Chapter 26: Golden Flash?
With Sarutobi Asuma's shocking behavior, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically. His words added more tension to the already heightened situation.
"Kirito, Light Release?" Asuma muttered, glancing at the document in his hand. "Defeating Mei Terumi, the Kage-level powerhouse, with a single strike? Yasakani no Magatama? Golden Flash?"
The document he held was from Kirigakure's intelligence department, and it contained the detailed account of Team 7's mission to the Land of Waves, including their encounter with Mei Terumi and Zabuza.
Upon hearing Asuma's words, Kirito, who had been calm until then, furrowed his brow. He immediately realized that his plan to conceal the details of his strength had failed.
Yuhi Kurenai, standing beside Kirito, looked at Asuma's nervous behavior with a puzzled expression. "Asuma, have you lost your mind? What are you talking about?" she asked, confused.
Asuma, still looking stunned, reached for a cigarette, his hands slightly trembling as he lit it. "No, let me calm down," he muttered, clearly trying to process the implications of what he had just read.
Seeing Asuma's unusual behavior, Kurenai glanced down at the document just handed to him. "What's going on? Why are you acting so strange?" she asked, her concern growing.
She read the document, her eyes scanning the details rapidly. After a moment, she dropped it onto the table in disbelief. "Kirigakure's intelligence file? Are these details true?" she exclaimed. Her voice held a mixture of shock and worry as she turned to Kirito.
Kirito, lost in his thoughts, nodded calmly in response. He knew the significance of this document. Kirigakure had clearly sent it to Konoha to stir trouble, bringing attention to his role in the mission. And the last thing he wanted was for the entire ninja world to start scrutinizing him.
"Kirito, is this true?" Kurenai asked again, her voice more urgent now. She was struggling to understand how Kirito could keep such a powerful secret hidden.
Kirito sighed softly, understanding that the truth had already been laid bare. "It's true," he said simply. "But this is nothing new. The rhythm of my peaceful life will be disrupted again, but there's no stopping it now."
Meanwhile, the news of Kirito's abilities spread like wildfire throughout the ninja world. The Hidden Mist Village's intelligence report reached not only Konoha but other major ninja villages as well. The name "Golden Flash" was quickly becoming a legend.
In the Sand Village, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, stroking his chin thoughtfully, read the report about Kirito. "A new Golden Flash, huh? Interesting," he mused aloud, clearly intrigued.
In the Hidden Rock Village, the third Tsuchikage, Onoki, scoffed at the idea. "A young man claiming to be the heir of the Golden Flash? Ridiculous," he muttered. "Light Release? What can compare to the Flying Thunder God Technique?"
But despite his dismissive attitude, the name "Kirito" had taken root in Onoki's mind.
Elsewhere, in the mountains of the Land of Iron, a giant muscular man grinned, eager to test his strength against Kirito. "Let's spar!" he declared, his voice booming.
In a dark cave, members of the Akatsuki, including Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki, discussed the newfound threat. "Kirito... the Golden Flash," Kisame mused with a grin. "It seems we have an interesting opponent."
Itachi remained silent, his cold eyes narrowing. "None of your business," he said simply, not wanting to delve deeper into the matter.
Meanwhile, the ninja world was abuzz with discussions about Kirito's abilities. In Konoha, the higher-ups had gathered, and Kirito was the center of attention. Surrounded by Kakashi, Guy, Kurenai, and Asuma, he was once again the subject of intense scrutiny.
Asuma, still processing the shock, remarked, "More real than my gender..." He was trying to make sense of the document and its implications.
Might Guy, always exuberant, exclaimed, "Kirito, you've inherited the title of Golden Flash?! That's amazing!"
Kakashi, who had been quiet up until now, set his comic book aside and gave Kirito a knowing look. "You're hiding your powers so well... Light Release... Golden Flash... You've really taken after your teacher," he said with a slight smirk.
Yuhi Kurenai, now more agitated than before, crossed her arms. "Kirito, you hid all of this from me? I can't believe you!" she scolded, though her eyes betrayed a mix of admiration and frustration.
Kirito simply smiled, a calm and knowing expression on his face, as he had no intention of explaining himself further.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat quietly, smoking his pipe, as he processed the report in his hands. His mind raced with thoughts about how to deal with Kirito and his unexpected rise to power. This new development would certainly shake things up in Konoha—and possibly the entire ninja world.
The old monkey's eyes narrowed as he considered his next move. There was no doubt that Kirito would continue to be a wildcard in the coming days. Whether that was a blessing or a curse remained to be seen.