Chapter 354: Walking Away

"Descending Rogue Threads"

"Lightning Release: Chidori Blade!!"

As Yu swiftly raised and swung his arm down, five almost transparent thin threads were created from each of his five fingers. These threads descended from the sky and instantly pierced through Asuma's tall body.

Because they were so sharp, the thin threads not only penetrated Asuma's body but also pierced through the ground, pinning him firmly in place, unable to move.

"Damn it… Ugh!!"

In just one move, Yu sent Asuma flying with a kick, and his body was pierced and pinned to the ground by the five sharp threads. As Asuma, wracked with pain, tried to struggle, the Lightning Release current entwined in the threads paralyzed his body, rendering him completely powerless.

"Yu?!"

Although she would unconditionally stand by Yu, seeing him knock down her colleague Asuma with a single blow left Kurenai unable to suppress a gasp. She hoped to stop Yu from delivering a fatal blow.

"People can hold onto hope because they cannot see death."

"Before you speak to stop me from doing anything, I hope you weigh your own strength first."

However, considering the Third Hokage and not having any personal animosity towards him, Yu clearly didn't intend to kill Sarutobi Asuma. Instead, he used the least lethal "Descending Rogue Lines" in conjunction with his masterful Lightning Release Chakra to instantly pierce and paralyze Asuma's body.

Standing in front of Asuma, looking down at him as he struggled in vain, Yu's face flashed with deep disdain. "Perhaps you've grown stronger over the years, but in my eyes, you're still no different from the brat who once talked back to his father."

"Let's go, Kurenai."

After speaking, Yu ignored the stunned and shocked expressions of the three young onlookers, took Kurenai's hand in front of Asuma, and walked away.

"Damn it... Stop right there!!"

Hearing Yu's disdainful words, Asuma's pride was shattered once again. Using all his remaining strength, he could only barely grab a lump of earth in front of him. "Hokage-sama and the ANBU ninjas are on their way here... Don't think you can cause trouble in Konoha!!"

"Sarutobi-sensei, huh? Perfect..."

As Yu was walking away with Kurenai, he heard Asuma's words behind him. He stopped, slightly turned his head, revealing half of his flawless face and deep amber eyes, and looked at him. "Since I'm back in Konoha, I have no reason not to see the old man..."

After saying this, Yu paid no further attention to Asuma, who was lying on the ground shouting furiously. He took Kurenai and disappeared from everyone's sight.

"You... you've got to be kidding..."

"Asuma-sensei, an elite Jonin, was defeated by him in one move?!"

A trembling voice arose. Seeing Yu leave with their sensei Kurenai, Kiba Inuzuka, who had been standing nearby too scared to breathe, finally couldn't hold back and sat down on the ground, his face full of disbelief.

Although Yu hadn't looked at him once, the overwhelming aura that Yu unintentionally exuded when he took down Asuma with one move made the recently graduated Genin, Kiba Inuzuka, break out in a cold sweat.

"Scarlet Yu... I finally remembered, that guy is the Scarlet Yu who left Konoha six years ago!!"

Meanwhile, even the usually calm Shino Aburame beside Kiba Inuzuka couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. His black sunglasses couldn't hide the shock and emotion in his eyes. "A disciple of the Third Hokage, the legendary ninja who could fight a thousand enemies alone... I can't believe the person Kurenai-sensei has always liked is him?!"

"Brother Yu..."

At this moment, unlike the shocked expressions of Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame, the serene Hinata stood there looking in the direction where Yu had taken Kurenai, whispering softly as if she had lost something precious. Her pure white eyes harbored ripples of emotions that no one could understand...

...

"Why did you come back so suddenly?"

"You didn't even tell me... Does Yugao know?"

Walking beside Yu on a small path in the Konoha forest, Kurenai, who had matured into a beautiful and elegant woman, was as happy as a child who had just received their favorite toy. Her laughter, like the sound of silver bells, echoed all around.

"She doesn't know yet..."

Seeing the joy on Kurenai's beautiful face, Yu seemed to be in a better mood as well, a slight smile forming at the corner of his mouth. "When we have some time later, let's go surprise her together!"

"Sure, she should be finishing her mission around this time..."

Hearing Yu's suggestion, Kurenai's enchanting eyes curved into crescent moons. "She'll be thrilled to see you, I'm sure..."

Perhaps because they liked the same person, during the time Yu was away from Konoha, the girl Kurenai was closest to, aside from her best friend Mitarashi Anko, was Uzuki Yugao.

The two chatted and laughed as they walked along a long forest path.

Now twenty years old, Yu still looked like he was seventeen or eighteen, but he was no longer the little boy Kurenai once took care of. His slim, tall figure was now subtly taller than Kurenai, who was 169 cm. Walking together, they looked like a picture-perfect couple.

"Konohamaru!!"

"Crashing into people hurts, you little brat!!"

"Fatty! Let him go right now!!"

Just as the two of them stepped out of the forest path and into the clearing, the noise coming from a short distance away immediately caught their attention.

Much like scenes from the anime, Naruto and Sakura were quarreling and chasing after the three Academy kids, Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi. In the chase, Konohamaru accidentally bumped into the Sand trio who had just arrived in Konoha to participate in the Chunin Exams. The Sand Genin, Kankuro, intentionally provoking them, grabbed Konohamaru by the collar and lifted him up.

"It looks like Kakashi's two students are in conflict with the Sand Genin..."

"Either way, as a Jonin instructor of Konoha, I should go stop them..."

Recognizing Naruto, Sakura, and the Sand trio, Kurenai's face showed a hint of a helpless smile.

"No need, Kurenai, let me handle this..."

At that moment, Yu suddenly stopped Kurenai, who was about to intervene. His deep amber eyes seemed to foresee the upcoming events, and a playful smile appeared on his lips. "I know that blond kid. He's an interesting fellow..."

Puppet Jutsu: Puppet Performance: Skilful Achievement with a Human Body!!

As he spoke, under Kurenai's somewhat surprised gaze, Yu gently moved his five fingers, and five blue Chakra Threads shot out like arrows.

This was an A-rank forbidden Puppet technique that Yu had stolen from the Puppet Scrolls of the Land of Wind's Hidden Sand Village. It involves controlling a target using Chakra Threads, allowing the controlled person to use their own combat abilities.

Originating from ancient battlefield stories where Puppet Masters controlled living corpses, this technique was classified as forbidden because it could manipulate living beings. In "Naruto Shippuden," Sand Village's Elder Advisor Chiyo used this technique to control Sakura, enabling her to perfectly evade all of Sasori of the Red Sand's Puppet traps.

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