---
The smoke cleared, revealing the scene of devastation. Flames still smoldered where the blast had struck, but Chen Xing stood calmly in the same spot, untouched. The fire hadn't harmed him at all—his defense had been flawless.
"For a simple low-level Fire Release to have such power in his hands… He must have combined it with fire-nature transformation. That means he's already mastered the nature change of the Fire element," the Third Hoshikage observed from the sidelines, a faintly surprised smile on his face. Summer Star, standing beside him, had only visited Chen Xing once every two months and didn't know the full extent of his abilities.
"As expected… this level of fire still can't breach my Lightning-enhanced chakra defense," Chen Xing thought to himself, eyes narrowing. His body moved without hesitation—like a shadow, he exploded forward toward Red Star, his speed even faster than before.
"Peacock Magic: Bear!"
With a fluid change of hand seals, Red Star's purple chakra erupted into the shape of a giant wild bear in midair, its jagged fangs bared as it roared. Its size and speed were impressive for a chakra construct.
"Roar!"
But even that beast was too slow. Chen Xing's speed surged again—his body wreathed in crackling arcs of electricity. The lightning stimulation boosted his nervous system, pushing his reaction speed to another level. In the blink of an eye, he slipped past the bear's strike and closed in on Red Star before the latter could even react.
Bang!
Red Star was sent flying backward, a shocked cry escaping him. Chen Xing didn't pursue.
From the spectators' perspective—including Summer Star and the Third Hoshikage—it almost looked like Chen Xing had slowed at the last moment… deliberately holding back.
To most of the crowd, all they saw was a blur of black with flashes of lightning. One moment Chen Xing was there, the next Red Star was airborne. His exact movements were too fast for the naked eye.
"So fast… I couldn't even track him," Summer Star murmured in awe.
The Third Hoshikage chuckled, exhaling a ring of smoke before commenting, "That was Lightning Release: Body Flicker. By stimulating his nervous system with lightning chakra, he boosts his speed dramatically. Judging by his control, his Lightning Release level isn't low. They say the First Hoshikage's lightning techniques have all been passed down—if so, this boy has inherited more than just a little skill. And he's still holding back."
---
Red Star grunted in pain, managing to recover mid-air. He hastily recalled his chakra beast, interposing it just in time to block Chen Xing's follow-up strike, then rolled to regain his footing.
Chen Xing's attacks weren't lethal—if he'd used full force, Red Star might have been seriously injured. Years of training would have been undone by a single blow.
Chen Xing finally saw an opening. After slipping past another swipe from the chakra beast, his body twisted like a serpent, appearing at Red Star's flank. Before Red Star could retreat, Chen Xing's kunai was at his throat.
Feeling the cold steel, Red Star chuckled ruefully and dispelled his chakra beast. Raising his hand in surrender, he admitted defeat.
"Teacher Red Star, I yield," Chen Xing said, withdrawing the kunai and letting the lightning around his body fade. He stepped back respectfully.
The truth was, if Chen Xing hadn't been holding back, the match would have ended much sooner. His raw speed alone already surpassed the pace of Red Star's Peacock Magic, even without lightning enhancement. The only reason the fight had lasted was so that Red Star wouldn't lose too much face—after all, being defeated instantly by a twelve-year-old would have been humiliating.
The moment when Red Star's initial kick had landed on Chen Xing was also deliberate—Chen Xing had tensed his arm to absorb the impact like a sandbag. Unlike Gaara's sand armor, Chen Xing had no external defense, and a full-force exchange could have caused real injury.
Red Star's body wasn't physically strong, and his Peacock Magic couldn't keep up with Chen Xing's speed. Against such an opponent, defeat was inevitable.
---
The Third Hoshikage nodded with satisfaction and turned to Summer Star with a grin. "With Chen Xing's current strength, he's already close to my level. And he still hasn't shown all his cards. With more experience, as long as he's careful, he'll face few real threats."
"Mm… the Peacock Magic does have a clear flaw—it struggles against opponents with overwhelming speed and physical strength," Summer Star replied, her smile showing both pride and admiration for her disciple.
"An ordinary genin defeating him? Impossible…" one of the onlookers muttered, still in disbelief at how quickly the battle had ended.
"He started with Fire Release, but switched to Lightning later, didn't he?" another observed quietly.
---
Legendary Underground World – The Next Morning
At dawn, the Third Hoshikage, Summer Star, and a small escort saw Chen Xing off as he prepared to leave the village. Wearing a gas mask and carrying a ninja backpack prepared by Summer Star, Chen Xing unfurled his perfected Peacock Magic wings—brilliant purple constructs that shocked even the Hoshikage. With a single beat, he soared into the distance, vanishing from sight.
"Don't worry, Summer Star," the Third Hoshikage said with a reassuring smile, "An eagle will always learn to fly into the sky."
---
Yu Le City, the closest settlement to the Bird Country, thrived on cross-border trade. It was one of the most prosperous cities outside the Bird Country's capital. To avoid attracting unnecessary attention, Chen Xing kept a low profile, spending his time training in a secluded valley outside the city.
Even so, his height and mature bearing for a twelve-year-old drew glances from passersby. Street vendors called out their wares, the air filled with the smell of roasting food.
After wandering for half a day, hunger drove Chen Xing into a large barbecue shop. The customers glanced at him curiously, noting his ninja backpack, but assumed he was traveling with an adult instructor.
"Boss, one pound of barbecue!" Chen Xing ordered.
The plump shop owner nodded, passing instructions to a server. Before long, a platter of half-cooked meat and a small grill arrived at his table.
As he placed meat on the grill with his chopsticks, Chen Xing asked casually, "Hey, little brother—mind if I ask you something?"
The young waiter tilted his head. "Sure, what is it?"
"Do you know if there's an underground market nearby?"
The waiter's eyes widened in alarm. "You… you mean the Underground World?" he blurted, loud enough to draw stares from other customers.
"Underground World? Is he crazy?" someone muttered from a nearby table.
"We're just civilians—stay out of it," his companion whispered, pulling him back.
Chen Xing ignored them, turning back to the waiter. "You still haven't answered my question."
The waiter hesitated, then lowered his voice. "There's a place called the Black Bar… but it's dangerous. If you go alone, be careful."
Chen Xing caught the flicker of fear in his eyes. He tossed a few silver coins onto the table in thanks and finished his meal.
---
The Underground World was the perfect place to find strong opponents—and perhaps earn some money. Following the waiter's directions, Chen Xing soon found himself in a dim alley off East Street. Laughter and shouting drifted from a noisy bar ahead.
As he stepped inside, conversations faltered. Dozens of eyes turned toward the young stranger. The bar wasn't large—barely a hundred square meters—but it was crowded. Behind the counter was a door marked with a symbol: the silhouette of a kunai.
---