In Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village, the Hokage Tower stood tall at the very heart of the settlement.
Inside the Hokage's office, a ninja dressed in the uniform of the ANBU knelt on one knee, giving his report in a low, steady voice.
"Leo—he's the survivor from that small village wiped out by the Sand Shinobi. He's just defeated a member of the Uchiha Clan."
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, puffed leisurely on his smoking pipe, exhaling a trail of white smoke.
"Is that so? A survivor from a destroyed village, defeating an Uchiha?" he muttered.
"Indeed, Hokage-sama! According to ANBU reports, this boy seems to possess some kind of strange kekkai genkai—a monstrous physical strength. He shattered a C-rank ninjutsu purely through brute force."
"Monstrous strength? Hm… sounds a bit like Tsunade. Keep watching him," Hiruzen said calmly.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
With a soft poof, the ANBU vanished into thin air.
Of course, that operative wasn't assigned specifically to monitor Leo—he didn't warrant that much attention.
The real target was the Uchiha Clan; Leo had merely been caught up by coincidence.
In recent years, the Uchiha had grown increasingly arrogant. As Hokage, how could Sarutobi not be wary?
At this point, practically every area where the Uchiha were active had hidden ANBU surveillance.
As for Leo's situation, Hiruzen was only mildly surprised. A bloodline limit that simply boosted physical strength wasn't yet worth his concern.
No matter how strong, could he be stronger than his own student, Tsunade?
After all, Leo was an outsider—a foreigner to the village.
Meanwhile, deep beneath Konoha, in the shadowy headquarters of Root—
Danzo Shimura stood cloaked in darkness, his presence oppressive and cold. Before him, a ninja wearing a fox mask knelt, delivering his report.
"Leo, huh? …Interesting."
Danzo's single visible eye glimmered with calculation.
"Continue to monitor him. If that boy manages to survive another encounter with the Uchiha, bring him into Root."
"Yes!"
The masked ninja disappeared with a muffled poof.
Left alone, Danzo's face was set in grim determination, exuding a chilling authority.
If used properly, this blade called Leo might just stab straight into the heart of the Uchiha Clan.
Leo himself had no idea that the upper echelons of Konoha had already taken notice of him.
He continued his training as usual, living a strict, repetitive routine—home, training ground, and academy.
In a blink, three months passed.
Compared to three months ago, Leo was a completely different person—reborn through effort, his strength skyrocketing.
He opened his attribute panel:
Host: Leo
Abilities: Conqueror's Haki Lv.2, Observation Haki Lv.2, Armament Haki Lv.2, Secret Technique—Dragon Tornado Lv.2
EXP: 300 / 1000 (Next level requires 1000 EXP)
Three months of peace. The Uchiha had made no move, but Leo knew this calm would not last forever.
That morning, before dawn—
At a quiet corner of the Leaf, in front of a wooden training hut, Leo was hard at work.
"Four hundred fifty-one, four hundred fifty-two… four hundred ninety-nine, five hundred and one!"
His fists pounded against a training post in rapid succession, each impact sounding like thunder.
The post was no ordinary wood—it was reinforced with metal plates.
And Leo wasn't even using Armament Haki.
Anyone witnessing this would probably scoff: Who in their right mind punches steel bare-handed?
They'd call him insane.
But Leo was different.
Through months of Haki training, he could feel his body transforming—becoming something monstrous.
All three types of Haki had advanced from Level 1 to Level 2, and with each breakthrough, his body had evolved—
Defense, strength, speed—everything had increased dramatically.
Physically, he had far surpassed his peers.
Most incredible of all was his regeneration.
Each time he finished training, his fists were bloody, his feet bruised and fractured… yet after a single night's rest, most of his injuries healed almost completely.
Such recovery was something only those with the Sage Body or elite medical ninjas could boast.
"Hah…"
After finishing his routine, Leo washed up and prepared for school.
Mornings in Konoha were always full of life. Shops opened one after another, villagers smiled as they passed—
By any measure, the Hidden Leaf was the most peaceful and prosperous of the Five Great Villages.
"Hmm?"
Leo frowned. His Observation Haki had triggered—he sensed a wave of intense hostility closing in.
He turned, walking toward the direction of the disturbance.
Soon, a young ninja wearing a forehead protector and the uniform of a Chūnin approached from ahead.
In Konoha, Genin wore simple protectors; Chūnin had distinct uniforms; and jonin, though similar, had different pouch placements.
The uniform made it easy to identify one's rank—and one's village—at a glance.
Only those who stood above even the jonin—shinobi of renown across the ninja world—would abandon the uniform altogether, wearing whatever they pleased.
This Chūnin saw Leo and smirked with open disdain, blocking his path.
Around them, bystanders paled at the sight of the clan crest on the boy's back—
a red and white fan.
The Uchiha Clan.
Everyone's expressions changed. The Uchihas were powerful but widely disliked; their control of the Konoha Police made them feared and resented.
No one dared to interfere.
"Let's go, let's go!"
"That Uchiha's after that kid!"
"Don't meddle, you'll get yourself killed!"
"Poor boy—crossing the Uchihas is suicide…"
As whispers rippled through the crowd, Leo's gaze remained cold.
"If you've got nothing to say, don't block my way."
The Chūnin looked down on him like an insect.
"You're that outsider brat, right? The one who got lucky and joined the Leaf?"
He had every reason to be arrogant—he carried Uchiha blood, the pride of his clan.
Through his Observation Haki, Leo could feel the man's malice twisting like a serpent.
"You're an Uchiha, huh? What's your relation to Uchiha Tsuki?" Leo asked calmly.
"I'm Uchiha Shiro—Tsuki's brother. You hurt my little brother, so you'll pay the price," Shiro said coldly.
"And what price would that be?"
"Simple. Break your own arm and leg."
The words dripped with condescension, as though it were mercy.
Leo's eyelids lifted slightly—then he laughed coldly.
"Is your brain full of shit or what?"
The blunt insult made several onlookers gasp.
"You bastard!"
Furious, Uchiha Shiro threw a punch.
Leo didn't hesitate—he met fist to fist.
At the moment of impact, his Armament Haki surged to life—powerful and explosive like a raging torrent.
Crack!
Uchiha Shiro's face twisted in agony, a scream tearing from his throat—
The duel was over before it even began.
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