I've Always Been Strong

Watching Uzumaki Kai bound by chains and unable to struggle, Nawaki whispered to Shin, "What kind of ninjutsu is this? I don't remember my sister knowing it."

Nawaki assumed the Adamantine Sealing Chains was something Tsunade had taught Kushina.

"This is a sealing jutsu called Adamantine Sealing Chains, a technique belonging to the Uzumaki Clan," Shin told Nawaki.

"Oh, since it's an Uzumaki Clan sealing jutsu, shouldn't Uzumaki Kai know it too?"

Nawaki glanced over at Uzumaki Kai.

"Him?"

Shin cast a sidelong glance at Uzumaki Kai and shook his head. "This guy's talent is too poor; he probably hasn't learned it yet."

Shin didn't lower his voice at all, and Uzumaki Kai heard every word clearly, instantly becoming so angry he felt like vomiting blood.

Uzumaki Shin's words were practically pointing at Uzumaki Kai's nose to tell him he was too weak.

Kushina used the chakra chains to toss Uzumaki Kai away, and he slammed directly into a tree, letting out a muffled groan that nearly knocked him unconscious.

"Consider this a small lesson for you."

"Is classmate Uzumaki Kushina really this strong?" Namikaze Minato asked, looking quite surprised.

Because Uzumaki Kai had been causing him trouble lately, Namikaze Minato was well aware of his strength.

If he relied on maneuvering, Namikaze Minato could defeat Uzumaki Kai now, but it certainly wouldn't be easy. In truth, Uzumaki Kai was also a genius; his talent was at least better than Uzumaki Akiko's.

After being taught a lesson, Uzumaki Kai didn't scramble up to shout threats; he suddenly became docile, likely realizing he was no match and not wanting to invite further humiliation.

Time ticked by second by second. In the blink of an eye, an hour had passed, yet the substitute jonin still hadn't arrived.

"What's going on? They're still not here."

Inuzuka Tsume, standing to the side, was growing impatient; she was truly tired of waiting.

After another half hour passed, the substitute jonin finally arrived. Shin didn't recognize this jonin either.

"Hello everyone, my name is Asakawa Ki. You can call me Jonin Asakawa. I will be guiding you for the next period of time."

The newly arrived substitute jonin said.

Afterward, he went through a brief self-introduction so they could get acquainted. This jonin named Asakawa Ki seemed to have a decent personality.

"Jonin Asakawa, can we go accept missions?" Nawaki asked Jonin Asakawa.

"Accepting missions? That's no problem. I was planning on taking you all to accept missions anyway," Jonin Asakawa said with a nod.

"Jonin Asakawa, I'm not talking about those D-rank missions, but higher-level ones."

After learning that Shin and the others had performed C-rank missions, Nawaki also wanted to take on higher-level tasks.

Jonin Asakawa frowned upon hearing this and shook his head at Nawaki. It was best not to take out ninjas who had just graduated not long ago.

If something were to actually happen, he, as the team leader, would be held responsible.

These were all students of the Hokage's three disciples; if anything were to go wrong, he couldn't afford the consequences.

No matter how much Nawaki pleaded, Jonin Asakawa refused without hesitation, leaving Nawaki to lower his head in disappointment.

Afterward, Jonin Asakawa took Shin and the others to accept a weeding mission.

"I, the dignified Uzumaki Shin, am actually here pulling weeds. Sigh." Shin looked at the farmland and couldn't help but sigh.

"Pfft~!"

Mikoto couldn't help but laugh out loud.

When you think about it, it really is funny. A few days ago he was slaughtering an Elite Jonin, and now he's reduced to weeding and farm work. The contrast is truly massive.

"What are you laughing at, Mikoto?" Shin asked Mikoto, puzzled.

"Guess," Mikoto winked at Shin playfully. It seemed like the first time the gentle-natured Mikoto had made such a gesture, and Shin was momentarily stunned.

In the eyes of Kushina, who was standing nearby, it looked like Shin was staring at Mikoto in a daze, and jealousy instantly exploded in her heart.

"You two aren't weeding, what are you doing?" Kushina glared at Shin and Mikoto, her cheeks puffed up.

"Kushina, your face looks just like a steamed bun when you puff it up like that. It's very cute."

Shin looked at Kushina and couldn't help but reach out to pinch both of her cheeks, a smile playing on his face.

"You're the cute one." Kushina rolled her eyes at Shin. She would rather Shin praise her for being beautiful than for being cute.

If he called her cute, wouldn't that just mean he still thought of her as a child who hadn't grown up?

"Mikoto, come over here and pull weeds with me. Don't go near him; he's very bad."

Kushina pulled Mikoto away, keeping her distance from Shin. That parting remark, "He's very bad," left Shin feeling quite heartbroken.

"Ninja Art: Multi Shadow Clone Technique."

In an instant, dozens of shadow clones appeared beside Uzumaki Shin. This was only because he had restrained himself; otherwise, creating thousands of clones would have been no issue for him at all.

"Go get to work."

Uzumaki Shin directed his shadow clones to begin their tasks. Watching the dozens of clones from a short distance away, Nawaki and the others were left dumbfounded.

It wasn't just Nawaki; even Asakawa Jonin was stunned, as he himself was incapable of manifesting so many shadow clones.

No, that wasn't quite right—Asakawa Jonin didn't even know the Multi Shadow Clone Technique to begin with.

"Right, why didn't I think of that?"

Kushina slapped her own forehead, silently cursing herself for being so dense. Why struggle on her own when she could just use shadow clones?

Following suit, Kushina also utilized the Multi Shadow Clone Technique. She managed to produce over a dozen clones; there was no helping it, having a massive chakra reserve meant she could afford to be that reckless.

"Why do you all know that jutsu?" Nawaki couldn't help but ask.

"Nawaki, don't tell me you don't even know a single jutsu. If that's the case, I wouldn't mind having a good laugh at your expense," Uzumaki Shin said, looking at Nawaki.

"I do know jutsu, but I haven't learned the Shadow Clone Technique yet," Nawaki said, feeling dejected.

Nawaki knew a few C-rank jutsu, but he hadn't learned the Shadow Clone Technique yet.

"Don't be so down, Nawaki. Actually, you're only a tiny bit worse than me. Keep working hard, and one day you'll catch up."

Uzumaki Shin patted Nawaki on the shoulder, offering him encouragement.

"If it's only a 'tiny bit,' why are you gesturing with your hands so wide apart?" Nawaki stared at Uzumaki Shin's hands and couldn't help but mutter gloomily.

"Don't sweat the small details. Just keep trying to chase my back—even if you can't even see it, a person needs to have dreams. What if they actually come true?"

"I really want to hit you right now." Nawaki clenched his fists, wondering why this guy Uzumaki Shin was becoming more infuriating by the day.

"Come on then, throw a punch. It's not like you can beat me anyway," Uzumaki Shin said with a smile.

"I don't believe it."

As he spoke, Nawaki suddenly launched a sneak attack, throwing a punch toward Uzumaki Shin. He simply couldn't hold back anymore; he had to show Uzumaki Shin what he was made of.

The next moment, Nawaki went flying, landing headfirst in the dirt like a planted radish, his limbs flailing in the air.

Uzumaki Shin walked over and pulled Nawaki out as if he were plucking a vegetable. Looking at Nawaki's mud-covered face, he asked, "Believe me now?"

"Shin, why have you become so strong since graduation? Is there some kind of secret?" Nawaki asked.

"I've always been this strong; you guys just never noticed."