In the heart of Konoha Village, the Hokage Building stood tall and imposing, commanding the center of the village. Inside the Hokage's office, a ninja clad in Anbu attire knelt before the Hokage, delivering a meticulous report.
"Ye Chen, the survivor of the small village mistakenly destroyed by Sha Nin, has defeated a member of the Uchiha clan," announced the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as he casually puffed on a pipe and sipped tea intermittently.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," responded the Anbu ninja. "According to Anbu reports, this boy seems to possess a unique bloodline limit and used his bare flesh to shatter a C-rank ninjutsu."
"Unique, you say? Reminds me a bit of Tsunade. Keep an eye on him," mused Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Understood," acknowledged the Anbu ninja before vanishing in an instant.
Naturally, the Anbu agent wasn't monitoring Ye Chen himself, as he didn't warrant such attention. Instead, his watchful eye remained trained on the Uchiha clan, with Ye Chen merely caught in the crossfire.
In recent years, the Uchiha clan had grown increasingly audacious, leaving the Hokage no choice but to be vigilant. Konoha Village was now dotted with Anbu operatives, strategically positioned in areas frequented by the Uchiha family.
Though Ye Chen's situation had piqued Sarutobi Hiruzen's interest, the mysterious bloodline limit wasn't his top priority for now. Regardless of how formidable Ye Chen might be, he couldn't overshadow Tsunade, Sarutobi's own pupil.
Meanwhile, concealed in a shadowy corner of Konoha Village, within the depths of the ROOT organization, Danzo lurked. He remained shrouded in darkness, receiving updates from a ninja with a fox-faced mask who knelt before him.
"Ye Chen? Interesting," murmured Danzo.
"Continue to observe. If this boy can elude the Uchiha's grasp once more, we'll bring him into ROOT," ordered Danzo.
"Yes," responded the ninja behind the fox-faced mask before vanishing with a swift, silent movement.
In the heart of the darkness, Danzo's countenance bore an aura that sent shivers down one's spine. The potential of this young ninja could plunge a dagger into the heart of the Uchiha clan.
Unbeknownst to Ye Chen, he had unwittingly attracted the attention of Konoha's top brass. As he continued his training and daily life, three months flew by in a flash.
Today, just before dawn, near a wooden house on the outskirts of Konoha Village, Ye Chen was once again engrossed in rigorous physical training. He relentlessly hammered a sturdy wooden post, interspersing punches and kicks.
This wasn't an ordinary wooden post; Ye Chen had reinforced it with a sheet of iron. During these exercises, he refrained from utilizing Armament Haki, focusing solely on his physical prowess.
To outsiders, this scene would appear bizarre, even borderline insane—striking a metal-covered wooden post with bare fists and legs. Who in their right mind would engage in such self-inflicted punishment?
Yet, Ye Chen had his reasons. He could sense that his body was undergoing a radical transformation while practicing Conqueror's Haki. His physical attributes, such as strength, speed, and resilience, were all evolving in an extraordinary manner.
He had upgraded all his Conqueror's Haki abilities from Level 1 to Level 2, and he could feel the changes in his physique. His defense, strength, and speed had all noticeably improved.
Especially his remarkable resilience—he would often emerge from training sessions with hands battered and bruised, yet these injuries inexplicably healed overnight, resembling the legendary Sage Body or the capabilities of a medical ninja.
With every strike, Ye Chen muttered to himself, "Four hundred and fifty-one, four hundred and fifty-two, four hundred and ninety-nine, five hundred and one!"
His relentless training persisted as he unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks upon the metal-covered post.
After completing his training routine, Ye Chen proceeded to shower before heading to school.
Konoha Village brimmed with activity in the early morning, with shops opening and pedestrians moving about, each sporting a warm smile. Happiness seemed to radiate throughout the village.
However, a sudden change in atmosphere caught Ye Chen's attention. His Observation Haki was triggered, responding to an overwhelming malevolent presence.
Ye Chen turned around, directing his gaze toward the familiar source of this unsettling energy. But before he could make significant headway, a Konoha Chūnin appeared in his path.
The Chūnin, aged around fifteen or sixteen, bore the forehead protector of Konoha—a distinct marker of his rank. In the world of ninjas, such attire conveyed essential information about one's status.
Genin wore forehead protectors, while Chūnin had their unique uniforms. Jōnin, distinguished by pockets on their outfits, subtly differentiated their attire from that of Chūnin. Highly acclaimed and powerful Jōnin typically discarded standard uniforms, opting instead for personal, custom clothing.
However, Ye Chen noticed a concerning pattern on this particular Chūnin's forehead protector: the iconic red and white fan emblem—an unmistakable symbol of the Uchiha clan.
This revelation invoked trepidation in the bystanders, as the mere sight of the Uchiha symbol evoked a sense of discomfort and dread. The villagers regarded the Uchiha clan as an affliction, yet their potent influence—exemplified by their control over the Konoha Guard Team—silenced most dissenting voices.
The locals remained cautious, well aware that speaking ill of the Uchiha family carried dire consequences.
A crowd whispered nervously as Ye Chen confronted the approaching Uchiha Chūnin.
"Quick, move aside!"
"It's him, it's him!"
"Uchiha Zhiruo, the guy with the bad temper!"
Trepidation enveloped the scene as Ye Chen remained unperturbed, observing the Chūnin's approach. The confrontation between these two figures resonated with an eerie, menacing tension.
"You're the kid from the outer village, the lucky one who joined Konoha, right?" sneered the Uchiha Chūnin upon his arrival, his tone laced with disdain. To him, the Uchiha's prestigious lineage conferred an unassailable superiority.
"You belong to the Uchiha clan, correct? And Uchiha Yue is...?" inquired Ye Chen, his voice calm and composed.
"I am Uchiha Zhiruo, and Yue is my brother," affirmed the Chūnin, his tone dripping with condescension. "Since you've injured my brother, you must pay the price."
Ye Chen remained unflinching, seeking clarification, "What price are you referring to?"
"Abandoning an arm or a leg," replied Uchiha Zhiruo, his words delivered as though granting a generous concession.
Ye Chen's expression remained composed, yet a trace of derisive laughter escaped his lips as he retorted, "Do you have dung for brains?"
His unabashed ridicule left no room for compromise.