"Naruto, if you want a C-rank mission, you should go complain to the Third Hokage," Kakasi said lazily, immediately passing the problem to the Hokage.
Normally he would not push a problem toward the Hokage so easily. But Naruto was an exception. Naruto was the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails and the son of the Fourth Hokage.
As long as Naruto's request was not excessive, the Third Hokage usually tolerated it.
Naruto crossed his arms angrily.
"I already asked the Third Hokage yesterday! He said our team had already completed enough missions, so there are no more C-rank missions for now!"
Kakasi wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead.
He had indeed already reported Team Seven's completed missions. The Hokage had temporarily stopped assigning them C-rank missions.
"Well… if there are no missions, there's nothing I can do," Kakasi said. "Why don't you take the day off?"
"No way!" Naruto protested immediately. "If you don't train us today, we're not letting you leave!"
Chen Xing watched the scene and shook his head with a faint smile.
Sasuke stood silently beside Naruto while Sakura looked helpless.
"Next time," Kakasi said quickly. "I actually have something important today."
Naruto was about to argue again when he suddenly noticed Chen Xing standing nearby.
"Hey! Who's that guy?" Naruto pointed directly at him.
Sakura had already noticed Chen Xing earlier. Looking at him carefully, she thought to herself:
He looks even more handsome than Sasuke…
Kakasi sighed.
"Right, I forgot to introduce him."
He glanced at Chen Xing before speaking.
"Naruto, this is Chen Xing, the Fourth-Generation Celestial Shadow of Hoshigakure."
Naruto scratched his head in confusion.
"Celestial Village?"
Sakura immediately hit him on the head.
"Idiot! Celestial Village became famous in the ninja world recently. Didn't they teach that in the Academy?"
At that moment, Sasuke suddenly spoke.
"Wait… Kakasi-sensei. You mean he's the Celestial Shadow known as the Peacock King?"
Kakasi nodded.
"Yes."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he looked at Chen Xing.
The Fourth-Generation Celestial Shadow had become famous across the ninja world. He had led the once-weak Hoshigakure to prominence and even fought against Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure.
Sasuke had heard about this during his time at the Ninja Academy.
But seeing Chen Xing in person shocked him.
Chen Xing looked only a few years older than them.
How could someone so young possess such strength?
Sasuke clenched his fists unconsciously.
Meanwhile Naruto suddenly spoke again.
"Hey, Kakasi-sensei! You said this guy could defeat you easily?"
Naruto looked Chen Xing up and down.
"I don't see anything special about him!"
Before Kakasi could react—
Chen Xing suddenly disappeared.
In the next instant he appeared directly in front of Naruto like a ghost.
Even Kakasi did not see the movement clearly.
"Good speed…" Sasuke muttered in shock.
Chen Xing looked down at Naruto, who was a head shorter than him.
"What did you say just now?" Chen Xing asked with a faint smile.
Naruto stiffened.
Then he protested loudly.
"Who are you calling a kid? You're not much older than me!"
Kakasi quickly stepped forward.
"Sorry. Naruto can be a little rude."
Chen Xing waved his hand casually.
He had no interest in arguing with a child.
Then he looked at Naruto again.
"You want Kakasi to train you, right?"
"Yeah," Naruto replied.
Chen Xing smiled.
"Then let's make a bet."
Naruto blinked.
"A bet?"
Chen Xing raised one finger.
"I'll stand here and use only one finger. If you can force me to move even half a step, I'll personally train you."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"You're looking down on me!"
Chen Xing merely smiled.
"Do you accept?"
Naruto immediately crossed his fingers.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Several shadow clones appeared instantly and rushed toward Chen Xing.
Chen Xing shook his head.
"The chakra is divided too unevenly. Your clones have almost no power."
Naruto and his clones charged forward anyway.
Chen Xing raised his index finger.
"Too slow."
His finger moved slightly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each clone exploded into smoke the moment it reached him.
The real Naruto was sent flying and rolled across the ground.
"Damn it!"
Naruto jumped back to his feet, grabbing several kunai from his pouch and throwing them.
The kunai shot forward rapidly.
Chen Xing stepped lightly to the side.
With minimal movement, he avoided every single blade.
Sasuke watched carefully, shock flashing in his eyes.
Chen Xing's movements were effortless, like flowing water.
Even with the Sharingan, Sasuke doubted he could replicate such precise control.
The gap between them felt impossibly large.
---