Naruto: My Progress in Konoha.

The technique Uchiha Haruki had just used wasn't some unknown ninjutsu—it was Mystic Palm Technique.

Thanks to the high-intensity training he had undergone with this medical jutsu, Haruki had developed a rather unorthodox method.

He would inject a burst of Yang Release chakra directly into the area near the wound, compressing the entire healing process into a single, short moment.

While this technique did consume more chakra and slightly reduced the overall healing effect, it had one major advantage—it required no sustained attention or time to maintain.

Normally, most medical ninjutsu required concentration and time to function properly, making battlefield self-healing nearly impossible.

But Haruki's custom method was different. He could cast it mid-fight, between dodges or attacks, restoring himself on the go.

Just like now: once he had distanced himself, he immediately hit himself with a modified version of the Mystic Palm, and in an instant, the bleeding from his chest stopped and the wound began to close at a decent rate.

Just as Ichiro Kurokawa had feared—Haruki's injury would be mostly healed within a few minutes, and he'd be back in top form.

That was the confidence behind Haruki's willingness to trade injuries.

Now, looking at the five remaining Iwa Jonin, Haruki struck first.

Without waiting for them to act, he launched a long-range ninjutsu:

Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!

Although this technique wasn't highly destructive, it was perfect for disrupting enemy formations.

Even as elite Jonin, Ichiro Kurokawa and the others didn't dare take a direct hit from a Wind Breakthrough empowered with 2,000 chakra points.

It wasn't the wind force itself that scared them—it was what might be hidden inside. If they got caught in it, who knew what tricks Haruki had concealed? Given how fragile a ninja's body was, it could easily lead to serious injuries.

So naturally, none of them dared face it head-on. They scattered to both sides, dodging away.

Exactly what Haruki wanted.

Using his Sharingan, he closely observed their movements.

One of them had helped the severely wounded Jonin from earlier retreat to the side.

Seeing this, Haruki's eyes lit up—he immediately cancelled the Wind Breakthrough and, using Body Flicker Technique, teleported over before the whirlwind fully dissipated.

Just as he was about to swing his blade to finish the two off—

—a sudden sense of danger gripped his entire body.

Haruki's eyes snapped to the Jonin supporting the wounded one.

That man wore a cold, sinister grin. And at that moment, black sealing marks suddenly appeared on the ground and across his own body.

With just a glance, Haruki realized he'd walked into a trap.

Those black patterns weren't anything else—they were curse seal formations, infused with rules-based binding power.

Though Haruki wasn't an expert in sealing or curse arts, even from his past life he remembered that these techniques were deadly tools used to take down stronger enemies.

Not knowing the specifics of what kind of trap had been laid, Haruki instinctively tried to teleport away.

As for the opportunity he was about to seize? That could wait.

But then—something shocking happened.

His Body Flicker didn't activate.

No—it wasn't that the technique had failed.

It was that his entire body had been immobilized—completely frozen in place.

The grinning Jonin—Genba Oguri—gently set down the injured man and sneered:

"You didn't seriously think I'd be stupid enough to break formation and conveniently end up alone, did you?

How naive."

Haruki began to reflect in silence.

"He's right. He's still a Jonin—even if he couldn't face my Great Breakthrough head-on, it's unlikely he'd panic so hard he'd make such a basic error."

"So what made me miss the obvious?"

"Too many victories in a row? Or maybe… unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

He realized that his ability to sense danger had dulled.

And that—was a serious problem.

Even a powerhouse like Uchiha Madara had been outwitted and ambushed before. If Haruki couldn't stay cautious, it was only a matter of time before he fell into a real trap.

This moment was a wake-up call.

"I can't afford to be this careless again."

Haruki promised himself.

From the outside, however, Haruki looked completely serious and silent. Genba Oguri assumed his enemy had been paralyzed by fear.

He stopped speaking and immediately acted.

The kunai in his hand stabbed straight toward Haruki's heart.

Just as the blade was about to strike—

Haruki suddenly said:

"Thank you."

"What?"

Genba froze, caught off guard by the sudden sincere-sounding gratitude.

"What the hell is he thanking me for?"

"Is he so scared he's gone mad?"

Confused but undeterred, Genba drove the kunai straight into Haruki's chest.

Except—

It didn't feel right.

There was no resistance. No sensation of piercing flesh. It felt like stabbing thin air.

In the next instant—Haruki's body disappeared.

"No! An illusion!"

Genba's heart sank. He looked around in a panic, searching for his real opponent.

And then—

A familiar voice whispered behind him:

"Thanks for the lesson. I won't forget it."

"What?!"

Alarms blared in Genba's mind. He tried to dodge to the side—

Too late.

Schhk!

A short sword burst through his chest, cleanly puncturing his heart.

Genba's body froze. His gaze shifted downward—then backward—where he saw the side of Haruki's face.

And in that face—a black sun spun within a blood-red eye.

"That's…!"

In the final moments before death, a flash of realization struck Genba.

His pupils widened in horror.

He tried to say something—

But nothing came out.

Shhhk.

Haruki pulled out his blade, taking with it the last remnants of Genba's life.

As the man collapsed, Haruki exhaled slowly.

His Mangekyō Sharingan faded back into its normal three-tomoe form.

Yes—he had just activated his Mangekyō and used the special ability of his left eye: "Heavenly Guard".

A short window of invincibility, during which he had broken free of the curse seal formation and maneuvered behind Genba.

Then, with one swift thrust, he'd ended him.

Though not an offensive ability, this eye power proved its worth in real combat.

From the corner of his eye, Haruki saw the remaining four Iwa Jonin rushing toward him.

He didn't hesitate.

His hands flashed through seals—and he released two massive fireballs with:

—Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!

BOOM! BOOM!

The twin fireballs landed squarely on Genba's corpse and the nearby, still-wounded Jonin.

Cleanup complete, Haruki turned to face the four remaining enemies.