At the Training Ground.
"My name is Dan Katō. I'll be your temporary team leader from now on." Dan smiled at Uchiha Matsuri and the others.
The three of them stared at the very young man before them, momentarily stunned.
What was going on? Why had a temporary team leader suddenly joined their team?
As they talked, Matsuri felt Kushina Uzumaki tug at his sleeve.
"Matsuri, what do you think? Why was this guy suddenly assigned as our team leader?" Kushina whispered.
"I don't know, but I think the Third Hokage sent him," Matsuri replied indifferently.
"This guy doesn't look nearly as strong as Lord Orochimaru," Nohara Shin chimed in, joining the gossip.
"Don't let your guard down. Since he's a team leader, he must be far stronger than we are," Matsuri said seriously.
Seeing the three of them whispering about him, Dan gave a wry smile, then let it go. What else could he expect? He'd joined as an outsider halfway through, instead of leading the team from the start. Since these three brats seemed to look down on him, he'd just have to show them a little of what he could do.
"If you doubt my strength, why don't we have a little competition?" Dan said with a smile.
"A competition?"
"Right. I'll hang this bell on that tree 300 meters away. Once the contest begins, we'll see whether the three of you can get to it before I do." Dan shook the bell in his hand.
"So the three of us are taking on you alone?" Shin adjusted his glasses, his gaze resolute.
"That's right." Dan nodded.
"Then you'd better be careful, Senior Dan," Kushina said fearlessly, even taunting him.
Uh... Dan couldn't help feeling speechless.
He was a jonin, yet three fresh graduates from the Ninja Academy were looking down on him. He couldn't help finding it a little ridiculous.
What Dan didn't know was that Shin and Kushina dared to challenge him because they had complete confidence in the abilities of the three members of Team Orochimaru.
After half a year of working together, the three of them were no longer the same as they'd been before. Although they were still only Genin, the gifted Matsuri and Kushina had already surpassed the level of an ordinary Chunin. Even Shin, once called a "dead last," now had nearly Chunin-level strength.
However, the three of them were also keenly aware of what their team lacked: combat experience. To make up for that weakness, they needed to gain experience through constant battles. That was why they'd kept taking on missions over the past six months.
In that case, I'll teach you brats a little lesson, Dan thought.
"Then let's begin." At Dan's command, he immediately sprinted toward the tree with the bell.
He's fast, Matsuri analyzed calmly. But he's still nowhere near Minato Namikaze.
As Dan ran, he saw that he'd left the three of them behind, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. But in the very next instant, years of combat experience made him instinctively dodge to the right, avoiding an ambush by Matsuri's Shadow Clone.
Matsuri wasn't discouraged by the failed ambush. Taking advantage of Dan's slowed pace, he formed Hand Seals.
"Lightning Release: Four-Pillar Binding Technique!"
Four pillars crackling with blue electricity suddenly rose around Dan. The pillars connected by sending lightning between them, trapping him inside.
After using Lightning Release, Matsuri signaled to Kushina and Shin, who were rushing over.
Kushina stopped beside Matsuri, while Shin ran past them both at full speed toward the tree with the bell.
Meanwhile, Dan, temporarily trapped by the "Lightning Release: Four-Pillar Binding Technique," rapidly formed Hand Seals.
"Wind Release: Wind Blade!"
A Chakra Blade made of wind instantly formed in Dan's right hand. Gripping the wind blade, he swung it fiercely at the barrier formed by the Lightning Release.
Bang!
The barrier cracked when the wind blade struck it, then vanished in an explosion.
After breaking through the barrier, Dan formed Hand Seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A gigantic fireball, about ten meters in diameter, rushed toward Matsuri and Kushina.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
A powerful stream of water surged from Kushina's mouth, pierced straight through the Great Fireball Technique, and slammed into Dan. But just as the current hit him, Dan suddenly disappeared.
"Damn, it's a Clone Technique." Matsuri looked back in alarm and saw that Dan was about to catch up with Shin.
Matsuri hurriedly threw more than a dozen Kunai. Dan leaped from side to side to dodge them, but was forced to slow down.
Matsuri and Kushina exchanged a glance, then attacked Dan from opposite sides. Thanks to their smooth teamwork, their attacks gave Dan considerable trouble for a while. With Dan locked in a fierce struggle, he could no longer chase after Shin.
These two are a handful! Dan thought.
Since he couldn't shake them off, he had no choice but to use Shadow Clones.
"Ninja Art: Shadow Clone Technique!"
Five Shadow Clones emerged from Dan and all raced after Shin, who was nearing the tree.
"Yin Seal: Release!"
With less than half his Chakra remaining, Matsuri decisively released the Yin Seal. The vast amount of Chakra stored in it burst free and quickly flowed into his body.
Dan couldn't help staring in surprise as Matsuri's Chakra rapidly increased.
"So it's the Yin Seal. Looks like I underestimated this kid." Sweat beaded on Dan's forehead.
"Since you dared to use Shadow Clones, Senior Dan, you must know their weakness, right?" Matsuri glanced at Dan, who was watching him intently.
"Of course. When you use the Shadow Clone Technique, your Chakra is divided evenly among all your clones," Dan replied seriously, frowning.
"Then let me show you my technique, Senior Dan!" Matsuri suddenly grinned.
"Earth Release: Rock Fist!"
A fist made of rock and earth appeared beside Matsuri's right hand. It shot toward Dan, who had no time to dodge and was sent flying by the Rock Fist.
After Dan was knocked away, the five Shadow Clones suddenly disappeared.
"Looks like I'll have to use my trump card," Dan said, clutching his chest.
Before you continue