Naruto in Line

Half-asleep, he wandered into the bathroom and washed up to wake himself, then returned to his room and got dressed.

Looking at his somewhat worn-out clothes, he frowned. He should make time to buy a few changes of clothes.

Then he opened the door and went out.

When he reached the hotel lobby, he saw someone approaching him with a beaming smile.

"Hello, Mr. Zhou Cheng. My master sent me to attend to you and take care of a few errands."

"I've prepared breakfast for you!"

The man wore the Uchiha Clan's clothes too, but there was no chakra flowing through him. He was just an ordinary person.

"Did Uchiha Kiyoshi send you?"

The man nodded.

Zhou Cheng felt a little helpless. He didn't like having someone follow him around.

Besides, this was less like service and more like surveillance.

He wasn't about to trust anyone easily.

"I don't need anyone to attend to me. Go back!"

Zhou Cheng's expression turned cold as he ordered the man to leave.

But the man kept his eyes on Zhou Cheng's toes and stood there silently, showing no sign of leaving.

Damn it, fine. Follow me, then. Let's see how long you last.

Zhou Cheng walked out of the hotel on his own, found the right direction, and headed toward the Arena.

He wasn't going to eat breakfast. Instead, he took a skewer of Beef Balls out of the System Space and started eating.

The man following him was stunned to see Zhou Cheng produce a skewer of meatballs out of thin air.

What kind of ability was that?

Zhou Cheng ate just one Beef Ball before he felt full.

With a faint smile, he put the rest away in the System Space. Time stood still in there, so food wouldn't spoil.

Zhou Cheng quickened his pace toward the Arena.

The earlier he started Shield Breaking, the more people he could get through in a day. Don't underestimate the extra few people; given enough time, the difference would become enormous.

Along the way, he saw many people hurrying just like him, all heading in the same direction. They were probably rushing to get in line.

Zhou Cheng's lips curled up. Looks like there were quite a few people.

Maybe he could chip away at more of the shield's health today.

Before long, Zhou Cheng arrived at the Uchiha Clan's district, where the crowds had grown even thicker.

Because of their conflict with the village, the Uchiha Clan had originally been forced to move to a remote area. Usually, the only people around were clan members. But over the past two days, the Uchiha Clan's district had become livelier and livelier.

Zhou Cheng headed toward his Arena. Everyone who recognized him greeted him respectfully along the way.

It was true that they were there for the rewards, but most of them genuinely respected him.

He let people attack him, didn't hold it against them, and even gave them rewards.

Even the Sage of Six Paths couldn't do that.

How could anyone not respect someone like him?

As Zhou Cheng walked, he kept turning around to greet people. It was like a chick pecking grain along a line.

Only after finally reaching the Arena did he breathe a little easier.

"Everyone, I won't waste time with a long speech!"

"I'm sure you've been waiting for ages, so I'll say just one thing: don't make me call you trash!"

"You should know that when someone is disappointed for too long, they get fed up. If you keep failing to meet my standards, I'll have no choice but to set up my Arena somewhere else!"

His words caused an uproar!

Those who had already been on the Arena couldn't help worrying. If Mr. Zhou Cheng really left because he was disappointed, they'd lose out big time.

Quite a few people began regretting that they hadn't trained harder. Even being just a little stronger than yesterday would have been enough.

But those who had come for the first time thought Zhou Cheng was being far too arrogant.

Who did he think he was, talking like that?

Judging by the chakra flowing through him, he was only an ordinary Chunin. Where did he get the nerve to talk so big?

"That guy's asking for a beating!"

"When I get up there, I'm going to give him a good pounding!"

Quite a few people agreed. He was a teenager with average talent, only a Chunin, so where did he get the courage to say something like that?

But those who had already been on the Arena just looked at them with disdain. Give Mr. Zhou Cheng a good pounding?

Even Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin, hadn't managed it.

And you think you can?

What a joke!

A little blond-haired kid in the crowd stared nervously at Zhou Cheng on the Arena. He didn't look all that strong. Could he really do it?

I skipped class to come here. I hope Iruka-sensei doesn't go berserk!

Meanwhile, Iruka stood far away in the crowd, frowning deeply. He looked like he was just an ordinary Chunin, like me. Was he really as powerful as Sasuke said?

He didn't look it at all.

I hope today won't be a waste of time!

"All right, first up. Come on down!"

At Zhou Cheng's wave, the person at the front of the line stepped onto the Arena.

Zhou Cheng couldn't help feeling surprised when he saw him.

Uchiha Tadashi?

Damn, how early did you get up to line up here?

Or did you sleep here last night?

After hearing his father's analysis, Uchiha Tadashi no longer felt as arrogant and overconfident toward Zhou Cheng as before.

"Hello, sir!"

"I wanted to see you as soon as possible, so I slept here last night."

Zhou Cheng's eye twitched. You've got me there. You were spoiled growing up—how did you put up with that?

"Heh, then let's get started!"

"If everyone wastes one less minute, more people will get to come up here and kill me!"

"I really want to die!"

Uchiha Tadashi's expression changed. He did his best to keep from making any expression that might displease Zhou Cheng.

He gave an awkward smile, though he couldn't understand why anyone who wanted to die wouldn't just kill himself.

As he wondered about it, he continued making hand signs. Then he spat a torrent of flames from his mouth.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

A human-sized blast struck Zhou Cheng with a tremendous roar.

Little Naruto down below gasped. He was just going to stand there and let someone attack him?

Wasn't that a little too reckless? That was the Great Fireball Technique!

The same jutsu Sasuke used to beat me up.

The other first-timers in line gasped too. Was this guy out of his mind?

But the next moment, their expressions froze.

The flames vanished without a trace, as if Zhou Cheng had absorbed them.

Zhou Cheng stood unharmed right where he was. Even his clothes were intact.

Hiss!

Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief!

He was fine after that? Was he a monster?

The others who had never seen Zhou Cheng slap someone in the face were just as stunned. They couldn't believe it!

No one could emerge unscathed from a Fire Style technique like that.

"He must've used some kind of defensive jutsu. Otherwise, how could that be possible?"

"Exactly. There's no way!"

The others remembered how they'd reacted the first time they saw Zhou Cheng come away unscathed from an attack. They couldn't help chuckling.

You get used to ignorant people.

That man was only a Chunin. He wasn't that strong.

Just wait until you see a Jonin, or even a Kage Level powerhouse. Your jaws will hit the ground.