Although the rice balls made by Tenten looked strange, Ryuji didn't hesitate to take and eat them.
Firstly, Ryuji was genuinely hungry, as he hadn't had breakfast.
Secondly, he feared that if he didn't eat them, it might negatively affect his favorability with Tenten, as she was one of his potential targets to gain favor.
Despite their odd appearance, the taste of the rice balls Tenten made was very good. The rice wasn't too packed or too loose; it was clear she had put a lot of effort into preparing it.
"I told you, Tenten, why bring a basket? So, you prepared rice balls, and it turns out I'm hungry too!" Rock Lee said with a smile as he approached and reached out to grab a rice ball.
At that moment, Tenten grabbed his wrist and said with a slight threat, "Little Lee, you already ate. These rice balls are for Ryuji to eat."
"But I'm hungry again now. Please, Tenten, just give me two," Rock Lee pleaded.
"I see that Master Guy also brought plenty of food. Why don't you go ask him?" Tenten replied, with a bit of frustration in her voice.
Guy laughed upon hearing this. "That's enough, Lee! Take your new weights and run ten laps around the courtyard to warm up."
Upon his master's order, Rock Lee didn't dare slack off and hurried off to run.
Meanwhile, Guy walked over to Ryuji and said, "Youth means burning with passion. I support you, Tenten!"
For a moment, Tenten blushed. "What are you talking about, Guy-sensei?"
When Tenten looked up, she saw that Guy had dragged Ryuji to the side and placed weights on his arms and legs.
Although Ryuji could perform various ninjutsu moves, they turned out to be useless at this moment. Just like Hinata's Gentle Fist, with which she could shatter rocks without even using chakra.
Despite his efforts, Ryuji lacked enough strength, and breaking rocks with his bare hands was difficult. Weight training was the best and most direct way to improve his physical strength. However, at this point, Ryuji was about to cry.
Physical strength training should involve gradual progression, increasing the weight only when the body has adapted to the previous level. But Guy had jumped straight to the next weight level with Ryuji.
With weights on his arms and legs, Ryuji felt as slow as a turtle; even lifting his hands was a thousand times harder.
"Alright, the next step is to start running, from here to the waterfall in front of us, and then back here. Anyone who doesn't make it back by noon will miss lunch," said Guy, pointing in the direction.
Ryuji looked in the direction Guy was pointing, but there was no sign of any waterfall or the mist that might come from one.
"Don't look further; it's about fifty kilometers away, so you won't be able to see it from here," Guy explained.
Ryuji almost spat blood. Fifty kilometers! That meant a hundred kilometers in total, more than double a marathon's distance.
For a ninja, it might be feasible, but with the extra weight he was carrying, it was nearly impossible to make it back before dinner.
"What are you waiting for?! Hurry up and run!" Guy exclaimed.
Under his master's urging, Ryuji began to run. Tenten ran beside him and whispered, "Don't worry, Ryuji-kun, I still have some food here."
Ryuji's face lit up with a hint of joy; at least he wouldn't have to worry about going hungry.
The four continued running through the forest when, suddenly, Ryuji sensed an unprecedented killing intent, causing him to frown.
"Wait!" he quickly stopped the team and turned to Neji, saying, "Neji, activate Byakugan!"
Neji frowned and was about to activate Byakugan when an intense light appeared around them, surrounding all four.
"This doesn't look good; there's an Explosive Sealing Jutsu here!" Tenten shouted and quickly pushed Ryuji back.
Boom!
Several explosions were heard, but fortunately, they weren't at the center of the trap. Otherwise, they all would have perished there, no matter how strong they were. However, the continuous explosions and shockwaves caused them considerable injuries.
"Good reaction, but you're going to die anyway," a cold voice was suddenly heard from the distance, and four figures appeared, each wearing a fox mask.
"The type of explosive talisman and its power are unique to our village's ANBU division. Who the hell are you?!" exclaimed Tenten, covering a wound on her arm and shielding Ryuji behind her, glaring furiously at the figures surrounding them.
One of the ninjas let out a cold snort, an aura of killing intent emanating from him as he stared directly at Tenten through his fox mask.
"Little girl, do you know what? Originally, only one person needed to die this time, but because of your words, all four of you will die!" he said with disdain.
As soon as he finished speaking, the four enemy ninjas broke formation and leaped forward, surrounding Ryuji and his companions with cold, threatening gazes.
Tenten's heart raced, and a look of horror appeared on her face. She knew her teammates from Class 3 were merely lower-ranking ninjas, and although Ryuji was stronger, it was almost impossible for him to stand against these opponents.
The four attackers belonged to the ANBU Section. Although not all members of this section were necessarily high- or mid-level ninjas, they all lived on the edge, in the shadows of the Ninja Village, facing death every day. If they weren't powerful, they would have already been eliminated long ago.
It could be said that the four before them were true killing machines. On their side, however, were just three lower-ranking ninjas and Ryuji. There was no way they could be a match.
"ANBU sirs, we're just lower-ranking ninjas from the Village, and we haven't committed any wrongdoings. Could it be you've made a mistake?" Tenten asked with a forced smile, trying to find a peaceful retreat.
But one of the assassins shook his head firmly. "There's no mistake. What we're after is that boy behind you. He's suspected of selling village secrets. Hokage-sama has ordered his immediate execution!"
The three from Class 3 shuddered. They turned their heads to look at Ryuji with unease. The Hokage was the supreme leader of Konoha Village, and his orders were law.
Ryuji sighed with a bitter smile and shook his head. "If I told you I didn't do it, would you believe me?"
For a moment, everyone remained silent, and the forest around them fell into an eerie stillness; even the birds and animals seemed to cooperate, making not the slightest sound. It was so quiet that the breathing of those present could be heard.
Suddenly, Neji stepped forward and stood beside Ryuji. "I believe in Ryuji-kun! He's not a traitor."
Tenten smiled with relief and moved closer to Ryuji, taking his arm. "I believe in Ryuji-kun, too!"
"I'm not sure," Lee said, "but I trust Guy-sensei's judgment."
The four ANBU ninjas laughed coldly; the situation had escalated, and since their identities had been revealed, there was no way they could let them go.
"In that case, you're all going to hell!" one of them exclaimed, as they prepared to kill them.
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