"Argh!"
Uchiha Shiro let out a muffled cry, gritting his teeth as he forced himself to endure the pain shooting through his arm, stumbling back two steps.
That punch—he could swear it felt like smashing his fist against solid iron! For a brief instant, he'd sensed a monstrous strength that seemed ready to crush him whole.
Was this really the power a mere ninja academy student should possess?!
Leo calmly withdrew his fist. Three months ago, his full-force Armament Haki strike had already been strong enough to shatter a C-rank ninjutsu.
Shiraku might be a chūnin, but could his body really withstand something of that level?
And now, Leo's Three Colors of Haki had each advanced a full grade—the difference in power was beyond comparison.
If his opponent were Uchiha Tsuki instead, he could have killed him with a single punch!
Still, this exchange revealed that the gap between genin and chūnin was real—at least in terms of physical endurance, the latter held an edge.
Of course, Leo had only used about sixty percent of his full strength. He still had plenty in reserve.
"Damn brat! You think some freakish strength makes you worthy to show off before an Uchiha?"
As Uchiha Shiro snapped out of his daze, his humiliation turned to burning rage.
By now, people on the street were beginning to notice the commotion, casting curious looks in their direction.
Though this area was a bit out of the way, in a great village like Konoha, how secluded could any place truly be?
Feeling the weight of those astonished eyes, Shiraku's face burned with shame.
He—a proud chūnin of the Uchiha clan—had been driven back by a student who hadn't even graduated from the academy. It was a disgrace beyond endurance.
"I'll kill you!" he snarled, fury surging through his veins as he launched himself forward again, fists flying.
Even so, since they were in the middle of the street, he didn't dare use Fire Release ninjutsu—it could harm civilians.
As arrogant as the Uchiha were, they weren't reckless enough to ignore Konoha's laws entirely.
Leo knew that perfectly—and met him head-on without hesitation.
Three months of brutal training—blood, sweat, and countless near-death battles—had forged his body into tempered steel.
Boom!
Their fists collided again. The impact rang out like an explosion, shockwaves rippling through the air!
Uchiha Shiro frowned deeply. Even though he'd coated his arms in chakra, it still felt like he was striking solid iron!
The reverberation shook his whole body, his chest tightening as blood threatened to rise in his throat. His mind began to crack under the pressure.
They exchanged blows in a blur of motion—strike for strike, neither yielding an inch. But each clash left his arm throbbing more violently than the last!
He felt less like he was fighting a person and more like hammering at a block of unyielding steel.
"What's with this kid?! His body's like stone—and his taijutsu isn't half bad either!"
The more they fought, the more alarmed Shiraku became. Unable to rely on ninjutsu, he found himself in a miserable position.
Even worse, though his Sharingan could read Leo's movements, every time he attacked, the boy somehow slipped away a heartbeat before impact—as if he'd predicted everything!
That was the power of Observation Haki—the ability to foresee attacks and predict movements.
The Sharingan could only see an opponent's flaws.
Observation Haki, however, could anticipate what had yet to happen.
One dealt with the known; the other mastered the unknown.
The difference was absolute.
Leo's fists grew sharper, fiercer—his momentum swelling like a stormy sea, endless and unstoppable.
In his eyes, Uchiha Shiro was no longer a man, but a wooden training post—something to pound at freely.
As his rhythm peaked, instinct took over. He drew in a breath and roared:
"Explode!"
He bent low, his body forming the arc of a drawn bow, Armament Haki coating his fist in jet-black steel as he unleashed a devastating punch.
Bang!
Shiraku's pupils shrank—there was only that iron fist left in his vision, gleaming darkly, steaming faintly, hurtling toward him with the weight of a mountain.
He didn't dare take it head-on. In panic, he crossed his arms to block—
BOOM!
Like a kite with its string cut, he was sent flying backward, blood spraying from his mouth as he crashed to the ground.
A chūnin—defeated by a ninja academy student!
The onlookers erupted in astonishment. The villagers of Konoha stared wide-eyed, their expressions a mix of disbelief and awe.
Moments ago, they had pitied the poor boy who'd provoked an Uchiha.
Now, the tables had completely turned.
Leo, however, showed no trace of pride. His expression remained grave—he knew he'd only won through his superior physical strength.
"Experience +20!"
"Experience +10!"
"Experience +40!"
A cascade of notifications rang through his mind.
His progress bar jumped from 300/1000 to 450/1000 in moments.
So—the stronger his opponent, the greater the experience gained!
"I'll kill you!"
"You little brat, you've completely enraged me!"
Despite his wounds, Uchiha Shiro was still a chūnin—he could endure far worse.
He shot to his feet, eyes wild, hands flashing through seals faster than the eye could follow.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
The same C-rank ninjutsu—but compared to Uchiha Tsuki's version, this was a monster.
The massive fireball engulfed the street, its blazing light reflecting in the terrified faces of nearby villagers.
They paled in horror—an Uchiha was using Fire Release in broad daylight, right in the village!
Ninjas were meant to control such power—not endanger civilians!
The fireball surged toward Leo, its heat distorting the air.
Its glow illuminated his young but cold, determined face.
Ninjutsu or not—it made no difference.
He would crush it with a single punch.
Power crushes all techniques.
But instead of moving to dodge, he did something unexpected—he stood his ground.
"Hah! Now you know the might of the Uchiha! Too late though—die!" Shiraku laughed maniacally, already savoring the sight of his enemy consumed by flames.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A sudden voice rang out.
The ground rippled like liquid—then a roaring water dragon burst forth, colliding head-on with the fireball!
Water and fire met in a violent clash, canceling each other out in an explosion of steam that filled the entire street.
Through the mist, a shadow emerged—clad in black, wearing the white mask of the ANBU.
Leo wasn't surprised. His Observation Haki had already sensed the ANBU's presence nearby—that was why he'd held back his final strike.
"Uchiha Shiro," the ANBU operative said sternly, "private combat is forbidden within Konoha. Do you admit your guilt?"
"What guilt?!" Shiraku snapped. "I'm a squad leader of the Konoha Police Force! That brat's an outsider—I have every reason to suspect he's a spy! For the safety of the village, I tried to detain him, but he resisted. That's his crime, not mine!"
"Ridiculous," Leo muttered coldly, eyes glinting with killing intent.
"The Hokage's permission is required for any arrest," the ANBU replied flatly. "Without an official warrant, the Uchiha Police Force has no authority to act. Do not overstep."
"Tch… got it."
"Count yourself lucky, brat!" Shiraku spat, glaring venomously at Leo before turning and stalking away.
He wasn't foolish enough to challenge the ANBU—that would only bring disaster upon himself.
Once he'd gone, the masked operative turned back toward Leo.
"Well done," he said. "ANBU needs talents like you."
Then, with a soft poof, he vanished into a swirl of white smoke.
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