Haruto decided to mind his own business and quickly followed the movement and aura he sensed toward the battlefield where his allies were fighting the enemy.
As soon as he arrived at the edge of the battlefield, the strong, metallic scent of blood overwhelmed his senses.
"The downside of having sharp perception..." Haruto muttered, frowning as he subconsciously attempted to suppress his heightened awareness.
To his surprise, it worked. The intense smell of blood dulled significantly, allowing him to focus more clearly. This discovery filled him with a small sense of satisfaction—he hadn't known his perception could be controlled by sheer willpower.
Leaping effortlessly onto a sturdy tree branch, Haruto scanned the battlefield from his high vantage point. The situation immediately became clear.
Konoha's logistics team, numbering around twenty, was under attack. Given that many of the personnel in this unit were non-combatants, they were suffering heavy losses. Only a few Chūnin remained locked in a desperate struggle, while the rest were either gravely injured or already dead.
Five Kirigakure ninjas moved ruthlessly among the wounded, hunting down the stragglers with little regard for mercy.
"Reinforcements?"
One of the Kirigakure ninjas quickly spotted Haruto as he arrived on the scene. Without hesitation, two kunai were launched toward him, their speed impressive. But to Haruto, the trajectory of the kunai was clear—his powerful eyes and sharp instincts allowed him to predict exactly where the weapons would land.
A surge of adrenaline hit him. Haruto's hand shot out, gripping his own kunai, and with a swift flick of his wrist, he deflected both incoming projectiles. The distinct "clink" of metal-on-metal reverberated through the air, signaling his success.
Without missing a beat, Haruto immediately began forming hand seals. His movements were fluid and precise, a natural response to the attack.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
In ordinary circumstances, Haruto's Great Fireball wouldn't exceed three meters in diameter. But now, as his chakra surged through his body, the fireball grew into a massive sphere over five meters wide, its intense heat radiating outward as it hurtled toward the enemy.
It all happened in an instant.
The Kirigakure Chūnin who had attacked Haruto hadn't anticipated such a powerful response. He had assumed his kunai would handle the sickly-looking Uchiha with ease. The reality, however, was far different.
Realizing he had underestimated his opponent, the Chūnin's battle-hardened instincts kicked in. As the enormous fireball bore down on him, he quickly retreated while simultaneously forming hand seals of his own, intent on launching a counterattack.
Haruto's eyes tracked the movements effortlessly.
"Yin… Si… Ne… Water Barrier?" Haruto murmured, recognizing the pattern of seals instantly. His lips curled into a smirk. "Too slow."
The fireball continued its relentless advance, the air around it warping from the sheer heat it generated. Even if the Chūnin managed to complete his jutsu, the water would instantly turn to scalding steam, and Haruto wasn't about to let the man escape that easily.
Without hesitation, Haruto flicked two more kunai toward his opponent, a calculated move to ensure that, even if the fireball didn't finish the job, these projectiles would.
At the same time, a notification rang in Haruto's mind.
[Ding! You witnessed the enemy using Water Style Ninjutsu and have automatically comprehended the entire series of Water Style techniques.]
[All Water Style Ninjutsu, from D-rank to S-rank, are now available to you.]
A rush of knowledge filled Haruto's mind—an extensive array of Water Style jutsu and techniques for conserving chakra. Haruto wasn't as surprised as he once might have been. The system's heaven-defying ability to comprehend and learn techniques was already becoming second nature to him.
While these thoughts flashed through his mind, the fireball he had launched finally collided with the enemy Chūnin.
Boom!
The explosion rocked the battlefield as flames erupted from the impact. The Kirigakure ninja hadn't completed his Water Style technique in time and was consumed by the fireball's scorching heat. His scream echoed briefly before he collapsed, his body engulfed in flames, reduced to a motionless figure within seconds.
"Who says Fire Style can't kill people?" Haruto muttered with a glance. "That's one down..."
With one opponent down, Haruto turned his attention to the remaining Kirigakure ninjas. Four were still locked in battle with Konoha's Chūnin, though neither side seemed to be gaining an upper hand.
The moment they noticed one of their own had fallen, the four Kirigakure ninjas began to reevaluate the situation. They exchanged quick glances before the apparent leader shouted a command.
"This guy's Uchiha. Be careful of more nearby! We retreat, now!"
The leader swung his sword at a Konoha ninja to create space before leaping backward, clearly intent on fleeing the scene. The other three Kirigakure ninjas followed suit, immediately retreating without hesitation.
Meanwhile, the Konoha Chūnin who had been battling them made no move to pursue. The skirmish had left them drained, and most of them were nearing the end of their chakra reserves. Chasing after the retreating enemies would be foolish, given their current condition.
Haruto, however, had no intention of letting them get away. His sharp eyes glinted with determination as he watched the fleeing figures.
"You've killed so many of us, and now you think you can just escape? Not on my watch."
Without a word, Haruto gave chase. His speed allowed him to close the distance quickly, and as soon as he was in range, he began forming hand seals.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"
Like a scattering of embers, small but deadly fireballs flew from Haruto's fingertips, each one aimed with pinpoint accuracy toward the backs of the retreating Kirigakure ninjas.
The fireballs were no larger than basins, but they were fast and relentless, zeroing in on their targets with deadly intent.
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