Chapter 53: Kakashi in a Tight Spot
After the rooftop disbanded, Naruto went home.
He wasn't worried about the bell-grabbing game in the least.
Right now his overall strength far outclassed Kakashi's.
He'd kept improving over the years, even if self-study made progress slower.
By secretly watching the Hyuga training, Naruto had not only stolen some of the Gentle Fist's essence but had also created his own simplified version of the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack—Vacuum Attack.
He successfully fused Chakra nature transformations into it, developing attribute-specific variants:
The fire-type Vacuum Attack: Fierce Flame Rush could launch a scorching flame gale.
In a narrow corridor it whirled into a violent fiery storm that ended in a massive explosion.
The water-type Vacuum Attack: Water Dragon Prison spun into a whirling water cell the instant it struck, trapping the foe.
The wind-type Vacuum Attack: Pressure Suck used Chakra-driven air currents to yank enemies close or blast them far away.
The earth-type Vacuum Attack: Terrain Shift instantly altered a small patch of terrain, perfectly countering sneaky jutsu like Earth Release: Headhunter.
The lightning-type Divine Sky Strike: Raging Thunder combined penetration with spread, piercing heavy armor and earthen walls, and chaining across water.
It wasn't quite what he'd first imagined, but it was still pretty good.
Best of all, Vacuum Attack needed no hand seals.
I'm not even using Ninjutsu—this is Taijutsu—so of course I'm the most "sun-lit" Ninja around.
What?
Young Uzumaki Naruto is still "shadow"?
How dark can a twelve-year-old Genin be?
He only knows Eight Gates, Wood Release, Sealing Techniques, a few minor Taijutsu tricks, and can pop the Nine-Tails seal anytime to smack you with Kurama-linked tails—so what?
Too dark?
All I see is talent beyond his peers soaked with buckets of sweat and effort.
What—sweat splashed on your face?
No worries, after the fight I'll pat your head with nine Chakra hands.
At dawn the next day, while the sky was still pale, Naruto arrived at the training ground with a food-filled bento.
After setting down his ninja tool pouch, he started his morning workout.
The weights he now wore meant basic training still helped.
When Sasuke and Sakura arrived, Naruto had just finished his final Taijutsu set.
He wiped the thin sweat from his brow and, seeing how tense the two looked, gave them a reassuring smile.
Relax, I've already found out what today's mission is.
Sakura's eyes lit up: "Oooooh! As expected of Naruto!"
Sasuke tilted his head slightly, signaling he was listening.
It's the classic Academy graduation tradition.
Naruto raised three fingers, swaying them in the morning light.
Three people grab two bells…
Just as he was about to continue, a hand landed on his shoulder.
Kakashi had appeared behind him unnoticed; the visible eye above his mask curved into a crescent. "My, my, spoilers are a bad habit."
He naturally took over, drawing two red-tasseled bells from his pouch.
Their clear chime announced the start of the test.
Exactly as Naruto said—three people, two bells is the old graduation custom."
He paused, pleased to see Sakura gulp.
But whoever fails to get one is out!
He lowered his voice to build tension: "Only two who snatch a bell from me qualify as Genin. For this bell-grab, you must be ready for one thing."
Kakashi's gaze turned razor-sharp: "The resolve to kill me—or be killed by me. Ninja battles are never child's play."
Sasuke's pupils shrank; Sakura instinctively stepped back half a pace.
Only Naruto kept his calm smile, already seeing through the act.
Kakashi pointed at Sasuke and Sakura with his other hand.
You two go on ahead; I need a word with Naruto."
Once they walked into the ground looking puzzled, Kakashi exhaled, turned to Naruto, his lone eye showing helplessness.
If I hadn't lined up at dawn for the latest volume of the romantic ninjutsu tales of shimura, you'd have spoiled them for sure."
He wasn't upset—intel gathering is a vital Ninja skill.
Kakashi lifted the just-bought novel from his pouch and flicked it.
The gold-embossed "Limited Edition" glittered in the sun.
It comes with a collector's photo of Shimura and his seven heroines—almost sold out."
He smoothed a bent page, sounding like he'd found treasure. "There was a queue at the bookstore; I barely snagged it."
Naruto barely stifled a laugh.
Kakashi-sensei, the adult sticker's showing."
Huh?"
Kakashi glanced at the cover—sure enough!
The patch of face above his mask flushed red.
the romantic ninjutsu tales of shimura is, at heart, a hot-blooded shōnen story; the spicy scenes were just a marketing hook at the start.
To maximize profit, Naruto copied his previous life's GF game-studio strategy, releasing both all-ages and adult versions.
And the Ninja World ate it up.
The adult edition drew a handful of adult men and women, but the all-ages version proved far more popular.
This tiered sales strategy had boosted his royalties nicely.
Kakashi: I want to crawl into a hole.
He frantically stuffed the novel back into his pouch and cleared his throat. "I… I grabbed the wrong one because of the crowd…"
Naruto kept his face straight with effort.
So about the mission…"
Kakashi tried to change the subject, but seeing Naruto's shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter only deepened his embarrassment.
Tonight he would wrap that book—preferably with a Ninja Code cover.
Then the mission continues!"
Kakashi pulled himself together, voice turning serious once more.
Even if I forbid you, you'd still tell them, so I won't give you any chance to talk to them."
He gave Naruto a meaningful look. "Consider this your first lesson from your teacher.
In real combat, even foreknowledge can change; opponents adapt on the fly."
His tone grew stern: "Don't over-rely on intel. A true Ninja must adapt to a battlefield that shifts in an instant."
Naruto wiped away his grin and nodded solemnly.
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