The forest fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the ringing in Guy's ears.
Guy, reacting purely on instinct, had just popped the Eight Gates, only to find Kumokawa frozen in the follow-through of his throw.
Guy stared blankly as Kumokawa's long hair settled back onto his shoulders. It wasn't until he heard a soft drip-drop—blood falling from Kumokawa's palm to the ground—that he snapped out of it.
"Enemy attack?!"
Guy's face turned serious. He vanished instantly, charging toward the direction of the attack.
But when he arrived, there was no one.
Only a pool of shocking red blood, and a severed right arm. The cut was smooth and clean, the bone and muscle cross-section clearly visible.
Clearly, Kumokawa's return throw hadn't killed the assassin, but it had taken an arm, forcing a retreat.
Kumokawa walked over slowly. He glanced at the severed arm, then looked up into the depths of the forest.
"Kumokawa, did you see him?" Guy asked.
"No." Kumokawa shook his head, looking regretful. "It was too fast. I couldn't see clearly."
[Ding. Your lie has been judged as "Playing Dumb".][Might Guy has generated strong emotional fluctuations, reaching the level of "Absolute Belief".][You have obtained 300 Realization Points...]
Kumokawa had chosen to befriend Guy not just because of the man's potential to nearly kill a god, but because of his "simple" nature.
Guy didn't doubt Kumokawa for a second. His face twisted in righteous anger. "We must report this to Lord Third immediately! To think someone dares to commit murder inside Konoha!"
"Right!" Guy suddenly remembered, looking at Kumokawa's hand. "Your injury..."
"It's nothing. That guy's Wind Style wasn't up to par." Kumokawa smiled and waved his hand, showing a palm with only a superficial cut.
[Ding. Your lie...]
In reality, the situation had been extremely dangerous. The assassin's Wind Style was high-level. If Kumokawa had grabbed the blade instead of the handle, his entire hand would have been sliced off.
"Phew, that's good. But Kumokawa, unlocking your Byakugan in a crisis... I guess it's a blessing in disguise."
Guy sighed in relief. Although he believed Kumokawa's lie about "luck," the memory of that kunai's terrifying speed kept his expression serious. Even someone as optimistic as Guy felt a lingering fear.
He wondered: If I were the target, could I have reacted?
The answer came quickly.
If I had the Eight Gates open, even just the First Gate, I could dodge.
But an assassin wouldn't give him that chance. The attack was too fast, too sudden, and in the "safety" of the village.
"Kumokawa... you are amazing."
Realizing this, Guy looked at Kumokawa with a newfound respect. He patted the boy's shoulder. "It seems my training is still far from enough! From now on, I'm adding 500 handstand laps every day!"
Next time, even if the Grim Reaper himself came with his scythe, Guy would blast a path to survival with his fists.
"Just luck," Kumokawa shook his head with a bitter smile.
This time, no System notification appeared. Clearly, Guy saw it as skill, not luck.
"Let's go. Get that wound bandaged, then report this to Lord Third," Guy said grimly. "To think a spy has infiltrated Konoha and attacked a comrade..."
Spy?
Perhaps not.
Kumokawa looked at his healing palm. He recalled the back of the assassin he had seen with his Byakugan. His eyes flickered with thought.
Who was it?
Hiruzen?
No, I haven't exposed my hand to him yet.
Then it must be Orochimaru's remnants, or...
'Shimura Danzō,' Kumokawa sneered internally. 'Moving so fast already? Truly an expert in civil war and a novice in foreign war.'
Edge of the Forest of Death.
A figure cloaked in black used the Body Flicker Technique repeatedly until he was far away from the training ground. Finally, he stopped, collapsing onto one knee on a tree branch, clutching his arm.
"Urgh..."
The cloaked figure kept his head low. An agonizing groan escaped his gritted teeth, mixed with fear.
Damn it! Damn it! How did this happen?!
According to the intel, the target was a waste. He had ambushed the training ground early. When the target appeared, he had been relaxed. It should have been the simplest of missions.
He had used his best technique—the Wind Style assassination jutsu personally taught by Lord Danzō.
But at that exact moment, the kid had stopped as if he knew. He tilted his head. He activated a Byakugan that shouldn't have existed.
And then... he raised his hand and caught the wind-clad kunai?
Yes. Barehanded. He caught it. By the handle!
Are you kidding me?!
From this distance, through the dense forest, he had felt the boy's gaze. A gaze as calm as dead water.
Then came the whistle of wind.
It was like a sudden spring breeze cutting through the forest. Leaves fell like rain, obscuring his vision.
It was beautiful.
And then came the pain.
Squelch.
The sleeve of his cloak tore open. A red line circled his arm. Blood sprayed. His arm fell to the forest floor with a dull thud.
"That guy... he caught my jutsu barehanded and threw it back!"
The assassin, now fleeing for his life, still couldn't process it.
The intel said he was trash!
Trash doesn't catch a Wind Style assassination jutsu taught by Danzō-sama!
Trash doesn't have reaction speeds faster than a Jonin!
If he is trash... then what am I?
"Kamatari. What are you doing?"
A raspy, gloomy voice interrupted his panic. The assassin shuddered violently.
He looked up to see a figure standing before him. He quickly lowered his head, his voice trembling. "Lord Danzō... I..."
"Hmph. Useless. It seems your mission failed."
Danzō cut him off coldly, glancing at the severed stump of his arm.
This man was an elite assassin Danzō had cultivated specifically for wet work. He could kill most Jonin with a single strike.
But now...
"Lost your dominant hand. You're completely useless now."
Danzō narrowed his single eye. A thought crossed his mind.
Interesting. That Hyūga brat is definitely not as simple as he looks. Orochimaru must have left him with something.
Hmph. Since Hiruzen was unkind enough to steal my Wood Release user, don't blame me for being unjust and taking this brat.