KONOHA :THE RISE OF KAITON

In the back mountain of Konoha, a wide-open training ground sprawled under the warm afternoon sun.

"Fire Style—Great Fireball Technique!"

Akirai brought his right hand into a ring shape, placing it near his mouth. With a forceful exhale, a massive, blazing fireball erupted forth. Wrapped in yellow-orange flames, the fireball scorched the air as it traveled, its intense heat rippling through the surroundings.

Nearby trees were singed and their leaves curled, a testament to the fireball's scorching ferocity. Standing across from Akirai, Kaiton crossed his arms, an expression of calm indifference on his face.

"This flame," Kaiton remarked lightly, "is only good for lighting candles on your birthday, Akirai."

Before Akirai could retort, the fireball smashed into the ground with a deafening boom. The impact created an explosion of flames, forming a fiery sphere that consumed everything in its immediate radius. Smoke billowed into the air, obscuring the battlefield momentarily.

As the smoke cleared, an earthen wall stood tall in the middle of the scorched area, unscathed. A carved relief of a bear's head adorned the wall, staring blankly at Akirai.

"When did you complete the seal?" Akirai muttered, baffled by Kaiton's seamless defense.

"Akirai, stop dawdling! Keep attacking!"

To Akirai's right, Shinzuru called out, her voice sharp with determination. Without hesitation, she charged forward, her fist glowing faintly as she condensed chakra into her hand.

"Strength of a Hundred: Devastating Punch!"

This was a hallmark of her Senju heritage, a powerful technique achieved through exceptional chakra control. Shinzuru's fist smashed into the earthen wall, obliterating it with a single, resounding strike.

Chunks of hardened earth flew in every direction as dust rose from the impact. Kaiton's enhanced Earth-Style Wall, which had effortlessly resisted the Great Fireball, now lay in ruins.

Emerging from the dust, Shinzuru sprinted forward, her eyes locked onto Kaiton. She raised her fist for another devastating punch.

"Kaiton, brace yourself!" she shouted.

Kaiton clasped his hands together, his eyes calm as he uttered, "Earth Style—Spike Barrage!"

The ground trembled as jagged spikes erupted from beneath Shinzuru's feet. The spikes surrounded her in a wide radius, cutting off her escape. For a moment, it seemed as though she was cornered.

But just as the spikes were about to impale her, a powerful gust of wind swept through the area, lifting her away from the danger zone. Shinzuru landed gracefully and immediately launched another charge.

However, Kaiton repeated the same jutsu—only this time, nothing happened.

Kaiton's expression darkened. "The Shadow Clone... it's been discovered."

---

Orochimaru's Insight

From his vantage point, Tenzou had been observing Kaiton carefully.

"That's not true Muji Ninjutsu," Tenzou concluded. "He's using a Shadow Clone for the seals."

After a moment of thought, Tenzou created a Shadow Clone of his own and dispatched it into the forest. His real body moved stealthily, searching for Kaiton's hiding spot.

In the dense foliage of a nearby tree, Tenzou's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of Kaiton's clone, its hands forming seals. Without hesitation, Tenzou hurled a shuriken.

The clone, preoccupied with completing the seals, failed to react in time. The shuriken struck true, and the clone dissipated in a puff of smoke.

---

Turning the Tables

On the battlefield, Shinzuru and Akirai continued to press their attacks. Shinzuru's powerful strikes and Akirai's fiery jutsu were relentless. Yet, Kaiton's calm demeanor didn't falter.

Just as Shinzuru prepared to land a decisive blow, Kaiton's form vanished into white mist.

"A Shadow Clone!" Shinzuru gasped, her movements freezing for a split second.

That hesitation was all Kaiton needed.

"Earth Style—Headhunter Jutsu!"

A pair of hands emerged from the ground beneath Shinzuru, grabbing her ankles and pulling her down into the soil.

"Shinzuru!" Akirai shouted in panic. Distracted by Shinzuru's predicament, he didn't notice Kaiton's real form appearing behind him.

"Konoha Hidden Technique—Thousand Years of Death!"

Kaiton struck with precision, sending Akirai flying forward with a high-pitched scream of pain. He landed face-first on the ground, groaning in agony.

Tenzou, realizing his comrades had fallen, found himself cornered. Before he could react, Kaiton appeared out of the shadows, delivering a swift strike. The blow sent Tenzou sprawling, defeated.

"Haha! Luck—it's all luck!" Kaiton exclaimed triumphantly as his Shadow Clones disappeared.

---

Aftermath

As the dust settled, Kaiton approached his teammates with a satisfied grin. Shinzuru was the first to recover, brushing herself off with minimal complaint. Akirai, on the other hand, glared at Kaiton with smoldering eyes.

"Teach me that technique, or I'll—" Akirai began, his tone deadly.

"Fine, fine!" Kaiton interrupted hastily. "I'll teach you. Just... relax."

Satisfied, Akirai nodded but silently vowed revenge.

---

Kaiton's Secret

"Now," Kaiton began, turning serious, "you've all seen the results of my training. In just one week, my chakra reserves have grown five or six times larger than before. By the time we graduate, I might even rival the Uzumaki Clan in chakra capacity."

The Uzumaki Clan.

The very name sent shivers down their spines. Known for their unparalleled chakra reserves and expertise in sealing techniques, the Uzumakis were legends among shinobi.

"To achieve this," Kaiton continued, "you need to master this technique while you're young. But your chakra control isn't sufficient yet."

"I'll reach the standard soon!" Shinzuru declared, her eyes burning with determination. "My Healing Jutsu is nearly complete!"

Tenzou nodded. "I've been practicing my control. I should be ready soon."

All eyes turned to Akirai, who scratched his head sheepishly.

"Uh... I'm... almost there?"

Tenzou placed a reassuring hand on Akirai's shoulder. "Leave him to me. I'll make sure he catches up."

Kaiton smiled at the sight of his determined friends. "Then let's all work together to master this technique!"

As they stood united, a new chapter of their journey began—a journey that would shape the future of Konoha.

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