"I still have three minutes," Link thought, sensing the abundant chakra c through him. He felt a tempting urge to unleash more jutsu on the field below.

  Teiques like the Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall, which could create a fluid-like earthen barrier, or Earth Flow Divide, which caused the ground to move with razor-sharp characteristics, were perfect options fe-scale attacks.

  The mutated versions were even more potent, with the Earth Flow Divide having signifitly enhanced destructive power.

  While their chakra cost was immense in his normal state, in his current powered-up form, he could cast three or four without exhausting himself. If he poured all his chakra ih Flow Divide, he estimated he could shred the entire 20-kilometer radius of the Forest of Death in an instant.

  "This is power," he thought, restraining his excitement.

  Link looked down at the now-quiet Training Ground Seven, where the only new addition was an irregur boulder. There was no sign of movement, but he remained vigint, wary of the fox-masked assaint's potential return.

  Even though his size and strength had increased signifitly, engaging in close bat against the Chakra Scalpel was too risky. It was safer to stay airborne on the Mountain Drake, maintaining his advantage.

  As for the dragon’s sudden appearance causing trouble… summoning teiques were uable. Even Jiraiya summoned a horde of giant toads uedly. The vilge wouldn’t hold him atable for such occurrences.

  Shortly after, Konoha's ninja arrived. The vilge’s response was lightning-fast. The moment the Mountain Drake had taken flight, the Barrier Team had issued a warning. Konoha’s barrier system, enpassing both ground and sky, had instantly detected the disturbance.

  Greeed ninja swarmed the area, leaping in like fleas. Most of them appeared to be jonin.

  Konoha hadn’t seen an i of this scale in a long time. The st time… well, the st time was also his doing.

  Liantly patted the Mountain Drake before dismissing his transformed state. The transition from overwhelming strength to extreme exhaustion was instantaneous.

  Amid the gathered ninjas’ watchful eyes, he desded lightly to the ground and dispelled the dragon, panting heavily.

  “in Link,” a voice called out.

  Link turo see a familiar figure approag. With two scars across his right cheek, a goatee, and a pineapple-shaped hairstyle, the man’s outfit was a quintessential Nara ensemble.

  “I’m Jonin Nara Shikaku,” he said sternly. “e with me to see the Third Hokage.”

  It wasn’t a request—it was an order.

  Using rge-scale jutsu and summoning a massive creature within the vilge was a serious breach of protocol. Being escorted to the Hokage was a form of prote. Normally, he’d be taken to the Anbu or Torture and Interrogation Division for processing. But as a prodigy, Link was granted special privileges.

  Nara Ensui, arriving te, sighed at the sight of his subordinate surrounded by special jonin and jonin. Scratg his cheek in exasperation, he shrugged helplessly.

  “Ensui, you’re ing too,” Shikaku said, his tone softening slightly as he g his younger mate.

  “Uood,” Ensui replied with a sigh.

  The other ninjas present remained silent, watg as the trio walked away.

  Oside Training Ground Seven, Link’s stamina recovered slightly, though the exhaustion from using his transformed chakra lihe abundant energy and chakra from his transformation couldn’t carry over after it ended.

  With Shikaku walking ahead and Ensui trailing behind, the group moved swiftly. After a brief silence, Shikaku spoke, “The Anbu assigo protect you were found dead.”

  “I was attacked during training,” Link replied cisely. After a pause, he added, “Using a secret teique, I identified the assaint as Kabuto Yakushi, who employed mediinjutsu and the Chakra Scalpel.”

  It didn’t matter if it was true—pinning the bme on Kabuto was the safest move. A spy couldn’t withstand deep scrutiny.

  “Uood,” Shikaku aowledged. It wasn’t far-fetched for Konoha’s most promising in to make su accusation. Even if it were false, they would iigate thhly.

  …

  At the Hokage’s Office, Liered to find Kakashi Hatake, Kurenai Yūhi, and other familiar jonin.

  Shikaku delivered his report to the Third Hokage with a nod before departing.

  “Yo,” Kakashi greeted zily, raising a hand in a nont manner.

  Kurenai smiled and he atmosphere in the office was rexed, despite the earlier i.

  The Third Hokage, a smile on his face, addressed Link warmly, “Young Link, would you mind expining what happened?”

  Repeating his earlier at, Link id the bme squarely on Kabuto. Even if they couldn’t apprehend or kill him, it was worth f the spy into hiding.

  The Hokage pondered briefly before speaking lightly, “If that’s the case, the pnned punishment of having you repair Training Ground Seven…”

  “…will be waived.” His tone was almost pyful.

  “Rest assured, the vilge will not tolerate such as,” he tinued kindly. “Kakashi, I’ll leave this matter to you.”

  “Uood,” Kakashi replied, his demeanor turning more serious.

  Turning back to Link, the Hokage asked, “How has your training been goily?”

  “Fairly smooth,” Link admitted. “Though my chakra reserves remain an issue…”

  Judging by the fox-masked man’s earlier remarks, the vilge was likely already aware of his mutated jutsu and the associated chakra problems.

  Hearing this, Ensui dispyed a resigned expression, Kakashi sighed silently, and Kurenai nodded in agreement.

  This room was filled with the “low-chakra ”—even the aging Hokage wasn’t exempt.

  If solving chakra limitations were easy, everyone would have do by now.

  Link’s pint hung heavy in the air, leaving the room in awkward silehe Hokage, initially intending to offer advice, instead coughed lightly and said, “Retly, Anbu will be assigo protect you openly.”

  “And if you enter any challenges in your training, feel free to sult me,” he added warmly.

  Link bowed his head gratefully. “Thank you, Lord Third. I’ll take my leave now.”

  He left the office, leaving the Hokage and jonin to discuss the i further.