Meteor

After dealing with Sakumo and Sasuke, Uzumaki Hane hurried over to Tanaka and the others. Finding that Sakai Fuji had also lost consciousness, he carried the two men out of the forest.

Just after Uzumaki Hane left, Sakai Jiro arrived. Looking at the melted ground in the middle of the clearing and the scorched trees around it, Sakai Jiro grew grave. "Looks like something's changed. I have to tell my elder brother right away." He then hurried out of the forest.

Uzumaki Hane brought Tanaka and Sakai Fuji back to the inn and left them in Yamano Koromo's care. He then prepared to head to the Sakai Family. Tanaka's injury had filled Uzumaki Hane with killing intent, and he had no intention of letting the matter rest.

Just then, Sakai Fuji woke up. Uzumaki Hane looked at him and said, "Sakai Fuji, you're awake. Can you tell us everything?"

Sakai Fuji was terrified of Uzumaki Hane now, so he immediately told them everything.

Ten years ago, Sakai Ichiro had killed Sakai Fuji's family to seize their property. Sakai Fuji had escaped thanks to his father's arrangements. He had been saved by a ninja by chance, and had followed that ninja and learned Ninjutsu from him ever since.

Three days ago, Sakai Fuji had returned to the town to take revenge on the Sakai Family, only to run into a Konoha Ninja investigating them. The two had infiltrated the Sakai Family estate together and overheard a secret.

A month ago, a meteor had fallen in the forest. Sakai Ichiro had discovered by chance that it could enhance the body. Overjoyed, he had then used meteor fragments to create a group of powerful fighters—the men Uzumaki Hane had killed.

The ninja had come for the meteor. Afterward, the two of them had been discovered and severely wounded, but had managed to escape using their Ninjutsu.

Uzumaki Hane had fought those men and experienced their strength firsthand. He had never expected that they had used only fragments, less than a tenth of the meteor, yet their bodies had undergone such a qualitative change. Uzumaki Hane was very interested in what effect the entire meteor might have.

Now that he knew the whole story, Uzumaki Hane prepared to strike at their lair. He went to the Sakai Family estate, only to find that neither Sakai Ichiro nor Sakai Jiro was there. He then followed Sakai Fuji's directions to the cave. Just as he was about to enter, Sakai Ichiro and Sakai Jiro came out, with Sakai Jiro carrying a box.

The two men froze when they saw Uzumaki Hane, but quickly recovered. Sakai Ichiro said, "It's you. So you really were the one who killed my men. But how did you find this place?"

Uzumaki Hane answered dismissively, "I was wandering around the forest and ended up here. Is the meteor in that box?"

Sakai Ichiro could no longer maintain his composure. Shocked, he said, "How did you know?"

Sakai Jiro gave a bloodthirsty smile. "Elder brother, it doesn't matter how he found out. Once we kill him, no one will know about any of this." He shoved the box into Sakai Ichiro's hands and slowly walked toward Uzumaki Hane, stopping two meters away.

Uzumaki Hane's lips curved slightly. "You want to kill me? You held back your strength during our last match. Let's see just how strong the meteor made you."

Sakai Jiro slowly drew his sword, his expression growing calm. Gripping it in both hands, he slashed fiercely at Uzumaki Hane, who raised the Kunai in his right hand to meet it.

Clang! Uzumaki Hane staggered back several steps, unable to control his movement. What tremendous strength!

Sakai Jiro took several long strides, charging up to Uzumaki Hane and bringing his sword down at his head.

Uzumaki Hane turned sideways to avoid the blow, but Sakai Jiro seemed to have anticipated it. He changed the sword's direction and swept it toward Uzumaki Hane's waist.

Uzumaki Hane gripped his Kunai with both hands and blocked the sword, but the tremendous force pushed him back, nearly knocking the Kunai from his grip.

Sakai Jiro held his sword upright before him in both hands and declared proudly, "This is the meteor's power. In just one month, my physical strength increased tenfold. It's an honor for you to die to such power."

Killing intent flashed in Uzumaki Hane's eyes. "Only if you can kill me."

Without another word, Sakai Jiro raised his sword and slashed down.

"Lava Super Heavy Fist!" Uzumaki Hane shouted. His right hand turned to lava and swelled to ten times its original size, seizing Sakai Jiro's sword.

Sakai Jiro frowned. He could feel the sword held fast, and no matter how hard he pulled, he could not free it.

Uzumaki Hane's left hand then rapidly swelled to ten times its size and struck Sakai Jiro, sending him flying ten meters.

Sakai Ichiro had not expected Uzumaki Hane to be so powerful that he could defeat Sakai Jiro. Unlike Sakai Jiro, he had never trained in martial arts or used the meteor to strengthen his body. He was just an ordinary man. He turned and tried to flee.

Seeing Sakai Ichiro trying to escape, Uzumaki Hane leaped lightly behind him and grabbed his shoulder. With a faint smile, he said, "Family Head Sakai, where do you think you're going? It's your turn now."

Sakai Ichiro began to panic, but quickly calmed down. He turned around and said decisively, "Uzumaki Hane, if you're willing to spare me, I'll give you the meteor." As he spoke, he offered it to Uzumaki Hane.

Uzumaki Hane did not take the box. His expression had turned cold. "Before this, I might have been willing to spare you once I had the meteor. But your men injured my companion. If I don't kill you, I can't quell the anger in my heart. Besides, once you're dead, the meteor will still be mine. So go in peace." As he spoke, the killing intent in his eyes grew stronger.

Seeing the killing intent in Uzumaki Hane's eyes, Sakai Ichiro realized he was in trouble and tried to escape, but Uzumaki Hane was too strong for him to break free.

"Lava Super Heavy Fist!" Uzumaki Hane shouted. His right hand rapidly turned to lava and swelled to ten times its size as he struck at Sakai Ichiro.

Sakai Ichiro watched the enormous fist draw closer, his face filled with terror. "No..." he screamed. The blow sent him flying, blood pouring from his mouth. He landed heavily beside Sakai Jiro, already dead.

Sakai Jiro struggled to his feet and embraced Sakai Ichiro's corpse. "Elder brother..." he cried in anguish. Then he looked at Uzumaki Hane with hatred and shouted, "Uzumaki Hane, I want you dead!" He snatched up the box beside him, took out the meteor and swallowed it.

Immediately afterward, Sakai Jiro felt cramps twist through his stomach. The intense pain made him collapse to the ground, his face deathly pale and cold sweat pouring from him.

Crack, crack. Sakai Jiro screamed. Crack, crack. His body began to stretch, growing to over two meters tall. Crack, crack. His body seemed to be compressed by something, shrinking back down to 1.8 meters. Sakai Jiro screamed throughout the entire process. Only after a full five minutes did his transformation stop. Uzumaki Hane did not attack, silently watching the changes in Sakai Jiro.

After a while, Sakai Jiro stood up. "This feeling, this strength... This is the power I've always dreamed of." His expression was somewhat deranged. He then stomped his right foot, creating a crack in the ground that extended more than ten meters.

Sakai Jiro looked at the destruction he had caused and laughed wildly. "Hahaha..." He laughed for a long time before finally stopping.

He then looked at Uzumaki Hane, his eyes full of killing intent. "Uzumaki Hane, I want you dead," he said venomously. He picked up his sword from the ground with his right hand and slashed fiercely at Uzumaki Hane, creating a shockwave. The ground shattered as it rushed toward him.