NARUTO: GOD LEVEL FORGING SYSTEM

Hyūga Neji's pale, pupil-less eyes suddenly shrank in shock.

The Chūnin instructor and the academy students watching from the sidelines had similar expressions of disbelief.

In an instant, Kazuki vanished, leaving only a flickering afterimage—his body completely disappearing from Neji's field of vision.

"What?!"

Gasps rippled through the spectators.

Neji, still in his signature Jūken stance, momentarily froze.

"The Konoha Whirlwind!"

When Kazuki's figure reappeared, it was already behind Neji.

Despite possessing the Byakugan, which granted him nearly 360-degree vision, Neji couldn't react in time—Kazuki's speed was simply too overwhelming!

Bang!!

A powerful right-leg kick struck with explosive force.

Almost instantly, sharp pain shot through Neji's spine as the impact sent him crashing to the ground.

Before he could even recover, Kazuki had already maneuvered on top of him, locking his arms behind his back while pressing a foot against his spine.

The momentum of the match shifted in an instant—students who had just been cheering for Neji moments ago now had their expressions frozen in shock.

In mere seconds, the fight had taken a drastic and unexpected turn!

"The assessment is over! Kazuki wins!"

The Chūnin instructor wasted no time in announcing the result.

"That was so fast!"

"One move?! Kazuki took down Hyūga Neji with a single move?!"

"No way! Kazuki was hiding his strength all along?!"

"He's the strongest in our class?! The top student?!"

The students standing outside the training field erupted in disbelief.

Up until this moment, everyone assumed Neji, a prodigy of the Hyūga clan, was the most formidable student among them.

But he had been defeated—so easily.

Some of the girls who once admired Neji for his noble lineage, exceptional talent, and stoic demeanor now found their affections wavering.

Wasn't it more impressive to be both stronger and more mysterious?

"All right, Kazuki—get off Neji and perform the Seal of Reconciliation."

Suppressing his own astonishment, the Chūnin instructor addressed Kazuki.

"Yes, sensei."

Kazuki rose to his feet.

He extended a hand toward Neji, signaling reconciliation.

On the surface, the fight had seemed quick and simple—Kazuki had overwhelmed Neji instantly with brute force.

But in reality, Neji's strength wasn't weak. Even now, he was already at a level equivalent to a Genin.

For Kazuki to defeat him in just one strike…

A tremendous amount of strategy had gone into it.

Hyūga Neji's Byakugan could detect chakra flow, making him extremely difficult to deceive with standard Bunshin no Jutsu or Kawarimi no Jutsu.

Instead of relying on weapons or misdirection, Kazuki had chosen to face him with pure taijutsu.

Against absolute speed and power, even the most refined techniques were useless.

Moreover, Kazuki had deliberately executed Konoha Reppū, a signature move of Might Guy and Rock Lee.

His goal wasn't just to defeat Neji.

He wanted to send a message to those who were watching from the shadows.

Kazuki knew that after today's match, he would draw the attention of influential figures.

By demonstrating a connection to Might Guy's fighting style, he had subtly aligned himself with the famed taijutsu specialist—something that could work to his advantage in the future.

As Kazuki stepped off the battlefield,

His closest friends, Rock Lee and Tenten, rushed over.

"That was incredible, Kazuki!" Lee exclaimed, his fists clenched in excitement. "I thought it would be a long, drawn-out battle, but you took him down in an instant! Your progress is astounding! Truly a rival worthy of me!"

"My brother is the best!" Tenten chimed in with a mischievous grin.

"…How did you do it?"

A voice, tinged with frustration, cut through the air.

Hyūga Neji, supported by his teammates, walked forward. The lingering ache from Kazuki's kick was still fresh in his spine.

"What do you mean?"

"I was already in my Eight Trigrams Field… How were you still able to move?"

"Oh, that."

Kazuki responded with calm indifference.

"It's simple. I'm stronger than you—your Gentle Fist can't restrict me."

"Stronger than me..."

Hyūga Neji whispered softly.

His normally composed expression was shaken, his pale lavender eyes reflecting disbelief. The weight of his clan's teachings pressed down on him, yet the undeniable truth in front of him fractured his convictions.

"Don't act like you're some untouchable genius. You're still far from the top."

"And destiny?" Kazuki scoffed, crossing his arms. "It isn't set in stone. As long as you have the will to fight, you can change the outcome."

He patted Rock Lee on the shoulder, his smile brimming with confidence.

"Look at us—we're proof that hard work can make a genius."

Hardworking genius...?

Neji stood frozen, his Byakugan inactive, yet his vision seemed more clouded than ever. The words struck deep, echoing like the final impact of a well-placed Gentle Fist strike.

Could hard work truly surpass the limits of fate? Could a caged bird break free simply by willing it so?

For the first time, doubt crept into the foundation of his beliefs.

---

After the final examinations...

As expected, Kazuki's name topped the results board—the undisputed first place of the class.

Rock Lee and Tenten had also proven their strength, ranking impressively in both combat and strategy. No longer did their classmates dismiss them. No longer were they just the "other students" overshadowed by clan prodigies.

Their results spoke for themselves.

"Let's go celebrate our victory after school!" Lee declared, clenching his fist with burning determination.

"Barbecue! Barbecue! Barbecue!" Tenten chanted, tapping the desk in rhythm.

Kazuki smirked. "Sounds good. Meat is the best food in the world."

"R-Roast meat...?" Lee hesitated. He knew the cost of barbecue was far from cheap, and his current allowance was barely enough for basic ninja gear.

"I'll cover it today!" Kazuki said with a grin. "Eat as much as you want—no holding back!"

"That's too much…" Lee instinctively wanted to refuse. Kazuki had already helped him before, gifting him kunai and weighted training gear—things Lee could never afford on his own. Accepting more kindness felt unfair.

"It's fine! My brother runs a ninja supply store—he's practically rolling in ryo!"

"Well, if you insist…" Tenten teased, nudging Lee with her elbow.

"If you feel guilty," Kazuki added with a smirk, "just be my sister's sparring partner. Keep her on her toes so she doesn't slack off."

"I do not slack off!" Tenten pouted, crossing her arms.

Laughter filled the air as the three of them walked toward the barbecue shop, their bond growing stronger with every step.

---

Meanwhile, at the Ninja Academy...

A Chūnin instructor carefully sorted the results of the final assessment. Holding the report firmly, he made his way toward the Hokage's office beneath the towering Hokage Rock.

He exhaled, deep in thought.

If the Third Hokage reads this report...

He's going to be surprised.

Inside the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind a mountain of scrolls and paperwork, his pipe resting between his fingers. The steady rhythm of his brush barely wavered as he listened to the instructor's report.

Then—he paused.

His eyes lifted slightly, gaze sharpening.

"This year's top student… wasn't the Hyūga boy?" His tone was calm, but the hint of intrigue was unmistakable.

"No, Hokage-sama." The Chūnin instructor bowed slightly. "The highest score belongs to Kazuki, the son of Takeshi, owner of the ninja supply shop."

Sarutobi's brows furrowed.

A civilian boy… surpassing a Hyūga prodigy?

"Interesting," the aged Hokage mused, exhaling a thin trail of smoke.

He stretched out a wrinkled hand.

"Bring me this boy's combat evaluation."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

The instructor promptly laid the sorted documents before him.

Sarutobi's eyes scanned the details, his expression unreadable.

Moments later, the Chūnin instructor departed, leaving the Third Hokage alone in thought.