he barked, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.

A squad materialized in an instant.

"Gather all available shinobi and proceed to the Root base immediately!" Hiruzen ordered. Though his tone was authoritative, his mind raced. Was it Tsunade? How could she have infiltrated the village so swiftly, bypassing the intricate web of barrier seals designed to detect intrusions?

Before he could deliberate further, a sharp knock on the door snapped his focus. The door swung open, revealing an ANBU operative, kneeling and visibly winded.

"Lord Hokage," the operative reported, "an attack has occurred at the Ninja Academy. The guards and instructors were overwhelmed, and the jinchūriki has been taken. The assailant fled toward the southern district."

Hiruzen's heart clenched. His responsibilities weighed on him like never before. The jinchūriki—the village's most critical asset—had been abducted. A bitter thought clawed at his mind: Tsunade, how far will you go? Are you truly forcing me to choose between my duties as Hokage and my bond to my comrades?

Swallowing his doubts, Hiruzen straightened his posture.

"Mobilize all available forces to track the attacker. Secure the jinchūriki at all costs," he commanded. "Reinforce the Academy immediately. Afterward, provide backup at the Root base."

The ANBU disappeared in a blur. Hiruzen turned his gaze back to the smoke on the horizon. His eyes narrowed, his resolve hardening. Whatever forces were at play, he would meet them head-on.

---

Ninja Academy – Moments Earlier

The training grounds of the Ninja Academy buzzed with activity. Students sparred under the watchful eyes of instructors, the sound of clashing wooden kunai punctuating the air. Yet beneath the surface, an undercurrent of unease rippled through the crowd.

The revelation of Naruto Uzumaki's heritage as the son of the Fourth Hokage had sent shockwaves through the village. The truth had not brought admiration, as one might expect, but instead intensified the divide between him and his peers.

Naruto, clad in his bright orange jacket, stood isolated in the middle of the field. His fists pounded relentlessly against a training dummy, sweat dripping from his brow. His focus was unyielding, as though trying to punch away the weight of judgment and whispers that surrounded him.

"Minato-sama's son?" a boy whispered to his friend. "No way. He's nothing like him."

"Yeah," the other agreed. "Minato was a legend. Calm, brilliant, powerful. Naruto's just... loud and clumsy."

"And don't forget the Nine-Tails," a girl added bitterly. "That thing inside him killed my parents. I don't care who his dad was—I'll never forgive him."

Not everyone shared her hostility.

Shikamaru Nara, leaning against a tree, sighed. "You guys are idiots. Naruto didn't ask to have the Nine-Tails sealed inside him. Do you know how much guts it takes to live with that every day?"

Ino Yamanaka folded her arms, her brows furrowed. "But why keep it a secret? If he's the Fourth's son, why didn't anyone tell us?"

Naruto, oblivious to their conversation, continued striking the dummy. Each punch was a silent declaration: I'll prove them wrong.

"You alright, Naruto?" an instructor asked, noting his unusually quiet demeanor.

Naruto paused, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Yeah... just trying to live up to my dad, I guess," he said with a strained grin.

Before the instructor could respond, a deafening explosion tore through the grounds. The ground shook, sending students stumbling. Panic erupted as a shadowy figure appeared, moving with lightning speed.

The masked assailant incapacitated guards and instructors with a precision that left no room for resistance. Before Naruto could fully comprehend the situation, he felt a powerful grip seize him.

As his vision blurred, he caught a fleeting glimpse of the figure—a golden-haired presence radiating overwhelming power.

---

A Moments before explosion

High above the commotion, All Might stood on a sturdy branch, arms crossed as he looked at students training below him.

"These children..." he muttered to himself, his voice tinged with sadness. "They're being trained as weapons. Taught to fight, to kill without hesitation. Is this what strength has become in this world?"

At U.A. High, strength was a means to inspire, to protect, to embody hope. The contrast with the Ninja Academy's harsh teachings was stark and jarring.

An explosion in the distance interrupted his thoughts. All Might straightened, his expression hardening. Its time for action.

He clenched his fist, feeling the power coursing through him—a new quirk, far surpassing his prime. The sensation was both exhilarating and disconcerting.

Taking a deep breath, All Might whispered, "Time to act."

In an instant, he vanished from his perch, reappearing in the heart of the chaos. With swift, precise movements, he neutralized the hidden shinobi guarding the perimeter. His blows were calculated, incapacitating without causing lasting harm.

Within moments, the area was cleared.

As the dust settled, All Might stepped forward, removing the enchantments that had concealed him. His towering figure radiated an aura of unshakable confidence.

He approached Naruto, who lay unconscious, his small frame a stark contrast to the burden he carried.

Lifting Naruto gently, he disappeared into the night, leaving only whispers in his wake.

X-X-X-X

HELLO EVERYBODY, DO YOU ALL LIKE THIS CHAPTER? SORRY I DIDN'T POST CHAPTER LAST NIGHT, I BY MISTAKE SCHEDULED IT WRONG.

PLEASE COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW. DON'T FORGET TO GIVE A REVIEW AND DROP SOME 'POWER STONES' TOO.

AFTERALL ITS YOUR SUPPORT THAT MOTIVATES ME TO WRITE EXCITING CHAPTERS..

READ 20+CHAPTERS AHEAD ON MY PATREON CHANNEL:- patreon.com/Ghost_0007

CHAPTER:- 68 [ VOID TREASURE REALM] IS AVAILABLE ON MY PATREON.

https://www.patreon.com/Ghost_0007?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator