…
Facing the charging Genin, a sharp glint flashed in Kazama Shin's eyes. His body shifted slightly to the side, easily avoiding the incoming grab.
The opponent clearly hadn't taken him seriously at all—perhaps overly confident in his status as a Genin.
"Huh?"
Surprised that Shin had dodged, the Genin paused for only a split second before twisting his body and swinging a strike toward him, aiming to knock him to the ground.
"Hmph!"
Kazama Shin snorted coldly. His right leg swept upward in an instant.
Whoosh!
A sharp gust of wind followed the motion.
"Not good!"
Ippei, having spent a year as a ninja, immediately sensed the danger. Feeling the fierce force of the incoming kick, he realized his mistake.
He hurriedly pulled his arms back to guard his body.
Bang!
Kazama Shin's kick struck his abdomen, sending the Genin flying.
Under the wide-eyed stares of the children behind him, Ippei crashed to the ground with a heavy thud right in front of them.
"I… Ippei-nii got kicked away…"
"T-That's impossible…"
Some of the boys trembled, trying to convince themselves it wasn't real.
How could an ordinary kid send a Genin flying like that?
…
"Damn brat!"
Gritting his teeth, Ippei scrambled to his feet. The pain in his abdomen confirmed that everything just now had been real.
A Genin—
Sent flying by a child.
Overcome with humiliation and anger, he no longer cared how this kid possessed such strength and speed.
All he wanted now—
Was to crush Kazama Shin and wash away his shame.
Swish!
His hands came together, forming hand seals.
"Ninja Art: Clone Technique!"
Bang!
A puff of smoke exploded—
And in an instant, two identical Ippeis rushed out.
Their speed was much faster than before. Almost instantly, the two figures appeared in front of and behind Kazama Shin.
At the same time, both raised their legs and kicked toward him.
"Ah! It's ninjutsu! Ippei-nii is getting serious!"
"This time he'll definitely win!"
The kids watching regained their confidence.
…
Everything had happened too quickly.
From Ippei's challenge to his attack, to being kicked away by Kazama Shin, and now his counterattack with ninjutsu—
It was like a roller coaster.
Naruto couldn't even process it all.
But he knew one thing—
A Genin attacking what seemed like an ordinary child like this was too much.
"Hey! You're going too far!"
Naruto shouted from the side.
But no one paid him any attention.
Ippei had no time to think about the consequences either.
All he wanted was revenge.
…
Whoosh!
The kicks came from both front and back, fierce and fast.
But Kazama Shin remained completely calm.
The figure in front of him—
Had no real shadow beneath its feet.
In an instant, he pivoted and faced the real Ippei behind him, extending his hand.
Bang!
Ippei's sweeping kick was blocked midair.
Holding back the strike, Kazama Shin spoke calmly,
"The Clone Technique doesn't create physical bodies."
As his words fell, the "Genin" behind him dispersed the moment it made contact.
"Damn it… you even know that? And this kind of strength… you're no ordinary kid!"
Ippei tried to push forward, but his leg wouldn't budge an inch under Kazama Shin's grip.
The overwhelming strength forced him to finally take Shin seriously.
Unwilling to accept defeat, he leapt into the air, flipping his body before delivering a downward kick.
But once again—
Kazama Shin easily blocked it.
A twelve- or thirteen-year-old Genin—
Completely suppressed by a five-year-old child nearly a head shorter than him.
And in the next instant, Kazama Shin launched his counterattack.
With a faint smile, he murmured,
"One of the three fundamental ninja arts—taijutsu."
As he spoke, his wrist twisted, grabbing both of Ippei's legs.
Under the latter's panicked gaze, he slammed him down toward the ground.
But—
Bang!
A puff of smoke appeared.
The Genin he had thrown had turned into a wooden log.
Swish!
A sharp sound cut through the air above.
A cold gleam flashed in Ippei's eyes.
"You're still too inexperienced!"
"Let me show you how a real ninja fights!"
He was certain of it—
This kid had chakra and even superior taijutsu.
But so what?
He was still just a five-year-old child.
And now, he had seized the opportunity.
With force, he struck downward, aiming to smash Kazama Shin into the ground.
"Ah! Shin—!"
Before Naruto's cry could finish—
And before Ippei could even smile in triumph—
Bang!
Kazama Shin's figure also turned into a wooden log.
In an instant, Ippei's expression changed drastically.
"Damn—!"
Before the thought could even fully form—
A sharp pain struck the back of his head.
And everything went black.
"So this is your level? And you want to teach me how a ninja fights?"
Kazama Shin muttered inwardly, lowering his hand.
The group of children opposite him were already trembling in fear, staring at him.
Clicking his tongue, he ignored them.
"Let's go, Naruto."
He called out casually, as if nothing had happened, and continued walking toward their original destination.
"O-Okay…"
Naruto finally snapped out of it.
He glanced at the unconscious Genin on the ground—still twitching slightly—
Then quickly ran to catch up.
…
"Incredible… that kid actually beat a Genin?!"
"Yeah, that's insane!"
"Could he be a genius from one of the big clans?"
"Judging by his clothes, he's not from the Uchiha… and his taijutsu is strong… could he be from the Hyuga Clan?"
Nearby passersby, though at a distance, had witnessed the scene.
All of them were stunned, whispering and speculating in amazement.