Standing on a tree trunk, Yagura glanced from the corner of his eye at the strange-looking boy with deep blue skin.
Beneath the pale moonlight, the boy's bare upper body was covered in scarred-over wounds. Though he looked thin, his body held astonishing explosive strength.
"Thud!"
He suddenly slammed a fist into the tree trunk, several meters thick, leaving a deep imprint in the wood.
Then, without warning, he leaped into the air, twisted at the waist, and drove a powerful kick into the trunk.
"Crack!"
A deep fissure appeared across the surface of the tree under his kick.
It was hard to believe that everything before them had been done by this seemingly young boy. He was nothing like other children his age. With such terrifying strength, he seemed more like a monster wearing human skin.
Yagura's face showed a hint of surprise, too, as he marveled at the terrifying power contained in the boy's body.
"Whoosh!"
He landed lightly on the ground without bothering to conceal the sound.
As expected, the thin boy who had been training immediately noticed the movement. His intimidating, shark-like eyes flashed with wariness as he turned to look in Yagura's direction.
Yagura made no attempt to hide himself. With steady steps, he walked straight toward the thin, monstrous boy.
The boy stared at Yagura and paused briefly, but his youthful appearance did not put him at ease. Keeping his eyes fixed on Yagura, he asked in a low voice,
"Who are you?"
At his words, Yagura studied him with his purple eyes and calmly asked,
"Can't you tell from my Forehead Protector that I'm a shinobi from Kirigakure? Why are you so wary?"
The thin boy did not let down his guard at Yagura's words. Instead, he replied in a low voice,
"A