LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 12: Chapter Nine
{Chapter Nine}
"Being Tested by Lord Third"
Kyosuke deflected a shuriken with precision before ducking, evading an attack aimed at his blind spot
In one fluid motion, he raised his katana, intercepting a pair of chakra blades that came slicing toward him
The force of the clash sent sparks flying into the air
"Nothing surprises you, huh, Kyosuke." Kenji remarked, grinning as he pushed off and launched into another flurry of attacks
"You should know by now — cheap tricks won't work on me." Kyosuke retorted, parrying the strikes and weaving around the onslaught of Kenji's relentless offensive
Their blades clashed repeatedly, the sharp clang echoing through the training ground
Kyosuke saw an opening, kicked Kenji in the chest, and used the force to propel himself backward
In midair, he performed a rapid series of hand seals: Tiger → Horse → Tiger
"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!" Kyosuke declared, releasing a massive fireball that roared toward Kenji with searing intensity
Kenji staggered from the kick, his instincts flaring as he felt the heat racing toward him
Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee and performed quick hand seals: Snake → Ram → Boar → Horse → Bird
"Earth Release: Mud Wall!" Kenji shouted, slamming his hands into the ground
A sturdy wall of earth erupted before him, shielding him from the fireball's impact
The explosion of fire against the mud wall illuminated the field, leaving traces of smoke hanging in the air
From the sidelines, Naruto's eyes sparkled with aw
Standing beside him, Shin observed the fight with a calm yet impressed expression
"They're incredible!" Naruto exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement
Shin smirked, folding his arms
"This is just the beginning, Naruto. Watch closely. You can learn a lot from how they move and adapt." Shin said
Naruto nodded, his gaze glued to the sparring match
Kyosuke didn't give Kenji a moment to breathe
As the mud wall crumbled, he lunged forward, his katana slicing through the air with precision
Kenji barely managed to block the strike with his chakra blades
Their fight became a dazzling storm of movement and precision
Blades clashed with resounding metallic echoes, each strike ringing through the air like a battle cry
Kyosuke and Kenji moved in perfect synchronization, their bodies twisting and turning in fluid arcs, almost like a choreographed dance
Every step and strike was deliberate, the ground beneath their feet barely registering their weight as they darted and spun with incredible speed
Kenji launched a rapid series of strikes with his chakra blades, forcing Kyosuke to pivot and sidestep with expert precision
Sparks flew as Kyosuke's katana met the chakra-enhanced weapons, each clash lighting up their intense exchange
Kenji saw an opening and swung low, aiming for Kyosuke's legs, but Kyosuke jumped at the last second, flipping backward and landing gracefully a few feet away
Not wasting the momentum, Kenji leaped into the air, twisting mid-jump as he hurled a kunai toward Kyosuke
The kunai streaked through the air like a lightning bolt, spinning toward its mark
Kyosuke reacted instantly, angling his katana to deflect the kunai with a sharp clang, sending it ricocheting harmlessly to the side
Kenji landed with a roll, immediately springing back to his feet creating space, throwing a kunai mid-flip, but Kyosuke deflected it effortlessly
Kenji landed and swiftly performed hand seals: Snake → Ram → Boar → Horse → Bird
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
A concentrated blast of wind surged toward Kyosuke, hitting him head-on
The force sent him flying backward, but even mid-flight, Kyosuke adjusted his body. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled a volley of shuriken toward Kenji
Kenji dodged the projectiles but immediately realized his mistake
Kyosuke had already formed a new series of hand seals: Snake → Dragon → Rabbit → Tiger
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A stream of flames roared from Kyosuke's mouth, streaking toward Kenji
Kenji reacted instantly, his hands flashing through seals: Tiger → Ox → Dog → Rabbit → Snake
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A powerful gust of wind erupted from Kenji's mouth, extinguishing the flames in an instant
As the smoke cleared, Kenji's eyes widened— Kyosuke had used the cover to close the distance
In a split second, Kyosuke deflected Kenji's incoming strike, slapped one of his brother's chakra blades aside with his katana, and spun over him
By the time Kenji turned, he felt the cold steel of Kyosuke's blade resting lightly against his back
Kenji sighed in resignation, raising a hand
"I concede. You got me." Kenji said dejectedly
Kyosuke chuckled as he stepped back, sliding his katana back into its sheath
"Good match, Kenji. Your timing's improving, but your wind release left you too exposed." Kyosuke said
Kenji rubbed the back of his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face
"Yeah, I should've seen that coming. You're relentless." Kenji admitted
From the sidelines, Naruto burst into applause
"That was awesome! You guys are on a whole other level!" Naruto said
Shin nodded in agreement
"Well done, both of you. That was a good display of skill and strategy." Shin said, agreeing
Kyosuke smiled faintly, walking toward his brothers
"It's all about balance, Naruto. Power is important, but strategy and timing win battles." Kyosuke said
Naruto clenched his fists in determination
"Just you wait! I'm gonna get just as strong as you guys!" Naruto declared
Kenji ruffled Naruto's hair playfully
"Looking forward to it, little brother. But first, you've gotta stop announcing your attacks before you throw them." Kenji said
Naruto pouted but laughed along with the rest of them
Before the brothers could tease Naruto further, a familiar and commanding voice interrupted
"Quite the lively bunch you all are." Hiruzen said
The brothers froze momentarily, then turned to see Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, approaching them with his warm, wise smile
His presence exuded an air of authority yet carried the kindness of a grandfather
A pair of ANBU silently trailed behind him, their masks betraying no emotion
"Lord Third." Kyosuke said, immediately bowing his head
The others followed his lead, though Naruto's bow was hasty and a bit clumsy
"Hey, old man! What brings you here? Did you come to see how awesome we are?" Naruto blurted, grinning
Kyosuke shot Naruto a sharp look, but Hiruzen chuckled, unbothered by the outburst
"Indeed, Naruto. I've heard a lot about you four, and I must say, I'm impressed with the Uzumaki spirit you've brought to Konoha." Hiruzen said
Naruto beamed, puffing out his chest again
"Of course you are! We're amazing!" Naruto said
Hiruzen's gaze shifted to Kyosuke, Shin, and Kenji, his expression softening
"You've all shown remarkable potential and discipline since arriving in the village. I wanted to commend you personally and discuss an opportunity." Hiruzen explained
Shin tilted his head, intrigued
"An opportunity, Lord Third?" Shin asked
Hiruzen nodded, his pipe in hand
"Yes. The Uzumaki clan has always been known for its mastery of ninjutsu and unique abilities. I would like to see how far you've progressed. In exchange, I'm prepared to offer each of you two B-rank jutsu tailored to your elemental affinities — provided you can demonstrate your skills in a spar against one of Konoha's finest." Hiruzen said
Kenji's eyes narrowed slightly, his competitive nature piqued
"One of Konoha's finest?" Kenji asked, slightly confused
As if on cue, a figure stepped into view from behind a tree, casually reading a small orange book
His silver hair defied gravity, and his forehead protector was tilted to cover his left eye
His demeanor was relaxed, but the intensity in his visible eye was unmistakable
"Kakashi Hatake." Kyosuke said, his voice low, a mix of awe and recognition
For a moment, memories of his previous life flooded back
Seeing Kakashi in person — no longer a character on a screen but a living, breathing shinobi — was surreal
Kakashi glanced up from his book and offered a lazy wave
"Yo. I hear I'm supposed to test you." Kakashi said lazily
Kakashi smiled under his mask, his gaze shifting to the brothers
"Well, this should be fun. I'm curious to see what the next generation of the Uzumaki clan has to offer." Kakashi said
Kyosuke stepped forward, bowing slightly
"We accept the challenge, Lord Third. Thank you for this opportunity."
Hiruzen nodded approvingly
"Very well. You'll have three days to prepare before the spar. Use your time wisely. Kakashi, I leave the details to you."
Kakashi nodded
"Understood." Kakashi said
As the Third Hokage departed, Naruto turned to his brothers, practically bouncing with excitement
"Three days? That's plenty of time! We're gonna blow his mind!"
Kyosuke smiled, though his expression was focused
"It's not just about impressing anyone, Naruto. This is a chance to prove what we're capable of — and to grow stronger." Kyosuke said
Kenji cracked his knuckles, grinning
"Bring it on. Kakashi or not, I'm ready." Kenji said
Shin chuckled
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We'll need a solid plan if we're going to hold our own against him." Shin said
The brothers exchanged determined glances, their shared resolve unshakable
Kakashi simply watched, flipping another page of his book
"Well, this is going to be entertaining," He murmured to himself
{Three Days Later…}
The three days leading up to the spar were intense
Despite their young age, the Uzumaki brothers displayed a level of discipline and focus uncommon for eight-year-olds
Their training revolved around sharpening their kenjutsu, refining their fuinjutsu seals, and mastering their D and C-rank ninjutsu, all while forming strategies to counter an elite Jonin like Kakashi Hatake
{The Day of the Spar}
The training ground was bathed in soft morning light, the air still and quiet
Kyosuke, Shin, Kenji, and Naruto stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their expressions a mix of determination and excitement
Across from them, Kakashi leaned casually against a tree, his orange book in hand
"You're early, that's good. Punctuality is the first step to success." Kakashi said without looking up
Kyosuke stepped forward, bowing respectfully
"We're here to give it our best, Kakashi-sensei." Kyosuke declared
Kenji smirked, cracking his knuckles
"And maybe even surprise you a little." Kenji said
Shin adjusted the seals in his pouch
"Let's not underestimate him. He's called a genius for a reason." Shin said
Naruto, bouncing on the balls of his feet, grinned wide
"Yeah, yeah, but we've got this! Believe it!" Naruto shouted
Kakashi finally closed his book, slipping it into his pouch
His visible eye curved into a smile
"Alright then. Show me what the next generation of the Uzumaki clan can do. Come at me with everything you've got." Kakashi said
The brothers nodded
They spread out, forming a wide semicircle to cover Kakashi's escape routes
Kyosuke took the lead, rushing forward with his katana drawn
His movements were precise, each step calculated as he closed the gap
He feinted to the left before slashing from the right, his blade aimed at Kakashi's side
Kakashi parried effortlessly with a kunai, sparks flying from the clash of steel
Kenji followed immediately, launching a series of wind chakra-infused shuriken
The spinning projectiles whistled as they cut through the air, their edges sharp and deadly
Kakashi dodged them with fluid ease, weaving between the incoming attacks
"Not bad, but predictable." Kakashi said calmly
Shin used the distraction to weave hand seal
"Earth Release: Stone Pillar Barrage!" He shouted
The ground beneath Kakashi erupted, jagged stone pillars shooting upward to trap him
Kakashi leaped high into the air to avoid the attack, but Naruto was ready
"Take this!" Naruto yelled, throwing a handful of kunai aimed at Kakashi's trajectory
Kakashi tilted his body mid-air, deflecting the kunai with his own before landing lightly on the ground
"You've got good coordination, but you'll need to be faster." He remarked
Kenji stepped forward, his chakra blades glowing faintly as he infused them with wind chakra
He dashed at Kakashi, his strikes swift and relentless
Kakashi dodged and parried with his kunai, each clash creating bursts of wind energy that ruffled his silver hair
Kyosuke joined the fray, his katana now wreathed in flames from a Fire Release technique
Together, the two brothers attacked Kakashi with a flurry of coordinated strikes
Kyosuke's fiery blade forced Kakashi to stay on the defensive, while Kenji's wind-enhanced attacks created openings
Shin provided long-range support, performing hand seals for a Water Release technique
"Water Release: Water Bullet Jutsu!" He called out, firing a high-pressure sphere of water toward Kakashi
Kakashi sidestepped the attack, his Sharingan spinning as he analyzed their movements
"You're not bad for your age, but you're going to need more than that." He said, his voice almost amused
Realizing that brute force wasn't enough, Kyosuke called out
"Shin, Kenji — use the seals!" Kyosuke shouted
The brothers immediately pulled out their pre-prepared scrolls
Shin activated his first, slamming it onto the ground
"Binding Seal: Chains of the Seal!"
Golden chakra chains erupted from the ground, surging toward Kakashi with impressive speed
Kakashi leaped back, narrowly avoiding the chains as they snaked after him
"Fuinjutsu, huh? Now we're talking." Kakashi muttered, slightly impressed
Kenji followed up, throwing a kunai tied with an explosive tag
"Explosive Seal: Chain Reaction!"
The tag detonated mid-air, sending a wave of controlled explosions toward Kakashi
Naruto, not one to be left behind, threw more kunai in Kakashi's direction
Though not as polished as his brothers, his enthusiasm was evident
Kyosuke completed a hand seal, calling out his next move
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
A jet of flames burst from his mouth, merging with the smoke and debris from Kenji's explosions to obscure Kakashi's vision
When the smoke cleared, Kakashi stood unharmed, his Sharingan glowing ominously
"You've got potential,but let me show you why I'm called the Copy Ninja." He said, his tone still calm
With a single hand seal, Kakashi summoned a lightning-based jutsu
"Lightning Release: Lightning Hound!"
A crackling, wolf-shaped construct of lightning surged forward, heading straight for Kyosuke
Kyosuke reacted quickly, raising his katana to block
The blade absorbed most of the impact, but the force sent him skidding backward
Kenji rushed in to cover him, his chakra blades glowing as he deflected the remaining lightning with a wind-enhanced strike
Shin created a protective earth barrier to shield Kyosuke as he recovered
Naruto, meanwhile, charged at Kakashi head-on
"I've got you now!" He shouted, swinging a kunai with all his strength
Kakashi sidestepped easily, tapping Naruto lightly on the forehead
"Not quite, but nice try." Kakashi said
{Few Hours Later…}
The battle continued, the Uzumaki brothers pushing themselves to their limits
Though their combined efforts showed promise, Kakashi's experience and skill kept him one step ahead
Finally, Kakashi raised a hand, signaling the end of the spar
"That's enough." He Declared
The brothers stopped, panting and drenched in sweat but standing tall
Despite their exhaustion, their eyes burned with determination
"You've all done well, your teamwork is solid, and your techniques show great promise. With more experience, you'll be a force to be reckoned with." Kakashi said, his tone genuinely impressed
Kyosuke bowed respectfully
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei. We'll continue to improve." Kyosuke said
Kenji grinned, wiping sweat from his brow
"Next time, we won't hold back." Kenji said
Naruto, despite being winded, flashed a wide grin
"Yeah! Next time, you're going down, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto said
Kakashi chuckled, pulling out his book once more
"I'll be looking forward to it." Kakashi said
…
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…
The sparring ground was filled with the sound of heavy breathing and the rustling of leaves as the Uzumaki brothers regrouped, catching their breath after their battle against Kakashi
Suddenly, a slow, deliberate clap echoed across the field, drawing their attention
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, approached with a proud yet contemplative smile, his hands continuing to clap in steady applause
His warm gaze swept over the brothers and then to Kakashi, who had stepped aside to give the Hokage the stage
"Remarkable, truly remarkable. For boys of your age to display such coordination, discipline, and understanding of ninjutsu, kenjustu, taijutsu, and even fuinjutsu — it is nothing short of extraordinary." Hiruzen said, his voice carrying both authority and admiration
The brothers straightened immediately, bowing in unison
"Thank you, Lord Third!" Kyosuke said respectfully, his voice steady despite his exhaustion
Naruto, however, scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly
"Heh, yeah, we're pretty awesome, huh?" Naruto said
Kenji elbowed him lightly in the ribs
"Show some respect, Naruto." Kenji said
Hiruzen chuckled warmly
"It's all right, Kenji. Naruto's enthusiasm is part of his charm. Besides, — he turned to Naruto — your energy and confidence are an asset, young one. Never lose that spark." Hiruzen said
Naruto beamed at the praise
"You got it, Old Man Third!" Naruto said
Kenji groaned quietly, and Shin stifled a laugh, but Hiruzen didn't seem offended
Instead, his gaze grew thoughtful
"Kyosuke, Shin, Kenji, Naruto, you have all shown me something today — not just your skill but your potential. You are Uzumaki. Your clan's legacy is one of resilience, strength, and wisdom. And despite being so young, you embody these qualities already." Hiruzen said
Kyosuke stepped forward, his expression serious
"We've been training hard, Lord Third. We know we have much to learn, but we're determined to honor our clan's name and contribute to the village." Kyosuke said
Hiruzen nodded approvingly
"That determination will carry you far. But remember, strength alone is not what makes a shinobi great. The bonds you share, the trust you place in one another, and your willingness to protect those who cannot protect themselves — these are what truly define a shinobi of the Leaf. This is the essence of the Will of Fire." He paused, his eyes scanning each of their faces
"The Will of Fire burns within all who call Konoha their home. It is the belief that every citizen of this village is part of a larger family, and we are all responsible for one another. When you fight, you fight not just for yourselves but for those who depend on you— your friends, your comrades, your village." Hiruzen continued, his voice carrying the weight of decades of wisdom
Naruto's wide-eyed expression showed he was hanging onto every word
"So… it's like fighting for everyone you care about?" He asked
"Exactly, Naruto. The Will of Fire means that we are never truly alone, for our strength comes from the bonds we forge and the love we have for our home." Hiruzen said, smiling gently
Shin folded his arms, nodding thoughtfully
"It's a powerful philosophy. If we live by it, we'll never lose our way." Shin said
Kenji grinned
"And we'll be even stronger together." Kenji said
Kyosuke stepped forward, bowing deeply
"We understand, Lord Third. Thank you for your guidance. We'll continue to train and grow, not just for ourselves but for the good of the village." Kyosuke said
Hiruzen regarded them with pride, his gaze lingering on each of them
"You have my full support, young Uzumaki. I look forward to watching you all grow into fine shinobi, capable of shaping the future of this village. And as promised," Hiruzen said
"You'll each receive two B-rank jutsu tailored to your elemental affinities. Consider it a reward for your hard work and a token of my belief in your potential." He added with a small smile
Naruto's face lit up
"Really? Awesome! I can't wait!" Naruto said
Kakashi, who had been silently observing, finally spoke
"You've got a lot of potential, all of you. Don't let it go to waste. Until next time." He gave them a lazy wave before flipping open his book again
The brothers bowed deeply once more as the Third Hokage and Kakashi turned to leave
The air was still as they stood together, the weight of the Hokage's words settling over them
"Looks like we've got our work cut out for us." Shin said
Kyosuke nodded
"We'll keep pushing forward. The Uzumaki name will be known not just for its past but for its future." Kyosuke said
Naruto punched the air, his energy as boundless as ever
"Yeah! Let's do this!" Naruto shouted with enthusiasm
Kenji grinned, slinging an arm around Naruto's shoulders
"Together. All of us." Kenji declared
As the brothers left the training grounds, their spirits were high, their resolve unshakable
The Will of Fire burned brightly within them, fueling their determination to carve their place in the village and honor their clan's legacy