Chiga's First Battle

Sida was startled when he heard that. "Not good, we've fallen into a trap!"

After seeing Kushina's flowing crimson hair and recalling a few other details, he instantly realized that he had fallen for the Konoha ninja's ruse.

But by the time he realized it, it was already too late. Under Sida's shocked gaze, Kushina suddenly stomped down, snapping the branch beneath her feet. Her entire body shot forward like a cannonball, directly blocking Sida as he tried to retreat.

Clang, clang, clang!

In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged a round of blows with their Kunai. Heiha also engaged the two Rock ninjas, throwing several Shuriken to block their path.

When Kushina attacked, Chiga followed close behind. He stopped the Rock ninja riding the Red Rock Boar and narrowed his eyes.

Rather than sizing up the man, he was examining the Red Rock Boar.

The Red Rock Boar, which already possessed the strength of a Chunin, had a massive body wrapped in thick layers of rock. Its wide eyes glinted with viciousness, while its long tusks gleamed coldly beneath the faint moonlight.

"If I had the Sharingan, this would be a little troublesome."

Chiga murmured to himself. A Summoning Beast with such immense endurance and powerful defenses was indeed very unfriendly to a novice like him, who had few offensive methods at this stage.

While Chiga sized up his opponent, the other side was sizing him up as well.

Seeing that Chiga was even younger than himself, the Rock ninja's anxious expression relaxed slightly.

He gently patted the Red Rock Boar. "Kill him!"

"Roar!"

At his words, the Red Rock Boar shook its body and let out an unhappy roar.

The Rock ninja seemed to understand what the Red Rock Boar was saying. He said helplessly, "Deal. I'll offer you five living people when we get back!"

With that, the Rock ninja leaped from the Red Rock Boar's back and hid behind it.

At the same time, the Red Rock Boar kicked off with its hind legs. Like an out-of-control heavy truck, it roared toward Chiga.

Facing the ferocious Red Rock Boar, Chiga's expression remained unchanged. The Samurai Sword in his hand suddenly emitted a faint, ghostly glow, and he charged forward as well.

Behind the Red Rock Boar, the Rock ninja pulled three Shuriken from his Ninja Tool Pouch. Then, with a forceful flick of his wrist, he threw them without hesitation.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Taking advantage of the night and the Red Rock Boar's enormous body, the three Shuriken curved through the air toward Chiga.

It was only when the Shuriken passed over the Red Rock Boar's body and appeared in front of him that Chiga noticed them.

Facing the Red Rock Boar's tusks, which were already inches away and thrusting viciously toward him, along with the Shuriken locked onto his vital points, Chiga's pupils contracted. He kicked off with both feet, leaping onto the Red Rock Boar's head.

Thunk, thunk, thunk!

The instant Chiga leaped, the Shuriken plunged deep into the ground, producing dull impacts.

"Roar!"

At that moment, the Red Rock Boar let out a furious roar and abruptly raised its massive head. Its tusks, more than a meter long, flashed coldly as they stabbed toward Chiga's abdomen.

Chiga's expression did not change. He thrust the Samurai Sword in both hands toward the Red Rock Boar's head.

Enhanced with Wind Release Chakra, the Samurai Sword possessed a cutting edge so sharp that it sank into the rock armor as easily as into tofu.

But the Red Rock Boar's rock armor was thick enough that Chiga's Samurai Sword only pierced through it, its blade reaching the boar's forehead.

This was not enough to kill the Red Rock Boar. Instead, the pain drove it into a frenzy.

"Roar!"

The Red Rock Boar opened its foul-smelling maw. A mass of searing flames instantly formed and shot toward Chiga.

However, Chiga had expected this. He exerted force with both hands and used the Samurai Sword embedded in the Red Rock Boar's body to flip through the air. As he dodged the Red Rock Boar's Fire Release, he reached its rear and slammed both feet down against its back.

His entire body shot toward the Rock ninja.

From the very beginning, Chiga's target had not been the Red Rock Boar. As long as its master died, the Summoning Beast would automatically be dismissed.

"Damn it!"

The Rock ninja cursed inwardly. He had originally planned to rely on his Summoning Beast to quickly deal with his opponent while preserving some of his own strength, but it seemed that his opponent was not to be underestimated.

Still, he was not afraid. In the Land of Earth, he was considered one of the best among his peers and was inferior to no one. Otherwise, Sida would not have chosen him for this mission.

He drew his Kunai and waited coldly for Chiga to arrive.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew as the two gripped their Kunai with both hands and battled for a while. Without using any other techniques, they were evenly matched in close combat.

Chiga's swordsmanship had indeed reached the master level, but he was far less skilled with Kunai than with a sword. For the moment, he truly could not bring down this Rock ninja.

"Go to hell!"

At that moment, the Rock ninja suddenly shouted. Seizing an opening, he raised both hands high, then brought the two Kunai crashing down toward Chiga's head.

But at that very moment, a red gleam flashed in Chiga's eyes.

Sharingan: Genjutsu!

The instant the Rock ninja saw Chiga open those strange eyes, he knew that something was terribly wrong—but it was already too late.

The Sharingan could not control someone from a distance, especially with only One-Tomoe, which was why Chiga had not used it at the very beginning.

At this point, the victor had been decided.

Chiga held a Kunai against the immobilized Rock ninja's chest, a trace of hesitation appearing in his eyes.

However, Chiga soon hardened his heart. With a forceful thrust, the Kunai pierced straight into the Rock ninja's heart.

Blood sprayed in all directions, splattering across Chiga's face.

"The Sharingan—you're actually a member of the Uchiha clan..."

The Rock ninja awoke from the Genjutsu. Looking at the Kunai in his chest, despair flashed in his eyes, and then the light in them faded.

Seeing that Chiga had dealt with his opponent in only a few moves, Kazuma nodded inwardly before turning his attention to the other two battlefields.

Kushina and Sida were still unable to determine a winner.

"Stay here and don't move. I'll go help Heiha first."

Kazuma chose to help Heiha first. After giving Chiga a warning, he charged toward Heiha's battlefield.

A battle between Jōnin was not something this child could participate in, which was why Kazuma had given him that warning first.

He was afraid that the child would not know his own limits and rush into the battle, forcing Kushina to divide her attention to protect him. That would be a serious offense.

Chiga nodded. He had just killed someone, and the guilt in his heart had yet to fade. He did not want to move recklessly either.

After taking a deep breath, Chiga finally turned his head toward Kushina's battlefield.

As the saying went, Konoha's Genin could destroy heaven and earth, while Konoha's Jōnin merely brawled and played around.

Although the saying was not entirely fitting for the battle between Kushina and Sida, it was not far off.

Chiga watched for a long time. Even now, neither of them had used a powerful ninjutsu. They were only using techniques that required few hand seals, and most of the time was still spent fighting at close range.