Faced with the sudden situation, Kagutsuchi Shin came to an abrupt halt, his eyes narrowing sharply.
Without the slightest hesitation, his hands instantly formed seals.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Three Shadow Clones appeared simultaneously, immediately positioning themselves back-to-back around the original body while coldly scanning the ninja who had appeared out of nowhere.
"Hmph."
Shin let out a cold snort as his gaze swept toward the ninja wearing the tanuki mask standing in front of him.
"Who are you people…and why are you blocking my path?"
The leading ninja wearing the tanuki mask appeared completely indifferent to the sudden appearance of the three Shadow Clones.
His voice remained calm and emotionless as he answered directly:
"We are ninja of 'Root.' Under Lord Danzo's orders, we have come specifically to invite you."
"Root?"
Ah… so they were the people under Danzo.
The moment he heard the name, Shin immediately chose to believe the other party without hesitation.
After all, how could he possibly not know about Root and Danzo, the so-called Darkness of the ninja world?
Moreover, their sudden appearance gave him an overwhelming sense of certainty.
As expected.
Interesting… truly interesting.
Instead of panicking, Shin slowly crossed his arms and leisurely sized up the three Root ninja in front of him.
There was not the slightest trace of fear in his eyes. Why should he panic?
Yesterday's Bell Test had already allowed Shin to clearly understand his current level of strength.
Relying on his seemingly inexhaustible chakra reserves alongside the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, he had unleashed a bombardment of high-level ninjutsu so overwhelming that even Yamato—an Elite Jonin capable of using Wood Release—had eventually been forced to stop the fight.
That battle had already proven something very clearly.
In terms of raw destructive power and endurance in prolonged combat… Shin had already firmly stepped into the threshold of a Special Jonin.
Perhaps even beyond that.
At the very least, in terms of chakra volume alone, he could already look down on countless ordinary Jonin.
With strength like that, as long as he did not directly face a true Kage-level Ninja or become trapped in an extreme situation surrounded by multiple Elite Jonin at once, he possessed more than enough power to protect himself within Konoha.
So—
"Heh…" Shin chuckled inwardly.
Driven by absolute confidence in his own strength, he looked at the scene before him with utter disdain.
"Just a few rats hiding in the shadows…Do you really think you're enough to make me fearful?"
His gaze slowly swept across the three Root ninja before him, his tone becoming openly contemptuous.
"Root? Danzo?" His eyebrows twitched faintly. "What kind of nonsense is that?"
"I've never heard those names mentioned in any ninja manual or official village organization. You hide your faces and block my way home to 'invite' me?"
"Hmph. You look more like spies from another nation trying to abduct a Konoha ninja."
The tanuki-masked ninja did not appear surprised by Shin's denial and calmly attempted to explain.
"Our existence is not something recorded within ordinary manuals. 'Root' is the shadow hidden within Konoha's shadow—"
"Enough." Shin interrupted impatiently, his tone becoming even colder and more disdainful. "What shadow within a shadow? Spare me the dramatic nonsense."
"I, Kagutsuchi Shin, am an officially registered Genin of Konoha."
"I answer directly to Hokage-sama and follow the orders of only two people—the Third Hokage and my Jonin instructor, Yamato-sensei."
He slowly took a step forward as his sharp gaze swept across all three of them. "And now some random ninjas think they can show up and 'invite' me somewhere?"
"What a joke." His voice suddenly turned threatening. "I don't care whether you're 'Root,' or whatever."
"Move aside. Right now. Otherwise… Don't blame me for treating you as an enemy ninja who infiltrated Konoha."
The expressions beneath the masks of the three Root members subtly changed. To openly insult Danzo-sama like this…
"Kagutsuchi Shin." For the first time, the tanuki-masked ninja's voice carried a trace of coldness. "Refusing Danzo-sama's invitation is not a wise decision."
"Wise?" Shin looked at him as if he had just heard the greatest joke imaginable.
"My strength is the greatest wisdom. Since you insist on blocking the road…"
"Fine!"
"Foreign enemy ninja…"
"I'll personally eliminate you myself."
Before his voice had even fully fallen, Shin and all three Shadow Clones erupted into action simultaneously!
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet Technique!"
"Earth Release: Earth Spike Technique!"
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Four high-level ninjutsu exploded forth almost at the exact same instant! Massive amounts of chakra surged outward without the slightest restraint.
A roaring water dragon and earth dragon intertwined as they surged skyward. Sharp stone spikes burst violently from the ground like a forest of spears.
A gigantic waterfall crashed downward like a broken dam, flooding everything in its path.
The overwhelming assault blanketed not only the three Root ninja but the entire surrounding area indiscriminately with terrifying force!
"What?! He actually dares to—inside the village?!"
Even for a highly trained Root ninja whose emotions had long been suppressed, the sudden eruption of such large-scale ninjutsu within Konoha itself left them momentarily shocked and completely caught off guard.
Their orders had merely been to "invite" him. At worst, forcibly capture him if necessary.
But absolutely not create a massive public disturbance within the core area of Konoha Village!
Shin's actions had completely shattered every plan they had prepared beforehand.
The sheer scale and destructive force of this ninjutsu barrage was something no Genin should possibly possess—let alone casually unleash in the middle of the village!
Facing the incoming destruction, the tanuki-masked ninja immediately formed hand seals and slammed both palms onto the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
A massive wall of earth erupted upward with a thunderous boom, attempting to intercept the incoming twin dragons.
RUMBLE—!!!
The water dragon and earth dragon smashed violently into the hastily erected defense while the massive waterfall crashed downward immediately afterward!
The collision sounded like a deafening thunderclap.
The ground trembled violently.
Water mixed with mud and shattered stone exploded outward in every direction.
Nearby walls, streetlights, and even part of an abandoned old building were ripped apart under the overwhelming force of the collision as though made from fragile paper.
Dust and water vapor surged into the sky.
The enormous disturbance was like a giant boulder crashing into a calm lake, instantly shattering the evening peace of the village.
Almost the very next second after the ninjutsu erupted—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Sharp whistles echoed from every direction.
It was the emergency alert signal of the Konoha Military Police Force!
At the same time, multiple rapid air-piercing sounds approached from a distance.
Clearly, the nearby Konoha Jonin had already sensed the enormous chakra fluctuations and the sounds of destruction and were rushing toward the scene at full speed.
Within the chaos, the three Root ninja barely managed to defend themselves against the aftermath of the violent bombardment.
Through the spreading dust and steam, they could still vaguely make out Shin standing calmly amidst the destruction.
His figure flickered faintly through the haze. Within those dark amber eyes…
There was no panic. No anger. It's as if he calculated everything.
Everything had completely exploded out of control. Their mission had failed.
And worst of all…
It felt as though this entire situation had unfolded exactly according to this young Genin's expectations from the very beginning.