Haruto Saito sensed danger, the feeling of being locked onto and about to be taken down!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was extremely gloomy, and the tea cup in his hand seemed to have been crushed by some unknown force, turning into white powder that floated down, while the tea inside evaporated, and the cup turned into ashes...
"Uh, teacher, I think I might have misremembered just now, I can correct myself... I don't want there to be any unnecessary misunderstandings between us..." Haruto Saito spoke carefully, choosing his words.
Unfortunately, he couldn't beat Sarutobi Hiruzen! Better to act humble for now!
"Teacher, as for the matter with Haruto Saito, it all started... it was an accident, really..." Tsunade also spoke up.
Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to become a vortex, swallowing all the warmth in the room, leaving only an icy cold in the hall. His presence was profound, very profound...
"Don't say it!" Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted Tsunade's words coldly.
He was really angry! Sarutobi Hiruzen's emotional changes could be roughly divided into three stages: the first stage was indifference, impassive and silent, completely unconcerned; the second stage was rage, to the point of fury, where he would become agitated; and the third stage was still indifference. This was what could be called the "extreme anger" state!
Because no amount of words or physical movements, no form of hysteria, could express his extreme anger adequately! Sarutobi Hiruzen was now in this state!
"We'll talk about this later." Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke again in a calm voice.
Tsunade visibly sighed in relief, and Haruto Saito did as well. Fortunately, they had temporarily passed over it, so they could report on the situation regarding the Hidden Mist now and shift Sarutobi Hiruzen's focus.
"Haruto Saito, I haven't tested your strength in a while!" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Haruto Saito.
"Uh..."
Haruto Saito's expression froze!
What did it mean that Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to test his strength?
In his "extreme anger" state, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly wanted to test his strength?
Shit!
Damn it!
"Teacher, I'm not feeling well today. How about we report the situation from the Tidal Mountain mission first? As for testing my strength, I think it could be done another day..." Haruto Saito spoke, raising his hand to rub his forehead, acting like he had a headache.
"Hmph!" Sarutobi Hiruzen snorted coldly, suddenly standing up.
Haruto Saito quickly moved behind Tsunade.
Tsunade also looked like she was ready to protect Haruto Saito.
"Haruto Saito, since you're not feeling well, then I'll test you simply. Pay attention..." Sarutobi Hiruzen was adopting a stance as though he was about to make a move!
Haruto Saito felt threatened!
Because they were in Gutan Village! Here, Haruto Saito couldn't use his full strength, and Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't either. If a fight broke out, there would be no need for big moves; just a few casual blows, and half of Gutan Village would be destroyed!
What a shameless old man! He was doing it on purpose!
"Uh... Teacher, I suddenly feel much better, like there's no problem now!" Haruto Saito immediately spoke.
He noticed that Sarutobi Hiruzen's attitude toward him had shifted again, from "extreme anger" to "hostile."
Normally, the hostile state meant subjective harm intentions, including murderous intent! But the "extreme anger" state was purely murderous intent! If someone maintained the hostile state toward Haruto Saito, he wouldn't know if they were trying to set him up or kill him!
But Sarutobi Hiruzen had once entered an "extreme anger" state!
This meant that, at that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen really wanted to eliminate Haruto Saito!
But now, Sarutobi Hiruzen had shifted from "extreme anger" to "hostile," meaning the killing intent had diminished. He no longer wanted to eliminate Haruto Saito, but the hostile state still meant...
He wanted to teach Haruto Saito a lesson!
The test was likely going to involve making Haruto Saito realize why flowers are so red!
Yeah... Haruto Saito couldn't back down now!
At this moment, he absolutely couldn't show weakness!
"Since you're fine now, choose a nearby location suitable for testing!" Sarutobi Hiruzen said, hands behind his back, his tone still indifferent, his face expressionless.
"Teacher, I think, since you came in such a hurry, perhaps..." Tsunade spoke again.
"You have objections?" Sarutobi Hiruzen shot a glance at Tsunade.
"It's not that, Teacher, testing a disciple is naturally..." Tsunade hesitated.
"No buts. If you have any doubts, I'll test you both together..." Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke again.
"Teacher, I have no objections." Tsunade immediately said, her expression serious. She then turned, placing a hand on Haruto Saito's shoulder, speaking earnestly, "Haruto Saito, perform well and don't disappoint the teacher!"
Haruto Saito looked at Tsunade with slanted eyes, thinking: "Damn, why are you acting so meek? What happened to your bad temper?"
...
More than ten minutes later.
In the south of Gutan Village, in a valley, on a vast grass field.
Under the moonlit night, the stars twinkled!
A gentle breeze blew, the green grass swaying like waves! The wind messed up Tsunade's golden hair... She, along with Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Fubuki Ryuuya, and thirteen others, stood at the edge of the open space, watching.
The grass under their feet swayed, swallowing Sarutobi Hiruzen's ankles.
Haruto Saito stood several dozen meters away, sharpening his blade!
"Teacher, I'm no longer a child! If you want to test me, you'll need to show some real skills..." Haruto Saito said, his gaze cold, his tone firm.
Tsunade, standing nearby, raised her hand to cover her forehead. She had a headache.
Can't you stop showing off for once?!
She already knew Sarutobi Hiruzen was going to teach Haruto Saito a lesson, and he would surely use his full strength. And given Haruto Saito's current power, even if Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't use all his strength, he might not be able to win against Haruto Saito...
So, Haruto Saito's words were just empty bragging!
Of course, Haruto Saito also had a second meaning in his words—he wasn't a child anymore... not a child!
"Haruto Saito, you've been in Konoha for nearly two and a half years now... In these two and a half years, your strength has skyrocketed from a mere Genin to your current height. Although you have outstanding talent, you've also faced countless life-and-death situations. You've earned this power... I admit, you are the most talented ninja of this era, but your training time has still been short, and your strength has grown quickly, but your foundation is unstable... Today's battle will be the strictest test I've given you. I'll make you aware of your shortcomings... I know you have your pride, but that pride isn't necessary... I genuinely hope you pass this test... I hope that by the time the test is over, you're still standing and still conscious..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was serious!
Haruto Saito's heart began to race!
"Just now, you said you wanted me to use real skills!" Sarutobi Hiruzen continued, "I won't look down on you. I'll give my all, as you wish!"
As soon as his words fell, Sarutobi Hiruzen bit his finger.
Hand seals!
"Summoning!"
Boom!
White smoke exploded around Sarutobi Hiruzen! A tall figure wrapped in animal pelts, resembling a ninja, appeared beside Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Everyone's expression changed!
Sarutobi Hiruzen had summoned his ace before the test even began!
The Monkey King—Saruma!
Looking back in history, the last time Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Saruma during a battle was during the First Great Ninja War!
"Do you have to be this serious..." Haruto Saito muttered with a twitching corner of his mouth.
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