At Kakashi's announcement, Lu Yu sat cross-legged on a wooden post, arms folded as he watched the others with interest.
What's Shikamaru going to do?
The next moment, Naruto and Sasuke took the lead, striding toward Kakashi and Asuma until they were ten meters away.
Then they stood facing Kakashi and Asuma from a distance, both brimming with confidence.
Naruto looked at Kakashi, visibly excited. He glanced at Sasuke beside him and grinned.
"Don't let Big Beard Teacher knock you flat, Sasuke."
Sasuke's lips curled slightly.
"Hmph. Dead Last, you'd better worry about yourself."
Kakashi and Asuma frowned at the two boys, surprise flickering through their minds.
Were those two brats planning to fight us one-on-one?
Genin taking on jonin? They were getting a little too full of themselves.
A breeze stirred, sending a leaf drifting through the air. The instant it landed softly on the ground, Naruto moved.
He rapidly formed Hand Seals and shouted:
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof!
As the white smoke cleared, nearly a hundred Shadow Clones surrounded Kakashi and Asuma.
Kakashi and Asuma looked at the clones around them, their brows furrowing slightly.
"It looks like this year's students might be a handful."
Asuma smiled.
"That's what makes it fun, isn't it?"
At the same time, Naruto shouted:
"Go, Sasuke!"
"Quit yapping, Dead Last. I don't need you telling me what to do."
Sasuke charged at Asuma. His astonishing speed made Asuma's pupils contract slightly.
Wasn't that speed a little ridiculous? Had this kid really just graduated from the Ninja Academy?
In a flash, Sasuke was in front of Asuma.
He raised his right leg and brought it down in a powerful kick, its fierce momentum bearing down like a sudden hurricane.
"Smack!"
Asuma raised one arm to block the kick.
His expression changed. Sasuke's attack was far more forceful than he'd expected, and the blow made Asuma's body sway slightly.
Taking advantage of the instant Asuma needed to regain his balance, Sasuke used the recoil from Asuma's arm to spin through the air. He pulled Shuriken from behind his back with both hands and hurled them at Asuma.
As Asuma dodged in slightly awkward fashion, Sasuke landed steadily and rapidly formed Hand Seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A two-meter-wide fireball reached Asuma in the blink of an eye.
The fireball was right in front of him. Asuma's expression shifted, and he immediately leaped backward, shouting out a technique as he did:
"Wind Style: Dust Cloud Jutsu!"
A small whirlwind blew toward the fireball. While it held the fireball back, Asuma leaped clear of its path.
But the moment he landed, Sasuke attacked again.
This time, Sasuke held nothing back. An eerie red light flared in his dark eyes as he activated even his Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
The next moment, the two clashed fiercely, fighting to a standstill.
The sight was so shocking that everyone there except Naruto and Lu Yu stared in disbelief—not just Asuma.
Kakashi rubbed his eyes in disbelief and murmured:
"Is this a joke? Sasuke can already use the Sharingan? No wonder he's holding his own against Asuma. Things aren't looking good."
"Heh, Kakashi-sensei, instead of worrying about Big Beard Teacher, maybe you should think about yourself."
Naruto's voice came from behind Kakashi. Kakashi immediately turned, only to see Naruto charging at his back with a Kunai aimed at a vital spot.
Kakashi stared at him with a deadpan look and kicked the clone away.
Seeing Naruto's many clones surrounding him without attacking, Kakashi frowned. Something about it felt off.
Wait. What are those seven kids thinking? Why are only Naruto and Sasuke attacking head-on?
Never mind Lu Yu, who the Third Hokage asked Asuma and me to test, sitting on that post like he hasn't a care in the world. Why aren't the other four making a move either?
Kakashi furrowed his brow and thought it over, but couldn't figure it out. His gaze sharpened as he looked at Naruto.
"I don't know what you're planning, but taking you all out first should be the right move."
At that, one of Naruto's clones suddenly trembled, seeming to panic as though its scheme had been exposed.
Kakashi sneered.
"You're pretty good at acting."
Kakashi knew it would be too much trouble to destroy Naruto's Shadow Clones one by one. It would be easier to take out the four kids watching from the other side.
With that in mind, his hands formed Seals as fast as a blur.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Kakashi's Great Fireball was over five meters across, and he clearly hadn't even used his full strength.
The huge fireball cleared a path for Kakashi. Naruto's clones couldn't even put up a fight.
Lu Yu saw that Naruto made no attempt to respond. Instead, a cunning glint appeared in his eyes, giving Lu Yu a bad feeling.
The next moment, just as the fireball disappeared, three Kunai and several Shuriken came flying toward him.
Lu Yu tilted his head and easily dodged Kakashi's attack. But when he saw Shikamaru and the other three turn into clouds of white smoke, the corner of his mouth twitched.
That's my little brother for you. He even set up his own big brother...
Before you continue