The Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu is vastly different from the Great Fireball Technique. Instead of being a singular, massive blaze, it's designed to attack multiple targets at once. Each fireball can fly along a fixed path or be guided by the user's chakra, allowing them to home in on enemies.
Haruto, using this technique to its fullest potential, manipulated more than a dozen fireballs to target the four Kirigakure ninjas fleeing in panic. These fireballs, blazing with ferocious intensity, weaved and curved as if they had minds of their own, closing in on their prey.
Haruto had developed a profound understanding of these jutsu techniques, honed through relentless practice and sheer willpower. This level of control was something he couldn't have achieved before, but now it felt natural, almost second nature to him.
The four Kirigakure ninjas, sensing the impending doom, reacted with terror etched on their faces. The ninja farthest to the left hesitated for just a moment—whether it was from the fatigue of battle or from the shock of Haruto's overwhelming attack, no one could tell. But that moment of indecision cost him dearly.
He couldn't move fast enough. One of the fireballs, controlled by Haruto's precise chakra manipulation, struck him squarely in the back. The flames ignited his clothing instantly, and the intense heat seared his skin, causing him to scream in unbearable pain.
"Put out the fire! Hurry!" shouted one of his companions.
That desperate cry jolted the burning ninja into action. Despite the pain, he managed to form the necessary hand seals and summon a Water Style Jutsu. After an agonizing effort, the flames were extinguished, leaving him gasping for breath. He hadn't even begun to celebrate his narrow escape when he froze in place.
A sharp pain pierced his neck. Blood spurted from the fresh wound, painting the surrounding foliage in dark red as it sprayed out in erratic patterns. His eyes widened in shock.
The cause of this sudden and fatal injury was a kunai, expertly thrown by Haruto from behind.
The other three Kirigakure ninjas looked on helplessly as their comrade crumpled to the ground, dead before he hit the dirt. But they had no time to grieve. Their own lives were on the line.
Each of them was struggling to evade Haruto's relentless onslaught. Not only did they have to dodge the dangerous fireballs pursuing them, but they also had to be on constant alert for Haruto's perfectly timed shuriken and kunai attacks, which could come from any angle.
Despair began to sink into their hearts. How could this Konoha Chūnin, who had been chasing them for so long, be this powerful?
"Damn it!" one of the Kirigakure Chūnin, positioned in the center, growled in frustration. "We can't just keep running! Let's fight him head-on!"
The feeling of being hunted, like helpless prey, was suffocating him. He refused to die in such an undignified way.
"Don't be reckless!" warned one of his companions in a panicked voice. "There are other Konoha ninjas out there! And this guy's from the Uchiha clan!"
But it was already too late.
The enraged ninja had already made up his mind. As he shouted to distract Haruto, he was covertly forming hand seals. With swift, practiced movements, he completed the seals and spun around to face Haruto. As he did, he opened his mouth and spat a powerful Water Style: Water Bullet at his enemy.
The water, compressed by chakra, became a high-pressure jet strong enough to pierce stone, metal, or flesh with ease. At this range, few could have dodged such a quick and devastating attack.
However, Haruto was not an ordinary opponent.
From the moment the enemy began forming hand seals, Haruto's heightened senses had already picked up on the attack. His ears detected the faint sounds of the enemy's fingers sliding against one another as he weaved the signs. Each minute detail built a mental image in Haruto's mind, allowing him to anticipate the coming assault.
As the water bullet shot toward him with lethal speed, Haruto shifted his body to the side, moving just half a meter, causing the water jet to whiz harmlessly past him.
In a life-or-death battle, opportunities are fleeting, and victory often hangs by a thread. The Kirigakure ninja had banked everything on this single attack, convinced it would be enough to take down the Uchiha warrior. He had already begun to picture his return to Kirigakure, boasting of his victory to his fellow villagers.
But arrogance, even for a second, in the face of a deadly enemy was a fatal mistake.
Haruto was already closing the distance between them. With his kunai in hand, he dashed toward the ninja, and in one fluid motion, he slashed the man's throat. The Kirigakure ninja, still wearing a look of shock and disbelief, collapsed to the ground, dead.
Everything had happened so fast.
It had taken Haruto no more than thirty seconds to kill three enemies. His speed and precision were unmatched.
Now, only one enemy remained—the fourth and final Kirigakure Chūnin. His face was a mask of terror. He hadn't even fully registered the deaths of his comrades. Lost in panic, he tried to run, believing he could still escape.
"This guy is insane! No wonder he's from the Uchiha clan!" he muttered to himself, his mind spinning.
As he dashed through the forest, he noticed a figure beside him. Still delirious from fear, he assumed it was one of his comrades. "We've got to get away—"
His voice trailed off as he glanced to his left. His heart sank. The figure running alongside him wasn't a friend—it was Haruto.
The realization hit him like a ton of bricks.
"You—"
"Thanks for the compliment," Haruto said coldly, a smirk on his face. The look of cruelty in his eyes was chilling.
Without hesitation, Haruto plunged his kunai deep into the man's heart. The Kirigakure ninja's eyes went wide with shock and fear, but the light in them dimmed quickly as his life ebbed away.
With a harsh yank, Haruto withdrew the kunai from the man's chest and turned his attention to the final Kirigakure ninja standing a short distance away.
The last ninja had witnessed the brutal execution of his comrades, and it broke his spirit. There was no longer any will to fight. Without so much as a second glance, he turned and ran for his life, abandoning everything, even the bodies of his companions.
Haruto watched as the final enemy sprinted away, his footsteps frantic. Four of them had been slain, but there was no way Haruto would let the last one escape.
With a calculated movement, Haruto raised his arm and threw his blood-soaked kunai. The distance between him and the fleeing ninja had stretched to over thirty meters. For most, landing a hit at this range, especially against a moving target, would be nearly impossible.
But Haruto's skill with kunai was anything but ordinary.
As he threw the weapon, memories of his training sessions flashed through his mind. His body moved on instinct, recalling every minute detail about the perfect technique for long-distance throws. His mind was clear, his aim unwavering.
At that precise moment, the familiar voice of the system echoed in his head:
[Ding! You have recalled the kunai throwing method and power technique, unlocking Kunai Always on Target.]
[Kunai Always on Target: You can now accurately throw kunai to any visible target with minimal effort and maximum precision.]
The kunai sliced through the air with unerring accuracy, heading straight for the last Kirigakure ninja. Haruto knew the fight was over.
There was no escape.
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