41 Circulating your chakra

On the high structure building around 700 meters from the Rose bar, a man with a black camouflage suit was laying on edge of its rooftop. In his arm, he held a bolt-action sniper rifle called Arctic Warfare Magnum or AWM, a powerful weapon that once held by a British Army sniper to kill two Taliban fighters at a range of 2,475 meters which was the longest sniper kill ever made at that time. The man put his left eye closed to the weapon's scope that had been eyeing the dim back alleyway of that bar.

At this moment, the man lifted his skinny hand and glanced at his digital wristwatch.

His eyebrows raised a little before his sight returned to the previous position,

'Thirty minutes have passed since they enter the bar and it still quiet, did they successfully killed the target?' the man moved his numb shoulder for staying in the same position for a while.

'Maybe the mission is not that hard as we anticipated,' from what they had been planned, the best scenario would be the target was killed without had any chance to fight back, While the worst would be their action was discovered, a shootout happened and the target escaped. They predicted she may escape through the back alley, thus, placed a reliable sniper like him to prevent that from happening.

But until now, no commotion rang from the bar, perhaps the mission was easily executed.

When the man wanted to relax, his eye caught a sudden movement from the back alley's door through his scope, he adjusted his posture and prepared to shoot if it was the target who appeared but wrinkled his forehead as soon as his eyes got a clear vision.

It was a man.

The one who appeared in that alley was a man with blonde hair and a lean figure. He wore a grey T-shirt and black short pant but didn't wear any shoes or slippers.

He leisurely wandered in that alley as if it was his own backyard.

A drunken customer? but the sniper remembered the bar was closed for the rest of the day.

One of the target's henchman? but with such get up who will believe this man was underworld gangster.

The target's man-whore maybe? with that kind of look and figure, it seems that man can get inside any women's pant.

The blonde man's numerous possibility identities swarmed the sniper's mind as he observed his action. Suddenly, the blondie man stopped moving and just stood in that alley for quite some time. His body faced the direction of the building where he laid.

The sniper started to feel something's wrong. He fiddled with the weapon's scope magnifier and got a closer look at the man's face. His back hair stood the moment he found the man's gaze straightly looked at him. They were 700 meters away, it was dark and there was a lot of building between them, yet the man as if can see his whereabouts. He shook his head, there is no way that man could see him, he never told his exact position to those amateurs inside, so it's impossible for that man to discover him. With a rapid heartbeat, the sniper fixed his eye back at the scope, but soon he found he just tried to comfort himself because not only he felt the man gaze fell upon him, he also see a smirk appeared on that man lips. It was a taunting smile, a smile that told him it was useless to deny it. He had found him.

No! No! He's not! There is no way! It just you and your paranoia! The sniper used his arm to wipe cold sweats from his forehead, his sweaty finger recklessly fiddled with the scope's magnifier, his widening eyes stuck at the scope, trying to prove that everything was just his imagination.

It was his last straw.

The blonde man's next action caused the sniper innermost feeling erupted, not only his previous goosebump but also his blood erupted like a volcanic eruption.

The blonde man just insulted him, he just told him the undeniable proof he had found him through the most annoying way to tell him. He gave him... a middle finger.

Through his scope, the blonde man's cerulean eyes set its path straight at him, his thin lips widened from west to east, and his left hand stuck up on the air with all fingers bowed except for the middle one.

Motherfucker!

Whilst blood rose into the sniper's head, his sweaty hand gripped tightly the AWM and his another hand ready on its trigger, then...

"Bang!*

As if answering the sniper's feeling, the AWM shootout with amazing firepower, its poisonous coated .300 Winchester Magnum flew across the air and reached the blondie man with supersonic speed...

But nothing happened...

The blondie man quickly moved his right palm and nothing happened to him, instead, on the wall at his right, a concreted cement wall ruptured with a hole on its center.

The Sniper's eyes widened to its limit, his expression twisted in an ugly way, What the fuck? What the fuck just happened?

Did he just... slapped my bullet?!

This is impossible, this is certainly impossible!

He stuck his eyes to the scope again and...

*Bang!*

Another magnum bolt flew across the air with a might as if could pierce any steel layers and when it arrived at the blonde man's side.

Nothing still happened to him...

The blonde man just did what he previously do, moving his palm then the ground not far from him blasted out.

Soul as if flew away from the sniper's body, his dark-skinny body went pale at this moment, his clothes drenched with cold sweats, and his eyes full of red threads.

Impossible, impossible! he couldn't believe what he just saw.

The sniper did know there were people with incredible power out there, hell, his boss Tiger King itself has amazing power but he never saw or knew such a person who capable to slap away projectile like that. This is not a normal bullet from a normal gun but a bolt, a magnum bolt for god sake! Even his boss didn't dare face to face with it!

The sniper gritted his teeth, despite what he saw, he still unwillingly believe such a man exist, even the Wolf King, the strongest king among the mercenary, can only dodge this, not slap it away.

Looked at the annoying smirked on that blondie face made the sniper clenched his jaw, Let's see if you can slap away my babies now! Then he shootout other bolts in three successions.

True enough, the blondie no longer used his previous action, but he pulled out something from his back, it was 9mm gun...

The sniper watched him brought it out and wanted to laugh heartfully but reality didn't allow him to, the blondie not just brought out that small and pitiful gun to humor him, but he used it to deflect the incoming bolts by fire it back.

If someone told the sniper that he just saw a person deflected sniper rifle's bolt using handgun's bullets, he will just laugh it out and tell him to pick a better joke or lie.

But he had seen it with his own eyes, there is no reason or excuse he could possibly think of. That blondie man, he wasn't a human. Maybe he was superman's brother? or his cousin? was superman even real?

The sniper gulped his own saliva and fell on his ass. His body trembling uncontrollably, I-I must run, yes, I must run...

Screw the target, screw that blondie, screw Wolf King...

Must escape... escape far... before he arrived here...

Then without picking up his stuff, the sniper rose, turn around and moved toward the roof's door with hasty pace. He even stumbled once before reached out the exit.

Meanwhile, back in the alley, Naruto stood there with the 9mm in his hand, after a full minute pass, he let out a relieved sigh.

Thankfully he's not shooting the moment I came out from the door, or I would be forced to use substitution to escape that terrible weapon and ammo, Naruto body shuddered, Well it's not like I never been using it before...

He crouched at the blasted site and touched the messy ground. He picked the poisonous bolt with his hand covered in pale bluish energy, Poison huh? That sniper was quite something...

He turned the bolt upside down and found a spider mark on its bottom, Poison and spider, hmm... he stood up and gaze at that sniper previous sniping location.

It will be troublesome if he comes after Jiang Wei again, Naruto frowned, Let s just hope he got intimidated by Demonic Illusion Hell and turn into a broken-minded coward.

Naruto raised his hands, "Shadow Clone Jutsu."

*poof!*

Another Naruto appeared beside him, "Go to the sniping position, retrieved that sniper equipment, and stashed it somewhere."

The clone nodded and took off, Naruto turned around and started walking toward the building while hummed in a cheerful tone, Hmm.. maybe I could have fun with that rifle and wind enchantment bullet then blow up several SUV like back in the day?

Closing the door behind him, Naruto approached the leader dead body and stared at it for a second, he crouched beside it and wandered his hands all over the body.

Don't get him wrong, he's not gay, certainly not necrophilia.

From the dead, he found: a cell phone, wallet, handgun with silencer, and tactical pocket knife. While frowning, he thought this dude either poor or came unprepared, because assassin normally owned gears for their own survival; frag, stun, gas, or other toys like that. Naruto strolled to the nearest wine barrel and sat on it, then he brought out the wallet to inspect it while putting the rest away.

Hmm... Chen Kun. Good name, despite it was real or not, he peeked at the dead's Id card.

May you rest in peace, he slipped it back and opened wide the wallet, At least he had some cash...

A hundred... two... three... five... a thousand in total! Naruto eyes turned green at this moment. Never wasted on something, he smoothly took out the cash from the wallet and put them in his, Not bad Chen Kun, wherever you're now, you are this man benefactor.

He took other stuff that worth salvage and thought to share them with Jiang Wei. Things like bank's card, license, and an encrypted phone were useless to him now, but she might be able to process it. He smiled and fiddled with the tactical pocket knife. His eyes fixed at the knife's edge, This kind of life...

Is either you kill or be killed!

Naruto blew the knife and pale green energy covered its edge. He used shadow clones once more, "Gather everything you can from the deads and once you did, drag their bodies there," he pointed the area where the leader laid.

While the clones busied themselves, Naruto carved several words on the wooden ground and carved them in a circular formation using the leader as the center point. His hands moved the knife very fast, from one spot to another without obstruction.

"Don't forget to throw their wallet along." He said as soon as he finished with the last word. Naruto stood and walked over to the wine barrel, he grabbed the leader's wallet, he went to throw it but stopped midway, he pursed his lips, "on the second thought, keep the wallet, just throw their identitie."

He took out the leader's Id card and threw it to its owner. The clones follow his movement and now at their front, dead bodies stacked inside confinement of strange words, cards scattered among them.

Naruto took a deep breath as he stood ahead of the clones, he raised his hands and mumbled: "Attacking formation: exploding fire lotus."

*Shuaaa!*

From every word he carved on the ground, fire trailed like a snake toward the deads, they collected in the middle and formed a huge bonfire that turned these bodies into ashes.

Moon reached its peak and The Bar street commotion as if competing against it.

Naruto put down his hands and the fire extinguished, not diminish, just extinguished. Naruto stared at the ashes before he turned around and swept his eyes on his clones, "Take the trash out..."

They nodded, some of them went pass him while other disappeared in smoke. Naruto glanced at them and headed out of the room. He stopped right at the doorway, tapped the wall beside it, and proceed forward.

At the hallway, Naruto visited the main hall and found people passed out on the floor, chairs, and tables. Few still up drinking, but Naruto guessed they won't last any longer. He shook his head at the euphoria state they in. None of them realized about the failed assassination attempt tonight, well, it's not like he wants them to. They deserved a little celebration after all. He swept his eyes and found Xiao Zhao pass out on the bar table, he went over and...

*Bam!*

Poor Xiao Zhao, he awoke with a big lump on his head the next day. Don't worry, it's not like he suddenly grows a tumor.

Naruto left the main hall and strolled back to Jiang Wei's room, he halted his step as soon as he saw another two people laid on the floor, this time is not the booze fault, it was him, Naruto crouched his body, tapped his hand together and raised them before his face.

I am sorry and wish for your good fortunes in the future.

*Thud*

The instant Naruto entered the room, he got push by two big and soft ball also two slender hands enclasped his waist. By instinct, he could retaliate easily but he won't because of reason.

"How is it?" Naruto smiled, he patted the attacker smooth back and raven hair

"I succeed! I succeed! I had it!" the attacker clearly a grown woman but acted like a spoiled child right now. She clasped his body tightly and rubbed her face on his neck base.

"Real? My fragrant and beautiful rose indeed clever," Naruto's smile stretched wider and his eyes brighten.

"Uh-huh! I contemplate what you mean by 'it was there, it always been there, you saw it, but you don't want it' then I figure it out the reason why I couldn't find it because I tried to 'find' this whole time! Not to 'have'! I can't believe such a simple thing actually leading me to it!" Jiang Wei said, her eyes brimming with excitement. They slumped to the floor while Naruto leaned his back against the door and Jiang Wei laid above him.

"Yes, because find not necessarily to have, find related to purpose and duty, have related to desire and possession. The core will answer to whoever has a desire for it, not just for the sake of purpose or duty." Naruto pinched her nose.

Jiang Wei put her finger on her lips, "But why this has anything to do with spiritual projection? I mean, can they did this in a normal way?"

Naruto shook his head, " In the environment we don't like, our brain will always generate hostility and our heart will always let out fear, in order to get the core, the peacefulness of both mind and heart was needed. Let me put it this way, if you're someone who hates the sea, and I told you to dive to look for a pearl, would you do it? No, you won't! Not to mention diving, just touching the sea surface already scare you to death! But if what you like is the amusement park, and I told you to look for a wild deer, even if you know it was impossible but you still do it, why? because you love being there, it makes you comfortable and happy."

Jiang Wei nodded, "so that's why..." then realization as if hit her, "is that mean sea of spiritual consciousness is actually another version of spiritual projection?

"Yes and No. While both of them indeed represent our spiritual consciousness, but the sea's real and spiritual projection just imaginary, it just a way to help you activate your core, that's it."

"Ooh..."

"Is there any more question my adorable student?"

"No, I'm fine now my handsome master."

Naruto's lips twitched, he smiled wryly, "Uh, I'm really a bad influence for you.."

Jiang Wei gave him charming lopsided grin, "You're a poison, but I'll sip you every day..."

"You..." Naruto cannot help pinched her perky butt.

They cuddled for a while, just enjoying each other presence until Naruto patted her back, "let's see how's your chakra circulation first before you rest."

Jiang Wei nodded like a pecking bird, she rose from the bed called Naruto and retreated to her original bed. She sat cross-legged and waited for Naruto instruction.

"Now make your hand like this and closed your eyes," Naruto raised his hands and joined his hands together with his middle and fore fingers stretched out, one slightly higher than other.

Jiang Wei followed his lead.

"The first time will indeed take time and process but as long as you practice frequently, is like eating food or drinking a water, you don't need to think how to do it later but automatically can do it."

"Ok~"

"Now, what do you feel?"

Jiang Wei wrinkled her forehead, "I feel... nothing..."

Naruto chuckled, "It's alright, that's normal, just keep doing it."

10 minute passed, Jiang Wei finally felt something flowed inside of her, it started from her abdomen area to her chest, then arms, legs, and head. She felt her veins and meridians carry out some mysterious power, but at some point, she also felt this power was not whole, only a small part of it.

"Ok, that's enough, I can feel your chakra's flowing."

Jiang Wei relaxed her body and opened her eyes, dejection was visible in that obsidian iris.

"What's with the expression?" Naruto chuckled

"I suck!" Jiang Wei pouted.

"Yes, you are," Naruto grinned

"Hey, you supposed to cheer me up!" She grabbed one of the pillows and threw it at him.

Naruto leisurely caught it, "You don't have to be upset, because everyone also sucks like you."

"And what do you mean by that?" She narrowed her eyes but another pillow ready on her arms.

"Back in my place, a person who could smoothly access their core less than five minutes was no more than 20 people."

Jiang Wei's mouth gaped, "Seriously?"

Naruto nodded, "Yeah, people who could do it less than two minutes even far fewer."

"How many?"

"10!" Naruto shook his head, "they not even can perfectly flow them."

Jiang Wei tilted her head, "Was there people could do it perfectly?"

"Yup!" Naruto stretched his hands, "5 people!"

A soft gasp came out from Jiang Wei mouth, she never expected this kind of fact before, she thought there will be a lot of people who could do better than her, then another question hit her, she sneered at Naruto, "You must be among that five right?"

Surprisingly, Naruto shook his head, "No. I'm not even entered the 20 people discernment."

"What?! How long did you take back then?"

"Nine minutes!"

"You just slightly a minute ahead of me..." Jiang Wei mumbled.

Naruto smiled bitterly, "Yeah I'm pretty mediocre, disappointed?"

Jiang Wei swiftly shook her head, "No! No! In fact, I'm quite happy!" then she grinned.

If Naruto told her he's one of those 20 or 5 people, she couldn't imagine the pressure she'll face.

"This doesn't determine shinobi's strength anyway, it just shows their talent in controlling chakra." Naruto shrugged.

"Is that mean I'm bad?" Jiang Wei brows knitted

"You either good or bad, but it's doesn't matter," Naruto smiled," because it can be trained."

"Oh," Jiang Wei nodded.

At this moment, Naruto suddenly chuckled.

"What happened?" Jiang Wei knew he thought of something.

"I just remembered once tricked an old man by making an impression that I can circulate chakra smoothly in my first try and less than five minutes," Naruto laughed.

"You're so bad, why would you do that?" Despite saying that, Jiang Wei covered her mouth and let out soft laughter.

"I need him to favor me then taught me every technique he knew, besides, the old dude was a jackass anyway, he deserved every single of it," Naruto lightly said, "alright, enough of that, you should be resting now."

"Uh-huh, I guess you right..." Jiang Wei laid on her bed while rubbed her eyes.

Naruto walked over and kissed her forehead.

"You won't stay?" Jiang Wei grasped his hand and held them close to her face.

"I'm sorry, I can't..." guilt flashed over his eyes, "but I wait until you fall asleep."

"Mm... thank you..." Jiang Wei mumbled.

It didn't take long for Jiang Wei to enter her slumber-chamber, Naruto rubbed her head and kissed her one last time before he stood and walk away from her bed.

Stood outside the bar, Naruto eyes swept his surrounding, he needs to make sure one last time if there will be more assassination attempt. He didn't realize his whole attire manage to attract a lot pair of eyes.

Despite autumn temperature was decent, they still had to wear a coat or jacket outside. This blondie must be quite tough.

five minutes passed, Naruto let down his guard. He thought this day was quite crazy but the most thumbs out was what happens to Jiang Wei. Not only she bore power out of nowhere, it was chakra among all of the others. Naruto squinted his eyes and rubbed his head. He never had this kind of phenomenon before so his head couldn't understand any of it. He sighed and glanced upward. The once cloudy sky before turned little clear right now.

"Kami-sama, what the hell is going on?"