Haku and Karin strolled along the riverbank.
After confirming no one was around, Haku said with some concern, "These past few days, when we've been challenged, I keep feeling someone watching me from a distance."
Karin replied, "I noticed it too. There's definitely someone observing us from the shadows. Judging by their chakra, it's likely Hidden Leaf's Anbu."
Haku sighed helplessly, "It seems the Hidden Leaf Village suspects us!"
Karin asked, "Is it still about the assessment?"
"Mhm. We were a bit too high-profile this time," Haku nodded. "The sensei aren't fools. They might not have thought too deeply during the moment, but how could they not grow suspicious afterward?"
Karin's expression darkened. "Should we report this to Leader?"
After a moment's thought, Haku said, "Let's wait and see for now. The Hidden Leaf likely only suspects that we're hiding our strength. If we panic now, we might expose even more!"
Karin then thought of Shinji. "Do you think the Hidden Leaf will make things difficult for Shinji?"
"Probably not!" Haku paused, then continued, "They're likely just suspicious that Shinji's hiding something too! But speaking of which, Shinji's performance during the assessment was practically flawless. Truly worthy of the Uchiha name!"
Recalling the battle against the Root shinobi, Karin couldn't help but marvel, "Yeah, I never expected Shinji to be that powerful!"
At that moment, Rock Lee came running toward them along the path by the riverbank.
Haku and Karin waved from a distance.
Everyone at the shinobi academy knew Lee ran laps around the village daily for training, so encountering him wasn't surprising.
Lee returned a quick greeting as he passed by.
But just as the two thought this encounter was merely a small interlude, Lee suddenly turned back and said, "Haku, can I challenge you?"
Haku pointed to himself. "Challenge me?"
Lee nodded eagerly. "Second Chair, though it's bold of me, please accept my challenge!"
Haku and Karin exchanged a glance.
They both knew Lee wasn't the type to go around challenging others, so this sudden request was likely spurred by someone behind the scenes.
Inside Shinji's apartment.
Having returned from outside and quietly replaced the shadow clone left in the village, Shinji was flipping through a briefing issued by the village.
As the First Chair of the shinobi academy, he now held authority equivalent to a department head, receiving regular briefings on major events in the shinobi world.
The briefing in his hand covered a few key points.
First, other shinobi villages had made some breakthroughs in cracking the abilities of the "Upper Moons." Second, Akatsuki members had recently been spotted in the Land of Birds and the Land of Demons, possibly plotting something. Third, the village had launched a pursuit operation against Orochimaru, which failed due to a leak in intelligence.
Setting the briefing down, Shinji gazed out the window.
Though the great battle in the Land of Grass had occurred over half a year ago, its effects lingered. The five great shinobi villages were busy studying the abilities of the "Upper Moon Demons," while Nagato's Akatsuki remained dormant, their actions subtle and covert.
"I have a feeling Nagato and Obito are brewing something…"
Muttering to himself, Shinji's thoughts turned to Sasuke.
After the fact, he learned Sasuke had been ambushed, bitten on the neck by the attacker.
Others might not understand what this meant, but Shinji knew all too well—it was clearly Orochimaru baiting Sasuke with a lure.
"The Curse Seal!"
Shinji narrowed his eyes.
Though a lesser version of sage techniques, the Curse Seal's power was undeniable. It could comprehensively enhance a shinobi's strength and boost their chakra.
And a Curse Seal personally applied by Orochimaru contained his own chakra. If Sasuke became enthralled by its power, he would gradually succumb, eroded by Orochimaru's chakra without realizing it.
"I need to find a way to keep Sasuke in check!"
Since Karin had successfully awakened the Rinnegan, Sasuke, the backup plan for the "Rinnegan Plan," had been somewhat overlooked by Shinji lately.
However, considering he still needed Sasuke's Indra chakra to achieve the Rinnegan, Shinji had to ensure Sasuke wasn't corrupted by Orochimaru's chakra before that goal was reached.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Two figures darted through the village streets, kicking up clouds of dust.
Undoubtedly, the two locked in combat were none other than Haku and Rock Lee!
"What's going on?"
"So fast—what just zoomed by?"
"Whose kids are fighting in the streets?"
Their clash drew gasps and exclamations from villagers along the way, even attracting shinobi who began to grumble.
As the commotion grew, more people were drawn to the spectacle, noticing the two locked in fierce combat.
Word spread quickly, and soon the shinobi academy's student circle learned that Rock Lee was challenging Haku, prompting many to gather and watch.
After fighting through the streets for a while, Haku, realizing the disturbance they were causing, led Lee to a secluded training ground.
The spectating shinobi and students followed closely behind.
On a tree.
Watching the intense battle in the training ground, Tenten said to Neji beside her, "I never expected Haku's taijutsu to be this strong!"
Neji, with his Byakugan activated, nodded. "Mhm. We underestimated him before!"
On another tree.
Yakumo frowned slightly. "Both of them are so fast!"
Shizune, beside her, remarked, "Rock Lee must be using the 'Eight Gates Release.' I'm not sure which gate he's opened, but as for Haku—his taijutsu is surprisingly exceptional!"
At the edge of the training ground.
Kakashi, Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai, among other jonin, stood in a line, observing the match.
Asuma asked, "Guy, that watermelon-head kid is the disciple you've taken a liking to?"
Guy grinned proudly. "Pretty impressive, right?"
Kurenai asked, "Who do you think will win?"
Guy shook his head, offering no answer.
Asuma pondered for a moment. "Probably the watermelon-head kid. Mastering the 'Eight Gates Release' at his age makes him a taijutsu genius. If Haku is only using taijutsu, he's likely to lose!"
Kakashi remained silent, his gaze shifting to a tree at the edge of the field. There, standing on a branch, was Uchiha Shinji, looking down with an expressionless face.
Thud.
Another muffled sound rang out as the match reached a fever pitch.
The two combatants stepped back, preparing to charge again for a decisive strike.
Whoosh!
But just as Haku and Lee were about to collide, a figure suddenly descended from above, landing between them.
One hand grabbed Lee's swinging fist, while the other seized Haku's arm, forcibly halting both mid-charge!
Only then did the onlookers realize that the figure who had intervened, suppressing both Haku and Lee, was none other than Uchiha Sasuke.
With a smirk, Sasuke said, "This kind of boring sparring is utterly meaningless, don't you agree, Shinji?"
As he spoke, Sasuke's gaze turned to Shinji on the tree at the field's edge, his eyes brimming with battle intent!