Startling Encounter with the Sharingan, Practical Combat Class Begins

The scarlet Sharingan snapped open, its three tomoe spinning wildly as Uchiha Mei's petite frame erupted with astonishing killing intent.

She formed a single hand seal with speed that left only afterimages, and in the next instant, a sharp kunai wrapped in fierce wind streaked straight for Haotian's throat.

Haotian's eyes sharpened. Instead of dodging, he extended two fingers and calmly caught the incoming kunai.

The grating screech of metal grinding against bone echoed sharply through the silent cave.

He applied slight pressure, and the kunai snapped in two. The broken metal fragments clattered to the ground, striking sparks against the stone walls.

Mei's pupils contracted sharply. She clearly hadn't expected Haotian to deflect her attack so easily.

She retreated quickly, widening the distance, her scarlet Sharingan locked onto Haotian with both wariness and astonishment.

The pale moonlight spilling through the cave entrance fell across her face, casting her shock and hostility into even sharper relief.

"You—" Mei started, but was cut off.

"You're absorbing the radiation in natural energy, aren't you?" Haotian's tone was calm, but the words struck Mei's ears like a thunderclap.

"How do you know?!" Mei's voice trembled with shock, the three tomoe in her Sharingan spinning even faster.

This was her greatest secret—she had never told anyone.

How did this seemingly ordinary boy know?

Haotian didn't answer. Instead, he slowly raised his right hand, palm facing the faintly glowing ore deep within the cave.

Barely visible strands of pale purple energy were drawn out from the ore, flowing into Haotian's body like rivers returning to the sea.

The air in the cave seemed to thin, and an inexplicable pressure made it hard for Mei to breathe.

"This power..." Mei's voice trembled even more violently. She felt her worldview crumbling.

This method of directly absorbing radiation energy was something she had never heard of or seen before.

She had always carefully siphoned radiation, terrified of being consumed by it, yet this boy handled it as easily as breathing.

Haotian lowered his right hand, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth. His gaze fell on Mei's stunned face as he spoke slowly, "This power... you can have it too." Haotian looked at Mei's shocked expression, a hint of appreciation in his smile.

"This power isn't out of reach. You crave strength—I can see it." He paused, his gaze as deep as the night sky. "If you truly want to grow stronger, come find me." With that, he turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the cave entrance, leaving Mei standing alone, her heart churning like a storm.

The pale moonlight fell on Mei, but it couldn't dispel the shock in her heart.

Haotian's words echoed in her mind, each one striking her heart like a hammer.

She had always craved power—power to protect herself and her clan.

For that, she had risked absorbing radiation energy, knowing full well how dangerous it was.

And now, this mysterious boy was telling her that she could possess even greater strength.

How could she not be shocked?

How could she not be tempted?

Mei clenched her fists tightly, her scarlet Sharingan glinting with an unusual light in the moonlight.

She had never craved power, craved to grow stronger, as much as she did now.

Haotian's appearance had opened a door to a whole new world for her.

The next morning, as Haotian stepped through the gates of the Ninja Academy, he was greeted by a scene that made him both amused and exasperated.

Might Guy, that ever-energetic, hot-blooded, almost cringey youth, was being pinned down by his father, Might Duy—also clad in a green jumpsuit—and thoroughly scolded.

"Guy! You didn't finish your running quota again! How can you be so slack as a ninja!" Might Duy's roar echoed across the entire campus, making Haotian's eardrums ring.

"Father! I... I tried my best!" Might Guy's voice was tearful, but he still stubbornly lifted his head.

"Tried? Is this what you call trying? You can't even finish a thousand laps!" Might Duy said, slapping Guy's rear with another loud smack.

The crisp smack made Haotian feel like his eyes were burning.

These two were...

Quite spirited.

Just as Haotian was about to find a quiet spot to hang out, a few familiar figures walked over.

"Oh, if it isn't Haotian? What, here to sleep at school again today?" It was Hayate Gekko, his tone laced with mockery.

"Yeah, I heard you got completely wrecked by Uchiha Mei in yesterday's practical combat class. How embarrassing." Another voice chimed in—Hyuga Iripo.

Haotian glanced at them, ignored them, and walked straight toward the classroom.

"Hey! What's with the attitude!" Hayate Gekko called out in dissatisfaction.

Haotian stopped, turned around, swept his gaze over the group, and a meaningful smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"You'll all soon learn what true power really is."

Haotian walked over to Might Guy and his father, patting Guy on the shoulder. "You okay?"