Defeating Nawaki, Four Tons of Chakra

March came around once again.

For the Ninja Academy, March meant graduation and promotion season.

The sixth graders were about to graduate and become Genin.

Meanwhile, Natsuki was moving up from second grade to third grade.

He had also turned eight, up from seven.

The day before registration for Third Grade Class A was the graduation exam for Sixth Grade Class A.

Natsuki arrived at the Ninja Academy's training field early that morning.

He didn't have to wait long before he saw Uchiha Mikoto.

"Good morning, Mikoto-senpai."

Natsuki greeted her with a smile.

He and Uchiha Mikoto had become friends after first meeting through a fight.

On top of that, he had helped her out, and the two had become friends.

Over the past year, they had met many times to spar and share meals.

"Good morning."

Uchiha Mikoto said gently, "You didn't need to make a special trip."

"It's no trouble."

Natsuki shook his head, then asked, "Have your team leader and teammates been decided?"

"They have. After I graduate, I'll join the Konoha Military Police Force," Uchiha Mikoto replied.

Although the Konoha Military Police Force had Konoha in its name, it was actually a department controlled by the Uchiha Clan.

Its duties were a little like those of a scaled-down Anbu, managing and maintaining public order in Konoha.

Since its founding, it had been assigned to the Uchiha Clan by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

He had several reasons for doing so.

First, the Uchiha Clan had contributed greatly to the founding of the village, and Konoha had to show its appreciation.

Second, Tobirama Senju wanted to test the Uchiha Clan.

If the Uchiha Clan could integrate into Konoha through the Military Police Force, everyone would be happy.

But if not, the Uchiha Clan would end up antagonizing the entire village.

That outcome was already beginning to take shape. Many villagers had complaints about the Konoha Military Police Force.

"That's about what I expected."

Natsuki casually took out a Summoning Storage Scroll and said, "Mikoto-senpai, this is a graduation gift for you."

"Thank you."

Uchiha Mikoto paused, but didn't refuse.

She took the Summoning Storage Scroll and glanced inside. It was full of Blue Healing Potions.

"This is too generous, and I can't use this many Blue Healing Potions."

Uchiha Mikoto handed the Summoning Storage Scroll back.

Blue Healing Potions had become essential supplies for Konoha's shinobi.

Especially when heading out on missions, they always brought a few bottles.

After all, they could save a life at a crucial moment.

"I'll tell you a secret."

Natsuki didn't take it back. "I invented the Blue Healing Potion, so I didn't have to pay for it."

"What?"

Uchiha Mikoto asked in surprise.

Konoha hadn't revealed who invented the Blue Healing Potion.

For one thing, they feared enemy shinobi might target Natsuki. If they learned that a Ninja Academy student had invented the potion, they would surely try to capture him.

For another, they were concerned about how it might affect Natsuki's life. Money could tempt anyone, and even Konoha wasn't completely safe.

"That's quite a surprising secret."

Uchiha Mikoto said with self-awareness, "I won't tell anyone else."

"Mm."

Natsuki nodded and said, "Good luck on your exam. Come find me whenever you have time."

"Thank you."

A warm smile appeared on Uchiha Mikoto's face.

She put away the Summoning Storage Scroll and turned toward Sixth Grade Class A.

Natsuki didn't stay long.

After leaving the Ninja Academy, he went to Orochimaru's residence.

As soon as he entered, he saw a stream of water flowing through the courtyard. Nawaki, who had arrived early, was practicing Water Release.

After spending so much time with Nawaki, Natsuki had learned how strong he was.

Put simply, he was a version of Senju Tobirama who didn't know any forbidden techniques.

He had plenty of Chakra, excelled at Water Release, and had even learned Senju Tobirama's Water Release techniques.

Of course, his Taijutsu was good too. After all, his older sister was Tsunade.

"Nawaki-senpai."

Natsuki smiled and asked, "When are you free? Let's have a proper fight."

"Sure!"

Nawaki immediately replied with excitement. "I've wanted to find out just how strong you are!"

"Why not now?"

Orochimaru's voice suddenly rang out.

At some point, he had walked over to the entrance.

"Sounds good to me!"

Nawaki immediately said, full of enthusiasm.

"Sure."

Natsuki thought it over, then agreed.

He'd originally planned to talk to Orochimaru about the Shadow Secret Techniques he'd developed, but then realized it would be clearer to show them in a fight.

"Watch out, Natsuki!"

Nawaki warned him. "I've improved a lot lately!"

"So have I."

Natsuki replied, unwilling to back down.

They trained together most of the time, but that didn't mean they weren't hiding some of their abilities from each other.

Body Flicker Technique!

Nawaki moved first.

He sprang forward and leaped into the air, bringing his right leg down from above.

Golden Right Leg!

Natsuki instinctively raised his leg.

But when their legs collided, he immediately realized something was wrong.

A tremendous force hit him, numbing his right leg.

In the nick of time, he used Reinforcement Magic and retreated.

Boom!

Nawaki's right foot struck the ground, leaving a spiderweb of cracks.

Natsuki immediately recognized it as Tsunade's Heavenly Foot of Pain.

Nawaki's Heavenly Foot of Pain was nowhere near as powerful as Tsunade's, but it could still easily counter his Golden Right Leg.

Nawaki didn't get carried away just because he'd gained the advantage in the first exchange.

He seized the opportunity and formed Hand Seals.

Water Bullet Barrage Technique!

Water orbs like bullets flew at Natsuki in a relentless stream.

Shadow Space!

Natsuki raised both hands.

A flood of Kunai and Shuriken shot out of his shadow and crashed into the dense barrage of water.

"What is this?"

Nawaki couldn't help staring in shock.

"Shadow Secret Techniques? Did Natsuki really manage to create them?"

Orochimaru, watching from the side, looked astonished.

A year sounded like a long time, but it was actually very short for creating a new Ninjutsu.

Especially since this Shadow Secret Technique was at least B-rank.

It was common to spend several years creating a single B-rank Ninjutsu.

For example, in the original story, Namikaze Minato spent three years creating the Rasengan.

Although the Rasengan was an A-rank Ninjutsu, Namikaze Minato was a genius among geniuses. Anyone else would have taken even longer.

Water splashed everywhere.

The Kunai, Shuriken, and water orbs clashed fiercely.

Before they could determine a winner, Natsuki took a wooden sword from the Shadow Space.

One Sword Style: 36 Pound Cannon!

He swung once, sending a blade of energy toward Nawaki.

Nawaki was completely focused. The moment he saw the wooden sword, he formed Hand Seals.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!

A huge water dragon surged out and collided with the blade of energy.

Together with the earlier Kunai, Shuriken, and water orbs, it made the courtyard a flurry of activity.

Nawaki breathed a sigh of relief and instinctively looked toward Natsuki.

But his expression changed when he didn't see him.

He quickly scanned his surroundings, but still found nothing.

It was as if Natsuki had vanished into thin air.

Only Orochimaru lowered his gaze toward the shadow racing across the ground.

Had he even created this Shadow Secret Technique?

Two Shadow Secret Techniques in a year?

The shinobi of the entire Ninja World would be astonished to hear that.

Nawaki sensed danger.

He'd never seen Shadow Assassin before, and the aftereffects of the earlier Ninjutsu had kept him from noticing Natsuki's shadow.

At this critical moment, he gritted his teeth and immediately formed Hand Seals.

Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

An ordinary Water Formation Wall could only defend from one direction, but Senju Tobirama's Water Formation Wall could defend from all four.

A stream of water rapidly flowed around Nawaki. Just as it was about to enclose him, a sound cut through the air.

Nawaki instinctively turned around, and a flash of light stabbed at his eyes.

It was Natsuki's One Sword Style: Iai: Lion Song.

Nawaki reacted quickly and kicked out.

But no matter how fast he was, he couldn't outrun the blade.

Nawaki's body shuddered as the wooden sword struck him in the stomach.

Natsuki, meanwhile, turned aside and dodged his kick.

"You... did you come out of the shadow?"

Nawaki stared wide-eyed and asked.

At that moment, what shocked him most wasn't losing to Natsuki. It was the Shadow Assassin technique Natsuki had used.

"This is a Shadow Secret Technique I created. It's called Shadow Assassin."

Natsuki smiled as he explained, "It lets me hide inside my own shadow."

"...?"

Nawaki opened his mouth, then closed it again, unable to think of what to say.

No wonder he hadn't seen Natsuki. He'd been hiding inside his shadow.

And he'd created such an incredible Shadow Secret Technique himself?

[Congratulations, Host! You have unlocked Ability Four of the Uzumaki Naruto Template: Chakra Ton.]

Natsuki immediately felt Chakra surge through his body.

There was so much of it that he couldn't get used to it.