Ninja Art: Rush Hour Technique

Having submitted their mission, Team 7 arrived at the Training Ground.

Kushina teased, "Right on time, Kakashi. You deserve praise."

Kakashi sighed helplessly. "Just how bad is my image in your mind?"

"Hahaha! All right, enough small talk. Let's start with a sparring match!"

Kiba had been unable to wait any longer. The moment he heard that, he eagerly jumped out and shouted, "Let's settle this, Naruto!"

Naruto had no choice. A hot-blooded idiot like Kiba would never calm down unless he got thoroughly beaten up.

"All right, all right, let's fight." Just like Bao Longxing said, everyone heard it—he was the one who asked me to fight.

Kushina eagerly stepped into the middle to referee the match. The others all backed away to make room for them.

"Then, the first friendly match between Teams 7 and 8: Inuzuka Kiba versus Uzumaki Naruto. Ready—begin!"

Kiba and Naruto formed the Seal of Confrontation.

Kiba did not forget to talk tough. "Go all out, Naruto! This time, Akamaru and I will fight together. We'll definitely beat you!"

"Woof!" Akamaru wagged his tail and barked in agreement.

"Go all out? Are you sure?"

Kiba was brimming with confidence. "That's right, go all out! I've gotten a lot stronger already, so don't underestimate me!"

When Sasuke heard that, his gaze toward Kiba was full of pity.

Naruto nodded. "All right, then. Full power it is."

"Akamaru! Get ready to go!"

"Woof!"

Naruto thought for a second. What does my full power look like again? Hmm, let's try a thousand Shadow Clones first.

Naruto shouted, "Ninja Art: Rush Hour Technique!"

Thus, just as Kiba and Akamaru assumed attacking stances, they saw—

"Poof, poof, poof, poof, poof..." Countless Narutos appeared across the field, packed shoulder to shoulder. Even the spectators around them were swallowed by the sea of people.

"You stepped on my foot, idiot!"

"My arm's about to get crushed, bastard!"

"Make some room!"

The clones shouted, shoved, and jostled one another. For a moment, the scene was as chaotic as a marketplace, a packed old train carriage during the Spring Festival travel rush, or buses and subways during rush hour.

As far as the eye could see, the entire Training Grounds were filled with little blondies. Anyone who did not know better would have thought they had walked into a field of sunflowers.

No. 001 and several of his brothers completely restrained Kiba. Forget fighting—he could barely breathe. Beside them, Naruko grabbed Akamaru by the scruff of his neck and passed him along through the clones to Naruto.

Kushina, who stood closest to the battlefield, had a vein pop on her forehead. She too was surrounded by clones, and in a fit of rage, she unleashed Adamantine Sealing Chains, sweeping away a huge swath of them.

Kushina irritably raised one hand. "The match is over. Naruto wins. Dismiss those Shadow Clones already!"

For some reason, Naruto automatically imagined it as, "Great Sage, quickly take back your divine powers!"

Naruto obediently dismissed his Shadow Clones. More than nine hundred clones that had failed to kill themselves vanished, and their remaining Chakra flowed back to him.

Having divided his Chakra evenly among a thousand clones, Naruto felt a little weak, but he steadied himself again.

A thousand clones looked intimidating, but they did not actually have much Combat Power. In the anime, Naruto had created clones that covered the mountains when he fought Mizuki because he had tapped into the Nine Tails' Chakra in a rage.

But Naruto had used only his own Chakra now, so each clone received less than one unit of Chakra.

The problem was that even if Kiba's and Akamaru's Chakra were added together, they would be lucky to have 0.23 units.

No matter how much people mocked Kakashi for lacking mana, he was still a jonin. Kiba was only among the better genin. He truly could not handle a situation like this.

After the Shadow Clones vanished, Kakashi looked up at the sky. "Was that really necessary?"

Sakura wore a blissful expression. Just now, she had been squeezed into Sasuke's arms. She said weakly, "Sorry, Sasuke. I got pushed over here by accident."

Meanwhile, Inner Sakura pumped her fists. "Nicely done, Naruto!"

"It's fine." Sasuke rubbed his chest, which felt a little sore from being pressed against something.

Hinata's face was crimson. Her fingers twisted together, and steam practically rose from her little head. S-so many Naruto-kun... We were pressed so close just now...

And Shino... what Shino?

As for Kiba, the person involved, he had been dealt a heavy blow. He sat slumped on the ground as though he had lost his dreams. "What was that supposed to be?"

Thump!

Kushina punched Naruto on the head. "That was way too much!"

"He was the one who told me to go all out... Sorry."

Naruto apologized honestly. It did seem like he had gone a little overboard.

Noticing that her student's mood was off, Kushina immediately came over to comfort him. "Actually, in a situation like that, all you need to do is stall until his Chakra runs out. That kind of tactic can't be used in a real battle at all."

Of course, what Kushina hadn't said was that there were other ways as well—for example, clearing the field with large-scale ninjutsu, or creating the same number of Shadow Clones and crushing him head-on. And given Naruto's rate of growth, this move might actually be usable in real combat someday.

Akamaru jumped out of Naruto's arms, whimpering as he licked the back of Kiba's hand and tugged at his sleeve with his teeth, trying to encourage him.

Kiba truly was a hot-blooded young man. He quickly regained his spirit. "Naruto, I lost this time, but next time, next time I'll definitely..."

Sasuke looked at him with pity again. Too naive. I thought exactly like you when I was four, and now I'm twelve...

Naruto and Kiba formed the Seal of Reconciliation and left the field. Kushina called out:

"Next Match: Hinata Hyuga versus Haruno Sakura!"

The two walked to the center of the arena, formed the Seal of Confrontation, and sized each other up.

Hinata did not know much about Sakura, but she had always envied her, because Sakura could be on the same team as Naruto-kun. She also admired Sakura, because Sakura had the courage to confess to the person she liked.

But even if I admire you... Hinata secretly glanced toward the edge of the arena. Naruto-kun is watching this match. I absolutely have to win!

Sakura did not know much about Hinata either. She only knew that Hinata was a timid, introverted girl. Sakura had always thought Hinata was a good person—any girl who did not compete with her for Sasuke was a good person.

But even if you are a good person... Sakura also secretly glanced toward the edge of the arena. Sasuke is watching this match. I don't want to embarrass myself!

Hinata assumed the stance of the Gentle Fist Technique, her gaze turning resolute.

Sakura silently encouraged herself, feeling strength surge up within her without end.

Sakura was the first to move, charging at Hinata with her little fist swinging hard, as though it tore through the air—then... she was left stunned by the blow.

What was going on?

Why?

What was this?

Were you really Hinata?

Under Sakura's shocked gaze, Hinata activated her Byakugan. Veins bulged around her eyes as she lightly shifted aside, dodging Sakura's punch.

Then her hands fluttered like butterflies among flowers, effortlessly breaking through Sakura's defense and striking her body again and again. In the blink of an eye, she landed Thirty-two Strikes!