Successive Battles

Chiba crouched halfway to the ground. In front of him was a log buried halfway into the earth, while behind him, Kakashi held a kunai against him.

"It's over. As expected of Kakashi," Hokoma said with a sigh, looking at Minato Namikaze. "As expected of your student, too."

Minato Namikaze merely smiled and said, "This Chiba is also remarkable. Kushina... put a great deal of effort into him. I never expected that, aside from taijutsu, Kushina had also developed his ninjutsu."

"Yes. I never expected Kushina to nurture such talent. A B-rank Water Style Jutsu, enough Chakra to create water where there is none... this Taki Chiba has at least as much Chakra as a Chunin, doesn't he?" Hokoma said with a nod.

"And his hand seals are very fast. Before the Water Wall ended, he had already formed the seals for the Headhunter Jutsu and successfully cast it. Then, using the water curtain as cover, he launched a surprise attack. Though Chiba is young, he's very clever and exceptionally gifted in tactics." Minato Namikaze did not hold back his praise, though he also felt some regret. It was a shame he could not be Chiba's teacher.

"Still, Kakashi saw through all of it. Come to think of it, that is Kakashi's style. He's a genius at analysis," Hokoma said.

"Ah, yes. He's an outstanding ninja who can remain calm at any time." Minato Namikaze was equally generous with praise for his prized student.

"I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I keep feeling that Chiba won't lose." In an exceedingly rare occurrence, Hirohiko spoke such a long sentence, a faintly strange expression on his face.

"I feel the same way." Yukina, beside him, nodded. "Chiba won't lose that easily!"

Hearing the words of her other two students, Kushina Uzumaki smiled faintly.

So Chiba had already earned so much of their trust. Ah, I feel the same way. How could my finest student possibly lose so easily? But Chiba, what are you dawdling for? Kakashi is strong, but you, who fought against me, are not this weak! "Kakashi, isn't it too early to declare that I've lost?" Chiba slowly rose to his feet. Behind him, Kakashi's eyes widened slightly, and as Chiba stood, the kunai in his hand rose with him.

Then Kakashi's brows furrowed slightly, while his eyes slowly widened.

Hokoma was just about to announce Chiba's defeat when, at the very instant he opened his mouth, Chiba suddenly exploded into a puff of white smoke with a poof!

A side kick, carrying a fierce howl of wind, suddenly lashed out from behind Kakashi and swept toward the side of his face.

Kakashi reacted extremely quickly. The kick came fast and sudden, like a whirlwind in the blink of an eye, but he still responded, raising his right arm to block. Thud! Flesh struck flesh with a dull impact.

What?! Kakashi's eyes widened slightly. He could not withstand the force of that side kick at all. The right arm he had raised to block was driven by the impact straight into his own face! Bang!

In an instant, Kakashi was sent flying, crashing into the wall of the training ground. The wall trembled faintly, and stone chips rained down.

Tap.

Chiba landed lightly, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Konoha Whirlwind! Combined with Monster Strength applied through the legs! Thank you for giving me so much time to refine Chakra into my legs! As expected, controlling Chakra in the legs is much more difficult than in the hands.

But it worked!

Looking at Kakashi, who had left a shallow human-shaped impression in the wall, Chiba did not pursue. Instead, he made the same motion as Kakashi, extending his right arm behind him to block.

A fist slammed heavily into his arm.

Another dull thud of flesh striking flesh rang out.

Chiba caught Kakashi's surprise punch from behind. At the same time, he spun around and threw a punch at Kakashi. Though he had no eyes on the back of his head, the punch flew with perfect accuracy toward Kakashi's cheek.

Kakashi's face was hidden behind his mask, but his eyes narrowed slightly. From the look of it, he was smiling.

Come on, Teacher Minato... this guy isn't someone I can deal with by holding back!

Slap!

Kakashi pressed one hand flat against the side of his face, then clenched his palm around Chiba's fist.

At that moment, the Kakashi by the wall burst into a cloud of white smoke. Hokoma forcibly swallowed back the words at his lips, only to choke on his own saliva and start coughing.

Everything had changed too quickly. Even an Elite Jonin like him had nearly failed to react.

Looking at the two in the field, each of them having blocked the other's attack, his face was filled with shock. What is wrong with these children? Kakashi is one thing, but how is this Chiba so strong too? Before long, I'm afraid I'll become a relic of the past! This time, Minato Namikaze was somewhat stunned as well.

This child... Chiba, when did he leave behind a clone? Just now, he must have used the Substitution Technique to switch places with his clone, right? And Kakashi too—the one kicked away just now was a Shadow Clone Jutsu, wasn't it? Had he been fighting with a Shadow Clone Jutsu from the very beginning?

These two children... they might be the same type of person! And one thing was certain now: both of them were geniuses at leading squad combat! Also, Chiba's side kick was far too powerful! This child's taijutsu is outstanding! It does not lose to Might Guy's in the slightest—if anything, it is even a notch stronger!

Even as Minato Namikaze stood there stunned, his heart was full of shock. Taki Chiba's talent was simply too exceptional. His taijutsu, ninjutsu, and combat instincts were all among the best of ninja. Every single one of them was extraordinarily rare!

Kushina...

Minato Namikaze looked toward Kushina Uzumaki and saw a smile on his lover's lips, her expression seeming to say, Now that's more like it.

Kushina, all your hard work these past days has paid off.

"I knew it!" Yukina said unconsciously, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Hirohiko nodded repeatedly as well.

Kushina Uzumaki stared unblinkingly at the field, her eyes full of gratification.

In the field, Kakashi gripped Chiba's hand and abruptly executed an over-the-shoulder throw, hurling Chiba viciously toward the ground.

But to his surprise, halfway through the fall, Chiba suddenly stomped both feet against the ground with a tap, landing firmly on his feet. Borrowing Kakashi's force, he forcefully straightened and flung Kakashi away instead.

In midair, Kakashi twisted around and flicked his hand, sending several Shuriken flying to interrupt Chiba's pursuit.

The Shuriken came at vicious angles. If Chiba moved forward, both shoulders and his right foot would inevitably be hit. Left with no choice, Chiba took a small step back.

Thud thud thud thud! The Shuriken embedded themselves in the ground.

"Lightning Style: Flashbolt!" Kakashi adjusted his direction in midair, formed hand seals, and spat out a bolt of lightning like a sharp spear.

The lightning was incomparably swift, crackling as it shot toward Chiba.

A smile curled across Chiba's lips. He had sensed it already, and with a small backward hop, he moved away almost at the same instant his feet left the ground. The lightning pierced the earth, boring a small hole and sending up a wisp of green smoke.

Had Chiba been hit, his body would likely have been pierced with the same small hole.

Earth Release: Earth Spear!

As Chiba made a small backward hop, he had already formed a hand seal. The moment he landed, he pressed a hand down, and an earth cone shot forth.

Kakashi twisted sideways in midair, barely avoiding the earth cone. Before he could sigh in relief, Chiba was already charging along the earth cone. He leaped up and brought down a punch.

"Bang!"

Kakashi only had time to cross his arms in defense. The next second, a tremendous force struck him, blasting his entire body away like a cannonball.

"Boom!"

Kakashi crashed into the ground like an arrow loosed from a bow. Dust flew everywhere, smoke billowed up, and half a log was flung into the air. A large crater had formed in the ground. The spot where he landed was precisely where Chiba had dragged Kakashi underground earlier. That half-log was the one Kakashi had left behind with the Substitution Technique.

Chiba landed and looked toward the center of the crater. Kakashi lay within it, coughing up a mouthful of blood. He had no strength left to fight back! Yet Chiba showed no joy. He merely glanced at the Kakashi in the pit, surprise appearing on his face.

When? Startled, Chiba suddenly turned and threw a punch.

"Bang!"

Chiba's fist collided fiercely with the fist of Kakashi, who had launched a surprise attack from behind! When had he left behind a clone? Chiba frowned deeply.

"Clatter!"

The log fell to the ground beside Kakashi, who had landed in the center of the crater.

The Kakashi in the pit behind him turned into white smoke with a "poof!"