Naruto bounced around the Arena, overjoyed and bursting with excitement.
The Three Body Technique had always been a Grudge of his.
He had constantly worried about whether he would be able to graduate from the academy.
There wasn't much time left before the graduation exam.
Clutching the Jade Card, he squeezed hard, and it shattered.
A dazzling light surged into his body.
In an instant, everything he needed to know about the Three Body Technique appeared in his mind.
His face lit up with excitement, and he began forming Hand Seals.
"Transformation Technique!"
Poof!
A cloud of white smoke billowed up, and Naruto transformed. Another Zhou Cheng, identical to the one across from him, appeared on the Arena!
He looked himself over and saw that he was almost indistinguishable from the Zhou Cheng opposite him. Excited, he punched the air.
I did it!
Whenever he had tried the Transformation Technique before, he'd ended up missing an arm or a leg, or looking nothing like a person at all, making the whole class burst into laughter.
A look of anticipation appeared in his eyes. He couldn't wait to see his classmates' faces when they saw him perform the Transformation Technique properly.
He wished he could appear in class right now, just as the teacher announced a test on the Three Body Technique!
Heh heh, that'll scare you all!
Coming back to himself, he bowed deeply to Zhou Cheng to thank him.
The Blind Box belonged to Zhou Cheng. He could decide what to put inside it.
He's helping me!
This big brother really is a good person!
"Big brother, I'll come again tomorrow!"
With that, Naruto jumped off the Arena, pushed through the crowd, and ran toward the Ninja Academy.
If he didn't get back soon, he'd be in trouble if Iruka-sensei caught him.
Seeing Naruto grow stronger didn't put Sasuke in a good mood, but what he felt most was a fierce eagerness to fight.
If Naruto changed into that state again, would I still be able to beat him?
"Let's go, Sasuke!"
At that moment, Itachi's voice reached him, and a hand settled on his head.
"To the Secret Base where we usually train!"
Itachi and Shisui no longer insisted that Sasuke attend the Ninja Academy. From Naruto, they could tell that even the strongest of his classmates couldn't be all that strong.
As long as Sasuke maintained his standing as the strongest in his year, the school wouldn't hold him back a grade without good reason.
Sasuke nodded and followed his two older brothers away from the plaza.
Zhou Cheng called for the next person, and someone immediately climbed onto the Arena.
The Shield Breaking continued.
After who knew how many people had gone, a white-haired Kakashi leaped onto the Arena.
"Dead-fish eyes, you're here!"
Zhou Cheng's lips curled. Here came some serious damage!
"What happened just now really had nothing to do with you?"
Kakashi still suspected that Zhou Cheng had somehow caused the Nine-Tails to run wild.
Why else would it have gone berserk at that exact moment, just as he was stepping onto the Arena?
Zhou Cheng shrugged and spread his hands. What did that have to do with me?
"It was the result of years of pent-up resentment finally erupting! You'd be better off asking how everyone who's been around him since he was little treated him!"
"That man's son should have been the village's hero, but how did you all treat him?"
"He had to scrape by on that tiny pension, and wherever he went, people treated him like a monster!"
"He's always been alone. No one taught him how to train, and his classmates left him far behind. He Coveted power, and longed to be noticed and accepted!"
"Have you ever thought about any of that?"
Kakashi's one exposed eye widened. It held shock and guilt.
Zhou Cheng's words were like a thorn, buried deep in his heart.
That was right. The Fourth Hokage had sealed the Nine-Tails at the cost of his life. His son should have been treated like a hero, yet everyone had always regarded him as a monster.
He'd lived alone and without support for seven years.
Kakashi couldn't imagine what Naruto had gone through during those seven years.
The people below the Arena heard their conversation and stared in confusion, their minds full of questions.
What were they talking about?
That man's son? Who was that man?
How could the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki possibly be a hero?
A Jinchuriki was a Tailed Beast. Wasn't that just a monster?
Judging by what had just happened, a Tailed Beast was a Tailed Beast. It could never be completely sealed.
It was too dangerous. Keeping away from the Jinchuriki was the right thing to do.
Tsunade's expression turned melancholy. Minato, the village wronged you!
"All right, stop feeling guilty!"
"You'd be better off treating him kindly from now on!"
"Let's get started. There are plenty of people waiting!"
Zhou Cheng's words pulled Kakashi out of his regret.
He looked at Zhou Cheng differently now.
How did he know Naruto was the teacher's son?
Had he been there when the Nine-Tails was sealed seven years ago?
As he wondered, he began forming Hand Seals.
With yesterday's experience behind him, he could attack without holding back now. He no longer had to worry about killing Zhou Cheng.
After forming the seals, he lowered his hands. Brilliant arcs of lightning appeared in his palms.
"Twin Thunder Shock!"
He crouched low and dashed forward.
In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Zhou Cheng.
He swung both hands at Zhou Cheng, one from each side.
Bang!
Zhou Cheng was swallowed by the lightning. Crackling sounds filled the air, leaving everyone stunned.
That kind of power—this had to be an S-Rank technique, right?
Controlling even one Lightning Blade with both hands was difficult enough. Yet Kakashi could control two at once!
Only a few people noticed that Kakashi had lifted his Forehead Protector, no longer hiding his left eye.
In it, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly turned.
Both the Lightning Blade and Twin Thunder Shock required the Sharingan to be performed properly. Without it, they would be unstable and could easily injure the user.
"This technique's single-target power is terrifying!"
"One bolt of lightning is already strong enough. Now he's using two at once!"
"I can't believe he was still holding back yesterday!"
Everyone below the Arena looked at Kakashi in amazement, astonished by his strength.
He truly lived up to his name as Kakashi, the Copy Ninja!
Kakashi drew back his hands, then pushed off with both feet and leaped several meters backward.
He stared hard at Zhou Cheng, afraid both that he might have killed him and that he might have left him completely unharmed.
Everyone shifted their gaze from Kakashi to Zhou Cheng.
Zhou Cheng stood calmly, wearing a faint smile.
He wasn't hurt at all. Even his clothes were intact.
Gasp!
How was that possible?
Even an attack like that didn't work?
That power could easily pierce a person's body.
It could even smash rock with ease.
Yet Zhou Cheng looked untouched, and his clothes weren't even torn!
Everyone's estimate of Zhou Cheng's strength rose another notch.
Kakashi's eyes widened in disbelief!
He'd thought he might be able to kill Zhou Cheng, since the man had even stopped Susanoo's attacks.
But Twin Thunder Shock hadn't left so much as a scratch. Kakashi was losing his composure!
Just how strong was this guy?
Could the rumors really be true? Had he already lived for an unfathomable number of years?
He shook his head, dismissing the thought. No one could escape the ravages of time!
Tsunade's expression turned serious. She'd only dare take Kakashi's attack head-on while using the Strength of a Hundred Technique.
She could withstand the attack with her body's rapid healing, then close in and strike Kakashi.
She looked at Zhou Cheng with shining eyes. This guy was unbelievably strong!
A number appeared above Zhou Cheng's head: -17942.
[Damage dealt: 17942]
[Shield HP remaining: 9,999,999,872,001]
[Damage level: Purple]
[Reward: Purple Blind Box]
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