Sasuke froze where he stood. His brain refused to process what his eyes had just seen.
The Great Fireball Jutsu that was the pride of the Uchiha clan had been sliced apart as though it were nothing but candle flame before a storm. The lingering embers danced weakly in the air, split cleanly by a single gesture of that red-haired stranger's hand.
'He… he just waved… and Father's strongest fire jutsu…'
A chill ran down Sasuke's spine. His chest rose and fell in disbelief as the realization sank in.
Genma, standing a few paces away, felt sweat slide down his jawline. The raw, unrestrained chakra rolling off the red-haired man distorted the air itself. 'What kind of monster is this guy…?'
Fugaku landed hard, his boots skidding across the cracked arena floor. He steadied himself, chest heaving, eyes narrowed in disbelief. The man before him had just crushed a high-level Fire Release like it was a harmless spark.
But before he could even form a counter, Alex moved with no warning.
He wa just a blur, and suddenly, he was right in front of Fugaku.
The Uchiha Patriarch felt the warmth of another's breath ghost across his cheek, every instinct screaming danger. His Sharingan caught a fleeting shimmer of crimson hair before a fist flickered toward his face.
Fugaku's body reacted on pure battle instinct, and he twisted, ducking low and countering with a straight jab.
But he was too slow.
Alex tilted his head lazily, the punch brushing past harmlessly. His palm flashed upward, connecting squarely with Fugaku's chest.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough."
The words were calm, almost casual. But the result was anything but.
BOOOOM!
A cannon blast of compressed air detonated point-blank, slamming into Fugaku with the force of a landslide. The impact ripped through the arena, throwing up dust and debris.
The Uchiha leader's body shot across the battlefield like a missile, crashing into the far wall with a deafening sound.
CRACK!
"FATHER!"
Sasuke's scream tore through the haze. His heart clenched as he saw the faint imprint of Fugaku's body carved into the stone. Fury and panic mixed in his chest, igniting a storm.
The tomoe in his eyes spun wildly, the red of his Sharingan deepening. Lightning began to spark across his arm as he gritted his teeth, weaving hand seals with burning determination.
"Chidori!"
The lightning chirped like a thousand screaming birds. His breath came out in furious bursts.
"You bastard!" Sasuke roared, launching forward, electricity splitting the air.
Genma's eyes widened. "Sasuke! Don't—!"
But he was too late to stop him.
The ground exploded beneath Sasuke's feet as he charged, pure rage propelling him forward.
But Alex didn't even bother to face him. He merely raised his right hand, amusement flickering in his deep eyes.
A crack of thunder echoed.
A streak of lightning that was sharp, alive, serpentine, leapt from his palm, hurtling straight toward Sasuke's heart.
The young Uchiha froze mid-charge. His breath hitched. The blinding bolt reflected in his Sharingan, but he couldn't move.
Whoosh!
Just before the attack could touch Sasuke, a shadow cut across his vision. His strong arms grabbed him, yanking him out of the way just as the lightning tore through where he'd been standing, gouging a molten trail across the ground.
Alex blinked and then chuckled softly. "Oh? Nicely done."
When the smoke cleared, the rescuer stood revealed. He had silver hair, one visible eye, and a calm, lazy poise that belied the danger surrounding them.
Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja of the Hidden Leaf.
He set Sasuke down gently, his uncovered Sharingan eye narrowing as he faced the red-haired man. "Heh… I didn't realize I was so famous that even you know me."
Alex's grin widened. His gaze lingered on Kakashi's Sharingan for a moment before he replied smoothly, "Oh, trust me, Hatake. The name 'Copy Ninja' isn't just for show."
A low rumble of wind followed his words, and the sparks still danced across the ground where lightning had struck moments ago.
The air between the two titans shimmered with invisible tension that looked like the calm before a storm that could swallow the village whole.
Kakashi's lone eye gleamed as he exhaled slowly. 'So this is the monster who's been tearing through our forces…'
Alex smiled wider, almost amused by the deadly seriousness of the situation.
"Now this," He said softly, "is starting to get fun."
The air cracked as a voice thundered from behind Alex, who was staring at Kakashi.
"Konoha: Youth Hurricane!"
A green blur tore through the dust. The sheer force of the kick howled against the wind, the sound slicing through the arena like a blade.
Alex turned his head slightly, his crimson hair whipping across his face, the edge of a smile tugging at his lips. In the instant before impact, his right hand rose lazily, almost bored, and caught the leg with two fingers and a thumb.
The shockwave blasted outward, kicking up gravel and smoke.
"Wha—!" Might Guy's eyes widened, disbelief flashing in his bright, burning gaze. The veins in his arms bulged as he tried to push through, but the red-haired stranger didn't even flinch.
For a split second, the arena went silent.
Then Alex's grin widened, and he glanced at him.
"Nice form," He said, his tone light, almost amused. "But you are a little too... predictable."
Before Guy could react, Alex twisted his wrist, and the world spun.
"Tch!"
Might Guy's body was flung like a ragdoll, twisting three full rotations before crashing into the dirt, sending cracks spidering through the ground.
Even Kakashi's uncovered Sharingan narrowed in shock. H was clearly familiar with Might Guy's strength, but to be tossed aside like that, with a single motion, it was shocking.
'Impossible!'
The silver-haired jōnin clenched his fist. "That strength... It's beyond anything I've seen."
Alex lowered his hand, the faint trace of lightning still dancing across his fingertips. His playful smirk hadn't faded. He turned his gaze toward Kakashi, eyes gleaming like molten gold.
"Not bad reflexes, Copy Ninja," He teased.
"You dodged my lightning earlier. And now this guy—" He nodded toward Guy, who was already pulling himself from the crater, panting, yet smiling through the pain. "He's got guts and I like that."
Kakashi didn't reply. His Sharingan whirred faster, tracking every twitch of Alex's fingers. He could feel the pressure radiating off the man. 'He was too calm, too confident.'
Every instinct in his body screamed that Alex wasn't even trying yet.
Guy spat dust, grinning as he straightened. "Heh... You're strong, I'll give you that. But youth burns brightest when challenged!"
Alex chuckled softly, his crimson eyes glinting. "Then let it burn, green man. Show me how bright your flame really is."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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