Satsui no Hado

After running a short distance, Akuma paused and glanced back at the village he had called home for the past five years. His expression remained unreadable as he stared for a moment before turning away and continuing toward the Land of Fire. 

He took out the Absolute Dimension Ring from his inventory and slipped it onto his middle finger. As for the Clothes of Perfection, he had been wearing them since birth. Being an invisible item, no one had ever noticed them—not even when they touched him. Because of this, Akuma had kept them on since arriving in this world. 

With their effects—a 50% experience boost and a 90% acceleration in health, stamina, and mana recovery—his growth had been nothing short of monstrous. In just a few months, he had perfectly grasped the language of this world, speaking fluently and even running by the time he was two months old. By the age of four, his strength surpassed that of six fully grown men from his village. 

Of course, he never displayed his abilities in front of others, ensuring his secret remained safe. 

As for the Absolute Dimension Ring, he had never taken it out in public, but he had conducted countless experiments with it in private. One of his most important discoveries was that, unlike in the game world, he could control its effective range—anywhere from a few inches to a maximum of 25 feet. 

Right now, as he traveled, Akuma expanded the ring's reach to its maximum—25 feet. The moment he did, his perception sharpened drastically. Every detail within that radius registered in his mind with pinpoint accuracy, as if an intricate map had been imprinted in his head. 

He could sense every living thing, every object, every movement. The rustling of leaves, the faintest shift in the wind, the heartbeat of a hidden animal—it all formed a clear picture in his mind. It wasn't just an enhancement of sight or hearing; it was an all-encompassing awareness, a heightened perception that transcended normal senses. 

Within 25 feet, nothing could escape his notice. 

It reminded him of that one superhero—Daredevil—but sharper, more precise, and vastly superior. 

From what he had heard in the village, the Third Ninja War had ended a few years after he was born. Based on that, he estimated he had been born sometime after Naruto. He didn't know the exact year, but one thing was certain—Naruto was already in this world and was a few years older than him. The only way to confirm it was by reaching Konoha. 

But that wasn't his only reason for heading there. There was something he needed to do—something that could only be accomplished in Konoha. Because of that, he had no choice but to go. 

After running for a few hours, Akuma stopped and pulled out his map to check his direction. He had bought it from a merchant years ago, knowing it would eventually come in handy. Though it was a basic map without much detail, it was still better than nothing. 

He also carried a decent amount of money; taken from the bandits he had looted. 

After scanning the map for a few seconds and confirming he was still headed in the right direction, he resumed running. 

Thankfully, his 90% stamina recovery was incredibly useful. He could run for hours without feeling fatigued, and even if he tore his muscles, they healed so quickly that he barely noticed. The constant strain only made his body stronger. 

Ever since he arrived in this world, he had secretly trained his body whenever possible. With the combined effects of the Clothes of Perfection and the natural power of Akuma's body from Street Fighter, his growth had been nothing short of monstrous. 

If he continued like this, he was certain—within just a few years, he could become overwhelmingly strong. 

After crossing the border into the Land of Fire, Akuma decided to rest near a large tree stump. The sky had darkened, and the air had cooled, night was approaching. He had been running for many hours, and while his stamina recovery allowed him to push forward without exhaustion, his mind was not as resilient. 

He quickly gathered some wood and lit a small fire, its flickering glow pushing back the creeping darkness. Earlier, he had caught a few rabbits, intending to cook them for his meal. 

As Akuma knelt by the riverbank, washing away the dirt and blood from his hands and feet, his gaze drifted to the water's surface. The rippling reflection revealed his crimson-red hair and equally red eyes, a stark contrast to the black they had once been. 

He frowned. This transformation… it hadn't always been like this. 

The first time it happened was that night—the night his family was slaughtered. The memory burned in his mind. He had watched his loved ones cut down, the scene searing itself into his soul. Then, in an instant, something inside him snapped. 

An overwhelming, uncontrollable killing intent surged through him—so strong, so all-consuming that his mind clouded with pure bloodlust. At that moment, his body changed. His muscles burned, his skin felt like it was on fire, and even the air around him distorted, warping under the pressure of his power. His teeth sharpened into fangs, his hair and eyes turned a deep, blood-red, and an unimaginable strength coursed through his veins. 

In that frenzy, he had torn through the bandits like a demon, slaughtering them without mercy. He remembered the feeling vividly—the raw, unshackled might that surged within him. In that moment, he felt as if he could stand alone against the world. 

Akuma stared at his reflection, his red eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. He clenched his fists. 

"So… this is the power of Satsui no Hado," Akuma muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. His glowing red eyes stared back at him through the rippling reflection, the remnants of that terrifying power still lingering in his veins. 

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If we reach 100 stones, I'll reward you all with a bonus chapter!