Sasuke clenched his teeth as he watched the battle.
At some point his Sharingan had already activated, the two tomoe in his pupils spinning as he stared at Chen Xing's movements.
Why is he so strong?
Why am I still this weak?
The veins on Sasuke's hands bulged as he clenched his fists.
Kakasi noticed immediately.
"You've already awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan," he said quietly.
Then he added, "Sasuke, watch the Peacock King's movements carefully. Try to analyze them."
In the field, Naruto shouted angrily.
"I don't believe I can't touch you!"
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
More than twenty clones appeared instantly and rushed toward Chen Xing.
The real Naruto charged with them.
Chen Xing shook his head calmly.
"Too many clones. You're just wasting chakra."
The clones attacked from every direction.
Chen Xing raised one finger.
His hand moved so quickly it was almost impossible to see.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In less than ten seconds, every clone exploded into smoke.
Naruto was knocked back again, sliding across the ground.
"Damn it!"
Naruto bit his lip and suddenly threw a stone toward Chen Xing.
Just as Chen Xing moved—
The stone transformed into Naruto.
It was the Transformation Technique.
Naruto's fist swung toward Chen Xing's abdomen.
Chen Xing's finger flicked forward.
Bang!
Naruto was sent flying again. The figure that had been hit earlier burst into smoke—it had been a clone.
Chen Xing raised an eyebrow.
"You even used the smoke from the clones to hide yourself."
Naruto stood up, grinning stubbornly.
"Don't underestimate me! I'm going to become Hokage someday!"
Hearing this, Kakasi watched silently.
For a moment he seemed to see the image of Minato Namikaze overlapping with Naruto.
Naruto crossed his fingers again.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Dozens of clones appeared and surrounded Chen Xing.
All of them pulled out kunai and attacked together.
The sound of blades cutting through the air echoed everywhere.
Kakasi looked slightly surprised.
"Using clones to launch a coordinated attack… Naruto's instincts in battle are improving."
Sasuke watched closely.
Can he still stop this with just one finger?
Chen Xing remained calm.
Lightning suddenly flickered around his body.
A thin layer of lightning chakra covered him like armor.
The kunai struck the lightning cloak—
Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew everywhere.
None of the blades could break through the defense.
Kakasi's visible eye narrowed.
"That's similar to the lightning chakra armor used by shinobi from Kumogakure…"
Sasuke stared in shock.
"So dense… lightning-nature chakra…"
Chen Xing ignored the clones.
He had already located the real Naruto.
The lightning armor dispersed as Chen Xing slowly raised one finger.
"The game is over, Naruto."
Naruto stood about ten meters away and frowned.
"You said you wouldn't move or use hand seals. How are you going to attack me?"
Chen Xing smiled slightly.
Lightning chakra gathered at the tip of his finger.
A thin beam of lightning shot forward instantly.
Crack!
The beam brushed past Naruto's cheek and pierced through a thick tree behind him, leaving a small smoking hole in the trunk.
Naruto froze.
Cold sweat rolled down his face.
If that attack had hit him directly—
He did not dare imagine the result.
Kakasi's Sharingan spun as he analyzed the technique.
No hand seals… extremely precise lightning chakra control…
Even he was surprised.
Chen Xing lowered his hand.
"Well?" he asked calmly. "Still want to continue?"
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.
"No… I lose."
With a puff of smoke, the remaining clones disappeared.
Naruto looked a little discouraged.
Chen Xing walked over and patted his head.
"Don't look so depressed. Your performance was better than I expected."
Naruto blinked.
"Really?"
Chen Xing nodded.
"The only reason I defeated you so easily is because my level is much higher right now. When you become stronger, defeating you won't be so easy."
Naruto's eyes lit up again.
He clenched his fists.
"That's right! I'm going to become Hokage! I can't get discouraged here!"
Chen Xing smiled faintly.
Naruto Uzumaki's spirit was exactly as stubborn as the rumors said.