"Captain!!"
The Sand ninja's faces twisted in horror—they could hardly believe that the harmless-looking child before them had, in the blink of an eye, killed one of their teammates.
And the means he used were utterly bizarre—they didn't even understand what had happened.
Satsurō's gaze hardened. The face marked with crimson paint cracked into a cold, murderous grin.
"Everyone, move together—kill them!"
At his command, the Sand ninjas instantly launched their attacks!
"Wind Release: Blade of Wind!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Fire Release: Flame Bomb!"
"Wind Breakthrough!"
In an instant, the six remaining ninja each unleashed their jutsu.
They were all genin, so their techniques were not particularly advanced—but with so many jutsu overlapping, their combined power was far from trivial.
Blades of wind howled forward, flames roared to life.
The wind fed the fire, the fire drew power from the wind!
In moments, the flames soared several meters high, merging into a blazing inferno that shot up like a towering column of fire—burning hot enough to destroy everything in its path.
Yahiko and Konan had never witnessed such a sight before. Their faces turned pale, trembling with fear.
Leo stepped forward, moving between them, standing calmly before the raging fusion of wind and fire.
His eEXPression was utterly tranquil. Then—he performed an exceedingly simple action.
He clenched his fist.
And threw a punch.
Yes—a punch.
But not just any punch.
In that instant, his Armament Haki—Level 4—covered his entire arm. Twenty percent of his pressure force was compressed and focused into his fist.
His right arm turned a dark crimson-black, wreathed with white steam. A terrifying, condensed power gathered into a single point—
And he struck the empty air before him.
Boom!!!
A pure, devastating force erupted outward.
The ground before Leo split open in an instant, cracks racing forward like a spiderweb.
The world itself seemed to tremble.
The fusion jutsu of fire and wind shattered like brittle glass before overwhelming might—disintegrated as if swatted away by an invisible hand.
Even the raindrops falling from the sky seemed to halt in midair—then burst apart into mist.
Everything before him appeared as though it would be flattened beneath that single punch!
All the Sand ninjas froze in place—including the chunin leader, Satsurō. Terror and disbelief filled their faces.
The power of that one punch—was beyond comprehension.
For a moment, even space itself appeared to twist beneath that supreme force, cracking like a shattered mirror.
That suffocating, violent pressure—their hearts felt the shadow of death itself.
Such power—Satsurō had only ever felt it once before: from the Third Kazekage, hailed as the strongest Wind Shadow in history.
But that was a Kage-level existence!
How could this boy possibly…?!
Instinct screamed—run!
Run now, or die!
But it was already too late.
Leo moved—like a reaper descending from the storm.
With the speed of Shave, his lightning chakra activated every cell in his body, accelerating him further.
In that moment—Leo became lightning.
Electricity crackled in his hand as a sword of pure lightning chakra took form, its edge humming with lethal energy.
"Slash."
A flash.
A head flew through the air, blood spraying like rain.
Lightning flickered—Leo's figure vanished, then reappeared from one spot to another.
Each time he appeared, a Sand ninja fell.
Beheaded.
Cleft in two.
Hearts torn apart by lightning.
In just a few breaths, only Satsurō remained alive.
He stumbled backward, throat dry, drenched in cold sweat.
All around him—mutilated bodies, blood soaking the ground.
And Leo stood there again—like the executioner of the ANBU, the merciless Rakshasa who butchered ninjas as if they were livestock.
Calmly, he raised his lightning sword.
In his mind, the ultimate technique of the White Fang's sword style surfaced—merged with his own insight, forming something new.
His voice was cold, resonant like thunder.
"Lightning Annihilation Sword!"
A cry echoed through the air—like a phoenix's shriek.
The lightning sword in Leo's hand suddenly extended seven to eight meters long, crackling with dazzling energy.
The swing carved through the air like a bolt splitting the heavens.
"Earth Release: Stone Defense!" Satsurō shouted, cloaking himself in rock.
But in the blink of an eye, that stone armor split clean in two—along with its owner.
Satsurō was bisected from head to toe, falling lifelessly to the ground.
The battle ended almost instantly.
Not even a jonin could have survived.
Leo had crushed them without effort.
Before him, even the falling rain was cut away by that single sword strike, leaving a vast empty space in the downpour.
Moments later, the rain fell once more.
Konan and Yahiko stood frozen, staring blankly at Leo—unsure if they were dreaming.
Unbelievable. Leo's strength was beyond anything they could have imagined.
They were about the same age—how could there be such a difference?
"Y-Leo… you…" Yahiko stammered, eyes wide with disbelief.
Konan, too, stared with trembling lips, her beautiful eyes full of shock and awe.
Leo turned, a helpless smile tugging at his lips. "Didn't I tell you? I'm a ninja. You just didn't believe me."
He looked nothing like the merciless reaper who'd just slaughtered the Sand ninjas.
"You—you're really a ninja… I thought you were joking…" Yahiko muttered, feeling dizzy.
To think they were both ninjas—yet so far apart.
Leo glanced at Konan and shrugged. "I told you. If you didn't believe me, that's not my fault."
Konan's heart trembled. She couldn't describe what she felt—gratitude, fear, awe—all tangled together.
Then Yahiko's face suddenly paled again. If Leo was this strong, didn't that mean he had a secret identity?
The Sand ninjas had attacked them because of such secrets.
Would Leo now kill them too—to silence witnesses?
Konan thought the same.
Her relief vanished, replaced by dread.
Yahiko stepped back nervously.
Konan, however, stood still—knowing that running would be useless.
Leo noticed their fear. His eEXPression was unreadable—then he chuckled softly.
"Don't overthink it. Pack your things. We can't stay here."
"Hah…" Yahiko exhaled in relief. Leo hadn't changed at all.
Indeed, some people chose killing.
Others chose another path.
Still, Yahiko couldn't bring himself to act as casually as before.
In the ninja world, hierarchy was absolute.
Leo was a true ninja.
They were just ordinary people.
The gap between them was a chasm.
Konan's cheeks regained a faint blush. She pursed her lips and gave Leo a small, grateful smile.
"Thank you."
She knew Leo had no obligation to save them—but he had.
And that single, world-cleaving sword strike—so majestic, so domineering—was burned forever into her mind.
Leo smiled faintly. "No need to thank me. Even among ninjas, there are differences."
After tidying up, they left the ruined cave. Yahiko, mustering courage, burned the Sand ninjas' bodies with a single fire technique.
Then, with Leo's help, they found a secluded spot and built a simple log cabin.
While working, Leo couldn't help but envy Yamato's Wood Release: Three-Room-One-Hall Technique!
He chuckled to himself. Maybe someday he'd learn Wood Release too.
When the cabin was done, the legendary Rinnegan wielder, Nagato, was still nowhere to be found.
Leo wondered whether, by changing the past, he might never meet him now—but he knew Nagato wouldn't die.
With the Rinnegan, and Black Zetsu surely watching him in secret, it was impossible.
Inside the cabin—
"Leo, here." Konan handed him a cup of water, her delicate face showing respect.
Leo accepted it, taking a sip, smiling faintly. "Well, well. Power really does change everything. Sit down."
"Mm."
Konan obediently sat beside him, looking gentle and demure—like a soft, caring wife.
Leo couldn't help but smile silently. It felt… strange.
But Konan had always been obedient and sensible.
Power brought status—and now, Leo was no longer a mere nobody.
In the ANBU, his reputation stood only beneath that of the White Fang.
Across from him, Yahiko sat fidgeting, clearly hesitating about something.
Leo could tell what he wanted without a word.
After a long pause, Yahiko finally spoke—his tone urgent and sincere.
"Leo… please! Teach me Konan ninjutsu!"
His eyes shone with hope and desperation.
In such a chaotic world, ordinary people could not survive.
Becoming a ninja was the only way—but the path was closed to them.
Now, a chance stood right before him.
Even if Leo refused, Yahiko had to ask—otherwise, he would never forgive himself.
The cabin fell silent.
Even Konan's hands trembled slightly as she gripped her sleeves, waiting for Leo's reply.
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