You're Nothing but a Weakling

Yang Xing's guard went up at once. He was the first to scan the positions of the two girls.

Anko was right beside him. Given how vigilant she was, nothing was likely to happen to her.

Rin Nohara was on a boat some distance away. It looked like he'd have to keep a closer eye on her.

"Sensei, it looks like there's something on the water."

"Idiot, don't touch it!"

Just then, an unsteady shout broke the silence.

One of the fools in Anko's group seemed curious about the illusion on the water. He reached out, and with a sudden splash, a tentacle shot up and wrapped around his arm before anyone nearby could react.

The unlucky shinobi was dragged straight into the water with a loud splash.

Aside from the spray, the lake fell silent.

The few shinobi on the boat could only stare in shock.

Even Yang Xing hadn't reacted in time, but he was certain that the man was beyond saving.

"That idiot! If this keeps up, we'll all be killed!" The female jōnin clearly knew that doing nothing meant waiting to die. Something was definitely lurking beneath the illusion over the lake.

And it might be a powerful summoning beast.

They were surrounded by a whole pack of summoning beasts.

"Damn it, I don't care what kind of illusion this is! Someone just died right in front of me! Hey, you dirt-loving Stone shinobi, why don't you come out if you've got the guts?" Obito's temper flared, and he stepped forward first.

The single-minded boy stood on the boat, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Then the water began to move. With a sudden ripple, it splashed in every direction as a giant serpent-like summoning beast surged out of the lake and charged at Obito.

"Look out!" Kakashi's expression changed. He sprang up at once, his body shooting through the air as he thrust his Kunai forward with all his strength.

Unfortunately, there wasn't just one summoning beast in the lake.

As Kakashi soared through the air, the water stirred again, and a huge eel-like monster leaped up, charging straight at him.

"Kakashi!"

Obito and Rin Nohara cried out. The eel had wrapped itself around Kakashi and dragged him straight into the lake. Things looked grim.

"I hope Kakashi's all right. No, we can't just stay here." Seeing Kakashi dragged into the lake, the female jōnin knew she couldn't sit still. She gave Yang Xing and the others some instructions, then swiftly plunged into the water. "You lot look after the weaker ones. I'll see how he's doing. Remember, don't come after me."

Water Release Ninjutsu let a person breathe underwater, but not for long.

By now, there were fewer than five people left on the two boats.

A few of them were tense. Even Anko looked grave as she huddled close to Yang Xing. She knew that if the jōnin sensei and Kakashi both died, Yang Xing would be the only one who could save her.

After all, Yang Xing was the strongest of the three.

Yang Xing was extremely tense. He couldn't afford to lose focus with the illusion right before him, especially when he was struggling to resist using his Sharingan.

Relying on his own senses, Yang Xing scanned the area. Perhaps because he had the Sharingan, his perception had improved considerably. He clearly saw a huge shadow swim through the water.

Yang Xing's eyes widened. Without a second thought, he called to Rin Nohara and Obito, "Hey, forget your boat. Get over here, now!"

"Huh? Why should I listen to you?" For some reason, Obito looked at Yang Xing with hostility.

[ ]

Yang Xing was confused. He didn't think he'd done anything to the boy.

Seeing that Obito was still glaring at him, Yang Xing decided not to bother. He turned to Rin Nohara, only to find that even the usually kindhearted girl hesitated when she saw Obito refusing to come over.

"Hey, Rin, jump over here."

"But..." Rin Nohara didn't move when she saw that Obito wasn't going either.

Yang Xing was getting annoyed. He glared at the stubborn Obito and snapped, "Do you want to die?"

"Huh?" Obito looked even more displeased, and he seemed genuinely angry. "I'm telling you, I won't die! At least, I won't die before you do! And I'm telling you, I'm stronger than you. Rin, I'll protect you properly—better than you ever could!"

He glared at Yang Xing with open hostility.

"Hey, kid, why are you so damn irritating? You think you can protect this girl? Take a look at yourself..." Anko was so annoyed she wanted to go over and punch him, but Yang Xing held her back. That only made her more frustrated. "Yang Xing, what are you doing? Let me teach this brat a lesson!"

Yang Xing didn't say anything. He simply watched Obito calmly. It was obvious the boy hadn't finished speaking.

The kid really seemed to be angry with him.

"Yang Xing, you're nothing but a weak, smug little brat! If it weren't for the Konoha shinobi, if it weren't for your teacher, you never would've been allowed to join our team!" Obito pointed at Yang Xing and shouted, letting out all the resentment he'd been holding inside.

Smack!

A sharp slap left Yang Xing stunned. He looked at Rin Nohara, whose face had darkened and whose whole body was trembling with anger. He touched his cheek, only then realizing how badly he'd misspoken.

He lowered his head, clearly admitting his mistake.

Yang Xing, on the other hand, smiled. In response to Obito's words, he simply smiled and said something that left both of them stunned. "Yeah. If it weren't for my teacher, I wouldn't have gotten in. I wouldn't have met you two, and I wouldn't have become stronger. And I wouldn't have stolen your Rin, right? Is that what you wanted to say?"

"I..." Though he still felt aggrieved, Obito clenched his teeth and said no more.

"All right, I get it. You can't stand me. And let me make this clear: I can't stand you even more." Yang Xing's gaze was sharp, his expression far too mature for his age. He stared straight at Obito, his voice low. "But if you die, Rin will be heartbroken. So, kid, you'd better thank Rin."

As soon as he finished speaking, Obito was still standing there, stunned.

Rin Nohara's cheeks flushed a little.

Yang Xing sprang up, leaping into the air under the astonished gazes of everyone on the boat.

He performed the Clone Technique, then used the clone's shoulder to launch himself upward like a rocket, soaring straight into the sky.

He formed Hand Seals in midair, then unleashed a technique at a point near the two small boats.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Yang Xing opened his mouth, and the enormous fireball immediately stunned everyone watching.

What amazed them even more was its power. It struck the water with earth-shattering force, sending up a towering column of water.

Boom!

Amid the spray, the corpses of several huge summoning beasts flew through the air like rain, then pattered and splashed onto the surface, drifting there as lifeless bodies.

Obito was stunned.

Rin Nohara was stunned.

Only Anko's face flushed, her pretty features alight with excitement.

"Yang Xing, do it again! Just blow all those things to pieces!" She was so excited she couldn't help shouting.