Midori shook her head a couple of times, eyes unfocused.
"…What just happened?"
When she'd launched Fang Over Fang at Aaron, all she remembered was a crushing shockwave rattling her skull, like getting hit point-blank by a thunderclap. Then everything went black.
She blinked at Kakashi and Kenshi lying nearby.
"Why are you two on the ground too?"
Kenshi gave her a flat look. "However you ended up there? Same way we did."
His mood was… not great.
He'd thought Aaron was overconfident.
Aaron had answered with his fist.
And Kenshi was now re-evaluating several core assumptions about reality.
What he couldn't wrap his head around was this:
How could someone this strong be completely unheard of?
Just a couple of years ago, the Five Great Shinobi Villages had been locked in brutal conflict, everyone playing every card they had. If someone like Aaron existed back then, there was no way the Hidden Leaf would've kept him benched.
And yet, on the battlefield, there had never been a name like his.
With power this distinctive shattering attacks, overwhelming presence; he would've earned a nickname overnight. Legends didn't stay anonymous.
Kakashi, meanwhile, was deep in thought.
That instant movement just now…
It looked exactly like Shave; the technique Aaron had given him.
Aaron walked over to the three of them.
"Good. I have a clear picture of your abilities now."
Kenshi almost rolled his eyes.
A clear picture? He'd thrown one punch at each of them.
Evaluation complete.
"And you," Aaron continued, "should now have a rough idea of my strength."
Midori sat up, rubbing her still-buzzing head.
"Captain, you're insanely strong. That's the first time anyone's blown apart my Fang Over Fang like that."
She prided herself on durability, but one hit had dropped her cold. That said everything.
Privately, she suspected that maybe, just maybe; he'd hit her a little harder because of her earlier joke.
Note to self: don't tease the boss.
Even Kenshi nodded slightly. No more doubts. Aaron wasn't just strong; he was in another tier.
Kakashi had known already. And if anything, today felt like Aaron holding back.
Seeing the genuine respect in their expressions, Aaron smiled.
"Want to learn it? I'll teach you."
He raised his right arm.
A deep black sheen flowed over it, hardening like forged steel.
The arm looked less like flesh and more like a weapon.
"This," he said, flexing his fingers, "is part of it. Interested?"
Midori's eyes practically sparkled.
"Yes! Absolutely! That looks so cool!"
She was completely sincere.
If she could coat herself like that? If her ninken could?
She imagined an armored, steel-clad partner charging into battle.
That was awesome.
Kenshi stayed cautious. "This is some kind of secret technique, right? Is it really okay to just teach it?"
At first, he'd even wondered if it was a kekkei genkai, some rare elemental fusion like Steel Release or something equally broken.
He'd seen it tank Kakashi's Chidori without leaving a scratch.
Aaron waved it off lightly.
"You could call it a secret technique. But it's mine. I decide who learns it."
"I call it Armament Haki."
"It coats the body and massively boosts defense."
He paused then suddenly punched the ground.
BOOM!!!
The impact detonated like a bomb. Dust exploded upward in a thick cloud.
When it cleared, a three-meter-wide crater gaped in the training field. Cracks spidered out from the center.
"It doesn't just increase defense," Aaron added casually. "It enhances offense too."
Kakashi swallowed.
Chidori already specialized in piercing power. If he layered that with this Armament Haki…
Who could possibly block it?
Kenshi's eyes flickered with interest. The Nara techniques were powerful, but this was a different kind of strength entirely.
"And that's just hardening," Aaron continued. "Armament can also be channeled, extended… even projected."
He pulled out a kunai and coated it in black.
"The enhancement works on weapons too."
Kakashi's mind flashed to his father's broken short blade.
If it had been reinforced like this…
Would it ever have snapped?
The three of them were clearly hooked.
But Aaron wasn't done.
He closed his eyes.
"There's another form of Haki," he said. "Try attacking me."
They exchanged a glance and rushed him again.
This time, no hesitation.
They knew the gap between them. So, they went straight to their strongest options.
"Go!" Midori shouted. "Get him!"
Her partner lunged, jaws snapping as it soared toward Aaron.
Without opening his eyes, Aaron stepped back lightly.
"Leaping like that exposes your belly."
He pivoted smoothly, evading Midori's flank attack.
"Coming from the side is smart. But you're still too slow."
"Shadow Sewing Jutsu!"
Kenshi's shadow split and sharpened, spearing toward Aaron from the ground.
Aaron tapped the earth twice and vanished, reappearing atop a nearby boulder.
"Your timing's always excellent, Kenshi," he said calmly. "But raw power still matters."
Suddenly
Several kunai flew toward him.
Aaron tilted his body just enough to let them pass, catching one midair. He slammed it into the ground.
Poof.
It transformed back into Kakashi.
"Nice idea," Aaron said. "Using a Shadow Clone to throw your real body disguised as a weapon. Creative."
Kakashi stared up at him in disbelief.
That trick was hard to see through even with eyes open.
And Aaron's were closed.
Aaron opened his eyes at last.
"This is Observation Haki."
"It heightens your senses. You can feel the presence of others around you."
"And more than that, you can anticipate attacks and avoid danger."
He looked at the three of them.
"No matter where you strike from… I'll know."
He smiled.
"So."
"Want to learn this too?"
---
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