Naruto: My Progress in Konoha.

"What?! How is that possible?!"

Yukikaze stood frozen in disbelief as Uchiha Haruki calmly stepped out of the shattered ice prison.

It wasn't that Yukikaze hadn't expected Haruki might eventually break free. In fact, the moment he had sensed the immense power of Haruki's Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, he already suspected his Ice Style: Ice Prison might not be able to hold him forever.

What shocked him was just how effortlessly Haruki had walked out—as if the prison had never mattered at all.

Step… step… step…

Haruki walked over the powdered remains of the shattered ice, locking eyes with Yukikaze.

He had to admit—Yukikaze was a clever fighter. Knowing he couldn't compete in close combat, Yukikaze had never once attempted to fight hand-to-hand, instead opting for large-scale and long-range attacks.

The earlier blizzard, ice dragon, ice spikes, and the prison, even the Water Style: Hidden Mist Technique used for distraction—all pointed to the same strategy: win through non-contact combat.

Clever—but ultimately futile.

Yukikaze had severely underestimated Haruki's strength.

Even when he had been trapped in the Ice Prison, Haruki had multiple ways to break free. He hadn't even used his trump card—the Mangekyō Sharingan's technique, Amaterasu. Had he used it, he could've left the crystal cage with ease.

Beyond that, he still had powerful ninjutsu like the Rasengan, Fire Style: Great Fireball, and Wind Style: Blade of Wind—any of which could potentially have worked.

It wasn't that those earlier attempts had failed; it was simply that Haruki hadn't wanted to waste too much time.

If it had come down to a prolonged standoff, Yukikaze wouldn't have lasted.

Ice Style: Ice Prison was more effective at restraining, not killing. Its kill mechanism depended on the gradually falling temperature and the prison slowly sealing itself shut.

But Haruki, with a Constitution stat of 16, could withstand those conditions for a long while.

During that time, he could keep hammering the prison with his vast chakra reserves, launching a barrage of Fire and other elemental jutsu.

Yes—the walls could regenerate. But that regeneration required chakra too.

Eventually, it would've become a contest of endurance and chakra output.

And Haruki was certain—his chakra reserves far exceeded Yukikaze's.

If Yukikaze's control over chakra was even slightly lacking, he wouldn't even be able to repair the walls fast enough to keep up with Haruki's attacks.

In that case, Haruki would've broken free even earlier.

In short—he had many options. He was never as helpless as Yukikaze had imagined.

But Yukikaze, on the other hand, had already thrown most of his tricks at him.

With this in mind, a faint blue glow rose around Haruki's body—Wind Release chakra infused through him and into the long blade in his hand.

Yukikaze's expression changed.

He remembered vividly the way Haruki had dodged the ice dragon's attacks using this very technique.

Without hesitation, he flashed away from his original position.

But a breath later, Haruki's figure appeared—missing only by a hair.

Still, Haruki wasn't discouraged. He immediately launched another Flash Blade Technique to pursue the fleeing Yukikaze.

Over the past half month, Haruki had trained this skill up to Level 4—his movement speed now several times faster than before.

Back then, he had already been able to catch even Jonin-level enemies off guard.

Now? It was no contest.

Even with Yukikaze dodging at full speed, he only managed to evade three times. On the fourth, Haruki seized his chance.

Shing!

A flash of his blade sliced forward.

Yukikaze raised his kunai, just barely blocking the strike aimed at his midsection.

Clang!

Metal clashed against metal.

Haruki's blade met Yukikaze's kunai only briefly before angling sharply—this time, aiming for his neck.

Yukikaze reacted quickly and blocked again.

Haruki's face remained calm, his attacks ceaseless.

Yukikaze had no choice but to keep blocking.

He didn't even dare to glance directly at Haruki's sword—relying solely on instinct and experience to deflect.

It was obvious—he had intel on Haruki's Phantom Blade Technique.

Haruki wasn't surprised.

After all, after the damage he'd done during the last major encounter, it was impossible that the Mist Village hadn't studied him thoroughly.

Many Jonin had survived their battles with Haruki. If they submitted their reports, the Mist could prepare in advance.

Like Yukikaze—he had clearly been warned.

His strategy was to not look at Haruki's blade at all.

But this approach only allowed for pure defense.

And that could never last long.

Haruki understood this. He swung his blade relentlessly, not caring to land a lethal blow—only keeping Yukikaze under constant pressure.

Yukikaze knew it too.

After barely hanging on for a few minutes, he made a choice—sacrificing an arm injury, he forcefully disengaged.

Seeing him pull away, Haruki didn't hesitate. He used Flash Blade Technique again to follow.

But this time, Yukikaze didn't run.

He rapidly formed hand seals—and just before Haruki's blade reached him—

Ice Substitution Technique!

CRACK!

Haruki's sword shattered an icy humanoid replica.

Haruki didn't stop. His Sharingan scanned the surroundings, quickly locating Yukikaze's real body—and with a flash, he was chasing again.

Sensing Haruki's murderous intent behind him, Yukikaze gritted his teeth and formed more seals.

Suddenly—his form split in two, running in opposite directions.

Haruki raised an eyebrow but didn't hesitate. He also performed the Shadow Clone Technique, sending one clone after the left, while he pursued the right.

Why split this way?

Simple—intuition.

Even with the Sharingan, he couldn't see any difference between the two Yukikazes.

So he had to go with his gut.

Unfortunately… his instinct wasn't very accurate this time.

One minute later.

Haruki stood staring at a pile of shattered ice shards, shaking his head.

He had been excited at first—thinking Yukikaze had actually taken a few direct blows and still held together.

But no—it was an Ice Clone.

Still, to be fair, ice clones were far sturdier than standard shadow clones.

At least in terms of durability, they were significantly better.

"What a shame."

Haruki shook his head and stopped dwelling on it. He kicked off from the sea's surface, racing toward the front left quadrant.

There—his shadow clone was currently locking blades with the real Yukikaze.

But just as Haruki moved in, Yukikaze—having received the memories from his destroyed ice clone—glanced back, then turned and ran without hesitation.

The shadow clone gave chase.

Haruki followed close behind.

And so—the chase resumed, the two sides once again sprinting across the open sea.