The boy who had been sent flying looked utterly dumbfounded.
He couldn't understand what had happened.
His first thought was, I actually got beaten up? Besides that red-haired girl, was there really someone else who dared hit him at school?
His second thought was, That little guy looks so small. How can he be so strong?
He wasn't the only one stunned. The onlookers watching Toneri were just as dumbfounded.
That boy was from the Uchiha Clan!
In Konoha, apart from the fallen Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan was the village's greatest clan. They had the largest Clan Compound, practically a village within the village, and they also controlled the Konoha Military Police Force, which handled every dispute within Konoha.
Most people saw all of this as proof of the Uchiha Clan's power in Konoha.
It wasn't just outsiders who thought so. Most members of the Uchiha Clan thought the same way.
If you asked anyone in Konoha which clan was the most arrogant, everyone would give the same answer: the Uchiha!
But if you asked Toneri, he'd tell you that the Uchiha were exactly the people to beat. Otherwise, how could he show off how cool he was... ahem, his strength? How else could he demonstrate his teacher Orochimaru's standing?
More importantly, how else could he show his loyalty to the old geezers at the top of Konoha?
Other people might not know what the Uchiha Clan was really like, but he did.
The Uchiha had a huge Clan Compound right in the center of Konoha, and their control of the Konoha Military Police Force looked like a position of great power. In reality, it kept them far from the village's true center of power.
At the same time, Konoha's High Command was now heavily supporting the Hyuga Clan. When people spoke of Konoha's great clans, they thought not only of the Uchiha, but of another great clan as well: the Hyuga!
So Toneri wasn't very afraid of the Uchiha Clan. He had Orochimaru, Danzo, and Hiruzen Sarutobi backing him. What the hell was there to fear?
They were just a bunch of red-eyed people—and red-eyed people who couldn't even make their eyes bloom!
Since the other boy had attacked, Toneri couldn't hold back.
He sprang forward, right after the Uchiha boy as he flew backward, intent on pressing his advantage.
The other boy had been sent flying by Toneri's punch, but that was because Toneri had caught him off guard. As a member of the Uchiha Clan, he had plenty of potential, and he was already a well-known little genius at the Ninja Academy.
He was also a sixth-year student, though he wasn't in the same class as Toneri and Kushina.
He twisted in midair and launched a spinning kick straight at Toneri's face.
That was when the effect of his stacked armor came into play. Toneri crossed his arms to block the spinning kick, then taunted him, "Hmph, is that all you've got? Didn't you eat?"
At that, the Uchiha boy's eyes widened. He tried to attack again, only to find Toneri had vanished from in front of him.
Was Toneri the kind of person who ran his mouth for no reason? He wasn't some powerful trash-talking legend!
That taunt had only been meant to draw the other boy's attention and, while he was at it, make him angry.
Controlling his opponent's emotions in a fight was one of Toneri's specialties. Just ask Shikaku—he'd have a lot to say about it.
So where had Toneri gone?
That's right—he was right behind the other boy!
He crouched down.
He brought the index and middle fingers of both hands together and held them straight.
The Tiger Seal, also known as the Tiger Hand Seal.
The onlookers who had seen Toneri's movements finally reacted.
"That's... Oh no! The Tiger Seal! Yoshinari, get out of the way!" someone cried.
As students about to graduate from the Ninja Academy, they knew the twelve basic hand seals well. A jutsu ending with the Tiger Seal was likely to have tremendous explosive power.
They didn't know why this kid could use a jutsu like that, but someone immediately shouted a warning.
Hearing his classmate's shout, Yoshinari Uchiha's expression changed dramatically. He tried to dodge, but would Toneri let him get away so easily?
"Hmph! Too late! Time to try my secret move... Konoha's Secret Taijutsu Ultimate Technique: Thousand Years of Death!" Toneri growled, his face cold.
Just hearing that impressive name was enough to scare Yoshinari Uchiha. He immediately sent all his chakra toward his back, hoping it would provide some defense.
The onlookers were also frightened by the name. Even Kushina was no exception.
She knew how hard Toneri had been working every day lately. His overall strength might not match hers, but when it came to Taijutsu alone, he was a genuine Genin.
And just listen to that name! It was a secret Konoha Taijutsu, and an ultimate technique at that. Few ninjutsu or Taijutsu techniques ended with the words "ultimate technique."
And listen to the name of the technique itself: Thousand Years of Death!
Those struck by it would experience pain like a thousand years of death!
How over-the-top!
It was the perfect name for a Taijutsu technique. The name alone could intimidate plenty of people.
Some of them could already imagine the terrible fate awaiting Yoshinari Uchiha. He'd really picked a fight with the wrong person this time!
Then came the bloody scene...
Toneri's taut body was like a bow drawn to its limit. His muscles tensed, his hands thrust forward, and his body leaned quickly into the move.
The way he coordinated his whole body like that only proved how powerful the technique was!
Hmm? Why was his aim a little off? It seemed to be angled slightly downward.
Was the technique so difficult to use that he'd misjudged the direction?
Right!
That had to be it. Yoshinari Uchiha was really in for it this time...
Then—
Pff—
Toneri's fingers plunged straight into the soft spot on Yoshinari Uchiha's back, the weakest point between his cheeks... the place with the least chakra.
The noisy plaza at the school gate fell completely silent.
Yoshinari Uchiha felt a sharp pain, a torment that seemed to reach into his very soul.
But Thousand Years of Death clearly wasn't over. Toneri put his strength into it again and launched Yoshinari Uchiha into the sky.
As the saying went, Armstrong's jet-powered spiral ascension...
Kushina: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Their faces all turned into: d(?д??)
As for Yoshinari Uchiha's expression in midair... well, there was no way to describe it...
But he seemed to be in a state of blissful agony.
Watching Yoshinari Uchiha fly through the air, Toneri nodded in satisfaction. No one had taught him Thousand Years of Death, but the technique itself wasn't hard to understand.
His opponent hadn't protected the weakest spot on his back with chakra, and the Tiger Seal was the seal that produced the greatest chakra burst. Toneri already had a considerable amount of chakra, so releasing it all at once could create this kind of effect.
In fact, the more chakra he released, the greater the pain his opponent would feel. It might really be comparable to the pain of a thousand years of death.
Toneri had completely mastered the essence of Thousand Years of Death. He'd been waiting for someone to try it out on.
He figured it was time to officially take up the mantle of Konoha's Taijutsu master.
He turned to look at the person who had warned Yoshinari Uchiha.
The boy had been acting like an arrogant little lackey, but when he noticed Toneri's gaze, he instinctively clenched his legs together.
It wasn't just him. Everyone Toneri looked at instinctively clenched their legs together.
What did it mean to make a name for yourself in one battle?
This was what it meant!
From then on, no one at the Ninja Academy would be able to match Toneri's "fearsome reputation."
The light of justice shone upon the earth! If you don't want to experience "the pain of a thousand years of death," hand over your votes now! Or else, heh heh—
Thanks to reader Mahayu, who never returned, for the tip!
As for the latest gossip on Qidian, let's not get into it. It has nothing to do with an author like me, down here among the lower ranks—and besides, that melon isn't ripe yet. Let's stick to the ripe ones for now!
Before you continue