In the forest surrounding Konoha Village.
A slender figure darted among the towering trees—it was naturally Tian Yuan.
Although he knew finding a Standard signal wouldn't be simple, fortune favors the bold, and this was still Konoha territory; other Ninja Villages would not dare intrude so brazenly.
Moreover, since awakening his Sharingan, Tian Yuan's strength had increased further.
Now he could defeat ordinary Chunin; encountering a Jonin might be more dangerous, but not fatal.
The signal point lay not far from Konoha Village.
After a few minutes' trek, Tian Yuan came to a stop.
"This must be the signal reception point." He scanned his surroundings—no one was in sight. His luck held.
He settled at the base of a great tree—the reception spot.
The signal downloaded swiftly, but before he could finish, three figures dropped from nearby branches, landing just out of his hiding place.
Seeing them, Tian Yuan cursed silently. Of course the System would not let him claim a Standard video so easily.
He spotted the inverted exclamation-mark headbands of Hidden Sand Village. They had crept to Konoha's border in secret—surely not on diplomatic business, or they would have entered openly. They were either on a covert mission or spies.
Tian Yuan relaxed slightly: these three did not look especially formidable, likely only Chunin, no Jonin among them.
Then the mission prompt appeared:
"Defeat three Sand Ninja to obtain one half of a Standard Dragon Ball fragment."
Dragon Ball fragments were artifacts of a high-powered dimension—worth the risk to attempt. Even Earth's level of science seemed tame by comparison.
Tian Yuan's eyes sharpened. He leapt with precision, a translucent blade slicing through the tree trunk.
He had been discovered.
……
"How's it been inside Konoha? Any findings?" one Sand Ninja asked.
"Lord, no trace of anything." his two companions reported.
"Then perhaps it really wasn't Konoha's doing." the leader frowned.
"We should press deeper into their territory." one suggested.
"Very well, but first—deal with one of them." The Sand Ninja lord declared. His two underlings froze: though only Chunin, their leader fought like a Jonin, a top-tier Chunin respected in Hidden Sand Village.
He formed seals in a blur, manifesting a blade of wind chakra that streaked toward Tian Yuan's hiding spot.
"Wind Release Wind Cutter Technique."
Crash. The great tree toppled—and there stood Tian Yuan, Kunai in hand, alert and ready.
"So it's just a child." The Sand Ninja smirked coldly. "You may still study at the Ninja Academy, but now that we've found you, we must deliver you death."
"Is that so?" Tian Yuan chuckled, tossing multiple Kunai at the three foes.
"Too slow." They dodged with ease.
"Really?" In an instant, Tian Yuan appeared before one Sand Ninja, whose pupils shrank at his speed.
"Konoha Whirlwind." Tian Yuan's legs became a tornado, sweeping the ninja into a barrage of strikes.
Thud, thud. The Sand Ninja flew backward, crashing heavily against another tree.
As Tian Yuan prepared to press his advantage, a glinting Kunai shot toward him from above—no escape.
"Amazing." Tian Yuan deflected the blade with his Kunai and was pushed back by its force.
The powerful Sand Ninja closed in, Kunai darting toward Tian Yuan's vital points.
Clang, clang. Their blades clashed, sparks flying. The other two Sand Ninja watched—this was a peak-Chunin duel they couldn't join.
Clang. One final impact drove Tian Yuan and the Sand Ninja back a few paces. Their eyes locked, both pupils burning with lethal intent.
"Impressive, truly impressive, child. You must be Konoha's genius ninja. I've heard of a Kakashi—could you be him?" the ninja asked, lowering his weapon.
"I am not Kakashi." Tian Yuan shook his head.
"Not Kakashi, no matter. Such strength at your age—you must be a formidable prodigy in Konoha. Back then we had no chance to strike, but now you've walked into my blade." The Sand Ninja's gaze turned ice-cold. He sensed Tian Yuan's potential: if allowed to grow, he'd become Hidden Sand Village's greatest enemy.
"Your skill is admirable, but I doubt I'll die here today." Tian Yuan said calmly.
"Is that so? I have not even shown you my full power." The Sand Ninja laughed coldly, vanishing from sight then reappearing at Tian Yuan's side.
"Incredible speed—now faster still." Tian Yuan swung his Kunai once more.
Clang. Their blades met again with such force Tian Yuan staggered backward. The Sand Ninja spoke true: he had held back before.
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