While Anko was still explaining the current situation in the village to Jiraiya, the battle between Rock Lee and Shukaku was nearing its end.
Shukaku's ferocity had been fully unleashed, growing more violent with each attack, while Lee was gradually running out of stamina.
"Oh, he actually lasted this long!" Haruto looked at Lee in surprise.
Originally, he thought Lee would last only about five minutes at best. He didn't expect Lee to hold out this long against Shukaku.
If not for the injury on his leg, he might have endured even longer.
"What a man. He persisted for so long!"
Haruto sighed, slowly walking toward the battlefield between the two.
"Lee, that's enough!" Haruto called out calmly, halting the fight between them.
"Why?!" Naruto asked in confusion. "Bushy Brows can still wake up those panda eyes quickly!"
"Yeah!" Sakura chimed in. "Didn't that Sand Village ninja say we just need to wake Gaara up?!"
"Hah!" Haruto laughed coldly. "How naïve."
"Look around you. You don't have time to waste here!" Haruto said, pointing around.
Only then did everyone remember—they were still in the middle of a full-scale invasion. Huge fires had broken out across the village, and thick black smoke rose into the sky.
"How did this happen?!" Sakura murmured.
The young Genin had been so absorbed in Lee's battle with Shukaku that they failed to notice what was happening all around them.
Kakashi and Guy also felt that they wouldn't be much help in the main battle, so they kept them gathered around Haruto to protect them.
But Haruto had already sensed the sudden appearance of two powerful chakra signatures—one of them belonging to Hiruzen Sarutobi—and sensed they were clashing.
"It seems Orochimaru has summoned the previous Hokage," Haruto said lightly.
A battle between Hokage—how could he miss a show like that?
He had to end things here quickly and move on.
"Lee, fall back!" Haruto said. "Let me handle this."
"Boss Haruto!" Lee looked at him with concern. "This monster is strong, you…"
Although Lee had received all sorts of powerful abilities from the Golden Egg Shop, he still didn't know Haruto's true strength. In his eyes, Haruto was just a laid-back shopkeeper.
"Don't worry, Bushy Brows!" Naruto reassured him. "Boss Haruto isn't just anyone. Kakashi-sensei said he's at least Kage level!"
"What?!"
Hearing Naruto's words, Neji and Tenten were equally stunned.
This seemingly idle shop owner was actually a Kage-level ninja?
That was unbelievable!
"What's wrong? Do I look weak to you?" Haruto smiled at the three and asked softly.
"No, it's just… we've never seen your strength before, so I was worried!" Lee explained quickly.
"Haha, don't worry. A little thing like Shukaku can't do anything to me," Haruto replied with a calm smile as he walked toward Shukaku like he was taking a stroll.
"What?!" Shukaku growled upon hearing Haruto's arrogant words.
"Lousy little bug! How dare you look down on me!" He pulled back his claw and slapped his belly. A massive wind bullet blasted toward Haruto.
"Die, you lowly insect!" Shukaku roared.
"Boss Haruto, be careful!" Naruto shouted.
"Don't worry. Our Haruto is really strong!" Ino said proudly, puffing her modest chest, like she was boasting about herself.
The wind bullet launched by Shukaku tore through the air at high speed, about to strike Haruto. But Haruto didn't react at all—he simply continued walking slowly.
"Idiot!" Shukaku shouted. "My Air Bullets aren't like your puny Wind Release Jutsu!"
"These are formed entirely from my own chakra. Just the weight of one can crush you! And you didn't even try to dodge it. How foolish!"
"Oh? So it's condensed entirely from chakra?" Haruto muttered casually, extending his right hand.
The bullet hurtling toward him stopped the moment it struck his palm.
"Lately, I've been feeling a bit tired and haven't had time to gather chakra. Thanks for the snack!" Haruto said indifferently as the massive wind bullet began to shrink rapidly in his hand, becoming the size of a sugar pill.
"Impressive—Tailed Beast chakra really is better quality than anything a normal ninja could muster."
Without hesitation, Haruto tossed the tiny bullet into his mouth and swallowed it like candy.
"Hmm. Tastes good. Very cool and refreshing!" Haruto nodded with satisfaction and turned toward Shukaku. "Got more? Throw me a few more!"
"What?!" Everyone was dumbfounded.
What did they just witness?
Haruto had… eaten the Air Bullet?
"How is this possible?!" Neji muttered.
Air Bullets weren't supposed to be physical—how could Haruto grab one with his hand? And eat it?
This completely shattered his understanding of chakra.
Shukaku was equally stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief.
What just happened?
Did this guy really stop and eat my bullet?
How is that even possible?!
"Damn you! Bastard!" Shukaku screamed and fired several more bullets.
But Haruto easily caught each one and absorbed their chakra like before.
"What?!" Shukaku was shocked. This man was catching his Air Bullets… with his bare hands!
That was insane!
"Too much. I can't eat anymore," Haruto said at last. "But since you're being so generous, I'll return the favor."
Having absorbed all the bullets, Haruto smiled and looked at Shukaku.
He raised one hand and flicked his fingers.
"Here you go, Shukaku!"
Bang!
A candy-sized bullet shot from Haruto's fingertips, whistling through the air.
As it flew, it rapidly expanded—soon surpassing the size of the original bullet Shukaku had fired.
"This is a concentrated premium version I specially made for you," Haruto said calmly as it flew.
Boom!
Before Shukaku could react, the enhanced bullet smashed into him with a tremendous impact.
BOOM!
CRACK!
WHOOSH!
The bullet exploded on impact, hurling Shukaku backward as he crashed into the ground.
But it wasn't over.
The bullet didn't dissipate. Instead, it embedded itself into Shukaku's body, releasing countless sharp wind blades inside him, tearing him apart in an instant. The explosion then turned into a massive gust of wind, blowing away all the sand that made up Shukaku's form.
"Look!" Naruto suddenly shouted, pointing to the spot where Shukaku had fallen.
End of the Chapter.
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