The ferocious water dragon glared at the Konoha shinobi before it.
Boom!
In the next instant, the Water Dragon Bullet roared forward, madly rushing at the shinobi.
The sheer force of this Water Style was enough to blow every ninja off the rooftop. And the violent impact wouldn't just fling them away—it could very well crush them.
The attack was about to hit when—
Boom!
Another eruption of water split the sky.
A second water dragon surged out from the crowd.
The two Water Dragon Bullets collided in midair.
The deafening roar shook everyone.
For a moment, the ninjas froze in shock.
"Who?"
"Whose ninjutsu was that?"
The two dragons tore into each other before bursting into a massive spray of water, scattering across the sky in glittering arcs.
All eyes locked on the cascading spray.
"So strong… it actually blocked Lord Second Hokage's Water Style!"
"Who could do that?"
The Konoha shinobi turned back, scanning the crowd.
No one was immediately visible—until the two ninjas at the front stepped aside.
From between them, Yuichi walked forward slowly.
"It's him… Nagano Yuichi, that kid with incredible Water Style."
"He actually blocked the Second Hokage's attack? But he's only a Genin! Just twelve years old—and already this strong?"
"What a terrifying talent. At his age, he can stand against the Second Hokage himself…"
Sarutobi, locked in combat with the First Hokage, caught Yuichi out of the corner of his eye.
When countless Chūnin and even Jōnin hadn't been able to react, a single Genin had stood tall and intercepted Tobirama.
"Sensei! Don't get distracted in the middle of battle!"
Shing!
From behind, Orochimaru slashed with the Kusanagi Blade, its edge gleaming coldly.
Sarutobi snapped his gaze back, focusing once more on the First Hokage and Orochimaru before him.
Even so, with one less Second Hokage to worry about, the pressure on him eased ever so slightly.
Splash!
"Water Style: Water Colliding Wave!"
Boom!
The Second Hokage unleashed another technique.
Yuichi mirrored his movements almost perfectly.
Two towering waves surged forward, colliding head-on.
The crash was like thunder splitting the heavens. The rooftop shuddered beneath their feet.
Water tore wildly to both sides, yet the Konoha shinobi behind were shielded by Yuichi's stand.
Every one of them stared at him in disbelief.
That's the Second Hokage…!
And yet Yuichi was holding his ground against him.
Could this really be happening? It felt like a dream.
As the raging water died down, Yuichi suddenly leapt forward.
Through the fading spray, his silhouette cut into the flow.
Bang!!
The air cracked as fists swung, ripping through the wind.
When the water cleared, Yuichi's fist had already collided with Tobirama's.
The impact created a violent storm.
Tiles beneath their feet shattered instantly, scattering into dust that whirled upward with the gusts.
Yuichi had met Tobirama head-on—and hadn't been forced back.
Everyone was dumbstruck.
Anbu and Jōnin alike had been swatted aside earlier with just two or three blows from Tobirama.
Yet Yuichi was matching him evenly.
An astonishing sight.
Splash!
Before the shock could fade, two water clones surged out from the gutters on either side.
They rushed in from left and right, their fists hammering into Tobirama.
Both landed cleanly.
Tobirama staggered back as the water clones seized his arms, locking them tight.
Chakra spun rapidly in Yuichi's palm.
In the blink of an eye—Rasengan bloomed.
With a swift thrust, Yuichi slammed it into Tobirama.
The chakra sphere roared, whipping the air into a frenzy.
Bang!
Tobirama was blasted backwards.
A gaping hole tore through his chest. Ash scattered into the air.
He hit the ground heavily and lay motionless.
For a single breath, even the wind seemed to stop.
Silence.
The Konoha shinobi gasped in unison.
The Second Hokage—an enemy they had no idea how to deal with—
Had just been crushed.
By a Genin.
And it had taken barely a minute.
So fast.
Yet when they thought back on Yuichi's movements, it all made sense:
A Water Style clash to stall.
Running water transformed into clones.
Close combat to restrict movement.
The water clones bound the enemy.
Then, a decisive Rasengan to finish the fight.
Clean execution. Clear thinking. Perfect timing.
The ninjutsu flowed flawlessly, not a moment wasted.
The Jōnin exchanged glances—every one of them filled with awe.
Even Konoha's only Elite Jōnin present, Kurenai, couldn't hide the admiration gleaming in her eyes.
…
To face the Second Hokage without fear—that kind of resolve was remarkable.
"Not bad, kid. But don't think you can disturb Lord Orochimaru."
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over Yuichi. A massive fist came crashing down toward his head.
Yuichi tilted his eyes slightly, glancing at the attacker.
Jirōbō—one of the Sound Four. A brute known for overwhelming strength.
The air howled around his fist, its force terrifying.
Yuichi calmly raised his hand, catching the blow.
Boom!!
The impact thundered.
Wind whipped Yuichi's hair, but he didn't budge an inch.
Thin and unimposing as he looked, Yuichi stood unmoved against Jirōbō's raw power.
To Jirōbō, the resistance felt immovable. Not a child's body, but a mountain—vast and unshakable.
Yuichi's eyes stayed cold and steady. His left fist tightened, drawing back.
Then—he drove it into Jirōbō's abdomen.
Jirōbō's face twisted, turning pale as blood spilled from his lips.
Yuichi released his grip.
The man—nearly two hundred jin—was sent flying like a cannonball.
And when he hit the ground… he was nothing but a corpse.