Arrogance

Forests covered 60% of the Land of Fire's total area, supposedly all created by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, through Wood Release. Dense canopies intertwined overhead, blocking out most of the sunlight.

Zhong Hao moved nimbly through the forest and soon neared the training ground.

"Burning Tang Ze with fire was Fire Release. Even the lowest-level Fire Release could easily burn a six-year-old child to death, yet Tang Ze only suffered burns. Either the attacker held back, or they were a beginner who hadn't mastered it yet." Zhong Hao leaned toward the latter.

"And Ji Mei is an older kid. Whether in age or size, she's still a child. Being able to use Fire Release at such a young age means she can't be a civilian ninja. Combined with that arrogant, domineering personality, there's a good chance they're Uchiha." As he analyzed the situation, he gradually approached the training ground and could vaguely make out a figure in the distance.

The person had their back to him and was throwing kunai at a target. The fan crest on their back was exceptionally conspicuous, confirming his guess.

Zhong Hao observed for a while. From the person's movements, he could tell their taijutsu was average, far inferior to Might Guy's. Their kunai throws were quite accurate, but coupled with Fire Release that couldn't even burn someone to death, they were at most a genin.

Zhong Hao slowly approached without concealing himself. The person quickly noticed him. Turning around, he looked to be around ten years old and fairly handsome, but his eyes utterly ruined that handsome face, brimming with arrogant, overbearing disdain.

"This training ground is mine," Zhong Hao said.

"Three brats said the same thing before. If they hadn't run fast enough, I would've slaughtered them one by one. If you don't want to die, get lost." The boy glanced at the sword in Zhong Hao's hand with contempt.

"This is Konohagakure. You dare kill people so casually? Aren't you afraid the Hokage will hold you accountable?" Zhong Hao asked again.

"Everyone knows the Konoha Military Police Force is controlled by my Uchiha clan. Kill a few people in such a remote place and no one will know. And even if they do, so what? The Hokage can't control us."

No wonder the Uchiha ended up like that. They produce people like you. Zhong Hao sneered inwardly. This boy was rather extraordinary too—only ten years old, yet already possessed such a mature, vicious temperament. It was likely due to the environment he had grown up in.

"You bastard, who are you to speak about my Uchiha clan? Remember this—the one taking your life is Uchiha Ang." Uchiha Ang had already lost patience. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled a kunai at Zhong Hao, then drew another from his ninja tool pouch and followed close behind it.

Zhong Hao drew his longsword halfway and knocked aside the incoming kunai. He had never possessed an ordinary body. After years of grueling training, though he was not yet seven and only knew taijutsu, he was no weaker than an average genin.

The longsword and kunai clashed repeatedly, scattering sparks in every direction.

"His taijutsu is average, far worse than Might Guy's." Having probed out some of his opponent's abilities, Zhong Hao's gaze sharpened. He increased his strength once more and slashed down at Uchiha Ang, his blade whistling through the air.

Clang— The sound of metal striking metal echoed out.

Uchiha Ang had never expected Zhong Hao, who did not look particularly strong, to possess such immense strength. His hand went numb, and the kunai flew from his grasp. Alarm surged through him. He bent his knees slightly and rapidly formed hand seals.

Zhong Hao had succeeded with one strike. Twisting his wrist, he immediately followed with another merciless slash. With a ripping sound, Uchiha Ang was split in half from his shoulder to his lower back.

Poof!

The bisected corpse burst into a cloud of smoke, transforming into a wooden log.

"Not bad with the Substitution Technique." As he spoke, Zhong Hao kicked the log to one side. Uchiha Ang was standing right there. Zhong Hao then charged at him with the momentum of his kick.

Uchiha Ang ducked low and dodged the log, his face twisted into a savage expression. If he had not been proficient in the Substitution Technique, he would have nearly died. A chilling gleam filled his eyes, and his imposing aura carried a trace of bloodlust—the kind of presence only someone with blood on their hands possessed.

Facing Zhong Hao, who was charging at him with a raised blade, madness appeared in Uchiha Ang's eyes. He formed hand seals with both hands. Under the influence of negative emotions, his chakra conversion seemed to become smoother.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A fireball as large as a carriage erupted from his mouth. Uchiha Ang was overjoyed when he saw it. Previously, he could only spit out a fireball the size of a washbasin, but now he had actually broken through. With a fireball this large, he had undoubtedly completely mastered the technique.

Wherever the fireball passed, trees exploded apart. It plowed forward for twenty meters before gradually dissipating, setting everything in its path ablaze. For a time, the flames spread, only to weaken bit by bit as though there were no oxygen.

This was a forest in the Land of Fire. Due to Wood Release, it possessed the ability to extinguish ordinary flames.

"Hmph! Burned to ashes? You got off easy. But now that I've mastered the Great Fireball Technique, I should go home and tell Father. He'll definitely be proud of me." After the fireball vanished, Uchiha Ang did not see Zhong Hao's figure. With his arrogance, he naturally assumed Zhong Hao had been reduced to ash.

"Where did you get that confidence?"

A voice came from behind him. A flash of blade light cut through the air, and Uchiha Ang's expression changed. He only had time to shift slightly to the left before the blade passed through his right shoulder, severing an arm at the root.

"Aah—" Uchiha Ang collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony.

Zhong Hao had not expected Uchiha Ang to be this idiotic. After using Fire Release, his eyes had contained nothing but that enormous fireball. He had not noticed at all that his target had leaped over him first.

What Zhong Hao did not know was that Uchiha Ang's joy at breaking through with the Great Fireball Technique had consumed all his attention. The Uchiha clan seemed to have this obsession from childhood, hoping to gain their relatives' approval. In that instant, Uchiha Ang's heart had been filled entirely with his father's praise and recognition.

No matter how mature he was, he was still only ten years old.

Uchiha Ang lay on the ground, watching Zhong Hao slowly approach with his sword in hand. Ignoring the pain, he clutched the stump of his shoulder and pushed himself backward with his legs, saying in terror:

"Don't... don't come over. You can't kill me. I'm from the Uchiha clan. My clansmen know I'm here—that target was given to me by one of them. If you kill me, my father won't let you go. The Uchiha won't let you go either. And... and those three brats."

Zhong Hao stopped, his face instantly darkening. If no one knew Uchiha Ang was here, killing him would have been simple. But seeing that target, which had not been here before, he knew Uchiha Ang was telling the truth.

If he killed him, the Uchiha clan would certainly trace him through the training ground. If Zhong Hao were alone, he could simply travel to the One Piece world three days later. But Ji Mei and the others could not. He still lacked the ability to take others across worlds, and if they remained here, they would inevitably suffer the consequences.

Seeing Zhong Hao's expression, Uchiha Ang's desire to survive flared up. He hurriedly added, "Let me go, and I'll never dare oppose you again. I swear on the honor of the Uchiha clan."

That was indeed the truth. If he truly swore on the Uchiha clan's honor, he would certainly uphold it. After all, most Uchiha valued their clan's honor more than their own lives.

However, if he returned in this state, even if he did not seek revenge against Zhong Hao, his father would come after Zhong Hao.

Stationed in the Konoha Military Police Force and holding law enforcement authority, killing a few orphans would be too easy. Konohagakure would not offend the Uchiha for a few insignificant people.

Zhong Hao's thoughts raced, and he had already made his decision. "Swear it, then. Swear on the honor of the Uchiha that if you want revenge in the future, you may only seek me out and must not involve anyone else. Three days from now, I'll leave the village to train. While I'm outside the village, you can come for me whenever you wish."

There was no chance of making the Uchiha abandon revenge, so he might as well direct their attention toward himself. He would be leaving in three days anyway. Once he returned after becoming stronger, it was uncertain who would kill whom.

Of course, that was only if Uchiha Ang did not die. Otherwise, if they could not find him, the enraged Uchiha would likely seize Ji Mei and the other three first.

Uchiha Ang nodded frantically and swore as Zhong Hao instructed. In the face of death, there was great terror. He did not possess the will to confront death; he only wanted to live.

Uchiha Ang clutched his wound and staggered away.

Zhong Hao did not let him retrieve his severed arm. Medical techniques in this world were absurd in every way—eye transplants, reattaching limbs, cloning. Their technology in these areas practically surpassed that of Earth in his previous life. If he let Uchiha Ang reattach his arm without suffering any lasting damage, then coming here specifically for revenge would have been meaningless aside from gaining a powerful enemy.

This guy was merely a genin. With one arm gone, his path as a ninja was essentially over. That was his punishment for harming Da Ye and the others. What Zhong Hao would face next was the powerful Uchiha clan.

Watching Uchiha Ang's retreating back, Zhong Hao's eyes were filled with icy menace. "This has only just begun. Ji Mei's slap mark, Tang Ze's burns all over his body, Da Ye nearly having his throat slit—I haven't forgotten a single one. Uchiha, let's see which of us dies first..."