Chapter 117
After Zixu spoke, the entire dojo fell into silence. The once-bustling hall, filled with the echoes of training, was suddenly still. The leader had carefully crafted a trap to sow discord between Zixu and the other practitioners, yet Zixu had walked in boldly, dismantling his plans before they could take effect.
There was no need for provocation—Zixu's mere presence had already stirred enough resentment. The powerful shinobi around him hesitated for only a moment before an uproar erupted. The air thickened with killing intent as men with battle-hardened bodies closed in on him, their eyes burning with aggression.
Even those who had initially wavered now stepped forward, eager to be part of the encirclement. A few remained on the sidelines, watching in silence with unreadable expressions.
"Hey, now, can't we all just get along?" the leader interjected, feigning mediation. "He's a newcomer, a little overwhelmed, that's all. Please forgive his arrogance. He still doesn't fully understand his own strength."
His words were anything but soothing. Instead, they fanned the flames of hostility. After all, this gathering was not made up of patient men—they were warriors who spoke through fists. If Zixu had the audacity to claim he could take them all on, they would gladly put that claim to the test.
Initially, they had disdained group combat, considering it dishonorable. But after experiencing the brutal teamwork of Kumogakure's shinobi, they had come to accept its effectiveness. Victory was all that mattered.
Zixu, however, remained unmoved. Folding his arms, he put away his kanabo, showing no sign of concern. If anything, he seemed relaxed.
"It is said in the 'Lun Yu' (Analects) that a true warrior does not rely on weapons. A true warrior defeats his enemies with raw strength."
A towering man, nearly two meters tall, stepped forward. His obsidian skin glistened under the dim light, his muscles taut and rippling beneath countless scars—knife wounds, burns, claw marks. Dressed in nothing but shorts, he exuded a primal force.