Chapter 84

Eyelashes fluttered lightly, and as the lids slowly parted, Rēn opened his eyes. His pupils, black as ink, carried a trace of grogginess, as if he had truly just taken a brief nap. He glanced around the room, scanning his surroundings, before finally turning his gaze to Yamanaka Inoichi, who had approached the acting Fifth Hokage with an anxious expression, whispering something urgently.

"Hokage-sama, has something happened?" Hyūga Hiashi asked.

"A major incident."

Akimichi Torifu's face was grim.

A major incident?

At this time, what else could it be? There was only one likely answer.

Hyūga Hiashi raised an eyebrow. Without activating the Byakugan, he didn't know what had happened with Sarutobi Hiruzen. That said, Hatake Kakashi actually managing to take down Sarutobi Hiruzen—well, he truly was the son of Konoha's White Fang… Unfortunately, the boy likely wouldn't survive this either.

"Former Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen has just been killed."

Akimichi Torifu enunciated each word clearly, confirming what many had already suspected. Yet hearing it confirmed from the acting Fifth Hokage brought a collective sigh of relief, followed by expressions of shock, disbelief, and impossibility.

The acting was over-the-top, entirely unconvincing.

But everyone present was firmly anti-Hiruzen. As long as no one laughed aloud, it was fine.

"Was the intruder caught?"

Aburame Shibi spoke up.

His insects were capable scouts, but unlike the Yamanaka clan's techniques or the Hyūga clan's bloodline limit, his bugs needed time to return with the information they collected—so he still wasn't sure of the specifics.

"This..."

Before Akimichi Torifu could reply, Hyūga Hiashi, who had already activated the Byakugan and was scanning far ahead, showed a look of shock.

"That's... the Executioner's Blade? Biwa Jūzō of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen? What is going on?"

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen?"

Rēn looked over, puzzled.

Aburame Shibi's expression also changed; even his sunglasses couldn't hide his furrowed brows.

"The one who killed the Third wasn't Hatake Kakashi. It was Biwa Jūzō, one of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen," Akimichi Torifu waved his hand, signaling the others not to ask questions. He said loudly, "We'll explain the details at the scene. For now, head there immediately!"

His command quelled their questions.

Torifu moved swiftly. As soon as he gave the order, he took off, sprinting down the corridor without needing anyone to lead the way. Despite weighing over two hundred pounds, he showed no sluggishness—his movements were agile and firm.

The group followed closely behind him.

They soon reached the scene of Hiruzen's death, their sandals slapping against the water-slick floor.

"Kakashi!!!"

A furious roar echoed through the corridor.

Sarutobi Asuma was swinging a piece of iron railing, wind-style chakra wrapped around it, relentlessly slashing at Kakashi.

His rage, like fire, had burned away all reason. Forced to flee far from the battle due to Biwa Jūzō's Water Release technique, Asuma returned only to find his father beheaded, Biwa Jūzō dead, and Kakashi standing between the two corpses.

Overwhelming fury surged within him.

No matter how rebellious he had been, Sarutobi Hiruzen was still his father.

Struggling to contain his wrath, he shouted at Kakashi, demanding to know what had happened. But Kakashi, motionless like a scarecrow, stood silently before the bodies, seemingly deaf to Asuma's demands.

Eventually, Asuma could no longer hold it in.

He gripped the damaged iron bar tighter. The wind chakra wrapped around it spun faster, sharpening into an even deadlier edge. Then, he attacked again, lunging toward Kakashi.

But Kakashi wasn't truly a scarecrow.

Sensing the killing intent, his body reacted on instinct. He raised his short blade to block Asuma's strike.

This time, however, Kakashi's offense was significantly weaker.

He only defended against Asuma's strikes, never countering. Just as their battle reached a stalemate, Akimichi Torifu's group arrived.

"Hatake Kakashi! Sarutobi Asuma! Stand down, both of you!"

Torifu's voice thundered.

But Asuma, consumed by rage, ignored the command. Kakashi seemed to hear it, but he was tightly entangled by Asuma's relentless attacks. Though Kakashi was slightly stronger, it wasn't enough to overpower Asuma so easily—after all, Asuma wasn't some amateur. His place among the Twelve Guardian Ninja wasn't solely due to his father's title.

Asuma wasn't weak.

Even if Kakashi had the edge, his lack of fighting spirit meant he couldn't subdue Asuma in just a few blows.

Seeing his command ignored, Torifu's face darkened. He gritted his teeth and shouted:

"Someone, restrain them!"

He didn't name names—anyone present could carry out the order.

And so, Before Hyūga Hiashi or Aburame Shibi could move—

"Chihaya, go."

Rēn turned to his childhood friend behind him and gave the order.

"Understood."

Uchiha Chihaya responded and leapt forward.

Known as the fierceracker beauty and genius of the Uchiha, besides the clan's inherent fire affinity, she also possessed wind chakra nature—another aggressive element. Applied to chakra blades, it brought their cutting power to its peak.

Because of this, she had devoted tremendous time and effort to both kenjutsu and Wind Release training.

Now,

It was time to showcase the fruits of that hard work.

Her eyes turned crimson. The moment she broke from the crowd, her Sharingan activated, analyzing the fight between Kakashi and Asuma. As she closed in, she finally caught a fleeting opening.

Without hesitation, she activated Body Flicker Technique. The instant she entered the battle zone, she slashed with her wind-enhanced blade.

Just one strike—

Like the horn of an antelope, swift and untraceable.

It severed Asuma's battered iron bar, deflected Kakashi's short blade, and the extended wind blade from her weapon even split the stone ceiling overhead. The two fighters were forced apart. Already on the defensive, Kakashi sheathed his blade and allowed the ANBU to restrain him without resistance.

Asuma, however, was still unwilling to back down—until Uchiha Chihaya turned and met his gaze.

In that moment, locking eyes with her crimson Sharingan, Asuma realized he had let rage cloud his judgment and made a grave mistake—he had made eye contact with a member of the Uchiha.

Utterly foolish.

As expected,

The genjutsu followed instantly, dragging him into a mire of illusion. Immobilized, he was easily subdued by the ANBU.

Uchiha Chihaya smoothly sheathed her blade and returned to Rēn's side, maintaining her aloof, beautiful persona.

"Rēn-kun, your clan truly is full of talent."

Akimichi Torifu praised.

"You flatter us. Chihaya still has much to learn and refine."

Rēn replied modestly.

Though the words carried a hint of pride.

In truth, he had done this precisely to showcase his clan's strength—an appropriate flex of muscle to remind allies of the Uchiha's power. It was also a key strategy to maintain good relations with their partners.