Weapon

Three ninja from the Hidden Sound Village lunged toward Sakura at once. Her hastily set-up trap—a giant tree trunk—had failed. Paralyzed with fear, she stood frozen as the attackers closed in, her eyes wide and shimmering with tears. 

"Frankly speaking… you have no talent," the ninja in the middle sneered, his voice laced with contempt. "People like you have to work harder. Weaklings like you shouldn't mess with guys like us." 

As all three of them prepared to strike— 

"Leaf Spinning Wind!" 

A blur of green shot into the fray, and in a split second, all three Sound ninja were sent flying, tumbling hard across the forest floor. The attacker landed smoothly on one foot, striking a battle stance. 

"If weak people should work harder," he said, fists clenched, "then you guys should definitely start working harder." 

It was Rock Lee. 

He glanced back at Sakura briefly, his face stern and determined. Now's my chance to prove myself. Sakura will see how strong I am and… maybe she'll even like me, he thought, hope burning behind his focused eyes. 

"Who are you?" one of the Sound ninja snarled, recovering from the blow. 

"The Green Beast of the Hidden Leaf—Rock Lee!!" 

Sakura blinked, surprised. "W-Why are you here…?" 

"I told you," he said calmly. "I will always appear when you're in trouble." 

He gently placed a tiny squirrel down from his shoulder before turning back toward the enemy. 

"W-Well… thank you… for saving me," Sakura said, still shaken. 

"I meant what I said before," Rock Lee answered with conviction. "I will protect you… even if it costs me my life." 

Back in the tower, Akuma watched everything unfold on one of the observation monitors. 

Hearing Rock Lee's clearly rehearsed declaration, he cringed slightly and muttered under his breath, "Secondhand embarrassment…" 

But beside him, Might Guy's face shone like the sun, beaming with pride. He gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up toward the TV. 

"That's it, Rock Lee! Show them how awesome you are!" 

Akuma glanced at him, genuinely wondering for the hundredth time: Are they actually related? Even though he knew they weren't, it was nearly impossible to believe. The matching bowl cuts, the identical jumpsuits, the burning passion and overly dramatic energy—it was uncanny. 

Shaking his head, Akuma turned his attention back to the screen. 

Rock Lee was starting to struggle—fighting three enemies at once was clearly pushing his limits. And then Akuma saw it: Lee slowly unwrapping the bandages on his arms. 

He's going to use it... 

Guy-sensei, Lee thought, I'm using this technique without your permission—but I need to protect someone important. 

Back in the tower, Might Guy was practically vibrating with intensity. His hands were clenched on the TV screen like he might dive through it. 

"LEE!! Show them the strength of the Green Beast of the Hidden Leaf!!" 

The scene was so over-the-top that Akuma couldn't help but chuckle quietly. Guy-sensei was practically tearing up, completely absorbed. 

But soon, Akuma's smile faded. He glanced down at his own clothes—covered in dust and grime from cleaning earlier. With a sigh, he made up his mind. 

Lee's got help coming, and Guy-sensei is here watching over him. He'll be fine. 

Leaving Guy alone with the TV, Akuma quietly slipped out to wash up and change. 

After cleaning himself and changing into fresh clothes, Akuma stepped into the hallway of the tower. His posture was relaxed, but every muscle in his body was coiled, ready to strike. 

His senses were razor-sharp. 

The Absolute Dimension Ring was at its maximum range—twenty-five feet in all directions—feeding him sensory data in real time. Every flicker of motion, sound, every breath within that radius was felt. Still, Akuma stayed alert. 

Today's encounter with Kabuto had unsettled him more than he let on. 

Kabuto had approached him immediately, almost deliberately. That alone was alarming. Akuma knew Kabuto wasn't the kind of man to do anything without a carefully calculated reason. If Kabuto had taken the initiative to talk to him, that meant one thing: 

He knew who Akuma was. 

Which could only mean something worse—Orochimaru knew too. 

That realization had twisted something deep in Akuma's gut. The implications weren't lost on him. Orochimaru wasn't interested in just anyone. If someone like him was aware of Akuma's presence in the village, there was a high chance Danzo had whispered something he shouldn't have. 

Danzo… that shadowy rat. 

"So it's begun," Akuma thought grimly, walking quietly through the stone hallway, the soles of his feet making no sound. 

The silence felt thick, like a warning before a storm. Every step was deliberate. Every breath, slow and controlled. 

Even after piecing together this much, there was still one part of the puzzle he couldn't figure out—what the Third Hokage would do next. That man was hard to read. Too experienced. Too careful. 

Despite all his analysis, Akuma had no idea whether the Hokage was planning something… or watching quietly from the shadows, waiting for the right moment. 

That was the worst part—not knowing. 

His grip unconsciously tightened at his side. 

If Orochimaru truly had his eyes on him… things would escalate soon. The Chūnin Exams were just the stage. The real threat hadn't even entered yet. 

At the Hokage's Office… 

The air was thick with tension and the lingering scent of tobacco smoke as Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat behind his desk, puffing slowly on his pipe. His eyes—weathered by decades of war, loss, and responsibility—were fixed on the man standing before him: Danzo Shimura, the cold, calculating shadow of the village. 

"Danzo," Hiruzen said calmly, "have you figured out how that boy—Akuma—knew so many secrets?" 

Danzo's single visible eye narrowed. "Not yet. But based on the data I've gathered, it's clear the boy is hiding far more than he lets on." 

Hiruzen took another slow drag from his pipe, saying nothing as Danzo continued. 

"As for your concern—whether he can read minds just by looking at people—I doubt it," Danzo said. "If he could, there would be a significant drawback. Besides, he's met you several times, and even stood face-to-face with some of my operatives. If he had read any of our thoughts, he wouldn't still be in the village. There must be another way he's learning these things." 

He paused, his voice growing colder. "But if he can read minds that subtly—without being noticed—then he's a threat that must be eliminated." 

Hiruzen exhaled slowly, watching the smoke drift lazily toward the ceiling. 

Danzo stepped forward, his tone sharpening. "We had the perfect opportunity, Hiruzen. When he requested to skip the Chūnin Exams. If you had denied it, we could've detained him quietly. No one would have noticed his absence for a few days. And if he died… we could've claimed he perished during the exams. No one would have questioned it." 

Hiruzen finally set his pipe aside and leaned forward slightly. 

"Akuma is smarter than you give him credit for. If I had cornered him like that, he would've grown suspicious. He's too perceptive," Hiruzen said evenly. "And I don't want him suspecting anything—especially not that we're involved in any scheme against him." 

He narrowed his gaze. "Nor do I want the rest of the village growing uneasy. We must proceed carefully. Quietly. I'm not interested in creating enemies without just cause." 

"His growth is extraordinary. At such a young age, he's already remarkably strong. Who knows what heights he might reach?" 

Danzo's frown deepened, but he remained silent. 

"If he's not a threat," Hiruzen continued, "then he could become one of our greatest assets—perhaps even someone akin to the First Hokage. But until we understand his full capabilities, I will not make a reckless move." 

"This arrangement gives us time," Hiruzen added, his tone firm. "He'll participate in the next Chūnin Exams. If we must act, we'll do it then. Until that time—observe him. Discreetly. No confrontation. No pressure. Just information." 

He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing. 

"I don't want any… surprises." 

Danzo gave a slow, reluctant nod. "Understood. If he's not a threat… then perhaps you should consider having him join the ANBU." 

Before Hiruzen could respond, Danzo continued: 

"Hiruzen, we both know—a powerful weapon that isn't under control only brings destruction." 

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "I'll think about it."