As soon as he finished speaking, Sasuke gave the people inside no chance to react.
His hands formed one seal after another.
Then his chest swelled, and a ball of scorching flames burst forth!
It was none other than Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, which he had already raised to Level 3 in just half a year!
Space twisted, and flames roared. Inside the shop, Uzuki Yugao—the only person there who knew ninjutsu—turned pale at the sight!
The next moment.
Her slender fingers danced, forming seals with fluid precision.
Then she crouched, struck the ground with one palm, and shouted:
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Boom!
A massive earthen wall surged up from the ground, rising with a thunderous roar like a city rampart!
The instant the Earth-Style Wall rose, the Great Fireball charged straight at it, fearless and unstoppable!
Whoosh!
As the two collided, moisture in the earth hissed under the scorching flames!
Before long, the unmistakable stench of scorched plants filled the air.
But Sasuke was only a Genin, after all.
A dozen or so seconds later, the Great Fireball finally died out.
The Earth-Style Wall, standing firm as a mountain, had only been burned into a large crater...
Phew... Thank goodness that kunoichi stepped in...
Sasuke had been counting on Uzuki Yugao to intervene. After all, no matter how despicable the shopkeeper was, he didn't deserve to die.
And the technique he had used was the most powerful one he knew: the Great Fireball.
First, he wanted to test how effective his Level 3 Fire Release was in actual combat.
Second, he wanted to use this chance to teach the shopkeeper a lesson!
After all, Sasuke wasn't the sort to let people walk all over him!
Anyone who bullied him would pay a price!
"You... you're actually a real, bona fide ninja?!"
Standing in the doorway, the shopkeeper stared at Sasuke's calm face and cried out in shock.
By now, the sight before him had left him completely dumbfounded!
A weapons merchant like him had actually picked a fight with a real ninja!
And a ninja this powerful, at that!
At the thought, the shopkeeper's legs nearly gave way.
At the same time, he cursed Sasuke inwardly:
If you're a ninja, why don't you wear your Forehead Protector when you go out?
Is pretending to be weak so you can bait people into trouble really that much fun?
Uzuki Yugao changed her hand seals and dismissed the Earth-Style Wall in front of her. She stared at Sasuke, a few meters away, her expression grave.
He's so young, yet already has the strength of a Genin. Which family does this prodigy belong to?
Why have I never heard of him in Konoha?
Could he be that Neji from the Hyuga Clan?
No, the Hyuga Clan's eyes are white, aren't they? But his...
Uzuki Yugao and the shopkeeper stood in the doorway, both stunned.
More and more onlookers gathered around them.
Hearing the shopkeeper's outburst, a question rose in Sasuke's mind:
What does he mean, "So you're actually a real ninja"?
Did this sly old fox not realize I was a ninja before?
As he thought this, Sasuke glanced at Uzuki Yugao. Then it dawned on him...
So it was the Forehead Protector...
I never thought the graduation exam in a few days would matter so much...
Besides going without his Forehead Protector, Sasuke had also avoided wearing clothes bearing the Uchiha Clan Crest so as not to draw trouble.
Otherwise, given the shopkeeper's experience in dealing specifically in weapons, he wouldn't have picked a fight with someone from the Uchiha Clan.
The Uchiha Clan had been wiped out half a year ago, but even a skinny camel was bigger than a horse.
In the world of Naruto, no matter how down on their luck ninjas were, they weren't people a merchant could casually push around.
"You're young, and yet you're already this strong. You're impressive. But these are ordinary people; there's really no need to wipe them all out..."
Uzuki Yugao stepped closer.
She was still several meters away from Sasuke, but a faint fragrance drifted over, making him feel a little dazed...
He gave a light cough and cleared his head. Su Jian smiled and said:
"I wasn't going to wipe them all out. After all, weren't you inside the shop?"
"Good. Then let's let this matter go, so we don't end up drawing the village patrol team's attention."
At that, Uzuki Yugao's tone softened, and she made her suggestion.
But Sasuke pursed his lips and replied:
"No way!"
After a pause, Sasuke pointed at the shopkeeper, who was still too scared to move, and said:
"So we're just going to let him get away with trying to bully me?"
"You're fine, aren't you? Besides, he's just an ordinary person. He can't hurt a chakra-wielding ninja like you."
Uzuki Yugao retorted, leaving the onlookers around them astonished.
They wondered if the young child in front of them really was a ninja—and if he had bullied the shopkeeper.
Under the crowd's whispers, Sasuke frowned and countered:
"So I have chakra. Did the wind blow it into me?"
"I don't owe that stupid pig behind you a thing. Why should he get to bully me without me hitting back?"
"Just because I'm a ninja, do I have to be a complete pushover and let him walk all over me?"
Uzuki Yugao was speechless, and the onlookers suddenly understood.
So the real victim here was the ninja, not the comparatively vulnerable ordinary person?
Looking again at Sasuke's youthful face, the crowd quickly pieced together what must have happened.
The crafty fatso had probably picked on him because he was young, never expecting that the kid was already a ninja. Now he was just getting what he deserved!...
The crowd's attitude shifted in an instant, and they pointed at the shopkeeper, criticizing him.
Seeing this, Su Jian smiled, then said coldly:
"You can save him this time, but you can't protect him forever!"
"I'm telling you right now! If he doesn't give me an explanation and let me vent this anger, I'll come here every few days and use ninjutsu!"
"Besides, I'm talented and learn everything quickly. I could use a sparring partner!..."
At his words, Uzuki Yugao's expression changed.
She had no doubt that Sasuke meant what he said!
After their brief exchange, she had already felt it.
Sasuke was strong—among Genin, he was one of the very best!
Looks like the patrol team will have to handle this...
Uzuki Yugao sighed inwardly.
But the shopkeeper had seen plenty of the world.
If the patrol team got involved, both they and Sasuke would be ninjas.
And since they were all ninjas, naturally they'd lean a little toward one of their own.
In other words, who would turn against their own side?
At this, he hurriedly pulled out several stacks of bills in a panic.
At the same time, he picked up a Sealing Scroll beside him, put on a fawning smile, and hurried over to Sasuke.
"Handsome young man, I was wrong before. I won't make excuses. Here's ten thousand, along with the Kunai and Shuriken you wanted earlier. I'll give them all to you for free as compensation for my mistake..."
After he finished, he lowered his head.
A few seconds later, he realized Sasuke still hadn't accepted his sincere apology.
He hesitated, then gritted his teeth and added:
"I... I really don't have any more than this. If you're not satisfied, then just beat me up. I won't fight back!..."
Fight back? Sasuke laughed.
If he really struck the man, the fatso would be dead in an instant. What chance would he have to fight back?
Knowing when to stop, Sasuke took the money and the Sealing Scroll. He snorted.
"Hmph! At least you know what's good for you. You'd better run your business properly from now on. If I hear anything bad about you in Konoha again..."
"Then don't blame me for turning your shop into a ninjutsu testing ground..."
"Yes, yes... Don't worry. I had no choice before, but now I just want to be a good person. I..."
The fat shopkeeper was overjoyed. He nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice.
But when he looked up, he was surprised to find that Sasuke had vanished!
At the same time, a section of log had inexplicably appeared on the ground, looking incredibly strange...
Before you continue