"What was that sound?"
Might Guy paused while taking a mission scroll, then looked up, asking with some confusion.
"I don't know."
Shiranui Genma, with a Senbon in his mouth, scratched his head in puzzlement as he spoke.
He had originally come with Might Guy to pick up a mission today, but just as they had selected one and were about to leave, a sudden roar came from above, and the Hokage Building beneath their feet seemed to shake.
It wasn't just them; all the Konoha Ninja on the first floor stopped what they were doing and looked up, whispering amongst themselves.
"What's going on? Nothing bad, right?"
"Are you kidding? This is the Hokage Building. What kind of person would dare to act so presumptuously here?"
Just then, a figure had already reached the staircase and was heading up.
"Stop..."
The two guards from before were about to stop the person, but upon recognizing the familiar mask on his face, they quickly lowered their hands.
"Lord White Fang!"
"Mm."
Sakumo nodded, then, without bothering to say more, he swiftly moved towards the end of the corridor under their gaze, quickly disappearing around the corner...
Meanwhile, in the Hokage Office, the atmosphere grew increasingly subtle. Everyone wore grim expressions, except for Hidan, who looked on as if nothing had happened, instead gazing at Ren's back with an adoring expression.
Such powerful Chakra, truly worthy of being the boss I acknowledge!
As for Ren's sudden outburst, Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were stunned in place, momentarily at a loss for what to do.
Minato and Shikaku, among others, had no intention of stopping Ren; they simply stood by, watching quietly. It was clear that the words spoken by the two Advisors earlier had provoked widespread anger.
"You two."
Looking at the two faces he detested, Ren slowly lowered his hand, saying coldly.
"I brought the person back, and they were registered upon entry, which is completely reasonable and legal. Yet, you two burst in early in the morning without even a greeting, and for such a minor matter, you started lecturing Hokage-sama.
What, are you two Elder Advisors rebelling?"
"Lord Homura!"
"Lord Koharu!"
Just then, over a dozen figures suddenly rushed from the corridor, then split into two teams, standing around Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, looking warily at Ren, who was the only one in the field radiating Chakra.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Lord Third!"
And this seemed to open a floodgate, as Anbu members continuously rushed into the office from the corridor, standing beside Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato to protect them.
"Hmph!"
Upon seeing the Anbu beside them, the two immediately gained confidence. Utatane Koharu stepped forward, saying angrily.
"How dare you, Hoshimi Ren! Who gave you the audacity to disrespect the Elder Advisors?
The Uzumaki Clan is a wanted entity throughout the Ninja World. You knowingly brought that pair of unknown mother and daughter into the village and rashly brought them near the Nine..."
Just as Utatane Koharu was about to blurt out "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki," a few glances thrown her way made her quickly change her words.
"Approaching... approaching Uzumaki Kushina! If anything were to happen, could you bear the responsibility?!"
Heh...
A sneer appeared on Ren's face. He was about to speak, but Homura Mitokado beside him continued.
"Hoshimi Ren, for privately bringing unknown individuals into the village, damaging the Hokage Office, and disrespecting the Elder Advisors, take him away and imprison him in Konoha's great prison."
"Yes!"
The Anbu, having received the order, immediately prepared to act. Seeing this, Ren's expression instantly darkened, and his calmed Chakra began to fluctuate again.
"Alright..."
Seeing the current situation, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been watching from the side, took a step forward, about to say something, but was suddenly interrupted.
"Stop!"
Just as the two sides were at loggerheads, a loud shout suddenly came from the distant corridor. Immediately, a fox-masked Anbu was seen rushing from afar, followed by a large group of Anbu behind him.
"Hm?"
These Anbu, who were directly subordinate to the Elder Advisors, immediately stopped their movements upon seeing the newcomer and turned to look at the center.
"Why is he here?"
Utatane Koharu's face instantly changed, and she looked at the newcomer through gritted teeth. Homura Mitokado beside her also had a grim expression, but he no longer gave the order to capture Ren.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the fox-masked Anbu who had arrived stopped, then removed his mask, bowing towards the inside.
"Hokage-sama, Lord Third!"
"Mm."
Minato nodded slightly in response, while Hiruzen Sarutobi retracted the foot he had stepped out, silently raised his pipe, took another puff, and watched the situation unfold.
"Shikaku, Ren."
Sakumo, having stood up, nodded to the two of them again, and finally, he nodded to the two Advisors.
"Elder Koharu, Elder Homura."
"Sakumo, what are you doing?"
Homura Mitokado looked at the suddenly appearing Sakumo, saying in a deep voice.
"Hoshimi Ren must pay for his actions today!"
Sakumo, who had just been about to amicably persuade them, instantly lost his interest in talking. Just then, Ren suddenly spoke.
"First Squad, assemble!"
As soon as his voice fell, over a dozen Anbu broke away from their teams and successively landed around Ren, engaging in a standoff with the group opposite them.
Seeing this, Utatane Koharu's anger could no longer be suppressed. She raised her hand, pointed at the other side, and roared.
"Sakumo, what do you mean!"
"Hm?"
Sakumo looked up and swept his gaze over Utatane Koharu, his expression unchanged, and said indifferently.
"First Squad is an elite unit selected from various major clans. I don't have the direct authority to deploy them; only Hokage-sama can. Elder, you're mistaken about me."
"You!"
Utatane Koharu was instantly furious. What 'no authority to deploy'? As the Anbu Commander, Sakumo, apart from Squad Five and Squad Seven, which she and Homura Mitokado controlled, even the Third Hokage's Squad Two listened to his orders.
Now, he's bringing up a reason that only the Hokage can deploy them. Is Sakumo not even bothering with excuses anymore?
"Don't worry, Naraku."
Tiger Mask took two steps forward to stand beside Ren, gripping the hilts of the two swords behind him as he said in a deep voice.
"No one can take you away today."
"Ah, I thought you Captains were just going to watch the show."
Ren chuckled lightly, then turned his head to look behind him, saying loudly.
"Habu, Antelope, Gen, step forward."
"Present. X3"
Three figures stepped out in unison: a robust Monkey-Masked Anbu with a large sword on his back;
A tall Cat-faced Anbu holding a sword blade covered in numerous Exploding Tags;
A burly and tall Dog-faced Anbu with a giant hammer in his left hand connected by an iron chain to an axe blade in his right, and dark red hair.
Seeing this, Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado's expressions instantly changed, and then they heard Ren's cold, hard voice.
"First Squad, draw your blades!"
"Clang!"