Chapter 2: Malice of the Predator

Recalling his fights with tigers and leopards from a young age and his training carrying weights of hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

The first time he killed someone and studied the most efficient way to take others' lives.

The first time he understood the connection between the body and the soul.

The first time he smashed someone else's ninjutsu with his bare hands.

Countless past experiences collided and fused in Hanma's mind, causing his aura to sharpen even further. Meanwhile, a small stream of cold energy flowed out of Hanma's eyes, gathering around the large characters, tainting them with an ominous aura.

The characters gradually turned from black to gray, then revealed a touch of eerie red.

Wilderness Domain >> Predator's Malice!

Predator's Malice: The Predator's Domain will release a vast amount of blood energy. When you lock onto a target, the enemy will feel immense malice and unease, causing their bodily functions to become disordered. Enemies within the domain will continuously have their energy stripped away by the blood energy until they die.

In the clan meeting, the clansman sitting beside Hanma was suddenly startled, overwhelmed with a profound sense of anxiety and powerlessness. The nerves of ninjas are extremely sensitive, some even neurotic.

Hanma slowly opened his eyes, smiling maliciously as he amplified the Predator's Domain to full power. The entire clan ground was suddenly enveloped in a dark aura, with blood energy swirling like mist. An unknown fear crept into everyone's hearts.

Clansmen with insufficient strength experienced a constant influx of memories of their closest encounters with death. Their minds spun out of rational control, and their chakra poured out uncontrollably.

Even Setsuna felt unease and agitation, standing up with a frown.

"Whoosh."

Almost all the clansmen activated their Sharingan, scanning their surroundings in vigilance, seeking the source of the blood energy. Some, more nervous, had already begun forming seals with their hands.

"Hanma, have you gained new insights again?"

Fugaku, his eyes wide and red, asked Hanma incredulously.

Hanma stood up, the blood energy retracting back into his body in strands, bringing in a substantial amount of chakra.

"Hahaha, pardon me, everyone."

"I'm always training whenever, wherever, and I couldn't control my new technique. Sorry for the disturbance."

"Well then, I'll take my leave now."

Hanma laughed heartily, gracefully stood, bowed slightly to everyone around him, and slowly walked out of the clan meeting hall.

"What a monster of a man."

"Hanma really is a monster."

A few talented young members of the Uchiha clan, like Tetsuka and Yatsushiro, initially resented Hanma's nonconformity. They thought he had no regard for the clan and had abandoned the Sharingan, branding him a heretical clown. However, as Hanma grew, their opinion changed, and they started to idolize him.

"Alright, you are Uchihas, look at yourselves!"

Setsuna cleared his throat with authority.

"Remaining clansmen still need to train diligently. Whether it's fighting against the Hokage faction or revitalizing the Uchiha, strength is paramount!"

"Today's clan meeting is adjourned. Dismissed!"

The clansmen left the hall in small groups.

Setsuna, with a solemn expression, mulled over Hanma's recent display in his mind.

"Go, inform Hanma that the clan has decided to give him a share of the clan's assets and present him with the elder's badge."

"Yes."

A guard emerged from the shadows, heading toward Hanma's courtyard.

Setsuna stood at the shrine's gate, waves of emotions churning in his heart.

"A monster has emerged in our clan. To think killing intent can be used as high-level genjutsu. What terrifying presence!

Moreover, his strength and speed are unusual.

Even three-tomoe Sharingan holders can only see his movements as trails and can't react in time. And getting touched by him means at least a broken bone.

Hanma, has your physical body transcended that limit?"

Setsuna looked at the sweat in his palm, sighed, and slowly walked toward the Uchiha's secret archives.

"Clan leader Madara, did you leave any records about a taijutsu ninja like this in the scrolls you left behind?"

————

Konoha, Gourmet Street, BBQ Q.

A blond boy was eagerly digging into the barbecue with his chopsticks.

"Ah, grilled juicy pork belly with a bowl of white rice, truly a match made in heaven."

"Mm, mm, another bottle of cool orange soda, BBQ Q, forever!"

The red-haired girl in front of the blond boy, resembling a squirrel, had her mouth stuffed with barbecue and rice, chewing fiercely.

"Huh?"

A sudden, inexplicable panic caused the blond boy's face to stiffen as he remembered something bad.

A large hand quietly patted his head, ruffling his hair harshly.

"Yo, my foolish disciple, Minato, is this your girlfriend?"

"Poof!"

The red-haired girl, Kushina, sprayed out her orange soda violently.

Hanma laughed, pinching Minato and shielding him from Kushina's "attack."

"Come on, Hanma-sensei! You could have dodged! You're so fast!"

Minato complained, wiping his soda-covered face.

"You can call me strong, but don't call me fast, little Minato."

Hanma laughed, picking up a piece of grilled meat and calling to the waiter.

"Another thirty plates of honey-glazed pork belly, twenty plates of grilled wings, and five buckets of rice!"

The BBQ restaurant owner, Choza Akimichi, loudly acknowledged Hanma's order.

"Oh~~! Mr. Hanma has arrived! Please wait a moment!"

Hanma, satisfied, grabbed Minato's chopsticks and began mercilessly clearing the meat off the table.

Minato pouted and poked Hanma, asking,

"Sensei, our squad only has me right now. You won't take just me on missions, will you?"

Hanma shrugged, gulped down a bottle of orange soda, picked up a pair of grilled wings, and chewed as he spoke.

"You don't think it's easy taking care of a fool like you, do you?"

"Bringing another fool along, Sensei won't be able to manage."

Minato snorted, "I was top of my graduation class!"

"Jiraiya-sama wanted me as his apprentice, and I didn't go! I'm still remarkable!"

Hanma flicked Minato's forehead, reassuring him:

"Alright, alright, didn't I take you out for fun ever since you were five?"

"And about Jiraiya-sama, there's an elite Jonin selection in the village the day after tomorrow. Watch how your Sensei handles him then!"

Minato's eyes lit up, and across from him, Kushina also looked over curiously.

"An elite Jonin, huh? It's still just a Jonin."

"It's just that there might be a war soon, and the Jonins are usually very proud. This is to rank everyone first, to make command easier later on."

Minato blinked and asked, "Sensei, can I watch?"

Kushina also raised her hand, "Kushina wants to watch too!"

Hanma scrutinized them, ravenously devouring the newly served meat and rice before speaking slowly:

"You can watch. Show up at the Hokage building by eight in the morning the day after tomorrow. I'll bring you in."

Hanma then stood up, leaving a stack of silver bills as he left a sentence in the wind:

"Alright, my foolish disciple, take care of your little girlfriend while I go train."

Watching Hanma disappear almost instantly, Kushina, ignoring the teasing, excitedly asked Minato:

"Who's that uncle? He's so cool!"

Minato wiped his face, a bit helpless, replying:

"My teacher, also my big brother. He's been taking me out since I was little; we're very close."

"He was promoted to Jonin a few days ago, and now he's my guiding Sensei!"

"But don't be fooled by his unserious demeanor. To me, he is the second strongest, next to the Hokage-sama!"

Kushina rubbed her chin, curiously asking further:

"That uncle seems strong, but he was just promoted to Jonin. He won't embarrass himself the day after tomorrow, will he?"

Minato patted Kushina on the head suddenly, "Don't worry about it."

"Let's go, we'll have ice cream next. Don't waste the money Sensei gave me!"

Kushina, blushing from the sudden head pat, murmured, "Alright, let's go then."

Minato felt secretly pleased. As expected, Sensei's advice is all true!

To woo a girl, you need to spend money and be willing to lose face. That's already half the battle won!

Minato mentally pumped himself up. Go for it!