These two hadn't even graduated yet.
Though talented, their actual combat skills were still lacking.
Raj decided to secretly "protect" them from behind, while also helping Anko vent her frustration.
After being reported in class last time, Anko had cried for quite a while.
Raj completely shifted the blame, conveniently forgetting that it had been the instigator of the entire incident.
Reaching the forest's edge, Raj watched as the pair drew their wooden swords and began practicing.
Without hesitation, it used the Expansion Jutsu to enlarge itself, then transformed into a tiger and leaped out of the forest.
The tiger lunged directly at Yugao Uzuki.
"Watch out!"
Hayate's expression immediately changed.
His figure flickered into three, and he stepped forward, sword raised, to shield Yugao.
Yugao was younger than him and barely able to wield her sword properly.
She had no real combat experience.
But moments later, Hayate felt a dry, itchy sensation in his throat, an overwhelming urge to cough violently.
Thud!
Hayate's sword was knocked flying.
"Cough, cough... Run! Cough, run!"
This "tiger" was far too strong; she stood no chance against it!
"No, I..."
Yugao Uzuki panicked.
On one hand, she refused to abandon Hayate.
On the other, she knew her presence would only burden him.
After a moment's hesitation, she gritted her teeth, hurled a kunai at the "tiger," and desperately fled backward.
Her kunai throw was accurate, but it lacked force and speed.
To Raj, it was utterly harmless - a mere flick of his claw would deflect it.
Hayate charged forward with his kunai, but in the next instant, he saw the "tiger" leap over him, lunging toward Yugao Uzuki...
"No!" he roared in despair.
Yet, as the "tiger" sprang over him, it bounded away in a few leaps, vanishing into the forest.
As it fled, a faint "meow" lingered in the air.
'A meow...? What the hell?'
Hayate and Yugao Uzuki stood dumbfounded, utterly bewildered by the situation.
Meanwhile, Raj, having escaped into
In the woods, he dispelled his disguise and checked his System Panel.
He was astonished to see his Points had surged by over a thousand!
'What's going on? Is Hayate this wealthy? No, that guy's a total weakling. Someone must have been secretly watching and panicked. The only person in Konoha capable of covert surveillance without immediate intervention is the Third Hokage - the ultimate peeping expert.'
"That mischievous cat! It deserves a good scolding!"
The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe, his fingers trembling slightly.
Earlier, after surveying a certain area within the village, he had casually glanced around.
Just as he noticed Hayate and Yugao Uzuki, this massive tiger had burst from the forest.
Through the Telescope Technique, how could he immediately discern whether it was a Transformation Technique?
Even he had been startled at first, only realizing after a few seconds, through subtle clues, that the tiger wasn't a real tiger at all, but something else disguised using the Transformation Technique.
Its purpose wasn't to kill, but purely to tease.
'What a mischievous cat.'
"Lord Third, urgent report from the front lines."
An Anbu ninja materialized in the office, holding an intelligence scroll.
"Give it to me."
The Third Hokage hurriedly took the scroll, unfurled it, and read.
The document detailed the results of trade negotiations with Sunagakure.
Konoha had requested valuable resources such as copper, iron, and explosive tags.
While Suna had initially agreed, no progress had been made, and recent troop movements within the Land of Wind indicated frequent deployments of Suna Ninja.
'Why are they mobilizing their ninja so frequently?'
"Lord Third, should we...?"
"Have Shikaku and the others observe first. We need to determine whether Suna is truly searching for the rogue ninja Sasori or preparing for war. If they cross the border under the guise of pursuing Sasori, we cannot allow it, even if it means war."
After a moment's deliberation, the Third Hokage made his decision.
He understood the current situation all too well.
After years of recuperation, the nations were gradually recovering their strength, with Iwagakure and Sunagakure showing the strongest desire to strike against Konoha.
Allowing any ninja to cross the border without confirming their intentions would be tantamount to digging Konoha's own grave.
"Understood!"
The Anbu ninja accepted the order and departed immediately.
He had to relay the intelligence to the front lines without delay.
After instructing the ninja to deliver the message to the front lines, the Third Hokage fell into deep thought.
Sunagakure's movements were highly suspicious.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio alone might not be able to hold them off; a small support team would need to be dispatched as reinforcements.
The village had plenty of capable personnel, but few were truly qualified for such a critical mission.
Orochimaru, though skilled, was too radical in his methods.
'Hmm, perhaps Minato should go instead. He can take that troublesome cat with him.'
The thought of that Ninja Cat made the Third Hokage rub his temples.
Recently, Asuma had returned home, declaring he needed to train rigorously.
When asked why, it turned out he'd been utterly humiliated by the cat and was determined to improve.
While this was a good thing, the methods the boy wanted to use were absurd.
'A technique to burn off cat hair?'
The problem was, Asuma hadn't even developed fire-style nature transformation yet.
And when the Third Hokage tried to teach him advanced applications of the Flying Swallow technique, the arrogant brat refused to listen.
'Such high ambitions, such low skills.'
'Sigh, being a father is truly difficult.'
The Third Hokage sighed wearily and lit his pipe.
'Another three hundred Points! Lord Third, you're truly a great benefactor!'
Raj thought to himself, his heart filled with admiration.
There was no way Hayate or Yugao Uzuki could have provided three hundred Points in an instant.
That meant it had to be the Third Hokage, who had been secretly watching.
'What a generous soul.'
With a total of fourteen hundred Points, Raj felt a pang of guilt toward Hayate.
He must have scared them both badly, especially Hayate.
He quietly slipped out of the forest, making no attempt to track Hayate or Yugao.
Those two were sharp as tacks, especially Hayate, who was notoriously cunning.
He might be hiding somewhere, using his Invisibility Technique to see who was messing with them.
So Raj took a roundabout route.
He found Yugao Uzuki halfway there, hiding in the bushes.
If not for his cat-like vision, he would have missed her entirely.
As for Hayate... who knows where that guy's hiding?
Raj chuckled inwardly and stealthily made his way back to Konoha, occasionally glancing back at the pair.
'Farewell, you two. Enjoy hiding.'