Leo turned around and saw an "old acquaintance."
The newcomer had iconic, silver-white hair and a tall, lean frame. His eyes were perpetually narrowed into slits, his face fixed in a gentle, kind smile that would fool almost anyone.
But Leo was not "anyone."
"Senior Mizuki," Leo said, offering a calm, practiced smile.
The two had history. When Leo first graduated, he had interned at the Ninja Academy. He nearly stayed as a teacher—which would have made them formal colleagues—but he had eventually been recruited into the Hokage Building by a female superior. Since then, they had remained nodding acquaintances.
Mizuki, however, was a man of shallow character. Leo had long sensed the petty jealousy simmering beneath that warm smile. In the adult world, one sees through the mask without calling it out, so Leo had maintained a peaceful surface.
Until today.
Mizuki had chosen a specific time—near dusk, when the training ground was empty. Leo's internal radar began to pulse.
Mizuki walked over, his gaze lingering on Leo's face. The golden light of the setting sun edged Leo's handsome contours, making his blond hair seem to shimmer.
Tch, pretty boy, Mizuki sneered inwardly. He just has a good face. Why does he get the prestige of the Hokage Building while I'm stuck teaching brats? Mizuki's eyes fell on Leo's hands—slender, smooth, and devoid of the rough calluses expected of a dedicated warrior. The System's recent physical reconstruction had inadvertently sent a false signal: Mizuki saw a soft, pampered clerk.
"Leo, still training? How diligent," Mizuki said, his voice dripping with false concern.
"Just moving around a bit," Leo replied. His eyes inconspicuously scanned the senior. Muscle condition: average. Chakra fluctuations: mediocre. Footwork: floaty. You've been neglecting your cultivation, Senior.
Mizuki's resentment grew. He had wanted to "teach" this kid a lesson for a long time. Now, in this empty field, he saw the perfect chance.
"Practicing against the air is useless," Mizuki said, his smile sharpening. "Taijutsu requires an opponent. How about it? Let your Senior accompany you for a few moves. I'd like to see if you've made any 'progress' since moving to the Hokage Building."
Leo blinked, a cold spark of anticipation lighting up his mind. He had just felt his Chakra surge, and the urge to test his new body was overwhelming. This experience pack had delivered itself right to his door.
"Really?" Leo's expression became one of eager focus. "Then I'll trouble you for your guidance, Senior."
[Latest Mission: The Uchiha's Reputation]
[A mere coasting Chunin dares to bare his fangs at the noble Uchiha. Use absolute strength to wake this Senior up and make him understand the meaning of humility.]
[Mission Reward: Konoha-Style Taijutsu Mastery.]
Leo felt a surge of cold satisfaction. The System was consistent; it rewarded the assertion of dominance.
"Senior Mizuki, please!" Leo's aura shifted.
Mizuki didn't even bother with the "attack first" etiquette. He wanted to see Leo's face hit the dirt.
"Watch out!" Mizuki shouted, charging forward. His fist, clenched tight, aimed straight for Leo's face. In Mizuki's mind, he already saw Leo falling, groaning in pain while Mizuki stood over him with a condescending sigh.
The reality was different.
Just as the fist was about to connect, Leo tilted his head. It was a subtle, natural movement—a fraction of an inch.
Whoosh.
The fist hit nothing but air. The momentum of the missed strike sent Mizuki stumbling.
Before he could recover, Leo moved. It wasn't a flashy stance. He simply raised his foot, slipping it precisely behind Mizuki's ankle, and gave a gentle, calculated hook.
"Ouch—!"
Mizuki slammed face-first into the sandy soil, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Senior?" Leo's voice came from above, devoid of mockery but heavy with a terrifying, calm weight. "Are you okay? I should have warned you—the ground here is uneven."
Mizuki pushed himself up, his face covered in grit, his eyes red with shame. "You...!"
He sprang up, no longer charging blindly. He initiated a flurry of strikes—straight punches, side kicks, elbow strikes. To an observer, Mizuki was aggressive. To Leo, it was slow motion.
Even without the Sharingan active, Leo's new bloodline gave him near-instinctive combat insight. He swayed left, stepped back, pulled in his chest. Every one of Mizuki's attacks missed by a hair's breadth. It wasn't a fight; it was a bullfight, and Mizuki was the exhausted bull.
"Whew... whew..." Mizuki's breath became ragged. His movements slowed. Desperate, he squeezed out the last of his Chakra for one final, wide-arc swing at Leo's chin.
Leo sighed. "Senior, it's easy to hurt yourself like this."
Leo didn't dodge. His hand rose, striking after but arriving first. No flash, no wasted energy—just a straightforward punch that "imprinted" itself onto Mizuki's left cheek.
Smack!
Mizuki's head snapped back. He spun 360 degrees and hit the ground hard.
Silence returned to the training ground. Mizuki sat blankly, his face numbing before the burning pain arrived. He spat. Several white fragments—broken teeth—landed in the dust.
He looked up at Leo. Leo was retracting his fist, his gaze clear and cold.
"Sorry, Senior. I didn't control my strength well. You should go to the hospital; we wouldn't want any lasting issues."
The mixture of pain, shame, and sheer terror at the gap in their strength broke Mizuki. He let out a muffled whimper, covered his swelling face, and ran. He stumbled away into the sunset, a pathetic, fleeing figure.
[Mission Complete: Reward 'Konoha-Style Taijutsu' issued.]
A massive flow of information poured into Leo's mind—precise force exertion, muscle coordination, and combat experience from generations of masters. His body adjusted, his movements becoming smoother, more natural, and lethally efficient.
Leo looked at the horizon where Mizuki had disappeared.
"Senior Mizuki," he whispered, "you really are a great person. I'll remember this 'friendship'."
Leo brushed the dust from his sleeve and began the walk home. He wasn't humming a song; he was contemplating the weight of his new power. The Uchiha name was beginning to stir, and today, the first tooth had been drawn.
500 POWER STONE FOR NEXT CHAPTER