AI Model: gemini-3.0-flashChapter 14: Mental Critical Hit! The Hidden MistAssassins' Mental State Collapses; This Kid Is Still Buttoning His Pants?The poisoned chains tore through the air, letting out a tooth-aching screech.They were less than half a meter away from that punchable face.Naruto didn't weave signs, didn't pull out a Kunai, and didn't even lower his center of gravity.He simply lowered his head leisurely, his fingers nimbly re-fastening a loose button on his pants.Click.The sound of the metal fastening was slight and crisp.At that exact moment, his upper body seemed to have no bones, shifting five centimeters to the left in a way that utterly defied the laws of physics.The sharp chain claws, capable of slicing through rock, whistled past his golden sideburns.A few strands of hair fluttered through the air."Is that all the composure you have?"Naruto straightened up and adjusted the hem of his divine robe, not even glancing at the lethal weapon that had just brushed past him.He whistled at the two Hidden Mist Chunin, who were staring at him in utter bewilderment."If you can't even hold your pee as an assassin, how are you going to achieve great things? Or is it that you don't just like hiding in sewers, but also like relieving yourselves whenever and wherever you please?"[Ding! Sharp Critique successful!][Caused Mental Critical Hit: The assassins' dignity is dragged through the mud.][Reward: Agility Attribute Points +2.]Meitō felt like his blood vessels were about to burst.This brat!He didn't take them seriously at all!"Die!!"Gotō yanked the chain violently. The chain claw, which had been flying through the air, traced a bizarre arc, as if it had eyes, and swung back to slice toward Naruto's neck.Naruto still didn't move.He even turned his back, completely exposing it to the enemy."Er Zhu Zi, Wide Forehead, class is in session!"Naruto's voice drifted out lazily, carrying an infuriating sense of calm."This is a live combat exercise. I won't interfere; you two handle it. If you can't even take care of two rats from the gutter, you'd better go back to the academy and repeat a grade."Before his voice could fade...A dark shadow shot out from the side.Clang!A shuriken accurately pinned the joint of the swinging chain, its immense kinetic energy forcing the claw's trajectory to change.The sharp blade embedded itself deep into a nearby tree trunk.Sasuke held his throwing stance, his black bangs covering half his face, but the excitement and killing intent within him were practically overflowing.Finally, it was here.Real combat.Not pulling weeds, not finding cats, but a real fight to the death!"Hmph."Sasuke gave a cold snort, his leg muscles tensing as he launched himself forward like a fully drawn bow.He completed a beautiful spin in the air, using the momentum of his descent to bring his right leg down like a battle-axe.The strike was heavy and powerful.Gotō was forced to abandon retrieving his chain, raising his armored forearms to block.Thud!A dull impact sound rang out.Gotō was kicked back several meters by the blow, his feet plowing two deep furrows into the muddy ground."Interesting."Gotō shook his numbed arms, his face beneath the gas mask turning hideous. "The brats from Konohaactually have some skill."Sasuke landed, supporting himself with one hand as he took the starting stance of the Uchiha Style Taijutsu.He felt his blood burning.This was battle!However...On the other side of the battlefield.Sakura gripped a Kunai tightly, her legs feeling like they were filled with lead, rooted to the spot and unable to move.She looked at the two enemies radiating intense killing intent, her mind a complete blank.Are these Rogue Ninja?That sickening smell of blood, that pressure of imminent death—it was nothing like the sparring matches back at the Ninja Academy.She wanted to move, but her body wouldn't listen.She could only stand stiffly in front of Tazuna, her whole body trembling."Ah..."Tazuna was even more terrified, falling back onto his rear as his sake bottle rolled away, the liquid inside gurgling out.Just then.A sudden, massive force struck her.Bang!Sakura felt someone deliver a hard kick to her backside.The kick was merciless, sending her stumbling forward several steps, nearly falling flat on her face."Ow!"Sakura clutched her rear and turned around, tears almost welling in her eyes.Naruto pulled back his foot, his face full of disappointment."What are you dazing off for? Waiting to die?"He pointed at Sasuke, who had already engaged Meitō."That's your teammate over there, fighting for his life. What are you doing here, acting like a 'Waiting Wife' stone? Even if you want to be a decorative vase, you have to pick the right occasion. Is this the time to be acting cute?""But... I..."Sakura was incoherent; fear had robbed her of the ability to think."No 'buts'."Naruto interrupted her. Those azure eyes held none of their usual playfulness, only a cold, scrutinizing gaze."Either go up and help, or get lost and go back to the Village to get married right now. The Ninjaworld doesn't support dead weight."These words were like a slap across the face, stinging Sakura's pride.Dead weight?She was the top student in theoretical grades for her entire year!She was an elite among the kunoichi!No... she couldn't let Naruto look down on her!Sakura grit her teeth, forcibly suppressing the fear in her heart. Her fingers turned white from how hard she was gripping her Kunai."I... I'm not dead weight!"She let out a shout to bolster her courage and then, with her eyes closed, charged toward Meitō, who was currently locked in combat with Sasuke.Though her movements were completely uncoordinated, at the very least, she had moved.Up in the treetops.Kakashi leaned against a trunk, his copy of 'icha icha paradise' long since put away.He watched the battle below quietly, a hint of shock flashing through his visible lazy eye.It wasn't because of Sasuke's excellence, nor Sakura's awakening.It was because of Naruto.The blond boy stood at the edge of the battlefield with his arms crossed, scrutinizing the entire situation like a strict instructor.That dodge a moment ago—the timing had been perfect down to the finest detail.What was even more terrifying was his control over the battlefield.Detecting the enemies, provoking them, commanding his teammates, and forcing Sakura to overcome her fear.This series of actions was as smooth as flowing water. He didn't seem like a freshly graduated Genin at all, but rather like a battle-hardened Anbuleading rookies."Sensei..."Looking at that back, Kakashi felt for a moment as if he were seeing his golden-haired comrade from years ago.But this kid's personality...It was a hundred times more atrocious than Obito's.In the center of the battlefield.The situation was changing rapidly.Though Sasuke was exceptionally talented, he ultimately lacked experience in life-and-death struggles.His previous advantage had only been due to catching the opponents off guard.Once the Demon Brothers reacted and began to cooperate, the situation reversed instantly."Brother! Use that move!"Gotō roared.The chains in their hands suddenly disconnected, turning into two independent barbed weapons.Their figures crisscrossed like two slippery venomous snakes, rotating at high speed around Sasuke.The chains wove a net of death in the air.Sasuke activated his Sharingan.Even with only a single tomoe, it allowed him to see the opponents' movements clearly.Left!Right!But he couldn't block them.There were two of them, and their coordination was seamless.Clang! Clang! Clang!Sasuke swung his Kunai, struggling to block attacks coming from all directions.Sparks flew everywhere.The webbing between his thumb and index finger had already split from the impacts, blood trickling down the handle."Die, brat!"Meitō seized the opening when Sasuke's old strength was spent and his new strength had yet to form.That pitch-black iron claw, coated with deep blue poison, lunged straight for Sasuke's throat.It was too fast.Sasuke's pupils contracted violently.His body couldn't keep up with his eyes' reaction.He couldn't dodge!The aura of death rushed at him, the stench almost suffocating him.Is this... the end?My revenge... hasn't even begun...
