Killing Fuguki Suikazan was both an accident and a good harvest and having devoured the Samehada, Shokui regained part of its strength. As a signatory of the soul contract, also benefited significantly, furthermore having increased his own chakra by devouring Fuguki's spirit.
Over the past five years, Ye Zi's strength had skyrocketed. Since everyone who had witnessed his terrifying side was dead, major countries, including Konoha, had an incomplete assessment of his true abilities.
After returning to Konoha and completing his mission, the unexpected gain of the Fuguki's death was also recorded in the battle report. Soon, the number of people who had died under Konoha's Little White Fang's blade increased by one to include: Fuguki, one of the famous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Intelligence from the Land of Water indicated that they had not found the his corpse, and it seemed as though he had vanished without a trace.
Given the history of those ninja disappearing after encountering Konoha's Little White Fang, the terrifying rumors, or rather the facts, were almost confirmed.
Fuguki had perished at the hands of Konoha's Little White Fang, and his corpse was devoured by by him.
On this day, Ye Zi gave himself a day off.
He strolled through the bustling streets. The residents of Konoha kept their distance from him, and Ye Zi, already accustomed to this, did not mind. He walked around, buying and eating anything that looked good. By the end of the day, he had consumed quite a bit.
He was a hero of Konoha and also a man-eating monster.
His existence was increasingly contradictory, standing out like a dissonant element in the bustling street.
Konoha needed him, yet its people feared and distanced themselves from him.
Ye Zi went in and out of shops, buying all sorts of delicacies. When people came close to him, they could not force a smile and could only breathe a sigh of relief once he had left.
After devouring several skewers of grilled squid, a child suddenly appeared in front of him.
Looking at the child in a green jumpsuit with a watermelon head, Ye Zi raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised.
Among the many civilian children who could not become ninjas, including those who had just become ninjas, the perception of Ye Zi was overwhelmingly monstrous.
Adults with mature perspectives and worldviews, despite their fear and aversion to Ye Zi, knew that Konoha needed him and his strength, so they passively accepted his presence.
However, children, who had yet to develop a complete worldview, not only feared Ye Zi but also formed various evolving thoughts in their small minds.
For example, one day, they might become strong enough to make the village no longer need Ye Zi, at which point Konoha would have one less monster.
"Thank you!"
The watermelon-headed child, who was actually Might Guy, bowed deeply to Ye Zi with a ninety-degree bend. The action was impeccable, indicating that he had a talent for physical techniques.
Ye Zi gave the child a cold glance, not understanding why he was doing this, and directly avoided him, walking forward.
Might Guy was the son of Might Dai, who had died in a mission against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. After successfully escaping with his teammates but losing his father, Guy came to thank Ye Zi, having heard that Fuguki, one of the survivors, was killed by him.
Regardless of the rumors or how Ye Zi's people were, he simply wanted to express his gratitude.
Straightening his back, Guy continued to thank Ye Zi and bow deeply with the same action several times.
The onlookers thought the child was insane.
Many ninjas also took notice but watched silently.
On the eaves of a shop selling tri-color dumplings, a handsome silver-haired boy, while munching on dumplings, watched Ye Zi and Guy.
"Fool."
The silver-haired boy, who recognized Guy as the bottom-ranking student, sneered and then focused his gaze on Ye Zi.
Konoha had two White Fangs.
One was the renowned White Fang, the father of the silver-haired boy. The other was the "Little White Fang," referring to Ye Zi.
The silver-haired boy did not approve of the title "Little White Fang" for Ye Zi. In his view, his father was extremely powerful, and the title should be unique, so he did not like Ye Zi and had privately given him a more fitting name: Konoha's Lightning Fang.
After a few more bites of dumplings, the silver-haired boy went down to get several more skewers and then watched the ongoing scene from the rooftop.
Ye Zi, increasingly impatient, looked at the child bowing in front of him and said coldly, "Go away."
Guy, still bent over, loudly said, "Please accept my thanks!"
Ye Zi's expression remained cold as he repeated, "Go away."
Guy remained unmoved.
Ye Zi's eyes turned frosty, and a murderous aura emanated from him.
Guy felt as though he was plunged into an icy abyss, the chilling aura spreading through his body, making his limbs stiffen and cold sweat break out.
The silver-haired boy, being the second closest, trembled at the sight of Ye Zi's killing intent, nearly dropping his dumplings. Cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
Other ninjas also felt the fear, their eyes reflecting terror.
Ye Zi looked coldly at the trembling child and said, "Go away."
Despite the terror, Guy persevered, his body shaking as he maintained his bowing position.
The two remained locked in a standoff for a while, as the observing ninjas broke out in cold sweat. Eventually, Ye Zi retracted his killing intent and said coldly, "I understand."
With that, he avoided Guy again and walked away. This time, Guy did not follow, as his limbs were too stiff to move.
"How scary."
Maintaining his bowing posture, Guy thought deeply, resolving that one day he too would become this strong!
On the rooftop, the silver-haired boy watched Ye Zi's departing figure with a complex expression, not knowing what he was thinking.
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