Chapter 45: Instantly Defeating an ANBU Jonin — Sarutobi’s Hypocrisy

By noon, the two decided to grab some ramen at Ichiraku.

However, just as they arrived in front of Ichiraku Ramen, an ANBU suddenly jumped out from the side and said coldly:

"Uchiha shinobi, stay away from here."

Reiji frowned and glanced inside the shop.

Sure enough, he saw a certain little blond-haired figure.

But!

He still felt a surge of anger rising inside him!

"Which regulation says Uchiha shinobi have to avoid him? Do you seriously think we’re going to kidnap a little kid?!"

Reiji didn’t hold back at all.

However.

The ANBU shinobi in front of him showed no intention of backing down.

In his mind, the Uchiha were the group most suspected of manipulating the Nine-Tails’ rampage, making them the people who absolutely could not be allowed near the Nine-Tails’ jinchuriki!

And now, the people standing in front of him were two members of the Uchiha Police Force!

Shisui also noticed Naruto inside.

Knowing that this was because the Nine-Tails’ jinchuriki was there, he quickly stopped the enraged Reiji and tried to persuade him.

"Alright, Reiji. We can just go somewhere else."

However.

Before the two could leave, Naruto had already finished eating and walked out.

Instantly!

The pedestrians who had been watching the scene on the street all hurriedly looked away.

Some even pointed toward Naruto while warning their own children.

Clearly, they were telling their children to stay away from him.

Seeing this, Reiji couldn’t help feeling even more amused.

The son of the Fourth Hokage was treated like this in his own village!

Everyone knew him as the "Nine-Tails Fox."

Who would believe there wasn’t someone deliberately spreading that information behind the scenes?!

...

On the banks of the Naka River.

Reiji was carrying out his daily training.

Recently, apart from his regular taijutsu training to temper his body and occasionally asking Shisui for guidance on genjutsu, he had two other training goals.

The first was trying to combine the Lightning Release stimulation technique with the Body Flicker Technique he had learned from Shisui.

Shisui’s Body Flicker Technique was extremely sophisticated.

He combined Shadow Clones with the Body Flicker Technique, used Wind Release to further increase his speed, and then supplemented it with genjutsu to interfere with his opponent’s perception.

With the Body Flicker talent he had obtained from the system and his Wind Release affinity, Reiji could now barely master Shisui’s Body Flicker technique.

But adding the Lightning Release stimulation technique created another difficulty.

Lightning Release and Wind Release had conflicting elemental properties!

Therefore, even with his current Lightning Release and Body Flicker talents, he couldn’t fuse the two in a short period of time.

As for his other training goal, it was mastering Lightning Release: Kirin.

This large-scale, high-powered S-rank Lightning Release technique involved manipulating the forces of nature, making it extremely difficult to master.

Above the river, lightning occasionally flickered within the dark clouds.

At the same time, Reiji would occasionally release a Fire Release technique toward the Naka River, generating massive amounts of water vapor and causing the storm clouds to grow increasingly dense.

"Controlling it really is somewhat difficult."

With his three-tomoe Sharingan activated, Reiji carefully observed the dark clouds overhead while remotely controlling the lightning within them.

The lightning inside consisted of both lightning formed through chakra and naturally occurring lightning.

The latter was far more abundant than the former!

It was precisely because of this enormous natural force that Lightning Release: Kirin was so difficult to control.

Suddenly.

Another ANBU shinobi appeared nearby and warned him:

"Uchiha shinobi, leave this area. Go somewhere else to train."

Looking at the storm clouds overhead that were accumulating terrifying power, the ANBU shinobi was secretly alarmed.

The Hokage and the Nine-Tails’ jinchuriki were nearby.

Such a dangerous technique was too risky.

It would be better to drive the Uchiha away and have him train somewhere else.

However.

Before he could hear a response from Reiji, a fist rapidly grew larger in his vision!

The ANBU shinobi’s pupils contracted.

He tried to dodge, but it was already too late!

Bam!

A heavy punch struck him directly in the face, sending his entire body flying backward.

"Have I been too nice to you people, making you think I’m easy to bully?"

Reiji’s expression was cold.

Shisui had been there earlier, so he hadn’t wanted to go too far.

But now, he was alone!

Enough was enough.

They wouldn’t even let him eat in peace, and now they wanted to interfere with his training too?

When would it end?!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two more ANBU shinobi appeared nearby, staring at Reiji warily.

They hadn’t even been able to react just now before their captain was sent flying!

And their captain was a genuine Jonin!

Yet he hadn’t even had time to react before being instantly defeated?

Although their captain had been caught off guard, even so, the fact that Reiji could instantly defeat a Jonin said more than enough about his strength!

Just as Reiji faced off against the ANBU, an aged chuckle came from nearby.

"Heh heh, it’s a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding."

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked over.

"The ANBU were simply carrying out their duties."

Behind him was a little blond-haired boy holding a grilled fish.

Uzumaki Naruto.

Reiji immediately understood what was happening.

This old man, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was once again spending time with Naruto to strengthen their bond.

Almost everyone in the village rejected Naruto.

Yet there was one kindly old man who treated him well, even taking him out to grill fish and spend time together.

For a child who knew nothing about the truth, how could Naruto not be moved?

Through methods like this, Hiruzen could easily keep the Nine-Tails’ jinchuriki under his control.

"The Hokage must be extremely busy with official duties. Yet you still managed to find time to spend with a child."

Reiji’s tone was completely emotionless.

Hiruzen, however, answered with a solemn expression.

"Every child is the future of the village. They all deserve to be properly cared for."

Seriously?

Reiji found it unbelievable.

How could this old man say something like that without the slightest psychological burden?

When Naruto was being bullied and ostracized by the villagers, where were Hiruzen and the ANBU?

At this point, Reiji had no desire to remain there.

If he stayed any longer, he was afraid he’d lose his appetite for lunch.

"Since the Hokage is here, I’ll find somewhere else to train."

"However, I hope you’ll discipline your ANBU subordinates."

"The villagers have always thought that our Police Force handles matters unreasonably. But judging by what happened today, it seems the ANBU are even more unreasonable than us."

After saying that, Reiji turned around and left without looking back.

Hiruzen watched the dark clouds that had yet to disperse overhead, then glanced at the ANBU captain being helped to his feet.

He couldn’t help frowning inwardly.

This Uchiha Reiji... is becoming stronger and stronger.

Behind him, little Naruto asked curiously:

"Old man, you said that big brother just now called you the Hokage? What’s a Hokage?"

Hiruzen turned around with a kind smile.

"The Hokage is the person who protects everyone in the village."

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