Danzo Makes His Move

In the secret base, scorched tree stumps lay toppled everywhere.

Fang Xu stood in the middle of the clearing, his long sword hanging at his side. His chest rose and fell noticeably, but he could not suppress the excitement on his face.

Over the past hour or so, he had tested Thunder Breathing, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Lightning Mode, and Lightning Release Chakra one after another.

Using Thunder Breathing alone gave him speed, smooth sword techniques, and manageable physical exertion.

Once he added Lightning Mode, his explosive power shot up dramatically.

When he further infused the blade with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's true lightning, it was no longer the Demon Slayer Corps' kind of "lightning-like" attack. It was genuine lightning cutting through everything.

Finally, he tried using Lightning Release Chakra as a guide, letting the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's lightning follow the rhythm of his breathing and the force of his swordsmanship.

The effect was even more brutal than he had imagined.

With a single slash, the tree trunk was not merely cut apart. Lightning and sword force pierced through it at once, blasting open a charred crack down the middle and sending wood chips flying more than ten meters away.

"That's more like it."

Fang Xu gripped the hilt, his fingertips still tingling slightly.

"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit determines the upper limit of the lightning, Lightning Mode handles the body's explosive power, Lightning Release Chakra provides stable guidance, and Thunder Breathing controls the swordsmanship and breathing rhythm."

"Each of these is powerful on its own."

"Put them together, and their power rises by an entire level."

More importantly, his endurance had changed as well. Previously, when he used the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he had relied entirely on this six-year-old body to hold out.

Fifteen seconds of Elementalization had already been his limit. High-intensity electrical output was even more dangerous to use recklessly; one mistake could drain all his stamina.

But after absorbing Kaigaku's Thunder Breathing Crystal, his physique had been forcibly raised by a huge margin.

His lung capacity, muscle strength, leg explosiveness, and bodily coordination were all far stronger than before.

After testing his techniques continuously just now, the maximum duration of his Elementalization and lightning output had at least doubled.

"Physique is the Root."

Fang Xu let out a breath and sheathed his long sword.

"The stronger my body is, the more power the Rumble-Rumble Fruit can unleash."

"From now on, I can't just focus on ninjutsu and techniques. Physical training has to stay maxed out."

He cleaned up the area briefly and made sure he had not left any obvious traces before leaving the secret base and heading home under cover of night.

After returning home, Fang Xu shut the door, checked the windows, and confirmed that he did not feel as if anyone was watching him.

Only then did he sit at the table and stir his thoughts.

The Attribute Panel appeared.

[Name: Fang Xu]

[State: Fatigued, mildly excited]

[Talent: Exchange LV1]

[Talent Progress: 3/10]

[Chakra Attributes: Lightning, Earth, Water]

[Chakra Level: Elite Genin]

[Ability: Rumble-Rumble Fruit Mastery (weakened due to physique limitations)]

[Skills: Proficient Swordsmanship, Proficient Thunder Breathing, Proficient Lightning Mode]

[Ninjutsu: Proficient Lightning Release: Lightning Ball Technique, Proficient Three Body Technique, Beginner Shadow Clone Technique, Beginner Water Release: Water Wave Technique]

[Overall Evaluation: Elite Chunin]

[Notice: At full combat power, you can briefly fight an ordinary Jonin. Your foundational strength still needs to be reinforced.]

Fang Xu looked at the panel, and the corners of his mouth slowly rose.

Elite Genin-level chakra.

Elite Chunin-level overall strength.

At full combat power, he could even briefly fight an ordinary Jonin.

Two weeks ago, he would not have dared to imagine this.

Back then, he had merely been an ordinary student at the Ninja Academy, average in chakra, average in Taijutsu, and average in ninjutsu.

His greatest advantage had probably been his handsome face.

But now?

The Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Lightning Mode, Lightning Release Chakra, and Thunder Breathing swordsmanship.

Hatake Sakumo as his teacher, the Shadow Clone Technique and Water Release given to him by Tsunade, and the Attribute Panel cheat that gave him real-time feedback.

"Two weeks to come this far."

Fang Xu leaned back in his chair, feeling immensely satisfied.

This was not an effortless victory. Every improvement had come from seizing opportunities and desperately absorbing what he gained.

The Rumble-Rumble Fruit gave him a higher limit, but he had to train his body. Thunder Breathing gave him experience, but he had to integrate it into the Shinobi World's system. Sakumo gave him Kendo, but he still had to practice the basics every day. Tsunade gave him Shadow Clones, but without enough chakra, he did not dare split himself recklessly.

"I still can't get carried away."

Fang Xu quickly suppressed his excitement.

"Elite Chunin is only an evaluation."

"If I truly face a Jonin, their intelligence, experience, ninutsu coordination, and killing methods will all be beyond anything in Ninja Academy sparring."

"The fact that I can fight one now doesn't mean I can win."

"Next, I'll keep digesting Thunder Breathing and solidify my swordsmanship and Lightning Mode."

"Once these things truly become mine, then I'll consider the next step."

Fang Xu closed the panel and took a sip of water.

Fatigue washed over him, yet his heart remained steady. The path to becoming stronger was growing clearer and clearer.

At the same time.

Beneath an abandoned street on the eastern side of Konoha, deep within an underground base, the lights were dim.

Danzo sat in the seat of honor, half his face concealed beneath bandages and shadow.

A Root ninja knelt on one knee, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Lord Danzo, the intelligence has been confirmed."

"Hatake Sakumo has taken Fang Xu as his disciple."

Danzo lightly tapped the armrest with his fingers.

"Give me the details."

Root ninja Takuma lowered his head. "Fang Xu, six years old, a student at the Ninja Academy."

"His father, Fang Naoto, was formerly an Anbu Jonin and died during a mission."

"His mother, Tawara Keiko, was an ordinary Chunin and likewise died during a mission."

"After his parents' deaths, Fang Xu remained withdrawn for two years and showed nothing remarkable."

"Half a month ago, he defeated an upperclassman near the Ninja Academy using a self-created lightning-attribute ninja Taijutsu."

Danzo's tapping paused.

"Self-created?"

"No traces have currently been found of him coming into contact with Hidden Cloud ninja."

Takuma continued, "After that incident, the Third Hokage began paying attention to him."

"Afterward, Fang Xu sparred with Kakashi Hatake, and the two ended in a draw."

"Hatake Sakumo witnessed it personally, judged Fang Xu to possess talent in Kendo, and accepted him as a disciple on the spot."

"Besides that, Tsunade also visited Fang Xu's residence at night and stayed for quite some time."

Danzo's gaze darkened.

"The Third Hokage, Sakumo, Tsunade."

"A little brat, yet he has drawn the attention of quite a few people."

Takuma did not respond.

Root did not need unnecessary judgments. It only needed to report.

Danzo slowly spoke. "Hatake Sakumo's reputation has been growing greater and greater over the years."

"His battlefield achievements, his prestige within the Anbu, and that Hokage half-cloak he wears."

"People in the village are already saying that Hiruzen is old, and that White Fang may be more suitable to step into the spotlight."

By this point, his voice had turned colder.

"That kind of talk should not exist."

Hatake Sakumo was too dazzling.

So dazzling that he blocked many people's paths.

Danzo had already been considering how to suppress this White Fang of the Leaf.

Yet now, Sakumo had gained another disciple whose talent had suddenly surfaced.

Lightning-attribute ninja Taijutsu, talent in Kendo, blood from a Senju branch family.

And he had caught the eyes of the Third Hokage and Tsunade.

If a child like this grew up, he could easily become Hatake Sakumo's new support.