Chapter 7 — "Explosive Tags"
Konoha, Training Grounds.
Afternoon sunlight filtered through gaps in the branches, scattering unevenly across the open training field.
Senju Nawaki leapt into the center first, barely containing his excitement as he looked back at Namikaze Yami, who was walking over at an unhurried pace.
"Yami! Today I'll show you what I've learned training under Orochimaru-sensei. I'm wiping away my past humiliation!"
Yami followed a few steps behind, his posture relaxed. His gaze seemed casual as it swept over the surroundings—but in truth, Kagura's Mind's Eye was already quietly activated.
The entire environment fell within his perception.
After confirming a few suspicions, he lightly tapped the ground with the tip of his foot, then looked up at Nawaki.
"Go on. Let me see how much you've improved."
Nawaki's expression sharpened. He made the first move, hands flying through seals—Dragon → Ox → Rabbit.
"Water Release: Water Turbulent Wave!"
A high-pressure jet of water blasted from Nawaki's mouth like a water cannon, shooting straight toward Yami.
Yami didn't panic.
This had always been Nawaki's habitual opening move—something Yami knew all too well. He simply sidestepped, cleanly evading the technique.
The attack missed, but Nawaki didn't lose momentum. Just as he was about to continue forming seals for a follow-up—
Yami's figure suddenly blurred.
"Water Release: Water Clone."
In an instant, one Yami became two, charging in from the left and right simultaneously.
"So fast!"
Nawaki was secretly shocked. He immediately stopped forming seals, flicked his wrist, and hurled a kunai at one of the approaching Yamies.
At the same time, he twisted his waist, stepped forward, and swung a heavy punch at the other clone that had already closed in.
"Take this!"
Nawaki's punch carried fierce, brutal force. While it couldn't compare to Tsunade's monstrous strength, it was still far beyond that of ordinary ninja—classic Senju-style combat, pure stats crushing everything in their path.
Under normal circumstances, Yami would have chosen to evade.
But this time—
He lowered his stance and threw a punch of his own.
Boom—
Fists collided with a dull, heavy impact. Both of them were forced back several steps.
Nawaki's heart jolted in shock.
Not only had he clashed with Yami's true body, but he hadn't expected Yami's strength to have grown to this extent.
Yami, meanwhile, felt a faint numbness run through his arm—and inwardly nodded.
So the Uzumaki physique did enhance physical attributes, but it clearly still needed time to mature. Compared to Nawaki, there was still a noticeable gap.
For now.
___
Nawaki didn't have time to think.
The other clone was already upon him.
He twisted around on instinct and threw another heavy punch, smashing the clone into a splash of clear water.
At the same time, Yami had no intention of giving him any breathing room. Shaking off the numbness in his arm, he recovered his rhythm and immediately spat out another jutsu.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
Scorching flames surged forward. Nawaki didn't dare hesitate, forcibly twisting his body as he reacted.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A slab of earth erupted from the ground, barely blocking the fire. Yami glanced at the smooth, bare wall and inwardly clicked his tongue.
Not even a dog head carved into it—bloodline's still impure.
Nawaki seized the moment to counterattack, hands flashing through Water Release seals once more.
"Water Release: Water Turbulent Wave!"
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
Nawaki was trying to exploit the gap while Yami recovered chakra. If this were the old Yami, he really would have stalled out here.
But now?
Yami's chakra reserves were no weaker than Nawaki's.
Water and fire collided head-on, detonating into clouds of superheated steam. Seeing that Yami didn't immediately press the attack, Nawaki took the chance to disengage and retreat, trying to widen the distance.
Just then—
Applause echoed across the training ground.
Clap. Clap.
Yami stepped out of the steam cloud, clapping his hands, and smiled at the still-alert Nawaki.
"That's enough. Let's go eat."
"???"
Nawaki froze, completely baffled. He stared blankly at Yami, who had already relaxed his stance.
Yami pointed casually at the ground beneath Nawaki's feet.
Confused, Nawaki looked down.
He was standing exactly where Yami had been at the very start. At his feet was a shallow pit—one Yami had poked into the earth earlier with his toe.
Inside the pit, a corner of white paper peeked out.
Nawaki pulled it free.
Scrawled crookedly across it were words:
Explosive Tag.
Yami stepped forward, plucked the paper from Nawaki's stunned hand, and waved it slightly.
"Now do you understand why it's over?"
Nawaki stared at the absurdly fake explosive tag, then at where he was standing. His expression shifted wildly—like a carousel of emotions spinning out of control.
After a long moment, he finally snapped back, protesting indignantly:
"But the spar hadn't even really started yet!"
"There's no turn-based combat between ninja," Yami replied calmly, patting Nawaki on the shoulder.
"Using every means necessary to win is the norm."
"Remember this—once you graduate, every battle might be the last one of your life."
With that, he turned and walked toward the edge of the training ground.
He hoped this spar would serve as a warning—maybe even change the path this friend was destined to walk.
Nawaki scratched his head in frustration, then followed after him, muttering stubbornly,
"Yami… you're just too well-rounded. You win and still lecture me. Next time, I'll win it back."
Seeing that Nawaki had accepted the loss, Yami continued:
"Let's go, third place. A bet's a bet—I'm eating at Yakiniku Q."
Nawaki had no objections. Even though the Senju clan had officially dissolved into Konoha, their accumulated wealth remained. Money, at least, was never a problem.
And earlier—when Yami had activated Kagura's Mind's Eye—he'd already detected hidden clan guards and what felt like ANBU presence nearby.
That was precisely why he hadn't gone all out with the Mist techniques he'd acquired.
A genin surviving the Uzushiogakure meat grinder was already suspicious enough—especially one who returned with a sealing scroll. Showing off too many unfamiliar techniques would only invite deeper scrutiny.
---
The yakiniku restaurant was thick with smoke and sizzling meat.
Yami was devouring the grilled meat with gusto, empty plates stacking higher and higher beside him.
Across the table, Nawaki refused to back down, clearly trying to reclaim some dignity by matching Yami plate for plate.
Only when his stomach bulged visibly did Nawaki finally stop. Looking up, he saw that Yami was still eating—and his eyes widened.
"Did you not eat at all during your mission?"
"Growing phase," Yami replied without lifting his head.
When there was finally no room left for empty plates, Yami set down his chopsticks in satisfaction.
The owner was called over to settle the bill, smiling broadly as he calculated the total.
"Three thousand three hundred ryō."
Even Nawaki was startled. Two people had somehow eaten a full group banquet's worth of meat.
After parting ways with Nawaki, Yami headed straight for the Hokage Tower.
He needed to collect the reward from his previous mission.
After all, the intelligence and scrolls he'd brought back still needed to be evaluated before the final bounty could be confirmed.