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Seeing that Toshi Ikeno hadn't moved, a boy with white eyes stepped forward.
This person was a descendant of the Hyuga family, a member of the branch house, but his status within the family wasn't prominent, and he was several levels below Hyuga Neji.
In such a large clan, it's inevitable that there would be a few unsavory characters.
"Hey, you bastard from the maiko family! Didn't you hear me? Get out of here!"
Because of his background, the boy was arrogant and spoke rudely.
As the saying goes, even a clay Bodhisattva has some temper.
Being insulted again and again, Ikeno's face turned cold.
"Does this forest belong to your family? Who do you think you are?"
The boy with white eyes stopped in his tracks.
"H-He...what did he just say to me?"
He looked back at his companions, his face filled with disbelief and anger.
"I said you're a piece of shit!" Ikeno sneered, his lips curling up.
A companion stepped forward and yelled, "Get over here, kneel, and apologize, or we'll end you today!"
Another chimed in, "Bullshit! The Hyuga family may not rule Konoha, but they could snuff out a lowlife like you with a single hand!"
The boy with white eyes pulled out a kunai, its sharp edge gleaming, his demeanor smug and full of pride.
"You've crossed the line. If you don't kowtow and apologize right now, your life in this village is over!"
"Oh."
Ikeno's eyes were clear, unwavering, without a trace of impurity, as they stared down the boy.
"I work hard every day, so I haven't had much time to learn about what's so great about the Hyuga clan. Why don't you show me?"
The boy with white eyes smirked.
"Are you seriously trying to pick a fight with me?"
His expression was full of disdain.
But in the next moment, Ikeno did something completely unexpected.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
He stepped forward, Chakra surging through his fingers, and slapped the boy three times!
The strikes were hard and crisp, echoing in the air...
The white-eyed boy clutched his swollen face, his expression blank with shock.
"You... You dare slap me?!"
Ikeno smiled innocently, his teeth white as a spring breeze.
His tone was nothing short of heroic.
"I don't care if you're some small fry or even Hyuga Hiashi himself; I wouldn't be scared!"
Hearing this, his companions were dumbfounded by Ikeno's confidence.
Was this the same weakling who never stood up to anyone? The guy who usually avoided them at all costs now seemed fearless, filled with courage.
Still, thinking of his lack of status, they shouted back:
"You really don't know what's good for you! You'll pay for this!"
"You're dead!"
The white-eyed boy screamed and threw a punch.
But before his fist could make contact, Ikeno caught it easily!
"Haha, so this is the power of the Hyuga clan?"
With that, Ikeno shoved him.
Boom!
The white-eyed boy flew backward, crashing into a nearby tree.
"Since when could this guy fight?"
"And he's using Chakra too!"
"How did he get this strong?"
His companions were filled with disbelief.
The boy staggered to his feet, clapping the dust off himself as he walked back, albeit awkwardly.
"Haha, I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to be this strong. I guess blacksmithing can build up a body. Untouchable or not, it seems I'll have to get serious!"
Ikeno made up his mind then and there: this arrogant brat needed to be taught a proper lesson.
He believed in no nonsense about hiding one's strength or biding one's time, pretending to be weak.
"If a dog bites a man, the man should kill the dog!" This was his creed.
In his previous life, he often said:
"I never hold grudges because I avenge them right away!"
Two balls of light-blue Chakra surged from the boy's palms.
Then they shot forward like arrows.
"Fake Eight Trigrams Air Palm!" (He wasn't qualified to learn the real technique.)
With a loud shout, a powerful gust of wind rushed toward Ikeno.
But then something unexpected happened.
"Dead Bone Pulse. Dance of the Larch!"
Ikeno shouted as he felt something trying to break through his skin.
Suddenly!
White bones sprouted from his back, chest, and shoulders.
They extended into sharp bone spikes.
There were eleven in total, gleaming under the sunlight, pale and menacing.
Looking at himself, Ikeno laughed.
"I look like Wolverine!"
The sudden scene caught the white-eyed boy completely off guard.
How could a person suddenly have so many bones?
Puff!
The sound of flesh being pierced filled the air.
The boy's palm was impaled, blood spurting out!
His face turned pale with fear, and he quickly retreated, clutching his hand.
The bone spikes were so sharp that a mere touch would break skin, and forcing through them could stab him all the way through!
But Ikeno wasn't done.
"Dead Bone Pulse. Dance of the Camellia!"
He said, and a "crack" sound came from his arm.
Suddenly!
A white bone shot out from his shoulder!
Ikeno grabbed it, yanked, and pulled out an entire arm bone.
It transformed into a bone sword, which he pointed at the boy.
The wound where the bone had been pulled from was already healing.
Ikeno slashed with the bone sword, grazing the boy's face and leaving a bloody mark.
The boy stood frozen in place, too scared to move.
What kind of monstrous technique was this?
It was terrifying.
The little blacksmith in front of him no longer looked like the coward they once knew.
He was like a demon straight from hell.
His companions fled in fear.
"Remember, to me, you are the untouchable," Ikeno said, smiling as he lifted the boy by the collar, gathered Chakra into his hands, and threw him hard to the ground.
Boom!
The boy crashed down.
With just two moves, Ikeno had utterly defeated him with Dead Bone Pulse. There wasn't even a challenge.
Just as Ikeno was about to leave, a sudden gust of wind swept toward him from behind!
Ikeno instinctively channeled Chakra, his body glowing faintly with blue light.
Then, the white skeleton armor appeared again.
This time, the bones connected and fused.
Within seconds, Ikeno's entire body was encased in bone armor, covering even his face.
Only his eyes were left exposed, glowing with a strange red light.
The boy's fists slammed into the armor but were instantly deflected.
Kunai clattered to the ground.
A sharp pain surged in the boy's chest, a chill running through him, and he coughed up blood.
His hands were bleeding profusely.
When Ikeno had turned to leave earlier, the boy's blood had boiled with rage, and he only wanted to kill the person who had humiliated him so thoroughly.
He had hurled his kunai straight at Ikeno's heart and charged forward with all his might.
But now, seeing Ikeno wrapped in bone armor, the boy was truly terrified.
"What's your name?" Ikeno asked with a smile.
"H-Hyuga... Hyuga Gaten..."
Although Ikeno had controlled his Chakra output, the boy would still be bedridden for a month.
Pale-faced, he staggered to his feet and stumbled out of the forest, leaving a trail of blood behind...
Only then did Ikeno's bone armor retract.
Sitting on the ground, he wondered.
"That wasn't the Dance of the Camellia or Dance of the Larch! Could I have created a new jutsu on the spot?"
He tried to summon the bone armor again but failed.
"It seems like this is a defensive jutsu that activates under stress. Let's call it Bone Armor. This is awesome!"
At that moment, several dark shadows on distant trees vanished...
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