On the other side, Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he said coldly, "Hey… just now, you said 'you guys,' didn't you?"
Kirito shrugged, then nodded seriously. "Yeah. Isn't that what your teacher Kakashi-sensei had in mind too?"
"…?" Kakashi blinked at the response.
Naruto, however, turned around and glared at Kakashi, fists clenched.
"Damn it! Kakashi-sensei, you're underestimating me too?!"
"Hah…" Sasuke let out a faint breath, his gaze sharpening as he fixed his eyes on Kirito.
"One word at a time: Hyūga Kirito, are you serious about that?"
"Of course." Kirito nodded again, then gestured casually at the two.
"Come on then. Uchiha Sasuke. Uzumaki Naruto."
"Ahhh! You're all the same! I'll show you just how strong I, Uzumaki Naruto, really am!"
Being belittled by Kakashi was one thing, but even Kirito, a guy who hadn't even officially graduated from the Academy, was looking down on him? That was the last straw.
Naruto conveniently forgot he'd also failed the graduation exam not too long ago.
He threw out an arm to block Sasuke.
"Sasuke! Don't interfere! You always hog the spotlight! This time, it's my turn!"
"…Tch."
Sasuke surprisingly didn't argue. His eyes narrowed as he observed Kirito, replying with a flat, "Idiot. Worry about yourself, don't get flattened out there."
"Hmph! Just sit back and watch!"
Naruto yelled and rushed Kirito head-on.
"Hey! Take this!"
After the Wave Country mission, Naruto had begun to grasp basic chakra control. He could now channel chakra into his feet to enhance his movement, though still clumsy, it was enough to boost his speed noticeably.
Kirito merely shifted to the side and easily avoided Naruto's opening blow.
But Naruto had learned a thing or two from real battles. That first punch was a feint.
As it missed, Naruto planted a hand on the ground, tucked in his waist like a spring, then launched a powerful backward kick toward Kirito's ribs.
"Pak!"
Kirito calmly reached out and caught Naruto's leg with one hand. His grip wasn't particularly forceful, but his fingers locked tightly around the ankle joint, cutting off any leverage Naruto had.
This move caught Naruto off guard, but he wasn't ready to give up yet. He planted his other hand firmly on the ground, used the momentum to twist his body, and threw a punch at Kirito's arm.
"Thud! "
Fist met bone, only to be intercepted. Kirito raised a knee, blocking the strike. With a simple forward thrust, he sent Naruto flying.
After just a few exchanges, Naruto was already knocked away. He staggered, nearly falling, and when he finally steadied himself, frustration twisted his face.
He'd thought that after becoming a genin and everything he'd been through, he had gotten a lot stronger.
So how could he be overpowered by someone who wasn't even a real ninja?
"Aaargh! Time to get serious!"
Naruto formed a cross-shaped hand seal.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Seven identical Narutos burst into view, swarming Kirito all at once.
Facing eight attackers, each one with physical form and attack power, Kirito remained composed. He shifted slightly, his movements fluid but never rushed, always evading at the last possible moment, just enough to avoid every strike from all directions.
"No way…"
Sakura's eyes went wide. She didn't particularly like Naruto, but she knew his strength well.
Even using the high-level Shadow Clone Jutsu, something only jōnin should be capable of, Naruto still couldn't land a single blow. He hadn't even touched the edge of Kirito's clothes.
"…"
Sasuke stayed silent, his sharp eyes locked on the battle before him.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! All you do is dodge!"
Naruto kept chasing Kirito, launching blow after blow. On the surface, it looked like Naruto was cornering his opponent, but he was losing his mind. Not only had he failed to land a single hit, his own clones had started hitting him by accident.
"I won't lose! No way I won't catch you!"
Naruto skidded to a stop and formed another hand seal.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!
This time, he summoned twelve more clones on top of the existing ones, nineteen clones, plus the original: twenty Narutos in total!
"Trying to win through numbers, huh?"
Kirito shook his head. "Sorry, but that won't work."
Instead of retreating, he stepped forward, charging straight into the fray.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Kirito weaved through the storm of clones like a gust of wind, his strikes crisp, accurate, and clean. Every punch or kick shattered a clone instantly, not a single move wasted.
Even with attacks flying from every angle, not a one touched him.
The few strikes that came close were effortlessly blocked.
Poof! Poof!
The final two clones vanished in clouds of smoke, leaving only the real Naruto lying on the ground, groaning.
One against twenty, and Naruto still lost in utterly one-sided fashion.
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