Idle Level-Up in Naruto

Chapter 256 255: Rengoku Kyojuro

At that moment, Madara Uchiha had unleashed one of the Rinnegan's exclusive techniques—Shinra Tensei—a repulsive force that could deflect all forms of attack.

But unlike Madara's overwhelming force, Hashirama Senju, ever gentle even in battle, had already sensed something else inside the train.

Before Madara activated his technique, Hashirama had detected faint, trembling human presences within the train cars.

Without hesitation, he cast Wood Style, delicately weaving chakra-infused branches through the wreckage to extract the passengers safely.

Of course, those signatures steeped in malice—non-human—were not spared.

But this act of rescue had unintended consequences.

Suddenly, those wooden branches were cleaved apart by an arc of blazing light.

From above, a man engulfed in flames descended like a meteor, his presence igniting the very air around him.

His blade sliced through Hashirama's wood with blazing speed, cleanly splitting them with a sharp whoosh.

The precision and power of the slash—though far inferior to the likes of Madara or Hashirama—still showed tremendous strength.

Fortunately, since Hashirama hadn't reinforced the technique to cause harm, the strike worked.

The flame-cloaked swordsman landed.

Expression stern, he locked eyes with Hikaru and the others.

From them, he could feel an overwhelming pressure—so vast, it shook his very core.

He took a step forward, eyes narrowing.

"Controlling trees… invisible shockwaves… You radiate such a dangerous aura… Are you… Upper Moons?"

His voice was tense—guarded.

Before anyone could answer, the man turned to the boy beside him.

"Tanjiro, take the civilians and fall back. I'll handle this."

His hand gripped the hilt of his katana again.

Every muscle in his body tensed, ready to strike.

Madara snorted.

He had seen enough.

This man dared raise his blade to them—and now mistook them for demons?

He was ready to teach the fool a lesson the only way he knew how—through overwhelming violence.

But just as Madara stepped forward, Hikaru's voice rang out calmly:

"Hold up, Madara. Don't forget why we're here.

This is a field test for our squads. Let's not get in the way."

Madara paused.

Silent.

Then slowly closed his eyes and returned to his place.

He understood.

Let the students prove themselves.

Hikaru turned toward Minato and the others, who were still visibly awkward after their dramatic escape.

They looked sheepish—embarrassed to have fled so hastily in front of their teacher.

Hikaru grinned and raised his hand.

"From this point on, everything is up to you.

This is your exam. Handle this properly, and you'll each earn an S-rank jutsu as a reward."

Their eyes widened.

In the reformed Konoha academy system, S-rank techniques remained incredibly rare.

To be offered one directly, just by performing well on a mission?

It was beyond tempting.

But Hikaru's smile suddenly turned devilish.

"Of course… poor performance means repeating a full year at the academy."

The smiles froze.

Replaced by grim determination.

None of them wanted to go back.

None of them wanted to waste time redoing old lessons in a school they'd just graduated from.

The nine genin stepped forward, forming a loose formation facing the flaming swordsman.

Rengoku Kyojuro furrowed his brows, uncertain.

He couldn't understand what Hikaru had just said, but the younger ones didn't seem like demons.

Yet the abilities they had displayed moments ago were beyond human.

Too strange. Too foreign.

They felt more like Blood Demon Arts.

His hand stayed on his blade.

After a brief discussion, the three squad leaders—Minato, Rasa, and Nawaki—agreed to let Minato step forward.

He was the most approachable, the most level-headed.

If anyone could defuse this tension through words—it was him.

The others stayed alert, keeping their hands near their weapons.

In the world of shinobi, information was everything.

Especially now—on foreign soil.

Their only directive was: eliminate the Demon King.

But in an unknown land, with no allies and no context, their greatest priority… was intel.

Minato stepped forward with a gentle smile.

He kept his movements relaxed, non-threatening.

Standing across from Rengoku, he offered a calm, respectful bow.

"Greetings, Mr. Rengoku. We're travelers from another world.

We ended up here by accident. We have no ill intentions and no desire to be your enemies."

Rengoku's frown deepened.

He didn't lower his sword.

But neither did he strike.

"Another world…? What does that mean?

Why are you here?"

Minato's eyes lit up slightly. The man was talking.

He immediately took the chance to explain in greater detail—who they were, why they came, and what they were tasked with.

Rengoku remained skeptical.

But when Minato calmly cut a shallow wound on his own hand—to prove his humanity—the Flame Hashira finally sheathed his blade.

He still didn't fully understand all this talk about "other worlds."

But these weren't demons.

They were human.

And he didn't draw his blade against humans.