Danzo's Surprise

"Make your move! Let me see the surprise you've prepared!" Standing perfectly still with his hands at his sides, Danzo spoke in a sharp, indifferent tone, his eyes piercing.

"Then you'd better look forward to it, Uncle!"

Without a hint of hesitation, Kizaru began weaving hand signs, and Wind Style chakra erupted from his mouth.

Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves!

Several "Wind Snakes" composed of razor-sharp, nature-transformed wind chakra lunged toward Danzo in unison.

Facing the onslaught, Danzo did not retreat but advanced instead. Using the Body Flicker Technique to dash forward, he expertly dodged the impact of the "Wind Snakes," pulled out a kunai, and channeled Wind Style: Kunai to enchant the weapon.

Landing at Kizaru's side while the boy was still controlling the "Wind Snakes," Danzo gripped the kunai and slashed downward with lethal intent.

Abandoning his control over the jutsu, Kizaru leaped backward, widening the distance between himself and Danzo to evade the point-blank strike.

"If this is the extent of your ability, I will not pass you," Danzo said, holding his kunai before him. He did not pursue or continue his attack, but stood his ground, facing the retreating Kizaru with a cold expression.

Kizaru kept his smile, entirely unfazed by Danzo's words.

Twisting his neck, Kizaru said with a grin, "You're so impatient, Uncle! That was just a little warm-up."

Just a warm-up?

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been filled with awe that a six-year-old could perform such advanced Wind Style ninjutsu, felt his interest pique even further after hearing Kizaru's remark.

Hiruzen was brimming with curiosity about the Kekkei Genkai known as Light Style, which allowed for the manipulation of light, and he looked forward to the rest of their spar.

"Then show me what you are truly capable of!" With a shout directed at Kizaru, Danzo made his move.

His hands moved in a blur of hand signs as he unleashed Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere, spitting out transparent bullets imbued with wind nature transformation.

Facing Danzo's assault, Kizaru reacted just as Danzo had—advancing instead of retreating. He used the Body Flicker Technique to leap into the air, transforming into a streak of light that shot straight toward Danzo.

This was the first time Danzo had seen Kizaru fight using his Kekkei Genkai. Although he sensed the threat, Kizaru's speed was simply too great; before his brain could even signal his body to move, the light had already reached him.

"It's that move!" On the sidelines, Jiraiya, the first victim of Kizaru's technique, recognized it immediately, his memory still vivid.

It wasn't just Jiraiya; Orochimaru and Tsunade, who had witnessed the move before, recognized it as well, their faces lighting up with anticipation.

Hiruzen noted his students' reactions, swept a glance over them, and turned his attention back to the center of the arena.

By now, Kizaru had arrived before Danzo as if teleporting. Reverting to human form, his body erupted in an intensely blinding light, like a flashbang, instantly searing Danzo's eyes.

Just like Jiraiya, facing such a surprise attack for the first time, Danzo failed to react in time. His eyes stung, his vision blurred, and tears streamed down his face.

"Uncle, have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?" Kizaru asked with a smile. Without stopping his assault, he raised his right leg, gathered photons into his shin, and delivered a high-speed kick toward Danzo's side.

Despite suffering the same attack, Danzo's combat experience far surpassed Jiraiya's. The moment his eyes were blinded, he had already formulated a countermeasure.

His hands moved in a rapid blur, and Danzo activated the Substitution Technique.

Kizaru's Light Speed Kick connected with Danzo's body, but it only struck a log, shattering it into countless splinters.

"As expected of you, Uncle! Your reaction is much faster than Brother Jiraiya's." Looking at the scattered wooden fragments, Kizaru offered a "sincere" compliment.

Can't you two just fight without bringing me into it?

Jiraiya, once again catching a stray, felt his heart turn cold under the gaze of his teacher, Hiruzen, and the disdainful looks from Tsunade and Orochimaru.

Shifting his gaze away from his incompetent student, Hiruzen looked at Kizaru in the center of the arena.

What an incredible talent!

The more he watched, the more he liked what he saw, and a smile appeared on Hiruzen's face instinctively.

Sharing Hiruzen's sentiment, Danzo was not only surprised by Kizaru's sudden and lethal attack but also filled with joy.

Danzo was highly satisfied with Kizaru's ability to combine his Kekkei Genkai with the Body Flicker Technique.

It seemed he had misjudged the boy; he wasn't arrogant, but truly stronger than before.

What a good child! He is truly worthy of being the successor I have chosen.

Though his heart was full of joy, Danzo, long accustomed to playing the villain and the "bad cop," maintained a cold expression on his face.

Having used the Substitution Technique to evade Kizaru's attack and reposition himself, Danzo kept his eyes closed and said coldly, "Why did you speak just now? Once an enemy is blinded, your voice gives away your position. If you hadn't spoken, I might have—"

Suddenly struck, Danzo let out a grunt of pain as his arm flared with agony.

Kizaru stood in place with a grin, his right hand raised, index finger extended and still glowing with golden light.

Finding Danzo's lecture quite logical, Kizaru had simply taken action and fired a laser.

Remaining silent, Kizaru pointed his right index finger at Danzo and fired several more lasers.

The beams struck Danzo's arms and legs, carefully avoiding any lethal points.

Bang!

As soon as the lasers touched Danzo, his body transformed into a log once again.

"Another Substitution Technique?" Kizaru said, seeing this. "As expected of you, Uncle!"

The moment the words left Kizaru's lips, a figure descended from the sky behind him, wielding a "Wind Sword" and slashing toward his back.

Having already sensed the attack behind him, Kizaru twisted his body, his right foot glowing with golden light once more, and delivered a spinning back-kick toward his assailant.

Striking first despite moving second, the faster Kizaru landed his kick on Danzo before the "Wind Sword" could reach him.

Bang!

Struck by the powerful attack, the Danzo behind Kizaru did not fly backward, but instead dissolved directly into a cloud of white mist.

Shadow Clone Technique!

Kizaru showed no surprise; instead, he sharpened his focus, scanning his surroundings to locate Danzo.

Just as Kizaru was surveying the area, a shuriken enchanted with Wind Style chakra shot out from the woods to his right.

Facing the Wind Style: Shuriken, Kizaru unleashed another Light Speed Kick, sending a laser-formed slash flying toward the projectile.

The two attacks collided, triggering a massive explosion that kicked up clouds of dust, gravel, and debris.

"How truly terrifying! Uncle!" With his hands tucked into his pockets, the smile on Kizaru's face grew even brighter.