Robbery

Fang Xu walked up to them, and the two of them recoiled in fear at the same time.

Just moments ago, they had been talking about breaking one of Fang Xu's legs. Now, forget fighting back—they did not even dare speak loudly.

Fang Xu crouched down and looked at them.

"Break one of my legs?"

The thug on the left shuddered all over.

"N-No, we wouldn't dare."

The thug on the right hurriedly nodded.

"We were wrong! We really were!"

The lead thug also groggily came to at that moment.

The instant he opened his eyes, he saw the arcs of electricity dancing at Fang Xu's fingertips, and his face went pale.

"D-Don't, don't hit us anymore..."

Fang Xu smiled.

"Fine. I won't."

The three of them had just breathed a sigh of relief when his next words made their faces turn even uglier.

"Robbery."

"Huh?"

The two thugs who could still move were dumbfounded.

Fang Xu raised his hand, lightning crackling at his fingertips.

"Didn't understand? Hand over your money."

The thug on the left trembled. "W-We don't have much money..."

Fang Xu tapped the wall beside him with a finger.

Crackle!

A charred patch immediately appeared on the wall, and the two thugs went green.

"We'll hand it over! We will!"

They no longer dared spout nonsense and hurriedly pulled out the money pouches on them.

One had seven hundred ryo, and the other had five hundred.

Fang Xu glanced at the lead thug on the ground, who had only just awakened.

"What about his?"

The thug on the right swallowed.

"H-His too?"

Fang Xu said nothing. The electric arcs at his fingertips merely brightened a little.

The thug on the right immediately crawled over and felt around the lead thug's body for a money pouch.

The lead thug looked like he was about to cry, but he did not dare stop him.

Fang Xu opened it and counted: one thousand one hundred ryo.

That made exactly two thousand three hundred ryo in total. Not much.

But enough for a few good meals.

Fang Xu put away the money and looked at the three little thugs on the ground.

"If you come looking for me next time, remember to bring more money."

Atop the wall overlooking the alley, Kakashi was crouching there with one hand resting on his knee, having watched the entire scene unfold.

From the three thugs following Fang Xu, to Fang Xu deliberately walking into the secluded alley, to that flash of lightning that knocked all three of them to the ground.

And in the end, Fang Xu had casually taken their money pouches as well.

Kakashi's exposed eye widened slightly.

"Lightning Release?"

He quickly dismissed that conclusion.

Fang Xu had not formed any hand seals just now.

Nor had there been the usual Chakra leakage before a Lightning Release ninjutsu was cast.

That lightning had seemed more like it erupted from within his body, first stimulating his muscles, then driving the speed of his fists and kicks, and finally pouring electricity into his opponents upon impact.

"Nintaijutsu?" Kakashi rubbed his chin.

Kumogakure had a similar Lightning Body-Tempering Technique, using Lightning Release Chakra to stimulate the body and enhance speed and strength.

But how could Fang Xu, a Ninja Academy student from Konoha, know something like that?

What was even stranger was that he had clearly been nothing more than an ordinary student in the class before.

Average grades, average presence—aside from that face.

Kakashi gave Fang Xu's retreating back a serious look.

He had to admit that this guy's looks could indeed go toe-to-toe with his own, provided he took off his mask.

"Interesting." Kakashi stood up from the wall.

He had merely been passing by, never expecting to witness such a farce.

Three bullies who threw their weight around had been cleanly beaten down by Fang Xu, then had their money pouches shaken out of them.

He had not hit them too hard, but it was enough to make them remember the pain. His speed, judgment, and timing all seemed nothing like that ordinary student from before.

"I'll find a chance to test him next time."

Kakashi adjusted the Short Sword on his back, and with a flicker, his figure vanished from the wall.

Just how much strength was this guy, whose looks matched his own, hiding? Sooner or later, Kakashi would confirm it himself.

Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood before the Crystal Ball, his pipe held between his fingers, his brow remaining furrowed for a long while.

The Telescope Technique had originally only been for routine observation of the village.

With the border recently unstable, he would make time to check on the state of the village's young ninja and Ninja Academy students.

He had not expected to see three boys following Fang Xu.

At first, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been ready to send someone over, but before he could speak, Fang Xu had already taken down all three of them.

The speed had even surprised him.

"Lightning Release Chakra stimulating the body?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze still fixed on the Crystal Ball.

"No hand seals. It doesn't resemble ordinary Lightning Release."

"Kumogakure's Lightning Body-Tempering Technique? Or did this child develop it himself?"

He remembered Fang Xu. More precisely, he remembered Fang Xu's father.

Naoto, a Jonin who had died in battle, had once been a highly reliable ninja under his command—steady in missions, obedient to orders, and responsible.

When Naoto had died in battle, the village had issued compensation according to protocol, and Hiruzen Sarutobi had also seen the arrangements for his surviving family on the list.

But Konoha's affairs had been too numerous over the years, the shadow of war growing heavier by the day. A civilian orphan had gradually been buried beneath thick stacks of records.

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the direction Fang Xu had left in through the Crystal Ball, his feelings complicated.

"Naoto's child actually has such talent. I overlooked him before."

If he had not happened to see it today, he would probably have still believed Fang Xu was merely an ordinary Ninja Academy student.

But that move just now was not something an ordinary student could pull off.

Even judging only by his basic speed and use of lightning, Fang Xu was worth close attention.

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped the desk.

In the corner of the room, an Anbu appeared soundlessly and dropped to one knee.

"Find out everything about those three children this afternoon."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was not loud, but it carried the weight of the Hokage.

"Warn them, as well as the people behind them spreading rumors. Asuma's name is not for them to use to bully their classmates."

The Anbu lowered his head.

"Yes."

Hiruzen Sarutobi added another sentence.

"Also, remind Asuma. It is fine for young people to be competitive, but do not let others borrow his influence."

The Anbu acknowledged again and vanished.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the documents on the desk, raised his pipe, and took a drag.

"Naoto, I neglected your child before."

Fang Xu had no idea that two people had set their eyes on him. After leaving the alley, he tucked the money pouches into his clothes, feeling rather pleased.

Two thousand three hundred ryo was not much, but for him right now, getting a free meal's worth of money was already quite nice.

Lightning Activation had consumed a fair amount of energy just now. Coupled with classes during the day and his morning run, his stomach had long since begun protesting.

"Perfect. I'll try the legendary Ichiraku Ramen."

Fang Xu turned down two streets and soon spotted that familiar sign.

Ichiraku Ramen.

The shop was not large, its curtain was clean, and the scent of hot broth drifted from within. The moment Fang Xu drew near, his stomach felt even emptier.

Back when he watched anime in his previous life, he had always been curious.

Just how delicious was the Ichiraku Ramen Naruto thought about every day?

Now that he had transmigrated to Konoha, it would be hard to justify not having a bowl.

"Welcome!"

Behind the counter, a young man looked up to greet him, a warm smile on his face.