A Cruel Word Chills Like June Frost

Memories of childhood, of his weak self, of being bullied—at that tiny Ichiraku Ramen shop, he had met two brothers and an older boy.

Though the memories had grown somewhat blurry, he could still vaguely remember those childhood scenes.

Their bond had been woven together at that moment—the future great hero, childhood companions, extraordinary strength...

"As expected of an orphan. Filth is in your bones. Your parents were probably trash born in the slums too!"

After saying that, Josuke did not forget to give Naruto another kick to the head.

This felt so damn good, beating up the young prince—ptui, ptui, ptui. Sorry, Minato-sensei. I admit Dead Water was the top.

Sorry too, Aunt Kushina. QAQ

His parents were being insulted like this. Even though he had never met them, even though he did not even know their names!

"N-No... it wasn't like that!"

Anger? Heartache? Pain?

He did not know what emotions were swirling around Naruto. The Tailed Beast cloak naturally covered his body—one tail, then two.

Three years of training had made Naruto completely different from before. His control over the Nine-Tails was far from perfect, but compared to three years ago, it was worlds apart.

He could already perfectly control the two-tailed form. (Author's nonsense: I don't know whether he could or not, so let's just say he could.)

The heat waves radiating from the cloak forced Josuke back. He knew the effect had kicked in.

Naruto slowly raised his head, step by step. The Nine-Tails' evil chakra raged around him, and even Josuke did not know whether he could beat him.

Couldn't beat him?

Even if he could not, he still had to fight. This was what he did—take on the elite!!

The forest and river terrain was, honestly, unfavorable for Josuke. After thinking for a moment, he decided to drive Naruto toward the riverbank ahead.

Seeing Josuke flee, Naruto immediately chased after him. Josuke did not indulge him.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Technique!"

Leaning back as he formed hand seals, Josuke unleashed the Phoenix Flower Technique. Several fireballs shot toward Naruto.

Naruto frantically dodged.

The Phoenix Flower flames exploded around him with considerable power.

Even Naruto would be in for a rough time if he got hit. In the blink of an eye, the two reached the riverbank. Now that they had arrived, Josuke stopped and coldly looked at Naruto.

"Still chasing me? If you keep going, you'll die!"

Naruto said nothing. The rampant chakra around him represented his resolve.

After a moment, master actor Josuke sprang into action. "Fine. If you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Josuke formed hand seals and opened with Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame, forcing Naruto several meters back. Naruto refused to be outdone and threw three kunai, but Josuke easily dodged them.

"Is that all you've got?"

Josuke shook his head mockingly.

"No wonder you're a useless dead last!"

As soon as he said that, Naruto attacked. The Tailed Beast cloak formed a fox claw, which slashed at Josuke.

Josuke used the Body Flicker Technique to evade.

He was pretty fast, but Josuke's three-tomoe Sharingan still saw everything clearly.

He immediately formed hand seals. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

Using the surrounding river terrain, Josuke could minimize the chakra consumed by his ninjutsu.

That was why Josuke had chosen this place for his battle with Naruto.

Josuke spat out a water dragon formed from a stream of water, which crashed toward Naruto. Naruto could only dodge again.

In the end, it was Naruto's own fault for not knowing many ninjutsu. But that made sense—why bother with anything fancy when mindlessly using Rasengan and Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu was enough?

Naruto was like that, but the opponents fighting him had far more to consider.

After opening up some distance, Naruto used the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, summoning a large number of clones to assist him.

Josuke did not hold back either, using the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu.

His shadow clones clashed head-on with Naruto's.

A cloud of white smoke spread through the area, left behind by the battle between the shadow clones.

Before the smoke and dust had even cleared, Josuke immediately charged forward.

"Fifth Gate: Open!"

Josuke could only open the Eight Gates up to the fifth gate, but that was already quite impressive. Though he had not fully inherited Might Guy's teachings, it was more than enough for now.

A green aura surged around Josuke. It looked like chakra, but it was not entirely chakra; it was also infused with the power of his blood and vitality.

He kicked Naruto.

Naruto raised an arm to block. He had thought the flames of his cloak would burn Josuke, but what he had expected did not happen. Instead, he took the heavy kick head-on.

His arm went somewhat numb.

So hard.

Josuke, who had leaped back, was also shocked. Was the defense of just two tails already this incredible?

Naruto had taken Josuke's kick directly on his arm.

Under normal circumstances, even if it did not break the bone, it would have hurt for days.

Tailed Beasts really were terrifying. Josuke licked his lips. Maybe he should get one for himself someday.

He might not have any influence for now, but that did not mean he would not have any in the future.

After that kick, Josuke did a backflip and opened up the distance from Naruto again. He then spat out Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, firing a huge fireball at Naruto.

"Boom!!"

Naruto took the attack head-on. The scene Josuke had expected did not occur. From within the smoke, a fist hammered toward him so fast that Josuke could not react at all.

Perhaps it was because he had not activated his Sharingan.

With no other choice, Josuke could only use the Substitution Technique, switching his body out. The fist struck a wooden post, shattering it into pieces.

If that punch had landed on him, Josuke would probably have been bedridden for at least four or five months.

This fight had dragged on too long. He had to end it quickly, Josuke muttered inwardly.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Orochimaru and his subordinate Guren were fighting Kakashi fiercely. Judging from the situation, however, Orochimaru seemed to have the upper hand. Whether in chakra reserves or other aspects—

At present, Orochimaru could still narrowly defeat Kakashi.

Sitting atop a giant snake, Orochimaru watched the scene with cold amusement.

"Does the Hidden Leaf Village have no one left? Is this trash all they sent for me?"

Kakashi tightly gripped the kunai in his hand, his brow deeply furrowed.

Might Guy and he had tried every method they could think of, yet they had failed to break through Orochimaru's defense. Orochimaru clearly intended to hold them back here, creating the conditions for Josuke to defect.

Now, Kakashi could only place his hopes on Naruto turning the tide and bringing Josuke back.

With that, Kakashi attacked again. Chidori gathered in his hand as he charged at Orochimaru.

The battle on Orochimaru's side was in full swing, and Josuke's side was equally intense. The once-level riverbank was now covered in pits of all sizes.

This was the handiwork of the two of them.

On Josuke and Naruto's side, Naruto had used an Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan against Josuke. Naturally, Josuke could not take it head-on, which was why that enormous crater had been left behind.

Josuke still had a trump card he had not used, and now was the time to use it.