Konoha, Just Like Kizaru

"That was close. I almost got sealed," Simu said with a scared face.

Thankfully, he managed to counter it in time. 

As expected of an old veteran who survived from the First Ninja War until now—there's no such thing as an easy fight with him.

The exchange of moves between the two left everyone in awe. Even Minato couldn't help but admire Simu's sharp instincts beneath his carefree demeanor.

"A tiger at heart, yet as careful as one sniffing a rose," Minato thought.

While Simu continued speaking, several thin Chakra threads silently crept toward him along the ground.

Unfortunately for Ebizō, even this subtle move didn't escape Simu's keen Observation Haki.

"A sneak attack? How scary," Simu remarked, raising a finger and casually tapping twice in Drobby's direction.

Two laser beams shot out with lightning speed, landing at Drobby's feet. 

The impact triggered a massive explosion, flames engulfing Drobby until his presence vanished entirely.

"Go!" Ebizō shouted urgently to Haruta Hanzo.

But it was already too late.

Before Hanzo could react, Simu, quick as a flash, appeared right in front of him, blocking any chance of escape.

The glowing sword thrust forward instantly!

Hearing Ebizō's warning just in time, Haruta Hanzo changed his body slightly. Otherwise, the blade would have pierced his heart instead of his shoulder.

Years of being a ninja had hardened him. He wasn't the type to cry out in pain from an injury.

With a swift motion, he reversed his grip on his ninja blade and slashed at Simu.

Unfortunately, Hanzo wasn't skilled in physical combat, and the strike was ineffective against Simu, who had already activated Armament Haki for defense.

To protect his coat of justice from damage, Simu casually raised his hardened arm, letting it absorb the impact of the blade.

Simu swiftly delivered a powerful kick to Haruta Hanzo's abdomen!

Hanzo's face turned pale instantly from the blow.

Seeing this, Ebizō rushed forward without hesitation. His five puppets had already been destroyed in the earlier battle, and though he carried scrolls for more, there wasn't enough time to summon them.

If he delayed even a moment, Haruta Hanzo might not survive.

Ebizo raised his forearm, revealing a concealed barrel that extended outward.

With a loud burst, crimson flames erupted from the barrel, engulfing Simu in an instant.

"Turning your own body into a puppet? What an extreme will," Simu muttered, pulling back with a quick Shave.

He crossed his arms over his chest as dark markings began to spread across his face—entering Sage Mode.

Ebizo's eyes widened in recognition. "This... This is the Sage Mode of the First Hokage..."

For someone as experienced and calm as Ebizo, the shock was clear on his face. He couldn't suppress his reaction, seeing a pattern he thought was long lost to history.

It reminded him of a legend—the man who founded Konoha, shaped the system of one nation, one village, and was revered as the God of Shinobi.

"Senju Hashirama..." 

Ebizo whispered, a name synonymous with unrivaled strength—a man who once conquered the entire ninja world with his sheer power.

Hashirama even distributed all the tailed beasts he captured with his own hands, all to maintain balance in the ninja world.

For decades, the peace and balance of the ninja world were largely upheld by Hashirama's unmatched power and overwhelming charisma.

But charisma alone isn't enough—it's only meaningful when backed by absolute strength. 

Without power, no matter how charismatic a person is, no one would listen. People care about profits, desires, and ambition.

It's power that suppresses those desires.

And now, in Simu, Ebizō saw a faint shadow of that man. A man who once subdued the other four great nations with his own might.

Little did Simu know just how many thoughts flooded Ebizō's mind the moment he activated Sage Mode.

Simu positioned his hands into a square in front of him, focusing his energy.

A radiant light quickly condensed between his palms.

"Yata no Kagami: Mirror Slash!"

A golden lightsaber shot forward, aiming straight for Ebizō's head.

Reacting swiftly, Ebizō spread his arms like an umbrella. Black steel frames emerged, gathering Chakra to form a solid shield in front of him.

But the lightsaber abruptly changed direction, curving upward at a sharp 90-degree angle, then turning again. Before Ebizō could react, it sliced through his defenses, severing an arm.

With one arm gone, the once-impenetrable Chakra shield disintegrated instantly.

Desperately, Ebizō unleashed a burst of flames from his remaining hand, hoping to create distance.

Simu, unfazed, swung his lightsaber effortlessly, cutting through the flames in one decisive strike.

"It's over," Simu declared calmly.

With a glowing kick, Simu shattered Ebizō's last hope.

Ebizō's body shot through the air like a streak of light, crashing into the ruins.

The man who had dedicated his life to the Land of Wind since the First Shinobi War had finally met his end.

"Senior Ebizō…" Haruta Hanzo murmured in disbelief, staring at the fallen figure.

He could hardly comprehend that a legend of the Sand Shinobi Village would meet such a fate.

As a fellow Sand ninja, Haruta Hanzo deeply understood the magnitude of Ebizō's strength.

His cunning strategies and relentless traps were unmatched, and today, Ebizō had demonstrated why he was so feared.

Yet, even a man of such legendary status had fallen.

In other words, no one could confidently claim a guaranteed victory—except for Simu.

He casually slid his hands back into his pockets, let out a yawn, and said, "Working overtime this late without notice... how troublesome."

Haruta Hanzo stared at Simu in sheer terror.

"I-I am the son of the daimyo of the Land of Wind! You can't kill me!" 

"My father has a strong relationship with the daimyo of the Land of Fire! If you kill me, my father will never let you go!"

In the ninja world, wars typically spared the lives of the daimyos.

This was one of the most illogical aspects of the one country, one village system.

The ninjas fought desperately on the battlefield, while the daimyos provided funds and supplies to support them. 

In the end, they would return to the theater in the capital. Even if a country's ninjas were defeated, the daimyos would still receive honors and respect.

This made Simu think of the ancient Colosseum, where ninjas were like beasts fighting for the entertainment of their masters. 

The daimyos were the high and mighty figures who supplied food to these beasts, allowing them to maintain their pride.

Losing didn't matter much to the daimyos—they could afford it. 

The lives of the ninjas, however, were insignificant compared to their power and status.

Simu smiled, his gaze cold as he looked at Haruta Hanzo.

"So, you're the son of the daimyo of the Land of Wind?"

"That's right, that's right! Let me go, I won't argue with you," 

Haruta Hanzo said quickly, as if it were a great honor to be spared by Simu.

Simu slowly lifted his foot.

"Your name, it's really scary," 

"Unfortunately, I don't tolerate threats."

"You should know that being on the battlefield means accepting its risks, noble warrior."

With a firm step, Haruta Hanzo disappeared instantly, and the ground around him sank by a meter.

Minato looked at Hanzo's body, hesitating to speak. Since this matter involved the daimyo, it wasn't just a simple dispute—it had become a political issue.

Simu spoke slowly, "The best option would be to bring him back to Konoha."

But he continued, his tone hardening, "The most likely outcome would be him being exchanged back to the Land of Wind, leaving an escape route."

Simu's expression grew cold. "But when you go to the battlefield, you must accept the risk of death. There's no reason to allow one side to kill and not the other."

He paused, then added firmly, "What others choose to do is their business. For me, when I go to battle and fail, there is only one option—death."

After that, Simu raised a finger. 

A laser beam shot out, cutting through the sand and rubble, striking Hui Matsushima, who was trying to escape.

Minato sighed, feeling a bit helpless. 

When they return to Konoha, more trouble awaits.

Harukami Aso stared blankly at what remained of the Capital of Tea Country, that was almost razed to the ground.

He couldn't believe the mission had changed from assassinating the Daimyo of the Tea Country to this destruction of the Capital.

Meanwhile, Harukami Haruka looked at Simu with admiration in her eyes. If it weren't for Hyuga Lindy, she might have rushed over and hugged Simu!

Despite the chaos and destruction he'd caused, Simu appeared completely calm, casually stretching as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

"The mission is finally over. Let's pack up and head home quickly," 

Simu said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "I'm starting to miss Uncle Ichiraku homemade ramen."

As Simu held Lindy around the waist, Harukami Aso couldn't help but feel uneasy. The group quickly left the area, leaving behind only the ruins.

With the deaths of most of the Jōnin and their leaders, the future of the Country of Tea was clear.

However, the consequences of this event would reach far beyond that. 

The deaths of Ebizō and Haruta Hanzo ensured that this mission would send shockwaves through the entire ninja world, like a tsunami.

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TO BE CONTINUED

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