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"Ackerman, Reiss, and also Fritz—"
After Kenny Ackerman left, Naruto began to ponder the relationship between these two surnames. He always felt that the so-called Titans were not as simple as the information he knew suggested, and Kenny Ackerman should also know the key.
He just didn't know why he chose to conceal it from Naruto.
However, it didn't matter. Even if Kenny Ackerman didn't say anything, he would figure everything out himself; it was just a matter of time.
The most important thing now was to adapt to his current body, strive to raise this body's quality to its strongest state in the shortest possible time, and then, in peak condition, join the so-called Survey Corps.
According to Naruto's estimation, the quality of his current body was far stronger than that of the Emperor from the previous world.
As long as he was given a few days to adapt, he should quickly be able to unleash considerable combat power.
If he were to compare himself to Kenny Ackerman's strength, Naruto felt that the next time they met, he could at least fight a hundred opponents like Kenny Ackerman.
Of course, this was assuming both parties were bare-handed.
"I wonder what level Kenny's strength is among the humans in this world; and does this world have special weapons like the 'Imperial Arms' from the previous world, which can grant users abilities beyond normal human limits?" Naruto thought, suddenly regretting not asking Kenny Ackerman for information in this regard earlier.
However, Naruto thought that since this world has creatures like 'Titans,' even if there aren't weapons like 'Imperial Arms,' there should at least be cultivation methods similar to breathing techniques, right? Otherwise, he couldn't imagine how ordinary humans could fight against Titans.
Ordinary Titans were fine; if they were just treated as larger beasts, there were many ways to deal with them.
At least Naruto felt that he should be able to punch and explode those ordinary Titans with his bare hands.
But for Titans like the one that broke the wall a year ago, judging from the scenes in his memory, if there were no special weapons and abilities, Naruto felt that even if he trained this body to its peak state, he might not be able to deal with them.
"Forget it!"
Naruto thought, suddenly shaking his head, and then said to himself, "These questions—when I join the Survey Corps, I should be able to figure them all out."
In Naruto's opinion, if this world had special cultivation methods and weapons that could grant those equipped with them certain special abilities, they would definitely be prioritized for units like the Survey Corps, which constantly fought Titans on the front lines. So, as long as he successfully joined the Survey Corps, these problems would be easily solved.
Thinking this, Naruto even began to anticipate what surprises this world would bring him in this regard.
Surprise my ass!
Naruto didn't wait for the date to join the Survey Corps. He made a few inquiries himself and quickly understood the methods of combat against 'Titans' in this world.
It turned out that humanity's means of combating Titans were simply firearms, cannons, and, for close-quarters combat, individuals or teams needed to be equipped with 'Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear.' And the so-called 'Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear' was not like 'Imperial Arms,' a device that could grant users abilities beyond common sense. Instead, it was a mechanical device driven by gas cylinders, which fired anchors from a launcher at the waist, fixing them onto a Titan's body or buildings, and then using high-pressure gas to reel in the cables, allowing the body to move at high speed. Its use relied entirely on physical fitness and skill.
There were no special cultivation methods either. A physique and skill like Kenny Ackerman's were probably the ceiling of this world.
Oh, no, wait.
He heard there was a person in the Survey Corps named 'Levi,' who was called 'Humanity's Strongest Soldier' due to his excellent combat record. He sounded like he might be stronger than Kenny Ackerman.
These were all pieces of information that ordinary people could easily find out, and based on the information Naruto gathered, he inferred that even if the person named 'Levi' was stronger than Kenny Ackerman, it would be by a limited margin.
In other words, according to Naruto's estimation of Kenny Ackerman's strength, and making a horizontal comparison, he could easily beat over a hundred 'Humanity's Strongest Soldiers'?
"So how did the humans in this world survive the threat of those Titans, just relying on those few walls?" Naruto's mind was full of confusion after processing the information he had gathered.
A few days later.
"Um—"
When Naruto saw Kenny Ackerman, the first thing he wanted to ask him was, "Do you have that kind of— the kind of ability that can make you instantly very strong?"
Naruto still found it hard to believe that the humans within the three walls could resist the Titans that broke the Maria Wall a year ago with just those crude firearms, cannons, and the so-called 'Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear.' So, upon seeing Kenny Ackerman again, he immediately asked impatiently.
"What?"
Kenny Ackerman heard Naruto's question, his gaze flickered slightly, and then he retorted, "Why are you suddenly interested in something like that?"
"So there really is?"
Naruto's eyes lit up when he heard Kenny Ackerman's retort, and he immediately pressed, "Is it a special cultivation method? Or some kind of special weapon?"
"???"
Kenny Ackerman was momentarily stunned by Naruto's words, then immediately realized he had misunderstood.
He had originally thought Naruto had heard about the power of Titans from somewhere (his mother) and had become interested in that power.
But when he heard Naruto mention cultivation methods and special weapons, he immediately understood that he had been mistaken.
"There's nothing like what you're talking about within the walls—at least I haven't heard of it."
After understanding Naruto's meaning, Kenny Ackerman immediately shook his head and then asked curiously, "Where did you hear those things from?"
What special cultivation methods and special weapons—Kenny Ackerman was very curious where Naruto had heard such things.
"There isn't?"
Naruto showed a disappointed expression upon hearing Kenny Ackerman's answer, then shook his head and said, "I was just wondering, if there isn't some cultivation method or weapon that can instantly make ordinary people very strong, how have humans been fighting against those Titans for so long? Relying on those walls and cannons? Or the so-called Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear?
I think those things are fine for dealing with ordinary Titans, but against Titans like the one that broke the Maria Wall a year ago, they shouldn't pose a threat!"
"So, relying only on those things and these three easily shattered high walls, how have the humans within the walls survived the threat of those Titans until now?" Naruto asked, bewildered.
"This—"
Kenny Ackerman was momentarily speechless upon hearing Naruto's question.
He did know some truth about this matter, but he didn't know it very comprehensively yet, so he wasn't planning to tell Naruto for now.
"Alright."
Naruto sensed Kenny Ackerman's conflicted emotions and immediately understood that he definitely knew something but didn't want to tell him. So, he didn't press further and changed the subject, saying, "Shall we go to the Survey Corps next?"
"Mm."
Kenny Ackerman heard Naruto's words, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then nodded and said, "I've already arranged for you to join the Survey Corps, but for you to successfully join, you still need to pass a test—that test should be very easy for you to pass."
Whether it was an illusion or not, Kenny Ackerman always felt that the pressure Naruto exerted on him was stronger than a few days ago.
Even though he was once known as 'Kenny the Ripper,' a ruthless man, in front of Naruto, he always felt like a small rabbit facing a fierce tiger.
It felt incredibly absurd, yet utterly real.
"Mm."
Naruto nodded and said, "Thank you for the trouble. Let's go now."
Since he couldn't get more information from Kenny Ackerman, Naruto could only find the answers himself.
And joining the Survey Corps was his first step in coming into contact with 'Titans'!
Soon after,
Naruto followed Kenny Ackerman to a secluded location in the eastern part of Wall Rose, in the Karanes District.
There, Naruto saw a short man with a lazy expression but incredibly sharp eyes, sitting casually by the roadside.
After seeing Naruto and Kenny Ackerman arrive, he observed Naruto with a scrutinizing gaze for a while, then spoke to Kenny Ackerman with some annoyance, "Is this the newcomer you want to recommend to me? He doesn't look like much."
"Levi!"
Kenny Ackerman's face slightly darkened upon hearing the man's words. He said, "I should have taught you not to easily judge people you don't understand."
"He's Levi?"
Naruto's gaze became curious upon hearing Kenny Ackerman's address for the man. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, it would have been very difficult to associate such an 'unremarkable' looking man with Levi, who bore the title of 'Humanity's Strongest Soldier.'
"Hmph!~"
Levi, upon hearing Kenny Ackerman's words, disdainfully turned his head and looked at Naruto again, saying with great impatience, "Kid, that guy must have told you, right? If you want to join the Survey Corps through me, you need to pass my test first."
"Mm."
Naruto nodded, then asked curiously, "So, what's your test?"
"Very simple!"
Levi stood up, casually stretching his body as he spoke, "As long as you can last three rounds against me without falling, you pass the test."
"Three rounds—"
Naruto's face showed a strange expression upon hearing Levi's requirement, and he subconsciously looked at Kenny Ackerman beside him, his gaze seeming to ask: What's your relationship with this guy? How is even the test procedure exactly the same?
The test standard Kenny Ackerman had set for Naruto back then was also to last three rounds against him without falling to pass. Now Levi was doing the same.
This made it difficult for Naruto not to suspect the relationship between these two.
"Cough, cough!~"
Kenny Ackerman understood the confusion in Naruto's eyes, awkwardly coughed twice, then looked at Levi with a serious expression and said, "Although your test, Levi, is a bit excessive, I'll agree to it on Naruto's behalf. I'll be the referee!"
Kenny Ackerman thought: I can't be the only one to experience such an embarrassing thing.
"Looks like you have a lot of confidence in this kid."
Levi heard Kenny Ackerman's words, couldn't help but glare at him, then looked at Naruto seriously and said, "In that case—I was originally going to test casually, but now it seems I'll have to be a bit more serious."
As he spoke, Levi's gaze suddenly sharpened, his entire demeanor instantly changed. He was like a fierce beast poised to strike, his sharp eyes fixed on Naruto, and he roared in a low voice, "Kid, are you ready?!"
"Mm, I'm ready."
Naruto nodded expressionlessly, not even changing his casual stance, and looked at him calmly, saying, "Please begin."
"!!!"
Naruto's attitude instantly filled Levi with rage. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and then he dashed towards Naruto like a beast unleashed, his fist cutting through the air, directly aimed at Naruto's face.
Levi's speed was very fast, even exceeding the ability of ordinary human vision to perceive.
But in Naruto's eyes, it was like a snail crawling.
"Clap!~"
Naruto merely raised his hand slightly and easily blocked Levi's punch. His relaxed and effortless posture made Levi's eyes widen, filled with disbelief.
Naruto, however, looked at him with a puzzled gaze, as if asking: Humanity's strongest—is that all?
"Impossible!"
Levi seemed to understand the meaning in Naruto's eyes and couldn't help but roar in anger. Then, his body sharply retreated, creating distance from Naruto, and immediately rushed forward again, launching another attack.
"Clap! Clap!~"
Two straight punches were easily blocked by Naruto, followed by a beautiful sidestep kick, which was still easily blocked with a raised hand.
Levi's two attacks had allowed Naruto to completely gauge his strength—this 'Humanity's Strongest Soldier' was actually a bit weaker than Kenny Ackerman.
After Naruto understood Levi's strength, he wasn't going to 'tangle' with him anymore and directly began to counterattack. He simply raised his hand and 'gently' pushed Levi's chest, but Levi felt as if he had been hit by a cannon. His entire body was sent flying dozens of meters backward, then landed lightly on the ground.
"How is that possible?"
Levi lay on the ground, his body unharmed, but his spirit had suffered an unprecedented heavy blow.
"That's it—that's the feeling!"
Beside him, Kenny Ackerman saw Levi's expression and seemed to see his past self in it, feeling a surge of satisfaction.
Finally, someone could experience how he felt back then. No—Levi's shock was even more severe than his own back then.
In a way, it was a case of the student surpassing the master.