Samui let out a scream of pain.
Her strength fading, Samui spat out blood and collapsed motionless.
Naruto knelt over her, one knee pressing into her stomach, a kunai pointed at her throat.
Samui looked up at Naruto:
"I give up... You win."
He smiled and helped her up.
At this moment, Karui and Omoi had already walked over to them.
Karui rubbed her arm, avoiding his gaze shyly:
"Damn it, we couldn't even lay a hand on you. How did you do that?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head:
"Back when I was a kid, I got trained in specialized assassination techniques. I didn't use many advanced ninjutsu—it's just way too risky."
"Woah! Number Nine, gotta say, your fight really entertained me!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from the mountain peaks.
Slightly annoyed, Samui said:
"Ugh… I knew he'd been watching all along."
B materialized in an instant, clapping Naruto on the shoulder:
"Yo, that was dope, my man!"
******
## In Konoha ##
Sakura Haruno hovered her hands above a fish, a green glow emanating from her palms. Focusing intently, she used medical ninjutsu to attempt reviving the fish—an ability she'd learned through Tsunade's training.
She felt somewhat exhilarated when told she was the first selected for Tsunade's new Medical Ninja program.
She recalled how her mentor had grinned like a fool and told her it was all because of Naruto.
"Hey, Pink!"
Just then, Tayuya approached.
"What do you want?" Sakura responded coldly.
Tayuya sneered:
"Lady Tsunade sent me to say you've got the day off today."
Sakura frowned:
"Why do you call me 'Pink,' yet address Tsunade by name?"
Tayuya scoffed:
"I may be crude, but at least I know not to mess with someone who can kill me."
## Kumogakure — Night ##
Yuugao stood before Naruto, fixing him with a firm stare.
"Kid, you're quite the troublemaker. This mission was supposed to be a long vacation—I'm stuck babysitting you instead."
******
After sparring with Naruto, Omoi, Karui, and Samui were escorted to the hospital by Yugito.
Omoi suffered a mild concussion. Karui had bruised ribs. Samui sustained minor internal injuries.
Limping slightly, Karui mumbled under her breath:
"That guy really beat us up bad..."
Omoi mumbled:
"You think he could actually take on Yugito?"
Samui gave a small smile:
"I don't know. But he really is cool."
Hearing her words, Karui's jaw dropped:
"Samui, he's two years younger than us! And he's not even from our country—he's from Konoha! How can you even think like that about him?"
She shrugged:
"So what? Who cares how old he is?" As they reached her doorstep, she added, "I wonder how good he is at massages..."
Karui gaped as Samui walked through the door:
"She can't be serious?"
Omoi shook his head and patted her shoulder, motioning for her to keep going.
However, nearby, a black-haired middle-aged man wearing the Kumogakure forehead protector paused, who had overheard their conversation. His fists clenched in anger.
******
Eight years ago, Kenta had witnessed Kumogakure's withdrawal from the war against Konoha during the Hyūga incident.
Kenta's older brother was sent to execute the plan.
He was told it would be a simple mission—abduct a little girl and bring her back. Bluntly put, for breeding purposes.
Kenta accompanied him, being told it would be an easy mission—just abducting a little girl and bringing her back. To put it bluntly, for breeding purposes.
Unfortunately, he had taken the daughter of the Hyūga clan head… The clan head came looking for him… and killed him.
So when Kumogakure demanded Hiashi Hyūga's execution and received his corpse instead,
Instead, they were given a member of the Hyūga Branch Family in place of Hiashi.
Kenta was furious with Konoha's deception. He harbored resentment, and over time, upon learning that Konoha's jinchūriki was here, he saw this as the perfect opportunity to strike.
Finding the inn where the Konoha team was staying had been incredibly easy—everyone knew where they were.
Picking the lock was child's play. When he entered the room, he grinned to find only one person inside.
In the moonlight, he saw a blond-haired boy. He pulled out a kunai and quietly approached.
As he moved the kunai toward the boy's neck, the boy suddenly reached out and gripped his wrist tightly.
"Hello there!"
He tried pulling the kunai free from the surprisingly strong grip:
"How did you know I was here?"
Naruto grunted and snapped the man's wrist, causing the kunai to drop to the floor.
The man hissed through his teeth in pain and attempted to strike him with his other hand but was kicked hard by Naruto, sending him crashing into the door.
"Come chase me!" Naruto said in a taunting voice before escaping through the open window.
Growling furiously, the man gave chase.
Everyone knows this man's hatred for Konoha borders on fanatical obsession.
Five minutes later, Kenta reached the area near the tower but found the boy hadn't arrived yet.
As the boy landed on the same rooftop, he called out excitedly:
"So, you're not so fast after all, kid."
"It doesn't matter how fast I am."
Kenta tightened his grip on the kunai:
"Oh really? I suppose you won't mind if I kill you then?"
"Hmm, I don't care if you kill me. I'm just bait. Say 'Ebi!'"
Naruto grinned and vanished in a puff of smoke.
******
(Elsewhere)
In another part of town, Naruto arrived at the Yagure clan residence.
"Huh. He really wanted me dead."
A shook his head. "Naruto, why didn't you just kill him?"
Naruto smirked mischievously. "Better to leave it to you—for fairness' sake. Are your ninja tracking him now?"
A nodded.
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