Going All Out

Satoru, Shikaku, and Inoichi were speechless at Choza's resolve.

As for being hot-blooded, Satoru felt he was just trying to increase his chances of survival.

The four of them chatting for so long here naturally caught the attention of Nawaki, who was practicing Ninjutsu.

"Hey! How's it going!"

Putting away the shuriken he'd stuck in the tree, Nawaki walked towards Satoru and the other three.

"Isn't this the Mad Squad? It's my first time seeing you guys outside of school!"

"Huh?"

Satoru looked utterly bewildered.

"Mad Squad? Who's that?"

Shikaku gave an awkward laugh and stepped forward.

"Hello, Senior Nawaki. Satoru probably doesn't know that nickname others gave us..."

Behind him, Choza and Inoichi quietly explained to Satoru.

"It's because we trained with Big Brother Dai, and after Big Brother Dai became famous in one battle, he was called 'Mad Dai'... So, people who saw us training started calling us the 'Mad Squad'!"

"You usually just squat in your room after training and don't come out, but we all know that!"

"...That sounds awful!"

Just as Satoru finished complaining, Nawaki jumped over, a wide smile on his face, and extended his hand to Satoru.

"Haha! I know the advisor developed a lot of interesting jutsu. How many have you learned, Satoru?"

"Um... all of them..."

Satoru scratched his head, feeling a bit unaccustomed to Nawaki's enthusiasm. The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it.

"Actually, not really..."

"Wow! That's amazing!"

Nawaki's eyes widened with excitement. Some of the new jutsu he'd heard about were even C-rank, jutsu that only Chunin would learn!

This boy, two years younger than him, was truly a genius!

"I see!"

Nawaki gave Satoru a thumbs-up and said solemnly, "You must be the biggest rival I'll have on my path to becoming Hokage!"

"..."

The atmosphere became rather awkward.

Satoru and the other three looked at Nawaki's thumbs-up with subtle expressions. Did all passionate people like to do that?

"No, no, no... Hokage or anything..."

As Satoru awkwardly opened his mouth to speak, Nawaki became excited again.

"Haha! Then, Satoru, how about we have a friendly spar!"

"Even though you're three years younger than me, a genius like you must possess strength beyond your years!"

"No, actually..."

"I don't misjudge people! Satoru, you're working so hard on a day off, and so are you guys. You must have gained corresponding strength!"

Nawaki's gaze shifted to Choza, Shikaku, and Inoichi. The three of them swallowed in unison.

"However, I want to witness the new jutsu developed by Advisor Mitokado today, so I'm very sorry, but my challenge to you three will have to be postponed!"

"No, no, no... Senior, please challenge Satoru, we don't mind..."

The three said in unison, quickly distancing themselves from Satoru and Nawaki.

"Satoru! It's up to you! We'll cheer you on!"

"What the..."

Satoru's forehead creased as he watched these unreliable friends run off, leaving him behind. He still tried to shake off Nawaki's persistence.

"Um... how about we forget about fighting? How about a soda?"

"..."

Nawaki blankly took the cup Satoru handed him and watched it automatically fill. He couldn't help but take a sip.

"Wow! This is so delicious! It's amazing!"

"Is this one of those jutsu too?"

"That's right, the Water Creation Jutsu. I guess I've experienced a new jutsu now, so about the fight..."

"I'm even more excited to have a great battle with you!"

Nawaki became even more excited. This was the first time he had witnessed a new Ninjutsu, which was said to have been developed by the high-ranking advisor, Mr. Mitokado Homura.

According to the consultant, these techniques require special secret arts, which, at present, only his son, Mitokado Satoru, has learned.

Of course, it was also because Nawaki's identity was special that he knew these things.

"Satoru, come on! Let me see how big the gap is between me and a genius!"

Looking at Nawaki, who inexplicably recognized him as a genius, Satoru shrugged helplessly:

"Alright then... But senpai Nawaki, once we start fighting, I won't hold back."

Satoru had also thought it through. If they didn't have a match, Nawaki wouldn't give up.

In that case, with his status, there would only be more trouble.

It would be better to just crush him, and then perhaps he wouldn't pester him anymore.

And by establishing an image of "not holding back," other people who came looking for trouble should also decrease significantly, right?

"Of course! A fight should be fought with all your might!"

Nawaki nodded solemnly:

"Just go all out. My sister Tsunade is currently the most outstanding medical Jonin. Even if we get seriously injured, she'll heal us!"

"For free!"

"..."

Satoru took a deep breath, the two distanced themselves, and the most observant Inoichi stepped forward to act as the referee.

After forming the "Seal of Confrontation" learned at school, Nawaki and Satoru quickly entered a combat state.

"Begin!"

"Swish!"

Satoru and Nawaki instantly vanished from their spots, but in terms of Body Flicker Technique, Satoru was clearly a step faster!

The improved "Scorching Swiftness" had greatly enhanced both Satoru's constant speed and burst speed.

"Impressive!"

The two clashed at close range. Nawaki held a kunai, but Satoru was unarmed!

"You..."

Nawaki was startled, but then felt a chill coming from below—

"Leaf Whirlwind!"

Another Satoru appeared directly below Nawaki. The Strong Fist Taijutsu kicking technique, personally taught by Dai, was used by Satoru with a Clone Technique to lure the enemy!

"Bang!"

Nawaki, who was hit, dissolved into smoke and shattered. This was also a clone!

"I was careless!"

Satoru, mid-air, chanted a spell, and three crimson fireballs appeared around him!

"Flame Body!"

"Whoa! So hot!"

Nawaki's surprised cry was heard. A kunai had already approached Satoru, but it was forced back by the scorching fireballs.

"Bang!"

But immediately after, Nawaki's shouting figure was replaced by a log. The log was then scorched by the fireballs, turning a large part of it black!

"It's the Substitution Technique!"

Satoru raised an eyebrow, getting excited.

Nawaki's basic skills were very solid, and with practical combat experience, he was a much better opponent than the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

Both sides landed and began forming hand seals simultaneously.

Nawaki was performing a C-rank Water Style jutsu, but Satoru's hand seals were just a facade. In reality, he was silently chanting a spell:

"Transformation Technique: Sheep!"

"Water Style: Water Disruption... Baa!!"

"..."

The scene became extremely awkward.

Choza looked at the sheep spinning around blankly on the spot with a look of disgust and grumbled:

"Why was such a wicked technique ever developed!"

"You haven't experienced it, have you..."

Shikaku keenly noticed Choza's unnatural reaction. As soon as he spoke, he saw Choza's face turn red:

"I... I was the first one to experience this technique!"

"...You seem quite honored then!"

Inoichi, serving as the referee, rubbed his eyes.

"This is an updated version of the Transformation Technique—the Deformation Technique! No wonder Satoru usually doesn't use it..."

"That's incredibly insulting!"

Satoru's hands ignited with flames, and a smile that Nawaki found downright wicked spread across his face, because...

Before him, a basketball-sized fireball was forming and growing larger!

"Experience art!"

"Pyroblast!"

"BOOM—!"

"Ah!!!"