Teleportation

Akuma activated the Satsui no Hado, and immediately, a red aura began to leak from his body, filling the dark cave with its ominous glow. His crimson eyes burned like embers, piercing through the shadows. Sharp fangs slowly extended from his mouth, growing longer as the power surged within him. He could feel it—raw, unrelenting strength coursing through his veins. Thanks to his refined control over Ki, his mastery of Satsui no Hado had improved significantly. 

Focusing intently, Akuma tested his abilities. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing five feet away. Just four months ago, he had only been able to teleport two feet, making this a notable improvement. Though five feet may not seem like much, in battle, even the smallest advantage could mean the difference between life and death. Unfortunately, the technique was still flawed. He needed time to concentrate before each teleport, a luxury no opponent would grant him in a real fight. Worse yet, each use required an immense expenditure of both Ki and Satsui no Hado. At best, he could manage five or six teleportations within an hour before exhaustion set in. 

Even with these limitations, teleportation was an invaluable asset. If he could perfect this technique over the next years, he could surpass even Minato Namikaze, the legendary Yellow Flash. Unlike Minato, he wouldn't need any seals or markings—he would be able to teleport freely, anywhere he wished. 

Determined, Akuma spent the next five hours refining his technique. He pushed himself to teleport with greater precision, focusing on increasing both range and speed. By the end of his training, he had managed to extend his teleportation to six feet with decent accuracy. This was due to his improved control over his Ki and Satsui no Hado. While still far from perfect, it was undeniable progress. 

Realizing he had spent too much time in the cave, Akuma decided to return to the village early. He didn't want to raise suspicion—if the ANBU or anyone else noticed his prolonged absence, they might start suspecting him. So, he sprayed himself with scent-masking spray and headed toward the Hyūga Clan district. 

Once inside, Akuma quietly washed his face and hands, removing any traces of his training. Then, without drawing attention to himself, he made his way toward the exit. However, as soon as he stepped outside, his ring picked up multiple presences watching him. His eyes subtly scanned the area—there were at least three ANBU operatives monitoring him. 

A surge of unease passed through him. Why? Up until now, the surveillance on him had been consistent but not overbearing. If anything, he had expected their watch to loosen, not intensify. What had changed? Was it something he did? Or was there another reason? 

Despite his thoughts racing, Akuma maintained a calm exterior. He knew better than to act suspiciously. Without hesitation, he continued his walk toward the orphanage, his posture relaxed as if nothing was out of the ordinary. I need to be careful, he thought. Something is going on. 

Akuma spent the rest of the day in the orphanage, going about his usual tasks, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't make sense of the increased surveillance. The more he tried to piece things together, the more his head ached from overthinking. Finally, he decided to rely on the one strategy that had always worked for him—waiting and observing. 

As night fell, he lay in bed, pretending to sleep. He had hoped that the ANBU monitoring him would eventually talk, giving him some clue as to what was going on. However, they remained eerily silent. It was as if they had been given strict orders not to speak. Even more unsettling, the usual operative who watched over him had been replaced by someone else—someone far more experienced in espionage. 

Akuma disliked the feeling of the unknown. It made him uneasy, restless. But forcing an answer wouldn't help—at least, not yet. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself. Overthinking won't change anything right now. 

With that thought, he allowed sleep to take over, leaving the problem for his future self to deal with. 

=== 

Akuma woke up and went about his usual routine, heading toward his training area. The ever-present ANBU ninja shadowed him from afar, but he paid them no mind, continuing as if they didn't exist. 

On his way through the forest, he unexpectedly crossed paths with Sakura. The pink-haired girl stood in the middle of the trail, arms crossed, her green eyes narrowing the moment she spotted him. Akuma had no interest in conversation and simply moved to walk past her, treating her presence as little more than a passing breeze. 

"Hey, wait a second!" Sakura's voice rang out, sharp and demanding. "Are you the kid named Akuma?" 

Without breaking stride, Akuma glanced at her and flatly replied, "No." 

Her eye twitched in irritation. "Liar! You're the only kid named Akuma around here!" She stomped forward, cutting off his path with both hands on her hips. "What's your problem, huh? Too scared to answer a simple question?" 

Akuma stopped, his crimson eyes meeting hers with detached calmness. "If you already know the answer, why bother asking?" 

Sakura's brow twitched, her temper flaring. She cracked her knuckles, trying to look intimidating. "Tch... what's with that attitude? You're so annoying! Before I knock some manners into you, answer my question!" 

A small chuckle escaped Akuma's lips, his crimson eyes flickering with amusement. "Do you need an answer for why your forehead is so big? If so, I don't have one." 

Sakura's face immediately flushed red, her fingers balling into fists at her sides. That damned forehead... 

"You little—! That's it! I'm gonna knock that smug look right off your face!" she snapped, swinging her fist with all the strength of her short temper. 

Thud! 

"AAAAAHHH!" Sakura yelped, stumbling back and clutching her aching hand. It felt like she'd just punched a wall—no, something harder than a wall. Her emerald eyes widened in disbelief. 

Akuma's expression didn't change. He simply looked down at her with faint amusement. "Next time you do that, you might find your hands and legs broken into pieces." His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable chill in his words—more warning than threat. 

A cold shiver ran down Sakura's spine as she locked eyes with the boy. Those red eyes—sharp, piercing, utterly emotionless—made her breath hitch. His words weren't a threat. They were a statement. A simple, chilling fact. 

Something about him… it was suffocating. A heavy, crushing aura pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. Her legs trembled before finally giving out, and she collapsed onto the ground. Every instinct screamed at her to run—to get away—but she couldn't move. 

Akuma took a step closer, and Sakura's shaking only worsened. Her body refused to obey her, every muscle frozen in pure, primal fear. 

Then, with a guttural indifference, he spoke. 

"If you came here to ask about Sasuke… I just slapped him." 

Sakura blinked. Huh? The casual way he said it threw her off completely. 

"That's your answer. Now stop bothering me." 

And just like that, he turned and walked away, leaving her there, rooted in place. 

She watched him disappear into the trees, that suffocating, terrifying aura fading with him. Only then did her body finally start responding. 

"W-What the hell is that thing…?" she muttered under her breath, her voice barely above a whisper. 

--- 

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