Temple of Fire, Challenge

Following the mountain path upward and passing through dense ancient pines, they reached the mountain gate of the Temple of Fire at the end of the stone steps.

On either side of the main gate stood Tengu stone statues over a person tall. The Tengu were the symbol of the Temple of Fire's Ninja Monk lineage.

Shinji looked up at the imposing mountain gate before him and could not help but marvel. Its surface was carved with intricate Ninja Talismans, and through the Sharingan, he could even see faint Chakra slowly flowing through them.

"Is this the Sealing Iron Wall?"

The Sealing Iron Wall was the Temple of Fire's core defensive barrier, combining Sealing Jutsu and Barrier Ninjutsu. One needed to infuse it with the unique "Talent of the Sage Clan" Chakra possessed by the Temple of Fire's monks in order to pass through freely.

In the original story, this iron wall had only been breached twice: once by the Chakra shockwave during Sora's Nine-Tails rampage, and once when Hidan and Kakuzu forcibly broke through it to hunt Jiriku.

"Shinji, what are you standing around for? Get in here!" Kurenai Yuhi waved at him.

Shinji answered with a smile. "Coming."

With that, he jogged a few steps to catch up.

As they entered the temple, the head priest, Chūkaku, was warmly receiving Tsunade and Marushihiko. Accommodations had already been arranged for everyone.

They would be staying at the Temple of Fire tonight, and with security assured, everyone was free to move about as they pleased.

He quickly swept his gaze around, only to realize that Asuma was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Asuma?" Shinji was slightly startled and quickly turned to ask.

Kurenai Yuhi pointed toward a corner of the temple and smiled helplessly. "He's over there joining in the excitement."

Shinji followed the direction she indicated and saw seven or eight people gathered in a circle. At the center, Asuma was fiercely exchanging blows with a handsome monk.

"That monk must be Jiriku."

Shinji thought to himself.

He lightly tugged on Kurenai Yuhi's arm and smiled. "Let's go take a look too."

After a brief moment of thought, Kurenai Yuhi nodded and followed Shinji over.

The match between Asuma and Jiriku was highly impressive. Asuma unleashed Wind Release and Fire Release in succession, his ninjutsu skillful and precise, forcing Jiriku back again and again.

Jiriku pressed his hands together and softly chanted a Buddhist prayer. A faint golden Buddhist radiance rose around him, and a phantom of Kannon condensed behind his back as countless fist and palm seals blasted toward Asuma.

Using the Body Flicker Technique, Asuma nimbly weaved through the dense barrage of fists and palms. In the end, he caught an opening in Jiriku's defense, successfully closed in, and subdued him within a few moves.

"Good match."

A hearty smile hung on Asuma's face as he extended a hand to Jiriku and helped him up.

Jiriku lowered his head slightly and gave a bow. "Mr. Asuma, you truly are worthy of being the Hokage's son."

Asuma's lips curled up, looking rather pleased with himself. "My strength has nothing to do with that old man. It's all the result of my own hard work and training."

Just as he finished speaking, he spotted Shinji and Kurenai Yuhi approaching. He immediately waved enthusiastically and pulled them before the others.

"Perfect. Let me introduce you. These are all Guardian Ninja candidates."

"This is Jiriku, Chiriko, Nan'go..."

Shinji listened quietly to the introductions, somewhat surprised that Asuma had already become so friendly with this group.

Just then, a cold snort suddenly rang out.

"Jiriku, I didn't expect you to lose to a Konoha ninja. You've utterly disgraced the Guardian Ninja."

A man with long silver-white hair slowly emerged from behind them, his words dripping with undisguised mockery.

Asuma's expression darkened as he stepped forward. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

Jiriku frowned as well. "Kazuma, that was extremely rude."

Kazuma?

Shinji paused slightly and turned to look at the man.

This was the man who would later assume the alias Furuido, attack Konoha, and ultimately die at Asuma's hands?

Of everyone who had attacked Konoha, he was among the weakest. He was not even qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as Orochimaru or Pain.

And the Kazuma before him had such a punchable attitude that Shinji's fists were starting to itch.

Kazuma continued, "Our 'king' is the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. Our future lies in becoming true Guardian Ninja."

In his eyes, ninjas rooted in Konoha and obeying the Hokage were nothing more than frogs at the bottom of a well, trapped behind walls.

His pride came from the Daimyo's trust, from the authority of the nation, and from being a Guardian Ninja.

He had come to train at the Temple of Fire precisely to gain recognition more quickly.

Kazuma suddenly raised a hand and pointed at Shinji. "I do not accept defeat. I challenge one of you Konoha ninjas."

"I'll show you the true strength of the Guardian Ninja."

He had already calculated it all. Asuma had already displayed his strength, so challenging him would not be honorable. Of the remaining two, one was a female ninja and not worth challenging. Only this young man seemed suitable for making an example of.

They were on the same team. Asuma was the Hokage's son, so he had to be the strongest. This remaining one should not be difficult to handle.

With that thought, Kazuma's lips curled into a confident smile, quite pleased with his own ability to instantly assess the situation.

Five minutes later.

Shinji stood in the middle of the field, looking around in confusion.

He had somehow ended up in the match without understanding how, while Kazuma across from him looked eager to fight, as though victory was already in his grasp.

How had things suddenly turned out like this?

Did I really look that much like an easy target?

Below the stage, Kurenai Yuhi raised a hand to her mouth like a little megaphone and called with a smile, "Go, Shinji!"

Jiriku looked at Asuma, his tone carrying a hint of concern. "Will this be okay?"

The Temple of Fire and Konoha had always been on good terms. He feared that this match might affect the relationship between the two sides, especially since Konoha's leader this time was Tsunade, one of the Sannin.

"Don't worry." Asuma gave a thumbs-up, then smiled ruefully. "Shinji might be stronger than me now."

"Besides, he's from the Uchiha Clan."

Jiriku's pupils contracted. "Uchiha?"

The commotion quickly drew the attention of Tsunade, Marushihiko, and the others, who all turned to watch with interest.

The match began.

Kazuma made the first move. The Four-Pronged Iron Claw on his left hand flared with a cold gleam as he lunged straight for Shinji's throat.

Shinji calmly hopped half a step back. With his right hand, he drew the short sword from his back and precisely blocked the attack.

The two instantly became locked in close combat.

More than a dozen exchanges passed. Kazuma unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, yet he failed to even touch the corner of Shinji's clothes.

He gradually sensed that something was wrong. Glancing down at Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi, he saw that both wore calm expressions, showing no concern for Shinji whatsoever.

Could this guy really be that strong?

"That's enough."

Shinji gripped his sword with both hands as Chakra slowly flowed into the blade. Then he swung down fiercely at the iron claw.

Clang—!

One of the hooked blades on the Four-Pronged Iron Claw snapped off on the spot, followed by the second, then the third.

"What?!"

Kazuma's face changed drastically. He hurriedly retreated and shouted, "Despicable! Winning through your weapon is no true victory!"

Shinji, however, was delighted and paid no attention to his shouting.

The Chakra conduction efficiency of this custom Ninja Sword was more than three times higher than before, and its sharpness and toughness far surpassed those of ordinary weapons.

Kazuma was the perfect one to test it on!

Kazuma gritted his teeth and opened the distance, repeatedly using ninjutsu to harass him, but Shinji effortlessly neutralized every attack.

Shinji's gaze sharpened, and the Body Flicker Technique suddenly activated.

A flash of blade light cut through the air, and Kazuma's final hooked blade was severed as well.

His left hand, wrapped in condensed Chakra, struck each of Kazuma's limb joints in an instant. Finally, he drove a heavy kick into his opponent's abdomen.

Kazuma rolled across the ground like a rag doll before collapsing completely, unable to get back up.