At night, Akuma trained alone in the cave, focusing on mastering his Satsui no Hado and improving his Ki control. He had been coming here for months now—ever since his battle with Itachi. That fight had exposed critical weaknesses in his abilities.
The first was speed.The second was his lack of long-range combat techniques.
Itachi had quickly realized that Akuma excelled in close-quarters combat—far more than himself. So he kept his distance, attacking from afar where he had the advantage. Akuma, in contrast, had no reliable long-range options. He had tried again and again to close the gap between them, but Itachi was too fast, always staying just out of reach. Even in the rare moments Akuma managed to close the distance, Itachi would evade his strikes with ease.
These weaknesses had nearly cost Akuma his life. He knew that if he didn't address them, the next time might be his last.
And so, for the past few months, Akuma had thrown himself into relentless training—day and night, without rest. To improve. To grow. To become faster. Stronger. Deadlier.
Thanks to the Clothes of Perfection 90% Recovery, an item that allowed him to function with just one hour of sleep, he no longer needed full nights of rest. That single hour was enough to fully recover. The rest of his time was spent sharpening his body, mind, and spirit.
Every second counted. Every breath had a purpose. Weakness had no place in his future.
==
Itachi was preparing to return to Konoha to report everything that had happened between him and Akuma to the Third Hokage. Even after fully recovering from their battle, a lingering sense of unease gnawed at him. He had no proper explanation—no justification—for why he had tried to kill the boy. His original intention had been simple: speak with Akuma, observe him, perhaps assess his growth.
But the moment they met, Itachi realized something terrifying.
It wasn't Akuma's strength that unsettled him—it was his knowledge. The boy knew things he shouldn't: intimate details about Itachi's past, his strengths, his weaknesses. Akuma had seen through him completely. And that wasn't all. His killing intent was suffocating—refined, focused, inhuman. His demeanor was calm, but chilling. It felt less like meeting a child and more like staring into the eyes of a predator in human form.
Worse still were the words Akuma had spoken—words that pierced Itachi's mind like a slow-acting poison. Words that should have been impossible for him to know. Combined with the presence of other shinobi nearby, Itachi realized Akuma had come fully prepared… and had no intention of letting him escape.
In that moment, instinct took over.
Itachi made a choice—not out of hatred or rage, but pure survival. He had to kill Akuma… or be killed himself.
But now, with the storm behind him, Itachi moved silently through the forests bordering the Hidden Leaf. Thanks to a hidden route provided by the Third Hokage, he could slip into the village without triggering any alarms. It was a path left open for emergencies—or if he ever wanted to visit his brother.
He would use it now—before the Chūnin Exams began. Once the exams started, the village's security would tighten, making future entry far more difficult.
==
"Guy, I've told you three times over the past few months—you cannot take this mission," Hiruzen said firmly, exhaling a slow stream of smoke from his pipe.
Before him, Might Guy knelt, fists clenched, head bowed in frustration.
"But Hokage-sama," Guy protested, lifting his head, "I am fully qualified for this mission. Am I lacking in any way that disqualifies me?"
Hiruzen studied him for a long moment, pipe in hand. Then, finally, he said, "No, Guy. You are not lacking. You're more than qualified."
A flicker of hope appeared on Guy's face. "Thank yo—"
"—But I still can't allow it," Hiruzen cut in, his voice heavy.
Guy's smile faded.
"We need you here," the Hokage continued. "You are one of the strongest shinobi in the village, and the Chūnin Exams are fast approaching. Konoha will be under immense pressure—and likely, danger. If we send you after Itachi, we'll be weakening our own defenses. Too many of our top shinobi have either died… or abandoned the village."
Hiruzen's eyes dimmed slightly at the last words. "Even my own students are gone."
Guy lowered his head once more. "I understand… Hokage-sama."
Without another word, he rose and left the office.
Hiruzen sat in silence, watching him go. He turned to look out the window, smoke curling from his pipe as his gaze drifted to the distant rooftops of Konoha.
The more I think about this village's future… the darker it seems.
==
Morning sunlight warmed the streets of Konoha as Akuma stepped out of a small flower shop, three bouquets cradled carefully in his arms. Without a word, he made his way toward the training grounds—his destination clear.
After a while, he arrived.
"Little brother Akuma!" Rock Lee's voice rang out the moment he saw him. "What brings you here?"
Akuma glanced at Lee and the rest of his team, then stepped forward. His voice was calm, but carried warmth."Last year, you didn't get to participate in the Chūnin Exams," he said. "But this year, you will. I thought I'd give you something... to mark the start of your journey."
He held out a bouquet.
Rock Lee's face lit up. "Thank you, Akuma, for your encouragement!"
Akuma nodded silently and turned to the next person—Tenten.
"Is that flower for me?" she asked, surprised. "Thank you, Akuma! You just turned eight and you're already so thoughtful... so cute!"
She smiled warmly, hugging him tightly as she accepted the bouquet. Akuma stood still, eyes blinking once, unsure of how to respond. After a moment, she let go, and he turned to the last member of the team.
"Here, Brother Neji. This is for you."
Neji looked at the bouquet but didn't move to take it. "I don't need a good luck charm," he said coolly. "I know I'm capable of becoming Chūnin on my own merit."
Without another word, he resumed his training, leaving Akuma holding the bouquet in silence.
Akuma turned to leave, but Tenten stepped forward with a small smile.
"Don't worry about Neji. He's just... like that. But he does appreciate it. He's just bad at showing it," she said gently. "Give it to me—I'll pass it on to him later."
"Yeah, Tenten is right," Rock Lee added. "Don't take it to heart."
Akuma gave a small nod, handing the bouquet to Tenten, and then walked away in silence—heading toward his usual training area, the flowers behind him, and his focus already shifting toward the battles ahead.
"Hey, Rock Lee," Tenten said as she glanced toward the path Akuma had taken. "Just how strong is Akuma? When I hugged him earlier… his body felt really solid. Like Guy-sensei!"
Rock Lee's eyes lit up with pride. "I know, right? He's super strong! Stronger than me, even! Guy-sensei said Akuma will surpass even himself in just a few years!"
Tenten's eyes widened in disbelief. "How can he be that strong if he doesn't have chakra?"
Rock Lee smiled again, this time with a more thoughtful look. "The Third Hokage said Akuma has some kind of Kekkei Genkai—something that makes his body grow stronger and faster than normal."
Tenten blinked, stunned. "He has a Kekkei Genkai? Like Neji?"
"Not quite the same," Lee said with a nod. "But yeah, he does have one."
Suddenly, a voice came from behind them.
"Hmph. So my suspicion was right."
Tenten and Rock Lee jumped at the sudden voice, quickly turning around—only to see Neji standing there calmly. Both let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh, Neji!" Tenten said. "Did you already know about Akuma's Kekkei Genkai?"
Neji shook his head. "No. I only suspected. From the first time I met him, I noticed something unusual. His body is… different. His muscles, his ligaments, even his bones—they're denser, stronger. And every time I see him, he's grown more powerful. Exponentially so."
He looked toward the direction Akuma had gone.
"Right now, his body might already be as strong as Guy-sensei's."
Tenten and Rock Lee both shouted in disbelief.
"WHAT?!"