Chapter 29: Kakashi Is Stunned – Young People These Days Have No Ninja Virtue
Naruto was right.
Kakashi also admitted he had broken the rules.
Rules are dead.
People are alive.
Using dead rules to bind a living, breathing person?
You'd have to be crazy!
I see—you're just trying to make things difficult for your 50-50 open!
Kakashi pulled his Konoha headband back down, covering the Sharingan in his left eye.
"Naruto—are you telling me you knew from the beginning that today's test was going to be stealing the bells?"
On the surface, Kakashi looked calm as an old dog,
but inside he was starting to panic a little.
He quickly changed the subject.
If Naruto had taken the bells in less than a minute,
where would he—the famous Copy Ninja of Konoha, elite jonin Hatake Kakashi—put his old face?
Naruto shrugged.
"You didn't tell me—how could I know?"
Only an idiot would admit it.
"…I…" Kakashi was momentarily speechless.
Right!!!
He hadn't announced it yet.
How could Naruto have known what he was thinking?
There's no mind-reading technique in the ninja world, right?
Even if there was, he'd only be able to fantasize about it in Jiraiya's books.
After all, mind-reading comes from Jiraiya's novels.
Boys being able to know girls' inner thoughts,
then catering perfectly to their desires,
achieving the grand dream of a harem of three thousand beauties!
Coach—this is great!
I want to learn!
"Let's continue."
Naruto's gaze sharpened.
He became serious.
Two puppet shadow clones moved at lightning speed
straight toward Kakashi.
Their speed was incredible—
not slower than an elite jonin going all out.
In the past, most of Naruto's massive chakra reserves
had been consumed just maintaining the seal.
That's why the shadow clones he made during graduation were weak and pathetic.
One touch and they'd pop.
But now—no need.
Even after tearing off the seal,
without his permission,
the Nine-Tails didn't dare run wild
or sneak off to hide in some forest.
Escape? Hilarious. Escape where?
The water outside Konoha is even deeper.
It—Kurama, the Nine-Tails—couldn't handle it!
If it caused a scene breaking out,
it would be recaptured sooner or later.
Sealed into a new jinchūriki.
Who knows who that would be.
The Nine-Tails didn't want to live that kind of hunted, wandering life anymore.
Staying with Naruto felt inexplicably familiar and safe.
Just like the old days with the Sage of Six Paths.
Well, obviously.
It still didn't know Naruto was Asura's reincarnation.
Back to the present…
"Trying the same trick again?"
"Looks like I'll have to get a little serious."
Kakashi focused completely, dropping his lazy attitude.
"Go—Pika-Naruto!"
Naruto grabbed one puppet clone
and hurled it toward Kakashi with full force!
The clone shot forward like a cannonball.
Direct hit!
Bang—
It spun 360 degrees in mid-air
and delivered a kick straight to Kakashi's face.
But he reacted extremely fast—blocked it with his elbow.
Kakashi winced slightly in pain.
Damn!
That force was comparable to his friend Might Guy's.
Maybe even stronger!
"Naruto—ever consider learning taijutsu?"
"I have a jonin friend who specializes in it."
Kakashi said while defending.
With just that one kick,
Kakashi could tell Naruto was an excellent taijutsu prodigy.
Besides—such annoying things
were better left to Might Guy.
He'd be happy to teach.
"…Thanks for the suggestion, Kakashi-sensei. But compared to taijutsu, I find practicing ninjutsu more interesting."
The other puppet clone closed in.
A sliding tackle.
Uzumaki-sensei tried to go low.
Kakashi sneered—child's play.
Who even uses sliding tackles?
No effect at all.
Better deal with one clone first!
Too annoying.
He punched the clone hard,
trying to disperse it instantly.
But it was blocked solidly.
"What the—? Shadow clones have the same strength as the original?!"
In that moment, Kakashi was stunned.
Shadow Clone Technique is this good?
That shouldn't be.
Isn't it supposed to be a trash-tier skill?
Before he could think further,
the ground beneath him cracked open.
Two hands shot out and gripped his ankles tightly.
What the hell?!!
How many shadow clones did he bury underground?
And their presence was hidden so perfectly
that even he—a ninja with razor-sharp battlefield awareness—hadn't noticed.
He tried to pull free!
But Naruto's grip was monstrous.
Naruto now had god-level taijutsu.
How could his strength not be overwhelming?
Kakashi's hand crackled with blue lightning.
But the arcs quickly vanished.
He let Naruto take the bells.
The entire fight took less than five minutes!
Kakashi had considered using Chidori.
But on second thought—
no.
Using Sharingan was already cheating.
Using Chidori might actually injure Naruto.
For brand-new genin,
that would be excessively harsh.
Chidori wasn't guaranteed to avoid bloodshed.
And his techniques were for enemies—not for hurting his own village's people.
"Kakashi-sensei—can I leave class now?"
Naruto dangled the pair of bells with a grin.
Kakashi, though helpless, still nodded.
"Yes… you can leave class today…"
Bang—
Before Kakashi finished speaking,
a puff of white smoke appeared.
Naruto's figure vanished instantly.
Huh???
That… wasn't Naruto's real body?
It was his shadow clone?!!!
All three people present were stunned.
Especially Kakashi.
He stood there frozen!
Shadow Clone Technique can do that?
Did I learn a fake version all these years?!
"Naruto—get back here! Sending a shadow clone to class is immoral!"
"Young people these days have no ninja virtue!"
Naruto had once again left Kakashi completely shaken.
The usually calm face of the Copy Ninja showed visible change.
He was an elite jonin!
A famous elite jonin of Konoha!
And he'd just been defeated by a genin's shadow clone!
Too damn embarrassing!
Sakura's pretty face was full of confusion and disbelief.
Her red lips parted slightly.
She murmured to herself:
"I never imagined Naruto was this strong…"
"A boy with such terrifying strength, and such a handsome face, used to chase after me desperately."
"And I… arrogantly refused him…"
"Heh… turns out I was the biggest idiot of all."
"Naruto transformed overnight into the son of the Fourth Hokage—the hero's child. And me?"
The more Sakura thought about it,
the more she felt she had suffered a massive loss.
A wave of powerlessness and deep, suffocating regret
rose from her heart.
Sasuke slammed his fist into a tree.
"Damn it!! Why… why… why is he suddenly this strong?!"
Same nine years of compulsory education.
How are you so much better?!
Sasuke's thirst for revenge burned hotter.
Seeing the former dead-last classmate Naruto—
who had always looked ordinary—
suddenly pull off a "pretend weak, eat the tiger" act,
filled him with rage!
So you were hiding your strength all along.
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