Naruto: The ANBU God

Eight minutes...

Twenty minutes...

Forty-five minutes...

Time passed slowly.

But there were still no signs of the Konoha army at the end of the road.

Unseen, the atmosphere had grown increasingly tense. Everyone, after the initial excitement, had begun to feel their palms sweat, and the fanatical worship in their hearts had risen to its peak.

But... why hadn't the army arrived yet?

Our superhero! Luo Lei, come quickly!

These thoughts crossed the minds of everyone in Konoha, and more and more people were starting to lose control of their emotions.

Even some ninjas from clans like the Hyuga, Uchiha, and Nara couldn't hide their anxiety.

The color on their faces and their expressions began to change slightly.

"Keep calm! Our army will arrive soon, don't lose your composure!"

Perceiving everyone's growing enthusiasm and anxiety, Hiruzen, standing at the front, suppressed his own discontent and spoke in a deep voice. There was a hint of annoyance in his voice, an annoyance difficult to hide.

'In normal times, when they saw me, why didn't they show this much enthusiasm and excitement?' he thought with a tinge of bitterness.

After the place stabilized, he maintained his unperturbed expression, but very calmly took his pipe and put it to his mouth, inhaling deeply. Inside, jealousy burned.

He was the strongest Hokage in history! The Third Hokage! He was the one who should be under the spotlight, becoming the center of attention, enjoying the admiration and unconditional love of everyone!

But what was happening now?

It seemed like everyone had forgotten who he was!

Luo Lei, that young man who had just risen to prominence, was taking everything. Everything!

'Calm down, Hiruzen! Calm down! You are the Third Hokage, none of this matters...' Hiruzen exhaled a long puff of white smoke, trying to quell his rising anger.

"Hokage-sama, our main force will be here soon!"

But, just at that moment, a sensory ninja, who had perceived something, reported urgently.

"SO SOON?"

Hiruzen's eyes flickered, revealing a mix of surprise and worry that he quickly tried to disguise.

"..."

The tense expressions of Koharu, Homura, and Danzo, who hadn't spoken for quite a while, also changed slightly, their bodies tensing upon hearing the news.

"They're finally here!!"

"Yes, our team is coming, finally!"

"Hahaha, I'm finally going to see the Ninja God! Luo Lei-sama is here!"

With the words of the sensory ninja, it was like lighting a fuse, exciting everyone.

The scene, which had calmed down briefly, once again filled with noise, commotion, and shouts of euphoria.

.....

After about five minutes.

At the end of the road, just ahead, a dark shadow finally appeared, and as the distance shortened, it could be seen clearly: it was the Konoha troops that had fought in the Land of Hot Water.

The group's speed began to slow because they were about to reach the village.

Jonin, Chunin, and Genin also began to organize into orderly rows. Luo Lei, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Minato, and others were at the front.

"Finally home!"

Jiraiya looked at his beloved village of Konoha, ready for the welcoming ceremony, and at last, a spark of relief appeared in his tired eyes.

During the return journey to the village, it became clear that Luo Lei was like a tourist, stopping and visiting places at will, while Rin and Yugito followed behind him as servants. And to top it all off, it seemed that Luo Lei and Tsunade had a close relationship.

Jiraiya, watching all of this, felt an unease and bitterness that he couldn't contain.

"What does she see in him...?"

What particularly surprised him was Tsunade.

She seemed genuinely interested in Luo Lei, and it took him completely by surprise, almost like a slap in the face.

The whole village knew he was in love with Tsunade, but fate had always been cruel. Tsunade had never seen him as anything more than a close friend. There had never been even the slightest sign that there could be anything more between them.

But now, with Luo Lei close to her, Jiraiya felt as if his heart were being trampled on. The feeling of something so close slipping through his fingers was devastating, and his mood had never been so somber.

"We're back... to the village."

Minato also showed a bitter expression on his face.

Originally, he had wanted to use his Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Konoha earlier and report to the Hokage, but Luo Lei had abruptly stopped him, saying that they were all a team and there was no need to go ahead alone.

Minato gritted his teeth and, with no choice, was forced to stay with the troops.

'When I report everything to Hokage-sama, I'll visit Kushina!' Minato thought, trying to ease his discomfort with a clear goal in mind.

And he murmured to himself, "After all, she's the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. I need to make sure she's safe, that everything is under control. I can't disappoint the council... I need it to become Hokage."

In his heart, for a long time, the Will of Fire and the figure of the Third Hokage had been most important. Saving Kushina that time had been nothing more than fulfilling the assigned mission.

That was the reality.

"..."

As for Shikaku, he was a smart man. He gave Inoichi and the others a meaningful look, a look that everyone instantly understood.

The council and Luo Lei were definitely going to have a conflict. They just needed to stand firm, support the Hokage outwardly while secretly backing Luo Lei. That way, whatever the outcome, they wouldn't be affected.

Finally, under the watchful gaze of everyone.

The army stopped about 300 meters from Konoha's entrance.

Silence!

Seeing the great army up close.

Involuntarily, the entire scene was wrapped in an overwhelming silence. Every breath was held, every gaze fixed on the figure at the front of everyone.

Until Luo Lei took a small step forward.

BOOM!

At that moment, without any prior warning.

The entire place exploded immediately.

"LOU LEI-SAMA!!" "LOU LEI-SAMA!!" "LOU LEI-SAMA!!"

Seeing Luo Lei up close.

Many of those present involuntarily let out a series of deafening shouts, and when those voices joined together, the roar was so powerful that it seemed to pierce the sky.

Some civilians were so overwhelmed with excitement that they fainted and had to be moved aside by some ninjas maintaining order.

The scene became a chaotic frenzy of overflowing emotions.

"This... this is..."

Perceiving the situation out of control.

Hiruzen, Danzo, Koharu, and Homura, despite having been prepared, couldn't hide the surprise on their faces. They were visibly astonished.

Among them, Homura sighed in relief after reacting. He believed that Luo Lei, the village's Superhero, wouldn't dare act recklessly in front of so many devoted followers.

However, he didn't see the crimson flash that briefly crossed Luo Lei's eyes....

________

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