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It didn’t take long for the Anbu to arrive.
They examined the bodies of the three Kumo Shinobi. Shin couldn’t see their expressions behind their masks.
“What happened here?”
One of the Anbu questioned them. The others continued to inspect the bodies.
“We were attacked by Kumo Shinobi. We killed them in self-defense. Oh, and they said their accomplices were going after Akiko and Kai.”
Shin reported.
“What?! You, take them to the Hokage’s office. The rest of you, with me!”
The Anbu squad leader immediately left with three other Anbu. Akiko was under the Sandaime Hokage’s protection; she couldn’t be harmed.
He didn’t have time to verify Shin’s claims. If something happened to Akiko, it would be too late.
“You three, follow me to the Hokage’s office. You need to report this to the Sandaime Hokage.”
The remaining Anbu said to Shin and his team.
Shin shrugged and followed the Anbu, Kushina and Mikoto trailing behind him. Nawaki also tagged along, not wanting to be left alone with the corpses.
Shin’s use of Ice Release had been exposed, but he didn’t care. If he had wanted to keep it a secret, he wouldn’t have used it against the Kumo Shinobi.
Ice Release wasn’t his trump card, not yet anyway.
They arrived at the Hokage’s office, and the Anbu agent reported the incident to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen immediately dispatched several Anbu squads to retrieve Akiko.
He then turned his attention to Shin and the others.
“Shin, Nawaki, Kushina, Mikoto, are you all alright?” Hiruzen asked with concern.
“Thank you for your concern, Sandaime-sama. We’re not injured.”
Shin looked at Hiruzen, knowing the Hokage was about to get down to business.
As expected, Hiruzen asked, “Shin, those ice Jutsu you used earlier… What was that?”
“It’s my Kekkei Genkai,” Shin replied truthfully.
Hiruzen was taken aback. Wasn’t the Uzumaki Clan’s Kekkei Genkai the Sage Body? Had Shin developed a new Kekkei Genkai?
Besides Kekkei Genkai like the Sage Body, Sharingan, and Byakugan, it was possible to develop new elemental Kekkei Genkai.
By combining two different Chakra Natures, one could create a new type of Jutsu. This was a Kekkei Genkai.
Ice Release was a combination of Wind and Water Release.
The Mizunashi Clan of Kirigakure also possessed Ice Release. And once a Kekkei Genkai was successfully developed, it could be passed down to future generations.
(OC Clan of Ice Release!)
“You developed it yourself?” Hiruzen asked.
“Yeah, I stumbled upon it by accident,” Shin said casually.
Hiruzen’s lips twitched. This wasn’t just genius; it was monstrous. He had never heard of anyone developing a Kekkei Genkai at the age of ten.
He didn’t know that Shin had copied the Ice Release. He assumed Shin had developed it himself.
He didn’t ask how Shin had done it. In the Shinobi world, it was taboo to pry into someone’s Kekkei Genkai or Jutsu.
Besides, developing a Kekkei Genkai often involved luck. Some stumbled upon it accidentally, while others spent their entire lives researching without success.
It mainly depended on the ratio of the two Chakra Natures being combined. Even those who had successfully developed a Kekkei Genkai couldn’t explain the exact process. They often experimented until they suddenly succeeded.
So, luck was a factor.
Even if Hiruzen asked, Shin couldn’t answer. He hadn’t developed the Ice Release himself.
“Ahem, Shin, are you married?”
Hiruzen suddenly asked.
Shin stared at him, bewildered.
“I have a niece around your age. I could introduce you.”
The temperature in the room plummeted. Kushina glared at Hiruzen, her body radiating killing intent.
Mikoto’s smile vanished, replaced by a frown.
Nawaki shivered. Why were Kushina and Mikoto so scary?
Shin’s eye twitched. He knew what Hiruzen was thinking.
Kekkei Genkai could be passed down. That was Hiruzen’s motive.
“No, thank you,” Shin refused politely.
Kushina and Mikoto were glaring at him. He had to prioritize his safety.
Besides, he didn’t know if Hiruzen’s niece was even pretty. If she was, he might consider it. But considering the Sarutobi Clan’s… unique looks, he decided against it. He preferred humans.
Hiruzen was embarrassed, but thankfully, several Anbu entered the room, saving him from further awkwardness.
“Hokage-sama, we brought Uzumaki Akiko.”
They had also brought Minato and Kai, all three of them injured.
Seeing Akiko safe and sound, Hiruzen sighed in relief. She was already being groomed as the Jinchūriki. If something happened to her, finding a replacement would be troublesome.
“Are you sure those Shinobi were from Kumo?”
Hiruzen asked the Anbu.
“Judging from the Jutsu they used, it’s highly likely.”
The Anbu couldn’t be completely sure. It was possible that Shinobi from another village were impersonating Kumo. They would need to investigate further.
Hiruzen nodded and asked about Minato and the others’ injuries. He was mainly concerned about Akiko, though. She was too important.
After a brief questioning, Hiruzen dismissed them.
As they left the Hokage Tower, Shin sensed two Anbu following them. Or rather, following Akiko.
He didn’t care, as long as they weren’t following him.
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