Naruto: My Progress in Konoha.

"Very good, kid… very good!"

After standing back up, Hotaro Kaguya didn't immediately attack. Instead, he glared at Uchiha Haruki with gritted teeth, fury in his eyes.

As he raised his hand, three Kaguya clan ninjas, who had arrived earlier, quickly surrounded Haruki.

Haruki glanced at them from the corner of his eye. Confirming that they were merely Chūnin, he didn't bother to give them further attention.

To him, if he could defeat Hotaro Kaguya, then adding a few Chūnin wouldn't make much of a difference.

Chūnin were still Chūnin. Even with the Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse), they weren't a real threat. Their presence might slightly increase the complexity of the battle, but the outcome? Unlikely to change.

However, Hotaro clearly thought otherwise. As soon as his three subordinates arrived, he launched an attack.

Not daring to fall behind, the three Kaguya Chūnin quickly followed up. Two of them closed in, coordinating their attacks with Hotaro. The third stayed about a dozen meters back, continuously using "Shikotsumyaku: Ten Finger Drilling Bullets" to launch long-range finger bone projectiles at Haruki.

Don't underestimate these tiny finger bone bullets—their impact wasn't any less threatening than close-combat attacks.

Thanks to his boosted constitution and improved Mystic Palm Technique, Haruki had a stronger healing ability than most. But that didn't change the fact that he was still a fragile human, and his body had limits.

So when facing the sneaky bone bullets, he had to stay extra cautious.

But that was all. With his 19 points in Spirit, Haruki's perception far exceeded that of an average ninja. Combined with the Sharingan's sharp insight, sneak attacks like these were unlikely to succeed.

In the end, battles were won with real power. Tricks and ambushes? Secondary.

But just as that thought crossed his mind—

A whip made from spine-like bone suddenly pierced through the chest of one of the Kaguya Chūnin in front of him and lunged at Haruki, aiming to entangle him.

There was no surprise who had launched this: Hotaro Kaguya himself.

And Haruki recognized the move instantly—one of the Kaguya clan's six secret Shikotsumyaku techniques, called "Dance of the Clematis: Vine".

A technique designed for versatile entanglement and deadly strangulation.

Hotaro had used this before, typically taking cover behind allies.

But now? He had sacrificed one of his own men outright.

It wasn't an illusion. Haruki could clearly sense the life draining from the ninja in front of him.

The Chūnin's wide eyes were filled with disbelief—clearly, he hadn't expected to be sacrificed.

This clan really is insane...

They didn't hesitate to throw away their own people. Hotaro's mind was likely consumed by nothing but violence and bloodlust.

Still, the sudden attack caused serious trouble for Haruki.

Caught off guard—especially while locked in battle with the two other Chūnin—he didn't have time to react.

Even though he made a belated dodge attempt, it was too late.

The bloody bone whip slashed past his side and looped behind him—binding him tightly.

But it wasn't over yet.

Seeing Haruki trapped, Hotaro grinned viciously and shouted:

"Die, brat!"

He activated his Shikotsumyaku again, reinforcing the bone whip and transforming its tip into a sharp spear, aimed straight at Haruki's heart.

If this pierced through, it would be over.

At this point, it was too late to use Shun Sword, Body Flicker, or even Substitution Jutsu.

Feeling the sharp pain from the bone whip digging into his skin, Haruki let out a soft sigh.

Looks like I'm caught this time.

Fortunately—he still had a trump card.

Quickly scanning his surroundings to confirm that only ordinary ninjas were watching, he focused inward.

Then, Haruki lowered his head and activated the Mangekyō Sharingan.

With a single thought, he used the ability hidden in his left eye:

Heavenly Authority (Ama-no-Mikoto).

In an instant, Haruki's body blurred, vanishing from where he stood—only to reappear a heartbeat later.

Hotaro's bone spear stabbed through empty air.

"What!? How is that possible!?"

Hotaro's eyes bulged with shock. His face was a mask of disbelief and confusion.

He simply couldn't comprehend—how had Haruki escaped that?

But Haruki wasn't about to offer an explanation.

Taking advantage of Hotaro's mental collapse, he used Shun Sword Technique to leap past the remaining Chūnin—and appeared right in front of Hotaro.

Swish—

A flash of steel sliced through the air.

Hotaro instinctively raised his arm to block—and barely succeeded.

But Haruki immediately withdrew his blade and began forming hand seals.

In one breath, he unleashed an S-Rank Forbidden Technique:

Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!

Zzzzzzz—!

The piercing shriek of grinding chakra erupted from Haruki's palm.

The sheer force of the spinning chakra shuriken made even the surrounding ninjas freeze in place, their breath caught in their throats.

It hovered in Haruki's palm like a scythe of the grim reaper.

He gave Hotaro no time to react—no chance for help.

The moment the Rasenshuriken fully formed, Haruki slammed it into Hotaro's body.

"AAAAHHHH—!!"

Hotaro's agonized screams rang out as his body was engulfed in wind chakra, launched into the air.

The Rasenshuriken detonated mid-air, turning into a brilliant sphere of energy, completely enveloping him.

Within the glowing orb, countless microscopic chakra needles shredded his cells with unrelenting precision.

After several heartbeats, the orb faded.

Hotaro crashed heavily to the ground. His breath was faint, his body limp, and the bony protrusions on his body had completely retracted.

Whoosh—

Haruki reappeared beside him.

Flash—

A streak of cold light glinted.

Slice—

With one clean stroke, Haruki's sword severed Hotaro's throat.

The man breathed his last.

Only now did Haruki exhale deeply, the tension in his shoulders finally loosening.

Looking at Hotaro Kaguya's corpse, he knew one thing for certain:

This battle… I actually lost.

If not for the Mangekyō Sharingan, he would've at least been seriously injured—if not dead.

This served as a stark reminder.

Never underestimate anyone.

Earlier, he'd assumed the extra Chūnin wouldn't matter—and because of that arrogance, Hotaro taught him a brutal lesson.

And more importantly: trump cards are called trump cards for a reason. They should not be used lightly.

Even though Haruki had disguised the use of his Mangekyō, and had only activated it for an instant, the oddity of his sudden disappearance and reappearance might still raise suspicion.

Once or twice might not matter.

But if he used it too often, people would notice. They might connect it to the Sharingan, and eventually draw the right conclusions.

To prevent that, he'd have to be even more cautious in the future.

This encounter had been a harsh but valuable lesson.