Chapter 42: Naruto Uzumaki's Rematch with Kakashi!

Chapter 42: Naruto Uzumaki's Rematch with Kakashi!

"Yo! Naruto, Sakura, Sai, Yamato, you're finally back. You've been gone for two months, and everyone was worried sick. Thankfully, you're all safe and sound."

Kakashi Hatake waved back, narrowing his eyes as he drew closer. "But speaking of which, why did Tsunade-sama call me here this time?"

"Kakashi! It's time for another spar with Naruto. This time, it'll just be Naruto alone." Tsunade declared.

"Huh? Another spar? But... wasn't it just two months ago that we did this? Naruto has been training with Jiraiya-sama, and his skills have improved tremendously." Kakashi scratched his head, perplexed.

"This time is different," Tsunade continued. "Naruto is extremely confident. He even believes that even if you, Kakashi, give it your all, you won't be a match for him."

"Oh? It seems like you've grown quite a bit during these two months, Naruto." Kakashi turned to Naruto, his eyes filled with surprise.

"Of course! Teacher Kakashi, don't be too shocked later on!" Naruto rubbed his nose.

"Alright! Although it's a bit troublesome, it's an order from Tsunade-sama. Let's begin." Kakashi slowly drew out the kunai from his waist pouch and held it horizontally across his chest.

"Then let's start!" Naruto exclaimed.

As soon as Naruto finished speaking, Kakashi's visible eye narrowed, and his pupil contracted sharply. Even Tsunade, Shikaku, and Shizune reacted similarly.

The four of them exclaimed in their minds:

"So fast!"

"However, using your fist to attack a ninja wielding a kunai is not a wise move!" Kakashi thought to himself as he raised his right arm, using the kunai to block Naruto's punch.

Just when he thought Naruto would pull back, an unexpected scene unfolded.

Naruto, who wasn't particularly exceptional in taijutsu, threw a punch that landed directly on Kakashi's kunai! An immense force instantly coursed through his entire body.

The kunai Kakashi was holding was knocked out of his hand! "What powerful strength! Naruto isn't using the power of the Nine-Tails right now... How is this possible? Could it be the Super Strength Technique? Has Naruto learned that move too?"

Kakashi's figure flickered as he prepared to create some distance.

"Body Flicker Technique!"

Whoosh!

Naruto's figure instantly vanished from his original spot. In the next moment, a violent gust of wind blew in the spot where he had just been standing.

"As expected, so fast! But..."

Bang!!! Boom!!!

Naruto's kick landed squarely on Kakashi's back, sending him flying. In an instant, lightning flashed, forming a cage that enclosed Naruto.

Kakashi's figure reappeared behind Naruto. "Your speed has increased significantly since the last time, but charging straight ahead like that isn't suitable for you. Making better use of your shadow clones can lead to greater success in battle."

"Is that so, Teacher Kakashi? Then why don't you keep attacking?" Naruto challenged, unfazed by the kunai pointed at his back.

"Hmm?" Kakashi paused, then abruptly lunged forward with the kunai.

However, this attack didn't pierce flesh as expected. Instead, it produced a crisp ringing sound, as if it had struck metal. The kunai couldn't penetrate Naruto's body at all.

"What is this? Hardening Technique?" Kakashi muttered under his breath.

Tsunade and Shikaku furrowed their brows. "What's going on? I didn't sense any chakra at all, but his skin seems to have hardened to the point where it can withstand a kunai strike."

"Tsunade-sama! This is the power of martial arts! This is internal energy! He's far stronger than you imagined," Yamato exclaimed.

"No! This is the Iron Block technique of martial arts! And now, the Storm Kick!" Naruto explained calmly as he suddenly spun around and delivered a powerful kick with his right foot.

A crescent-shaped blade of chakra shot out from Naruto's leg, startling Kakashi, who quickly dodged to the side. Kakashi's peripheral vision caught the blade slicing through a large tree, cutting it cleanly in half.

Beads of cold sweat formed on Kakashi's forehead as he muttered, "What kind of jutsu is this? It's unsealed, yet its power is so terrifying! If I were hit by that, I'd surely be sliced in two!"

He rubbed his temples, his face contorting in a headache.

"It's not over yet! Martial Arts! Finger Gun!"

Naruto roared, and his thumb fired a rapid succession of chakra bullets at Kakashi.

"What kind of unsealed ninjutsu is this?!" Kakashi exclaimed in shock, brandishing his kunai to block the onslaught.

Clang!!!

The first block made Kakashi's arm tremble.

The second block numbed his knuckles.

The third block caused the kunai to shatter under the impact of the chakra bullet.

Faced with the fourth bullet, Kakashi dared not block and started sprinting across the ground to evade.

One after another, the chakra bullets whizzed past Kakashi, leaving small holes in the ground.

In the short time since the battle had begun, Naruto had displayed astonishing prowess, overwhelming Kakashi and gaining the upper hand.

Tsunade, Shikaku, and the others watched with furrowed brows.

This so-called 'Martial Arts' seemed ridiculously strong...

Previously, it had taken both Naruto and Sakura to fight Kakashi, and now Naruto alone was dominating the battle...

"Kakashi-sensei is amazing... To hold his own for so long against Martial Arts, when we lost to it instantly the first time we encountered it..." Sakura remarked with admiration.

Yamato and Sai nodded in agreement.

Kakashi, engaged in battle with Naruto nearby, wiped the sweat from his brow. "What's Sakura talking about? I'm one of Konoha's elite jonin! It's not that easy to defeat me! And... I'm currently being pressured by Naruto here! How am I supposed to take her compliment?! It just sounds weird no matter how I think about it! I've really been underestimated by these kids! This won't do!

As their teacher, I need to save some face!"

Kakashi's expression hardened as he lifted his hitai-ate, revealing his Sharingan eye.

With this change, his movements became more fluid and evasive.

"So you're finally getting serious, Kakashi-sensei! Then get ready for a continuous display of Martial Arts! Here I come!"

Naruto's figure rushed towards Kakashi once more.

"He's still so fast, even with the Sharingan, he feels incredibly fast!" Kakashi thought to himself.

The kunai in his hand flashed with lightning, and he lunged at Naruto.

Bang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The two combatants clashed fiercely, with Kakashi dodging when he could and blocking with his kunai when necessary.

Though he persisted, it was clear he was struggling.

Even when he occasionally used ninjutsu to defuse dangerous situations, it couldn't hide the fact that he was truly being overwhelmed by Naruto! Without resorting to his Mangekyo Sharingan, it would be difficult for him to turn the tide!

"Naruto has... really grown so much... Even Kakashi is no longer a match for him..." Tsunade remarked, watching the battle unfold.

Shikaku frowned, "This is Martial Arts? It's incredibly powerful... Just by learning it, Naruto has gained the ability to rival and even suppress Kakashi..."

"It's not just that, Tsunade-sama, Shikaku-san... Naruto's strength goes far beyond that!" Yamato added, equally impressed.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end