Chapter Twenty-Three: Naruto's Battle

Chapter 23: Naruto’s Battle

Previously, both fighters landed simultaneous blows to each other’s heads and were sent flying to the ground…

“…I declare, there is no winner in this match!” After checking the two motionless contestants, Hayate Gekkō made his announcement.

“Should I be amazed? The power of this world is truly formidable.” Shuster sighed inwardly.

“How strange, why did Sakura collapse like that? She looks utterly exhausted.” Kakashi asked from the sidelines.

“Hmm… Sakura said that you, Sensei Hatake, told her to focus on real combat experience, so she’s been fighting on her own most of the time and only asks us for help if things get really dangerous!” Naruto explained after thinking for a moment.

“She probably didn’t expect it to turn out like this—having to go straight into the preliminaries after a battle. Sigh…” Kakashi covered his head in concern.

“Hmph.” Sasuke turned his head away with a slight grunt of annoyance.

The next match was Tenten versus Temari.

Tenten specialized in throwing weapons, while Temari was a ninja from the Sand Village of the Wind Country, armed with a giant fan and possessing wind-style abilities.

In this bout, Tenten was completely overwhelmed by Temari. Every weapon she launched was swept back by Temari’s hurricanes.

In the end, Tenten was left battered and defeated by razor-sharp winds infused with chakra. KO.

The following match: Shikamaru Nara versus Kin.

Shikamaru, from the Nara clan, possessed the ability to control shadows and force his opponent to mimic his own movements.

Kin was the only female among the three Sound Village ninja. Her technique involved bells tied to senbon needles; the ringing would disorient her enemies, giving her the chance to attack with needles.

Shikamaru emerged victorious. Although he was affected by Kin’s jutsu, he used the string attached to her bells to create a fine shadow line, tricking her into letting her guard down. Once his shadow caught hers, he copied her movements. Judging by the distance between them, Shikamaru forced an exchange of shuriken. With the wall behind her, Kin’s head struck it as she fell back, and a shuriken hit her forehead protector, knocking her unconscious.

Seventh match: Naruto Uzumaki versus Kiba Inuzuka.

Naruto needs no introduction, right? If no one objects, I’ll move on. Well, there are objections~~~~

Kiba Inuzuka, a member of the Inuzuka clan, fought in tandem with his dog, Akamaru. The Inuzuka are taijutsu experts, skilled in tracking and reconnaissance.

“Alright, the seventh match, begin!” Hayate Gekkō announced.

“I’ve waited forever for this—it’s finally my time to shine!” Naruto declared, pumping his fist.

“Hey! That’s supposed to be my line! There’s no way I’ll lose to you, right Akamaru?” “Woof!” Kiba, irritated by Naruto’s bravado, snapped back, a vein bulging on his forehead, while Akamaru responded cutely from his arms.

“Don’t talk nonsense, you can’t beat me!” Naruto shouted back.

“You bastard…” Kiba set Akamaru down on the ground.

“Hey! Don’t bring your dog up here—it’ll just get in the way!” Naruto protested.

“You idiot, Akamaru is my teammate too.” “Woof woof!” Kiba said, while Akamaru acted cute again.

“Uh… is this really allowed?” Naruto asked Hayate Gekkō.

“Yes—dogs and insects are considered ninja tools. There’s no problem.” Hayate explained.

“Fine, I’ll let you have this advantage then.” Naruto pointed at Kiba and Akamaru.

“Hmph, arrogant fool. Akamaru, you can sit this one out—I can handle him alone.” “Woof~” Kiba replied as he stood up.

“Naruto! Don’t you dare lose to him, you hear me?” Sakura, now revitalized after taking a potion from Shuster, cheered for Naruto with renewed vigor.

“It’s finally his turn.” Kakashi focused intently; after all, Naruto was a unique case. His growth needed careful attention.

“Hmph, that guy…” thought Sasuke.

“Naruto… unfortunately, you won’t be able to beat Kiba, Kakashi.” This came from Kurenai Yuhi, the Jonin leader of Team 8, which included Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame.

“Naruto, I want to cheer for you, but I’m on Kiba’s team…” Hinata Hyuga, daughter of the Hyuga clan leader, was shy and reserved. Her bloodline ability, the Byakugan, granted telescopic and x-ray vision, as well as the ability to see chakra pathways and pressure points. Using chakra, she could amplify her vision, seeing up to a kilometer away and nearly 360 degrees—though there was a five-centimeter blind spot directly behind the first thoracic vertebra. This meant that Byakugan users couldn’t see in that direction, though they could observe chakra flow and movement. Hinata had a deep affection for Naruto, but was so shy that even being close to him could make her faint. She was unbearably cute as a child—too adorable for words. Not to be misunderstood; it’s just her cuteness. I’m not a lolicon, I’m a maid enthusiast. Meow~~~~ “Kiba might get mad, but still…”

“Naruto…” thought Rock Lee.

“Kiba is really lucky!” said Choji Akimichi. Choji, a loyal and sincere member of Asuma Sarutobi’s Team 10, was a dependable companion. As a member of the Akimichi clan, he specialized in secret techniques that could enlarge any part of his body, the most common being the Expansion Jutsu. He loved to eat and was overweight, but any mention of his size would send him into a rage.

“Tch…” Shikamaru sighed helplessly.

“Hmph, I don’t know how much this guy has improved since becoming a genin, but thinking back to our days at the academy…” Kiba mused, then declared, “I’ll show you some mercy and defeat you with a single, spectacular punch.”

“Is that so? But you’re not going to beat me,” Naruto replied.

“I told you to stop acting tough!” “Woof!” Kiba was on the verge of losing it, with Akamaru chiming in.

“Heh…” Naruto chuckled at Kiba’s confidence.

“Well then, you may begin!” Hayate Gekkō announced, seeing that their banter had reached its end.

“Beast Imitation Jutsu: Four Legs Technique!” Kiba formed the tiger seal and murmured his incantation.

Naruto watched as Kiba gathered chakra throughout his body, got down on all fours, and his hands transformed, claws elongating and hardening.

“Here I come!” Kiba shot forward like an arrow. To the untrained eye, his speed was impressive. But to Naruto, it was merely average.

“Then let me show you what a month of training can do!” Naruto formed the cross seal.

“Bring it on!” Kiba’s elbow slammed into Naruto.

Bang! Naruto vanished in a puff of smoke.

“What?!” Kiba exclaimed in shock. “Woof woof!” Akamaru barked from the side, wanting to help but held back by Kiba.

“What—behind me? Damn!” Kiba sensed his legs grabbed midair. Looking back, he saw two Naruto clones holding his legs.

“Shadow Clone Substitution? Using it like this…” Kakashi observed as Naruto, after being hit, used the Substitution Jutsu to appear behind Kiba and then restrained him with shadow clones.

“Woof woof!” Akamaru barked again. “What?!” Kiba, slammed to the ground, looked up to see two Narutos in midair descending with an axe kick.

Bang! “Aaaah!” Kiba was struck by both legs at once and sent flying.

“Heh, Kiba, are you going to get serious now? Don’t think you can beat me with numbers. Come at me!” Naruto created two more clones.

“Damn it! Akamaru, let’s go! Beast Imitation: Man-Beast Clone!” “Woof!” Kiba and Akamaru each swallowed a soldier pill, a secret medicine that allowed a ninja to fight non-stop for three days and nights with only minor side effects. Akamaru leaped onto Kiba’s back; remember, Kiba was on all fours. Poof! When the smoke cleared, Akamaru had transformed into Kiba’s double.

“What’s this?” Naruto and his clones grew alert.