"Hey! How did they get defeated so suddenly? What kind of secret medicine is that? It actually boosts your strength like this!"
"No… look at the label—it's just chocolate with liquor filling. I bought it yesterday…"
"What nonsense is that? Eating chocolate gives you temporary strength? Are you seriously claiming this is one of Konoha's secret techniques?!"
"Look at the packaging—it's definitely chocolate. This is a chain store; I've bought the same kind in Kawanokuni."
"Unbelievable! Konoha chocolate is secretly medicine, with no restrictions, and sold everywhere?!"
"Stop talking. I'm going out to buy it!"
"Why does this villain Yitai feel like he's being killed by his own powers? His chakra exploded and took him out!"
"It's a backlash effect. That dark medical ninjutsu carries serious side effects!"
"I told you all along! Accepting a huge amount of foreign chakra recklessly is basically endangering your own life."
Kakashi frowned. "Drunken boxing? But what kind of power does it have?"
"Teacher Kakashi, is drunken boxing that technique performed by Thick Eyebrows in the sky? Can we learn it too?" Naruto asked, eyes wide. Xiao Li, the one who had used it, was drunk and had forgotten everything, staring back at them innocently.
"I… don't know either," Kakashi admitted, scratching his head. Kai shook his head as well. "Sorry, Naruto. This physical technique requires innate talent. Lee automatically masters it when drunk, so it can't be taught."
Sakura's eyes went wide. "So as long as Xiao Li drinks before a fight, his power skyrockets? That's incredible!"
Tiantian immediately shook her head. "No, Sakura. Xiao Li can't even distinguish friend from foe when drunk. This move is dangerous—it can't be used recklessly."
Ningci added, "Some missions require clear judgment. Being unconscious from drunkenness is absolutely not acceptable."
Kakashi smirked, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. Not just his own team, but other Genin were in a bind—finally, some balance.
"Tsk! He's gone… I thought he could hold on longer." On Neji's side, Kusu saw the purple chakra soaring into the sky and immediately knew the outcome.
Ningji, exhausted from repeatedly blocking attacks, also wondered, 'Did he overuse chakra? Why didn't he use his joint attack? Could it be…?'
Suddenly, Neji's eyes lit with inspiration. He kicked an incoming attack from Setsuna toward Kusu. The spinning shuriken decapitated the opponent in a single blow.
Closer inspection revealed it was only a lifelike puppet. Even after being beheaded, it mocked them: "Haha, caught you! You're not the only ones who can control clones."
"Sakura!" Realizing something was wrong, Neji quickened his pace, chasing after her.
"Impossible! What kind of puppetry is this? It can even fool the Byakugan!"
"Neji is such a bad captain… deceived by the enemy despite his Byakugan!"
"Don't mock those above. If you were in their place, you'd be fooled too. You might not even react if the miko were killed!"
Neji, underestimated, vowed to improve his skills in detecting real bodies versus clones and avatars. Naruto shivered at the thought—what would happen if he faced Neji in the Chunin Exam?
Sakura, leading Shion ahead, let out a quiet sigh of relief. But at that exact moment, Kusu appeared behind her.
"Anesthesia!" The snake-like tentacle lashed at her neck with blinding speed, poison spreading instantly. Sakura had no choice but to set Shion on a thick branch, but the toxin paralyzed her movements immediately.
"Really… why anesthetize instead of just killing?"
"Yes, if the mission is to eliminate the miko, why waste time with poison?"
Sakura's fingers touched her neck, goosebumps rising. Her veins bulged as she realized how close she'd come.
Meanwhile, on Naruto's side, Shizuku smirked. "Pretending to be dead won't save you!"
The continuously whipping water forced Naruto and his shadow clones into action. Shizuku took the opportunity to cast a new technique:
"Water Style—Gouri Heavy Rain!"
The water ball above her head transformed into a massive water serpent, striking at the last two targets.
Naruto and his clones countered with their trump card: "Rasengan!"
"Here it comes! Finally, I see the merit of Jiraiya's disciples!"
"Why do you say that?"
"The Rasengan was created by the Fourth Hokage. It's the signature technique of Jiraiya, the Fourth Hokage, and the Toads."
Jiraiya nodded in approval. "The kid's doing well. Looks like I need to head back to Konoha to guide his training."
Naruto bounced with excitement. "Teacher Kakashi! Teacher Kakashi! That move, Rasengan—is this what I'll master in the future? It looks awesome!"
Kakashi finally calmed him. "Okay, okay! Don't get too excited, Naruto. If all goes well, Master Jiraiya will return soon to guide your training."
"Really?!"
Sasuke's expression darkened further. First Neji, now Naruto too, both showing incredible potential. With a famous teacher guiding him and clear future prospects, his growth would be unstoppable.
Kakashi, noticing Sasuke's tension, thought: 'Looks like I'll need to start his training early. I'd hoped to wait until the Chunin Exam…'