Chapter 72: The Path of No Return
After ANBU appeared, they immediately surrounded everyone.
These ANBU each held short swords, as if facing a major enemy, ready to take down Naruto at any moment.
Then, the ANBU captain stepped forward and shouted:
"Uzumaki Naruto, the Third Hokage wants to see you!"
Hearing the ANBU's words, everyone including Kakashi was surprised.
Especially Sakura and Ino. Seeing these elite operatives who had fought against the Sand ninja attack appear again made them a little scared and nervous.
ANBU—the assassination tactical special forces.
Managed directly by the Third Hokage himself.
ANBU were never dispatched unless something particularly important happened.
Had the Third Hokage already learned what happened here so quickly?
But Kakashi knew that Naruto had just killed Root operatives. There was no guarantee he wouldn't attack ANBU as well.
Thinking this, Kakashi looked worriedly at the ANBU—and also at Naruto.
Sure enough.
After Naruto heard the ANBU captain's words, he glanced over with cold eyes. He gripped his Zanpakuto slightly tighter and didn't speak.
Seeing Naruto's reaction, the ANBU captain frowned and drew his short sword, as if making a threat.
"Uzumaki Naruto, do you hear me? Come with us to the Third Hokage."
This time, Naruto finally spoke.
"What if I refuse?"
Naruto glanced indifferently at the surrounding ANBU. His heart felt cold.
He didn't like these ANBU very much.
During his childhood, these were the people who had watched him constantly.
They had turned his childhood into a prison.
Allowed him to do nothing.
No matter what he did, there were so many eyes watching him.
Watching him get insulted and abused. Never doing anything about it. Instead, they allowed the villagers to continue.
What's more, these ANBU were the enablers. The lackeys of the Third Hokage.
After hearing Naruto's words, the ANBU captain frowned and shouted coldly:
"Take him!"
But the words had barely left his mouth—
Naruto snorted coldly.
Naruto gripped his Zanpakuto tightly.
The blade flashed. Senbonzakura rose.
Seeing this, Kakashi and Kurenai immediately shouted in alarm:
"Naruto, no!"
"Stop! Don't make another mistake!"
Sakura and Ino also opened their eyes wide.
But Naruto simply ignored their words.
His hand rose. The blade came down. The sword light cut through.
Puff!
In an instant—
A bloodstain suddenly appeared on the ANBU captain's body.
Blood spurted.
Blood splattered.
The ANBU captain's face was full of shock and horror.
He couldn't believe it as he looked at Naruto.
With his strength—ANBU captain, elite jonin level—he couldn't even see Naruto's movements clearly.
He didn't even have time to react.
Not even a chance to resist.
He had been cut down by Naruto with a single strike.
It was unbelievable. It was terrifying.
But the ANBU captain didn't even have a chance to feel fear. His body fell to the ground.
Instant death.
Seeing the captain fall, Kakashi and the others' pupils widened.
The surrounding ANBU ninjas exclaimed:
"Captain!"
Then, everyone heard Naruto's indifferent voice:
"I'll go find him myself."
"But you don't need to take me there."
As the words fell.
The surrounding ANBU opened their eyes wide, looking at Naruto with anger and hatred in their eyes. Some of them shouted:
"Take him! Cut off his arms and bring him to Lord Third Hokage!"
After speaking, the ANBU moved to attack.
But before they could make a move, Naruto snorted coldly.
Senbonzakura flashed in his hand. Naruto's faint voice rang out:
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
Thousands of Sakura petals appeared suddenly.
Countless petals transformed into the most lethal blades.
Like a stormy wave, they surged toward the ANBU ninjas.
Seeing so many clusters of Sakura petals covering the sky, the ANBU ninjas suddenly lost their voices in horror.
Before they could react, the wave of petals pierced through their defenses.
With a series of impacts, the sharp blades struck them.
There were so many Sakura petals—even if they tried to defend, they couldn't block them all.
In an instant—
No ANBU ninja survived wherever the sea of petals went.
Their bodies were covered in wounds caused by Senbonzakura. Blood splattered and flowed quickly.
Soon, the ANBU ninjas fell to the ground one by one.
Unbelievable looks were frozen on their faces.
They couldn't believe that Naruto alone had taken down so many elite operatives in an instant.
Kurenai, standing nearby, was also full of surprise. An inconceivable expression was on her face.
She had never expected Naruto's strength to be this terrifying.
With so many ANBU—not even a match for Naruto alone.
They had been instantly killed by Naruto.
Was this really a genin?
Kurenai's beautiful eyes looked at Naruto with a shocked expression.
This was the first time she had seen Naruto truly fight. She was shocked—shaken by Naruto.
Kakashi also showed a complex look. He sighed deeply.
He had wanted to stop it, but he couldn't. He was powerless to intervene.
And Naruto—after beheading all the ANBU—retracted his blade. Senbonzakura returned to its original form.
The next moment, Naruto looked toward the Hokage building.
Toward the Hokage's office.
No one in that building was innocent.
He would go to them one by one and settle matters.
Thinking this, Naruto stepped forward and walked toward the Hokage building.
Seeing Naruto heading to the Hokage building, Kakashi and the others didn't stop him. They just shook their heads and sighed deeply.
At this point, none of them knew what to do. What happened next would be decided by the Third Hokage.
Sakura and Ino were also panicked, not knowing what to do.
Seeing that Naruto was leaving, they hurriedly followed.
—
Hokage Building.
At this moment, the Hokage building was very quiet.
So quiet it was a little scary.
In the large building, in the wide corridors, there was no one. Not even the slightest sound.
It was completely different from the scenes of carnage just moments ago.
Seeing this unusual silence, Sakura and Ino also tensed up.
They didn't know what Naruto would do next.
They didn't know how Naruto would be judged.
They didn't know how the Third Hokage would sentence Naruto.
They didn't know the outcome.
All they knew was that things had gone completely beyond their imagination.