Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Competition and Settlement
"Kirito is my opponent in the next battle! If you can defeat him, I'll accept your teaching!" Naruto declared confidently, pointing at Ebisu.
"Huh?" The smile on Kirito's face froze. "Why drag me into this? Handle your own issues."
"If the instructor can't even beat you, how can he teach me to defeat you?" Naruto countered with righteous indignation.
"I'll prove my strength and show that what happened before was a fluke!" Ebisu said, pushing his glasses up with determination. "I'll demonstrate the gap between an elite and a novice!"
Kirito sighed internally. [Seriously? Did this guy not watch my matches?]
Seeing Ebisu's resolute expression and Naruto's expectant grin, Kirito turned to Karin. "Do you mind waiting a bit longer?"
"No problem," Karin replied, curious to see Kirito's strength firsthand. She had always known he was powerful, but this was an opportunity to see just how strong he truly was.
"Alright, I accept your challenge," Kirito said, stepping forward. "But I'm not responsible for the outcome."
"No problem!" Ebisu replied confidently, unaware of what lay ahead.
They moved to an open area outside the village, where the improvised match would take place. Naruto and Karin hid nearby, watching eagerly as Kirito and Ebisu faced off.
"You can go first," Ebisu offered, a confident smirk on his face.
"You said it," Kirito replied, dashing forward and landing a punch aimed squarely at Ebisu's cheek.
"So fast!" Ebisu barely managed to block with his arm.
Boom! The impact sent a jolt through Ebisu's body, numbing his arm. "What… such power in a simple punch?!"
Before Ebisu could recover, Kirito spun and delivered a powerful kick to his abdomen. Realizing he couldn't block in time, Ebisu quickly used the Body Flicker Technique to escape.
He reappeared several meters away, breathing heavily. "This strength… it's not what I expected from a Genin."
Ebisu formed hand seals, summoning a massive fireball with the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.
Naruto's eyes lit up. "That's Sasuke's move!"
Kirito didn't flinch. Raising his leg, he unleashed a powerful kick, creating a gust of wind that dissipated the fireball effortlessly. "Konoha Great Whirlwind!"
As Ebisu prepared another jutsu, Kirito closed the distance in an instant, landing a direct punch.
Boom! The figure of Ebisu shattered into a log. "Substitution?"
"I'm here!" Ebisu appeared behind Kirito, throwing shuriken.
Kirito raised his leg to intercept the shuriken, but a pair of hands suddenly emerged from the ground, gripping his ankles. "Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!"
Kirito responded by stomping down with enough force to shatter the ground, breaking free from the jutsu and catching the shuriken midair.
From a safe distance, Ebisu re-evaluated the situation. "This isn't the strength of a normal Genin… He's on par with elite Jonin."
Naruto, watching the destruction, felt a mix of awe and dread. "If he's this strong, how can I ever beat him?"
Kirito dashed forward again, giving Ebisu no time to think. His punch shattered Ebisu's sunglasses and sent him flying into a training post, where he collapsed in a heap.
Naruto ran over, shouting, "Ebisu! Are you okay?"
Kirito approached and crouched to check. "It's just a concussion. He'll wake up soon."
Standing up, Kirito dusted himself off. "As I said, I'm not responsible for the result." Without waiting for a reply, he turned and left with Karin.
Naruto stared at Ebisu, now questioning everything about his upcoming match. "How am I supposed to fight that?"
As the sun set, Kirito and Karin wandered through the village.
"Kirito-Senpai, you're incredibly strong," Karin said, amazed. "You didn't even use your Ice Release!"
"Thanks," Kirito replied, embarrassed. "Now, let's find you a place to stay."
They arrived at an old apartment complex. Kirito unlocked the door to a modest room.
"This is a small place I rent occasionally. It's simple but functional. You can stay here for now," Kirito explained, showing her the living room, kitchen, and bedroom. "I've already paid three months' rent, so make yourself at home."
"What about you?" Karin asked hesitantly.
"I live at the Hyuga Clan's compound," Kirito replied. "This place is mostly for storage. Feel free to clean or arrange it however you like."
Karin's eyes welled up with gratitude. "Thank you so much, Kirito-Senpai."
After giving her the keys and explaining a few details, Kirito left her to settle in. As he walked through the quiet streets of Konoha, his mind wandered.
[I hope Karin adjusts well. She deserves a fresh start.]
[Tomorrow, I'll talk to the Hokage about her status. Better to act quickly.]
His thoughts drifted to Naruto, Ebisu, and the upcoming exam. Smiling to himself, he disappeared into the night, the bustling village fading into calm.
(End of Chapter)
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