Pretension Style Is Like the Wind, Ever at My Side

"Master Sagakawa, farewell for now. Thank you for sparing no effort. If you ever need help in the future, send someone to Konoha to find me." Beichen Haotian sheathed Wendao.

The scabbard was no ordinary item either. It had been forged from the leftover materials used to make Wendao. Silver all over and covered in strange patterns, it looked elegant and imposing. However, Beichen Haotian still needed to find time to modify it. An ordinary scabbard could not seal Wendao's aura; that murderous, bloody scent was far too conspicuous.

"Good, good, good," Sagakawa Fujii replied with a smile. It was as though he could see an unparalleled powerhouse about to rise. This promise was beyond their original agreement. A promise from an expert was something no amount of money could buy.

Beichen Haotian had always acted decisively. After bidding Sagakawa Fujii farewell, he immediately summoned Hawk Eyes and left the Land of Artisans.

When passing through the Land of Rain, Beichen Haotian hesitated briefly before deciding to stay and take a look. After several years apart, he wanted to see Konan.

The Land of Rain was neither large nor small. Searching aimlessly would take too much time. Beichen Haotian guessed that the three of them had already begun establishing the Akatsuki Organization. Of course, the Akatsuki of this time was completely different from the one that would come later.

Beichen Haotian decided to borrow Root's power. Arriving at one of Root's bases, he had the person in charge sift through the chaotic intelligence reports for information regarding Akatsuki.

Beichen Haotian had been right. Akatsuki had indeed been founded during this period, but only three months ago, and it was still tiny, with merely around twenty members.

Although the person in charge of the Root base did not know why Beichen Haotian was looking for such an inconspicuous little organization, orders could not be defied. He dutifully relayed the intelligence to Beichen Haotian.

"Their most recent appearance was in Crimson Cherry Town in the Land of Rain? Then I'll go take a look." Beichen Haotian put away the information and murmured.

Land of Rain, Crimson Cherry Town. It was a very ordinary town in the Land of Rain. Its only remarkable feature was the abundance of cherry blossom trees throughout the town. Around April, the blossoms filled the entire town, their fragrance permeating the air, breathtakingly beautiful!

That day, a crisp, piercing eagle cry shattered the town's silence. Beichen Haotian stood on Hawk Eyes's back, several hundred meters above the ground, resting with his eyes closed. The task of finding people fell to Hawk Eyes, whose eyesight was absurdly sharp. In a town this small, Hawk Eyes could search the entire place in at most fifteen minutes. Unless Yahiko, Konan, and the others were hiding inside houses or caves, they could not escape Hawk Eyes's sight.

Half a quarter-hour later, Hawk Eyes spoke. "Haotian, I found the group you mentioned."

Hearing this, Beichen Haotian opened his eyes and looked down, spotting roughly a dozen ant-like figures beside a small lake.

"Descend, Hawk Eyes."

"Alright, Haotian."

Hawk Eyes's rapid descent drew the attention of those below. One after another, they took out their weapons and stared warily at the black figure plummeting from the sky.

"Don't be so nervous, Yahiko, Nagato, Konan. Long time no see. Is this how you welcome guests? I did treat you to a delicious meal, after all." The teasing voice, unfamiliar yet somehow familiar, made Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan freeze.

With a soft thud, Hawk Eyes spread his wings and flew into the sky to play on his own. After landing, Beichen Haotian looked at the three with a smile, lingering especially long on Konan's face.

There were about eighteen people present. Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato wore black robes patterned with red clouds, while the other fifteen wore ordinary Rain Ninja uniforms. Four or five years had passed, and all three had grown considerably. Their long-term independent lives had made them seem much more mature than their peers. Konan had also shed her youthful immaturity and grown into a graceful young woman. At this time, she did not yet have that icy, unapproachable aura; she merely seemed slightly aloof.

"Everyone, lower your weapons. He's an acquaintance." Yahiko had clearly recognized Beichen Haotian and motioned for everyone to put away their kunai.

"Well, Yahiko, you're doing pretty well. You've even got underlings now. And Konan has grown up too—she's getting prettier and prettier."

Konan had clearly recognized Beichen Haotian as well. Remembering some things from the past, along with his words just now, her fair, delicate cheeks flushed faintly.

"If I remember correctly, your name is Beichen Haotian. I need to correct something: they are not my underlings. They are my companions," Yahiko said solemnly.

"Fine, fine. Companions, then. Looks like you're about to have lunch. Why not treat me to a meal? I'll let you off cheap and count it as returning the favor."

"Eat if you want, but you'll have to wait a while. Two more companions went hunting." Yahiko rolled his eyes and sat down on the grass by the lake.

"Hahaha!" Beichen Haotian found it amusing and burst out laughing. Earth's viewers had no chance to see Pain Yahiko roll his eyes. What kind of sight was that? They could only imagine it for themselves.

Yahiko was speechless at Beichen Haotian's inexplicable laughter. After rolling his eyes again, he ignored Beichen Haotian.

Beichen Haotian was not offended. Ignoring the annoyed gazes behind him, he went straight over and sat beside Konan. He patted the grass beside him, smiled like a gentleman, and said, "Konan, sit down too."

Konan's cheeks reddened slightly again, but she still sat down as he said. That was thanks to the impression Beichen Haotian had left on her in the past. A timely gift of coal in snowy weather formed a far deeper and more lasting bond than adding flowers to brocade.

"Konan, your strength has improved quite well after all these years. Lord Jiraiya really has some skill. If there's anything you don't understand now, ask me. I won't be by your side in future battles, so you need to be able to keep yourself safe."

Beichen Haotian's words were rather blatant, almost like a confession. Konan's already flushed cheeks instantly turned crimson, and she stammered, not knowing what to say.

"I say, Haotian, stop bothering Konan. We've become much stronger over the years. Are you really better than Master Jiraiya? What can you teach us? You're obviously about the same age as us, yet you insist on acting like some senior. Everything about you is fine, except that tone of yours is seriously irritating."

"Tch. You trained for a few years and think you're amazing now? In my eyes, you're still that silly little brat."

"Damn it!" Yahiko could not take it anymore. He cursed, sprang to his feet, and said defiantly, "Then let's have a spar. I'm going to beat you until you're crawling around looking for your teeth!"

"Forget it. You're too weak to interest me. If I hurt you, Konan will blame me." Beichen Haotian curled his lip and spoke in an infuriatingly smug tone.

That utterly pretentious tone immediately set Yahiko's subordinates—no, Yahiko's companions—off. They were already unhappy that Beichen Haotian was sitting so close to their goddess, and now he was looking down on their leader so much. They instantly exploded.

"You, Beichen Haotian, don't even need our leader to deal with you. Our leader already has Jonin-level strength. Pick anyone among us, and you still won't beat them," a tall ninja said, while the others quickly echoed him.

"Maybe you should forget it. Blades have no eyes, and it would be bad if anyone got hurt," Konan urged.

What was Beichen Haotian's purpose in coming here? First, to see Konan. Second... to show off. If a man did not show off in front of the girl he liked, was he even a normal man?

"You people? I'm not targeting any one of you. I'm saying that every single one of you sitting here—no, standing here—is garbage. Come at me together. After seeing Konan, I still have things to do." Beichen Haotian stood from the grass, brushed the blades of grass from his clothes, and did not even look at them, utterly disdainful.

Sorry, everyone. To win the beauty's heart, I'll have to use you as stepping stones. I'll go a little easy on you later so you suffer less.

Beichen Haotian's words immediately made everyone glare at him. Konan also shot him an annoyed look. She did not like hearing someone talk about her companions that way.

Beichen Haotian saw it but could not be bothered to comfort her. In terms of strength alone, regardless of anything else, these people truly were trash before him. Even if Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan joined in, at this stage they would not last fifteen minutes against Beichen Haotian.

"You said it. Don't accuse us of bullying you with numbers later," the tall ninja said eagerly.

"I said it."

"Go on, everyone. Teach this arrogant brat a harsh lesson. I'll double your pay," Yahiko fanned the flames from the side. Nagato simply watched in silence; at this time, he was introverted and rather quiet.

Although Konan was uncomfortable with Beichen Haotian's words, she could not bear to see so many people gang up on him and felt somewhat worried. She wanted to persuade them once more. But seeing everyone eager to fight, and Beichen Haotian himself looking utterly unconcerned, she swallowed her words. She also wanted to see Beichen Haotian's strength. Master Jiraiya had said he was one of Konoha's greatest geniuses.

"Alright, draw your blade," the tall ninja said, pulling the Ninja Sword from his back. The ninjas behind him also took out their kunai and Ninja Swords.

Seeing that the battle was about to begin, Yahiko and the other two retreated into the distance. The eighteen ninjas began moving to surround Beichen Haotian, while Beichen Haotian remained still and allowed them to encircle him.

"Draw my blade? Since Wendao came into this world, it will not be drawn lightly again. Those without sufficient worth are not qualified to witness its edge." Beichen Haotian gave a contemptuous smile.

"Arrogant! Even if you're the leader's friend and I can't kill you, I'll still beat you half to death today!" the tall ninja roared. His body sprang forward as he slashed at Beichen Haotian with his Ninja Sword.

"Too slow." Before Beichen Haotian's words had even faded, the tall ninja was sent flying backward. Then Beichen Haotian's afterimages flickered among the seventeen ninjas, moving at an absurd speed as fists coated in a small amount of Armament Haki crashed into their bodies.

In less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, all eighteen ninjas had fallen onto the grass. They clutched their stomachs and curled up on the ground, unable to get back up.

"Anyone below Jonin level isn't even qualified to make me use ninjutsu. Only those above Pseudo-Kage level are qualified to witness Wendao's edge. You're still far too lacking." Beichen Haotian left behind another statement brimming with pretension.

When he turned and saw Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan staring dumbfoundedly—especially the trace of admiration in Konan's eyes—Beichen Haotian felt utterly exhilarated.

The Ninja World truly worshipped the strong!

No wonder, no wonder... no wonder so many people liked showing off. You could not blame those who showed off; this feeling was simply too good.

"Hahaha, I think I understand Nagato, who called himself a god, and Sasuke, who possessed Pretension Style, a little better now."

Thanks to Chen, Fallen Halberd Angel, and Nangong Huaxiao for the recommendation votes! Thanks to Yamabuki Flowers Bloom Seven or Eightfold for the reward, and Ice Moon, Empty Heart for the monthly vote!