The water stream appeared out of nowhere and instantly solidified into shape.
In front of him, a massive and ferocious water dragon formed, surging forward with incredible force.
Not far away, Kaito Fujiwara, hands forming seals, had a look of satisfaction in his eyes, as if savoring his revenge.
Normally, a battle like this would be fleeting. But as an undercover agent, especially a cautious one, Kaito should have left immediately instead of lingering to watch Rinto.
But at this moment, the tree frog no longer cared about caution.
He just wanted to watch—watch Rinto being torn apart by the water dragon, watch the water turn bright red with his blood, watch him struggle helplessly, drowning in agony.
"Die, you cursed creature! I will tear you to pieces!" the tree frog growled, eyes glowing blood-red with cruel delight.
As the Water Dragon Bomb crashed toward Rinto, Sarutobi Hiruzen, observing from the shadows, could no longer remain still.
Rinto cannot die. He is still too valuable!
Realizing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately began forming seals at a speed almost impossible to follow with the naked eye.
"Earth Style—"
Suddenly, he froze. His jutsu abruptly halted.
He saw it—Rinto was laughing!
Then, in a relaxed and almost cheerful voice, Rinto spoke.
"We've seen your ninjutsu—now let's take a look at my taijutsu!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, a loud bang echoed, and the ground beneath Sarutobi Hiruzen trembled violently. His pupils shrank to the size of needle tips.
Rinto bent his legs slightly, taking a sprinting stance. In the next instant, the ground beneath his feet cracked into a three-meter-wide crater. Simultaneously, Rinto vanished.
In an instant, the oncoming water dragon shattered into a cascade of droplets, scattering through the air.
A heartbeat later, the tree frog hiding in the shadows had its head obliterated, an explosion of brain matter and blood blooming like a grotesque peach blossom.
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his scalp tingle at the sight.
This man was a monster in human form.
Was this the true nature of ninja combat?
Even the warriors of the Iron Kingdom weren't this brutally efficient!
Subconsciously, he thought back to the Second Raikage, whom he had fought not long ago.
Rinto's fighting style was eerily similar to the Raikage's—simple, ruthless, carrying an almost artistic violence.
Snapping back to reality, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly scanned the area and finally spotted Rinto standing behind the rain frog's lifeless body.
On his hands, dark steel particles writhed and wrapped around his fists.
Under his feet, pieces of pale brain matter mixed with blood were scattered everywhere—on the leaves, on the tree trunks, on the ground, painting the forest floor with a grotesque artistry.
"The wind is strong, and the peach blossoms seem sad. The red raindrops dance in the air," came a faint sigh, lost to the breeze.
The Anbu hidden in the woods looked as if they had seen a ghost, glancing at one another in disbelief.
Among them, a masked operative known as Shun felt a chill run down his spine. He reached back and realized that the outer layer of his cloak was damp with cold sweat.
I… I haven't done anything to offend this monster, right? I should be safe… right?
But… does spying on him when he goes to the bathroom count as offending him?
Oh god… why did Lord Hiruzen assign me to this surveillance mission? This is terrifying.
At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen, unknowingly the target of Shun's internal complaints, pulled out a scroll, spread it across a branch, and updated Rinto's information.
Name: Rinto Sakukata
Affiliation: Rain Shinobi Village (Undercover)
Intelligence Rating: S (both strategic planning and battlefield judgment)
Chakra Reserves: Comparable to an average Chūnin
Kekkei Genkai: Magnet Style
Proficiency with Ninja Tools: High
Ninjutsu: B (Chūnin level)
Taijutsu: A+ (Elite Jōnin, highly dangerous, avoid close combat)
Genjutsu: Unknown
Overall Rating: B+
His ninjutsu isn't particularly lethal, but his battlefield awareness is razor-sharp, and his raw strength, speed, and explosive power make him an unpredictable and deadly force.
Role: Staff advisor, close bodyguard. Overlaps with the duties of the Akamichi and Nara clans.
After finalizing the update, Sarutobi Hiruzen rolled up the scroll, tucked it away, and stepped out of his hiding place.
In the distance, Rinto stood with his hands lowered, gazing at the cold moon, his expression unreadable. The wind stirred, sending leaves fluttering around him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen walked toward him, inwardly admiring his composure.
What a disciplined young man! Even after defeating a powerful enemy, he remains so calm and collected!
"Rinto-kun, well done," he praised.
Rinto immediately broke into a grin, then flopped to the ground like a deflated balloon, groaning dramatically.
"Uncle, why were you so slow?! My neck is sore from posing so hard!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's brief moment of admiration evaporated like mist in the morning sun. His eye twitched.
Damn it! Where was the intensity? The gravitas? Give me back my moment of respect!
At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt completely deceived.
This village… this cursed village… how did they train someone so bizarre?!
Rolling his eyes, Sarutobi Hiruzen walked past Rinto, squatting next to the rain frog's corpse.
Seeing this, Rinto immediately scurried over, rubbing his hands together eagerly.
Loot time! May the gods of fortune smile upon me!
Sarutobi Hiruzen, unaware that Rinto had already begun fantasizing about treasure, reached toward the corpse.
"Wait!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen flinched, startled by Rinto's sudden outburst.
"Captain Hiruzen, shouldn't you… burn some incense first?" Rinto asked with an innocent expression.
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a heavy sigh and rolled his eyes before continuing.
"Wait!" Rinto shouted again.
"What now?!" Sarutobi snapped.
"Uh… maybe you should wash your hands first? I mean, what if they're dirty?"
"Get lost!" Sarutobi Hiruzen kicked Rinto aside and resumed looting the corpse with a dark expression.
Soon, various items lay before them—coins, scrolls, ninja tools, kunai, explosive tags…
Rinto, eyes gleaming with greed, squatted next to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Uncle, let's make a deal. You take the bodies, weapons, and intelligence. I take the money. Fair?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen ignored him, picking up a scroll and examining its markings. He carefully unfurled it and traced the symbols with his brush, revealing a complex sealing array.
Pressing his bloodstained thumb against the pattern, he whispered, "Seal, release!"
With a burst of white smoke, a cache of forbidden weaponry appeared—bundles of explosive tags, wind demon shuriken, kunai wired together for coordinated attacks.
Among them was a black leather suitcase.
Even from a distance, Rinto could smell the scent of money.
But despite his itching fingers, he remained still. This was Konoha's jurisdiction. If he took anything carelessly, suspicions would arise.
Sarutobi Hiruzen noted Rinto's restraint with approval.
In the end, after a heated negotiation, Rinto walked away 430,000 ryo richer—but nearly 200,000 short of what he wanted.
As he left, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat back down and counted the money in the suitcase.
Moments later, his furious voice echoed through the forest.
"That little bastard tricked me again!"
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