Two days later.
Konoha Village.
Inside the Hokage Tower.
The "Konoha Four Beauties" team successfully completed their mission and returned to the village.
"I never expected two S-rank rogue ninjas to appear during this mission. It seems that with Akira Ren's help, your strength has improved tremendously..."
After listening to Yuhi Kurenai's report, the Third Hokage was both shocked and deeply impressed.
"But what's most important is that all of you returned safely. Thank you for your hard work."
He had never expected Zabuza to appear during this mission.
Even more unbelievable was that Kurenai's team had eliminated both S-rank rogue ninjas—Black Hoe Thunder Fang and Zabuza—and returned completely unharmed.
It was almost impossible to believe.
"This is simply our duty, Hokage-sama."
Kurenai replied with a smile.
"So, Anko, you've completely mastered Orochimaru's Curse Seal?"
The Third Hokage took a slow puff from his pipe as he looked at Anko.
At the same time, he was weighing her earlier request—whether he should allow her to keep one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist, the Lightning Blade Fang.
After all, the Seven Ninja Swords were politically sensitive treasures that could easily create diplomatic complications.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Anko clenched her fist confidently.
"After Akira Ren improved it, the Curse Seal Transformation no longer has any side effects and can unleash even greater power."
"According to Akira Ren, the Curse Seal is actually an alternative form of Sage Transformation. Orochimaru's Heaven Curse Seal is only an inferior imitation."
"But my Curse Seal Transformation is the genuine version. It can already be considered an alternative Sage Mode."
She hugged the twin Lightning Blades tightly while looking at the Third Hokage with hopeful eyes, eagerly awaiting his decision.
The more she used the blades, the more she liked them.
She truly didn't want to give them up.
"Sage Mode?"
The Third Hokage's pupils contracted sharply.
Realization dawned on him, followed by profound shock.
"No wonder you were able to display such overwhelming strength."
Once again, he was forced to reevaluate Senju Akira Ren.
The fact that Akira could casually improve Orochimaru's Heaven Curse Seal and allow Anko to obtain an alternative Sage Mode meant he had almost certainly already mastered the true Sage Mode himself.
At only ten years old, he had awakened Wood Release, possessed chakra reserves comparable to a Tailed Beast, and mastered Sage Mode.
It was simply unbelievable.
At that moment, the Third Hokage silently felt grateful that he had stopped Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and the others from provoking the boy.
He couldn't even imagine the consequences if Senju Akira Ren ever fought without restraint.
Just how terrifying would Wood Release enhanced by Sage Arts become?
If Akira had existed nine years earlier, he might have been capable of suppressing the Nine-Tails—the strongest of the Nine Tailed Beasts—single-handedly.
"Very well. The Lightning Blade Fang will belong to you, Anko."
After a moment of consideration, the Third Hokage made his decision.
Taking Akira Ren's close relationship with Anko into account, the man who normally prioritized stability made an unusually bold choice.
He exhaled a cloud of smoke and smiled.
"I hope you'll use it well to protect the village."
"Yes! Thank you, Hokage-sama! I will definitely do my best to protect the village!"
Anko was overjoyed.
She immediately bowed respectfully to the Third Hokage.
She was a shinobi of Konoha.
If she had ever wanted to betray the village, she would have followed Orochimaru long ago.
She didn't need the Third Hokage to tell her to protect Konoha—she would do so regardless.
Of course, protecting Konoha did not mean protecting those in power.
She knew perfectly well where to draw the line.
"Good. Your strength has passed the required assessment. From today onward, Anko, you are officially promoted to Jonin of Konoha."
Considering that Anko had effortlessly defeated Black Hoe Thunder Fang alone—a feat well beyond Special Jonin level and firmly within elite Jonin territory—the Third Hokage officially promoted her to full Jonin.
"Really? That's wonderful!"
Anko's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Unable to contain her joy, she jumped into the air.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
"Congratulations, Anko."
"Congratulations, Senior Anko."
Kurenai, Inuzuka Hana, Uzuki Yugao, and the others all smiled as they congratulated her.
Given both her strength and her accomplishments, the promotion was only natural.
"Hehe..."
"You've all worked hard these past few days. Go and get some rest."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
...
Not long afterward.
The Third Hokage looked at Uzuki Yugao, who had returned alone and was kneeling respectfully before him.
After listening to her detailed report, he was visibly shaken.
"Yuhi Kurenai not only possesses exceptional sensory abilities but also a dojutsu comparable to the Byakugan that can see through objects more than ten kilometers away?"
He inhaled sharply, unable to hide his disbelief.
"And Mitarashi Anko not only uses Curse Seal Transformation but also possesses the rare Dark Release bloodline limit?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Uzuki Yugao answered seriously.
She knew Kurenai and Anko hadn't intentionally concealed their abilities during the mission, nor had they made any effort to hide them.
Otherwise, they would never have displayed everything in front of her.
That realization actually eased her conscience.
She no longer felt conflicted about reporting the details despite Akira Ren's involvement.
After making a few minor adjustments to Kurenai's official report, she presented the complete account to the Third Hokage.
"Red chakra surrounding Yuhi Kurenai's eyes..."
"That should be the legendary Red Eye—the natural nemesis of the Byakugan—which disappeared during the Warring States Era."
As Konoha's Hokage and a member of the prestigious Sarutobi Clan, Hiruzen Sarutobi possessed knowledge equal to, if not greater than, Danzo's.
He quickly concluded that Kurenai's ocular ability was almost certainly the legendary Red Eye.
"What an extraordinary young man."
"He actually developed a forbidden technique capable of granting others bloodline limits."
The Third Hokage took another deep puff from his pipe and sighed with amazement.
"Hokage-sama... Does a forbidden technique like that really exist?"
Even after witnessing everything firsthand, Uzuki Yugao still found it difficult to believe.
"I'm not certain. This is only my speculation."
The Third Hokage wore a complicated expression, but there was unmistakable relief in his eyes.
"Fortunately... such a genius belongs to Konoha."
He didn't dare imagine how terrifying things would be if Senju Akira Ren had been born in another hidden village instead.
That would have been a truly frightening prospect.
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