The scarlet Sharingan snapped open, its Three-Tomoe spinning wildly as an astonishing killing intent burst from Uchiha Mei's petite frame.
She formed Hand Seals with one hand, moving so quickly she was almost a blur. The next moment, a sharp Kunai shot toward Haotian's throat, wrapped in a fierce gust of wind.
Haotian's gaze sharpened. He neither dodged nor flinched, simply reaching out with two fingers to catch the incoming Kunai.
Metal scraped against bone with a piercing squeal that rang especially clearly through the silent cave.
He applied a little pressure, and the Kunai snapped. The broken pieces of metal clattered to the ground, striking the stone wall and throwing off tiny sparks.
Mei's pupils contracted. Clearly, she hadn't expected Haotian to catch her attack so easily.
She quickly retreated to put some distance between them, her scarlet Sharingan fixed intently on Haotian, wary and astonished.
Pale moonlight streamed through the cave entrance and fell across her face, making her shock and hostility all the more apparent.
"You..." Mei had just begun to speak when he cut her off.
"You're absorbing the radiation in Natural Energy, aren't you?" Haotian's calm voice rang in Mei's ears like a thunderclap.
"How do you know?!" Mei's voice trembled slightly with shock, and the Three-Tomoe in her Sharingan spun even faster.
This was her greatest secret. She had never told anyone about it.
How could this seemingly ordinary boy know?
Haotian didn't answer. Instead, he slowly raised his right hand, palm facing the ore deep inside the cave, where it gave off a faint glow.
Fine strands of pale purple energy visibly streamed out of the ore, flowing into Haotian as if a hundred rivers were emptying into the sea.
The air in the cave seemed to grow thin, and an inexplicable pressure left Mei almost unable to breathe.
"This power..." Mei's voice trembled even harder. She felt as if her entire worldview were crumbling.
She had never heard of or seen anyone absorb radiation directly like this.
All this time, she had carefully drawn in radiation, afraid it would turn on her. Yet the boy before her did it as effortlessly as breathing.
Haotian lowered his right hand, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as his gaze settled on Mei's horrified face. "You can have this power too..."
Haotian saw Mei's shocked expression, and a trace of admiration curled at the corners of his mouth.
"This power isn't beyond your reach. I can tell you crave strength." He paused, his gaze deep as the night sky. "If you truly want to become stronger, come find me." With that, he turned and left, his figure soon disappearing beyond the cave entrance, leaving Mei alone, her thoughts churning like a storm-tossed sea.
Pale moonlight fell over Mei, but it couldn't dispel the shock in her heart.
Haotian's words echoed in her mind again and again, every one striking her heart like a heavy hammer.
She had always longed for strength, longed to protect herself and her clan.
For that, she hadn't hesitated to risk absorbing radiation, even knowing how dangerous it was.
And now, this mysterious boy had told her she could possess even greater power.
How could she not be shocked?
How could she not be tempted?
Mei clenched her fists, her scarlet Sharingan gleaming strangely in the moonlight.
She had never wanted strength, never wanted to grow stronger, as much as she did now.
Haotian's appearance had opened a door for her to an entirely new world.
The next morning, Haotian stepped through the gates of the Ninja Academy and saw a scene that left him at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
Might Guy, the energetic boy who was always so fired up he bordered on the ridiculous, was currently being pinned to the ground and harshly scolded by his father, Might Duy, who wore the same green skintight suit.
"Guy! You still haven't finished your running today! How can you be so lazy when you're a ninja?" Might Duy's roar rang across the entire campus, making Haotian's eardrums buzz.
"Father! I... I've already been trying my best!" Might Guy's voice was choked with tears, but he still stubbornly held his head high.
"Trying your best? This is your best? You can't even finish a thousand laps!" As he spoke, Might Duy smacked Might Guy on the rear again.
The sharp smack made Haotian feel like his eyes were going blind.
That father and son really were...
So full of energy.
Just as Haotian was getting ready to find somewhere to sit quietly for a while, several familiar figures approached.
"Hey, isn't that Haotian? What, back at school to sleep again today?" The speaker was Gekko Hayate, and his voice carried a hint of mockery.
"Exactly. I heard Uchiha Mei beat you so badly in practical training yesterday that you were completely humiliated. How embarrassing." Another voice chimed in. It was Hyuga Iripo.
Haotian glanced at them without replying and walked straight toward the classroom.
"Hey! What's with that attitude?" Gekko Hayate called out indignantly.
Haotian stopped and turned around. His gaze swept over them, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
"You'll soon learn what true strength is."
Haotian walked over to Might Guy and his father and patted Guy on the shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Before you continue