Chapter 3 – First Clash
The forest was quiet.
Naruto stood at the edge of the circle, his fists clenched, heart pounding. His first opponent had already arrived—standing in the middle of the arena like he'd been there forever.
Yori Tetsuka, a genin from the Hidden Rain.
He wore dark grey clothes, sleeves a little too long, and a blank expression. He hadn't said a word since Naruto arrived. Just stared.
Naruto wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Okay… this is real."
The system's voice echoed like wind through trees.
"Match Start: Naruto Uzumaki vs. Yori Tetsuka. Early Stage. No Death Allowed. Chakra Transfer Active."
Yori moved fast. Too fast.
Naruto dodged left on instinct, barely missing a strike to the chest. A kunai scraped past his vest.
He rolled, came up, and threw a punch.
Yori caught it.
Naruto yelped and kicked with his free leg, hitting Yori in the side. It was enough to break free.
He stumbled back, breathing hard.
No time to think.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Three clones burst into life around him. Sloppy, but solid.
Yori didn't react. He pulled back his sleeves. Small drops of water floated up from his cuffs.
"Rain Needle Technique."
The water turned into sharp darts. Thin, almost invisible.
Naruto ducked as the first volley flew. Two clones disappeared instantly.
The third charged in, giving Naruto an opening.
He sprinted around the side and threw a kunai—Yori blocked it with his forearm.
The last clone tackled him.
Naruto followed, jumped, and landed a hard elbow to the shoulder.
Yori stumbled.
But he didn't fall.
He drove his heel into Naruto's ribs.
Naruto gasped and dropped to one knee.
"Too slow…" Yori muttered. "Too loud."
Naruto growled, holding his side. "Shut up…"
Yori raised one hand again, gathering more water from the air.
But Naruto moved first.
He threw a handful of shuriken—not aimed to hit, just to make Yori move.
Yori dodged right—and Naruto was already there, swinging wide with a punch.
It connected.
Yori reeled.
Naruto didn't stop.
Another punch. Then a kick. Then a tackle that knocked them both into the dirt.
They rolled. Grunted. Fought without flair. Just hands and feet and willpower.
Naruto came out on top, fists still swinging.
Yori raised a knee—caught Naruto in the stomach.
Both of them froze, panting.
For a second, neither moved.
Then Naruto grabbed his shirt, dragged him down—and headbutted him.
Yori's eyes went wide.
He slumped.
The system pulsed.
"Victory: Naruto Uzumaki."
"Chakra Absorbed: +9% Water Affinity | +Rain Needle Technique (Basic)"
"Opponent Status: Conscious. Transferred. Reset."
Yori's body faded gently—lifted by chakra and removed from the arena.
Naruto sat on the ground, covered in dirt, holding his ribs.
He hadn't used any special power.
Just what he had.
His breathing slowed.
He smiled, just a little.
"Guess that's one."