Chapter 146: Naruto's First Showdown! Battle against Akimichi Chōji
A week passed in the blink of an eye. The Ninja School's first full-school practical combat test officially began. The atmosphere throughout the school was completely different from usual. The air was filled with a tense yet excited aura.
Several temporary combat arenas had been set up on the training ground. To prevent accidents, not only were there school teachers, but also several medical ninja, and… several powerful Jōnin. Kurenai Yūhi was among them. She had been appointed by Akira as the chief supervisor for this full-school practical combat test. Her gaze swept through the crowd and quickly found Naruto and Hinata.
Hinata stood there quietly, while Naruto was eagerly rubbing his hands, looking ready for action.
"Hmph, dead last, don't come crying for mercy later," Inuzuka Kiba came over, a look of provocation on his face.
"What did you say! You loser!" Naruto immediately retorted, unwilling to be outdone.
"Alright, everyone quiet down!" Iruka Umino stood on the high platform and announced loudly. "The Ninja School's first practical combat test now begins! The test will start with the upper grades first!"
At Iruka's command, the upper-grade students were the first to step onto the arena. The battles were more intense than anyone had imagined. Soon, students were injured and carried away by medical ninja. The lower-grade students, watching this scene, all turned pale. They finally realized that the Fifth Hokage's reforms were not a joke. This was a real battle! And people really would get injured.
Finally, it was the first-year students' turn.
"First match, Uzumaki Naruto versus Akimichi Chōji!" Everyone's eyes immediately focused on Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto. The Fifth Hokage's personal disciple. What kind of performance would this former dead last deliver today?
"Naruto-kun, good luck," Hinata quietly cheered for Naruto, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Don't worry, Hinata!" Naruto grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, and confidently walked onto the arena. "Watch me send that fatty flying!"
On the other side, Akimichi Chōji was a bit nervous. He glanced at Shikamaru beside him. "So troublesome…" Shikamaru yawned, looking half-asleep.
"Why am I the first one?" Chōji complained quietly.
"No choice, that's how the draw went," Shikamaru shrugged, "Go on up, just fight casually, don't push yourself too hard."
"But… my opponent is Naruto." Ever since the last ninja tool throwing class, Naruto's strength had been infinitely elevated in Chōji's eyes.
"Tch, what are you afraid of?" Inuzuka Kiba, standing nearby, scoffed with a dismissive curl of his lips. "Being good at throwing doesn't mean being good at actual combat. What are you scared of? You're a whole size bigger than Naruto! Chōji, just use your strength to crush him!"
After listening to Inuzuka Kiba, Chōji gained a little confidence. He took a deep breath and stepped onto the arena.
"Chōji, don't go easy on me!" Naruto took a stance and shouted at Chōji.
"I… I won't!"
"Match start!" Iruka gave the command.
"Here I come!" Chōji roared and launched the first attack. His massive body, carrying an astonishing momentum, charged straight towards Naruto.
In the stands, many students gasped in surprise. "Chōji's strength is immense!" "Naruto's going to be sent flying!"
Uchiha Sasuke stood in the crowd, arms crossed, watching the scene coldly. "Idiot, only knows how to use brute force."
Facing Chōji's overwhelming charge, Naruto did not retreat. His face even wore a hint of an excited smile. Just as the 2 were about to collide, Naruto's body, with a slight shift, sank to the left. His toes lightly tapped the wooden arena floor. He narrowly avoided Chōji's frontal impact.
Boom! Chōji couldn't stop himself and crashed into the railing at the edge of the combat arena. The entire platform shook violently.
"What?" Inuzuka Kiba's eyes nearly popped out. "He… he dodged it?"
Chōji shook his slightly dizzy head and suddenly turned around. Naruto had already regained his footing and beckoned him with a finger. "Chōji, you're too fat, you won't hit me like that."
"You bastard!" Chōji was completely enraged. He roared and charged again, this time swinging his large, pot-sized fists. Whoosh! This punch was powerful and heavy.
Naruto did not choose to meet it head-on. He leaned back, dodging the punch, while simultaneously kicking Chōji's lower body with his right foot. Chōji's lower body was extremely stable; he only swayed slightly and retaliated with a sweeping strike. Naruto performed a backflip, creating distance.
The 2 exchanged blows, fists and feet flying. Naruto constantly moved around the arena, looking for Chōji's weaknesses. Each of Chōji's heavy punches carried a whistling sound, but they always struck empty air.
"Are you just going to run, Naruto?!" Inuzuka Kiba shouted impatiently from below the stage, his Akamaru barking twice in response.
Nara Shikamaru, standing nearby, frowned slightly. He watched the sweat continuously seep from Chōji's forehead and his increasingly heavy breathing. "This is troublesome. Chōji's stamina is being rapidly depleted."
"Huff… huff…" Chōji stopped, hands on his knees, his chest heaving violently. Sweat had already soaked the hair on his forehead. "Chōji, are you okay?" Naruto also stopped, standing at the other end of the arena.
"I… I'm fine!" Chōji gritted his teeth and suddenly looked up. He couldn't lose. He absolutely couldn't lose here!
"Naruto!" "Take this!" Chōji roared, his body beginning to curl in an uncoordinated manner.
"That is…" "Akimichi Clan's secret technique!" The students below the stage gasped in surprise.
"Oh no!" Shikamaru's face instantly changed. "Chōji! You idiot! You haven't fully mastered that jutsu yet!"
However, Chōji on the arena could no longer hear any sound. "Human Bullet Tank!"
Boom—!!! The massive body transformed into a giant, rapidly spinning meatball, charging wildly towards Naruto with an air of crushing everything in its path! The wooden planks of the arena cracked inch by inch under this force, sending wood chips flying. This attack was unstoppable!
However, facing this world-shattering attack, Naruto stood still, unmoving. Just as the giant meatball was about to hit him, Naruto's figure suddenly became somewhat ethereal. Bang! A soft sound. Naruto's body turned into a puff of white smoke. Only a wooden stump, shattered into pieces from the impact, remained in his place.
Body Replacement Jutsu.
Rumble—!!! The Human Bullet Tank, having lost its target, crashed violently through the railing at the edge of the arena with unstoppable force. The entire arena shook violently. Chōji disengaged from the high-speed spin, stumbling to his knees, the immense exhaustion causing stars to burst before his eyes.
"Where… where is he?" Chōji shook his dizzy head, struggling to find Naruto's figure.
Behind Chōji, Naruto's figure suddenly appeared. Behind him! Chōji realized. And just as Chōji turned around, Naruto's tightly clenched right fist, carrying a sharp whooshing sound, landed a powerful punch squarely on Chōji's stomach.
Bang! Chōji collapsed to the ground, clutching his stomach, struggling a few times but unable to get back up. The immense exhaustion, combined with Naruto's powerful punch, completely incapacitated Chōji.
Watching this scene, Uchiha Sasuke's brows couldn't help but furrow tightly. When did Naruto get so strong? Damn it! But Naruto! Don't celebrate too early, the top student this year will definitely be Uchiha Sasuke!
On the high platform, Kurenai Yūhi's beautiful eyes sparkled with admiration. She had witnessed Naruto's progress; he was indeed worthy of being Akira's chosen disciple. Iruka was stunned for a long moment before finally reacting and raising his hand.
"Winner, Uzumaki Naruto!"
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