He reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose.
His heart, which had settled after he confirmed Uchiha Xin's Will of Fire, grew uneasy again over Xin's unconventional ambition.
Steam filled Ichiraku Ramen.
Uchiha Xin lifted a mouthful of noodles with his chopsticks and ate them.
The scene of him teasing Hiruzen Sarutobi in the Hokage's office earlier surfaced unbidden in his mind.
Remembering the old man's stunned expression as he held his pipe, Xin couldn't help chuckling.
Someone lifted the entrance curtain from outside, and Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame entered together.
"Xin, what are you sitting here grinning like an idiot for?"
Kiba casually pulled out the chair beside Xin.
He plopped down and set Akamaru on the counter.
"Nothing."
Xin put down his chopsticks and picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth.
"I just visited the Hokage's office and talked to the old Third about my marriage prospects."
Xin's tone was utterly casual.
Hinata froze just as she was about to pull out a chair.
Her entire face flushed bright red, and steam even rose from the top of her head.
She nervously poked her fingertips together, not daring to glance at Xin.
"Marriage prospects?"
Kiba's eyes widened as he stared at Xin in disbelief.
"Don't tell me you want the Third Hokage to personally visit the Hyuga Clan and propose a marriage for you?"
"It's too early for a proposal."
Shino pushed up his sunglasses and chimed in without the slightest change in tone.
"Because your current ages don't meet the village's marriage requirements."
"The Hyuga Clan's Main Family wouldn't agree to such a hasty decision either."
Kiba nearly choked at Shino's perfectly serious follow-up.
He turned to Xin, his mind involuntarily returning to the training ground earlier.
To the painful experience of being sent flying by a single punch from Xin, while even Akamaru had been so frightened that he lay on the ground without daring to move.
"Tch, like I'd bother sticking my nose into your business."
Kiba stood up in a huff and headed outside without even ordering noodles.
Seeing this, Shino silently turned and followed Kiba.
Hinata stole a glance at Xin with her face still red, then lowered her head and hurried out.
Xin paid his bill, lifted the curtain, and left the ramen shop.
He had just rounded a street corner when a tense, confrontational atmosphere came from the street ahead.
Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha.
They were facing off against three unfamiliar ninja carrying unusual ninja tools on their backs.
The three unfamiliar ninja wore Sunagakure forehead protectors.
The red-haired boy at their head carried a huge gourd.
He had extremely dark circles beneath his eyes and radiated undisguised killing intent.
They were Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara.
Sasuke had his hands in his pockets, his gaze hostile.
The strength Xin had displayed lately had gotten under his skin.
With nowhere to vent his jealousy and resentment, his temper had grown explosive.
"You Sunagakure punks, this is Konoha. You don't get to run wild here."
Sasuke snorted, drew a kunai, and took a fighting stance.
"Get out of my way if you don't want to die."
Those words instantly ignited Gaara's already highly unstable emotions.
"I want to kill you."
Gaara's voice was hoarse, and the stopper of the gourd on his back popped out on its own.
Fine sand began spreading wildly from beneath his feet.
Sasuke tightened his grip on his kunai and moved to charge forward and prove his strength.
Whoosh!
A figure flashed into existence between them without warning.
Uchiha Xin pressed one hand against Sasuke's shoulder and casually held the other in front of the spreading sand.
So fast!
Gaara was shocked.
The sand around him hadn't reacted defensively at all.
He hadn't even seen how the person before him had appeared.
When Sasuke saw that it was Xin, his expression grew even uglier.
"Stay out of it."
Sasuke forcefully shook off Xin's hand, gritted his teeth, and turned to leave.
Seeing this, Naruto and Sakura hurried after Sasuke.
Gaara stared fixedly at Xin's back, the killing intent in his eyes surging wildly as even the surrounding air grew colder.
"What's your name?"
"Uchiha Xin."
Xin's tone was flat, without a ripple.
"Uchiha Xin..."
Gaara muttered the name, then abruptly raised both hands.
"Sand Binding Coffin!"
The sand on the ground erupted, forming two enormous palms that slammed toward Xin from both sides.
Xin stamped his foot, and his figure instantly vanished.
The sand slammed together with a muffled boom, catching nothing but air.
The next second, Xin appeared less than half a meter in front of Gaara.
He raised his right leg high, chakra erupting through its muscles as an explosive crack rang through the air.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
Bam!
The powerful kick slammed into Gaara's chest.
The surface of the Sand Armor Gaara took such pride in was instantly covered in countless cracks.
Then the cracked armor shattered with a crash!
Fine sand danced through the air.
Gaara flew straight backward, completely unable to control his body.
He spat out a large mouthful of blood in midair before crashing heavily into the wall behind him.
Cracks spread across a large section of the wall, and dust billowed everywhere.
"Gaara!"
Temari and Kankuro paled in alarm.
Kankuro stared at Xin in shock.
Gaara's absolute defense, which even explosive tags couldn't blast open.
This kid had actually shattered it with a single effortless kick!
The two quickly drew their ninja tools and were about to rush forward to help.
"Stay back!"
Gaara climbed out of the rubble and let out a beastlike roar.
His emotions spiraled completely out of control, and half his face began turning to sand, revealing Shukaku's hideous features.
An enormous sand hand covered in strange violet cursed seals extended from his back and slammed toward Xin.
Xin shook his head helplessly.
His hands blurred as he rapidly completed his hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
A scorching fire dragon rose from the ground, carrying searing heat as it collided head-on with the enormous sand hand.
Boom!
The raging flames instantly burned the sand hand into glassy slag, which burst apart in midair.
Taking advantage of the smoke and dust filling the air, Xin used the Body Flicker Technique again.
He passed through the smoke and dust and drove a vicious punch into Gaara's abdomen.
Gaara screamed as his body slammed into the ground, smashing a deep crater into the flagstones.
Xin followed through by planting a foot on Gaara's chest, pinning him firmly to the ground so he couldn't move.
Then Xin's eyes instantly turned scarlet.
Sharp five-pointed star patterns spun rapidly within his pupils.
Mangekyō Sharingan, activate!
Powerful ocular energy pierced straight into Gaara's mental space through his gaze.
Inside the mental space, the enormous Shukaku was roaring wildly, trying to break through the seal.
A pair of icy Sharingan bearing five-pointed stars suddenly appeared in the sky.
That absolute suppressive power, originating from deep within his bloodline, made Shukaku's enormous body abruptly stiffen.
"Behave yourself."
Xin's icy voice rang out within the mental space.
Shukaku let out a piercing scream.
Clutching his enormous head, he curled up on the ground in agony and fell completely silent.