Chapter 5: CHAPTER 5
He didn't say anything—just struck with precision, overwhelming his opponents in an instant.
He even took down all three of them effortlessly!
This guy, Kazuki, is as ruthless as Rock Lee's brutal training regimen!
"You—you sneak attack!"
One of the boys from the Inuzuka clan, whose wild fighting style resembled Kiba's, clutched his swollen cheek in pain and glared at Kazuki in frustration.
"That's because your reaction speed is too slow." Kazuki smiled lightly, as if he hadn't just flattened his classmates moments ago.
"You brat! How dare you hit us?! Brothers, let's go all out together and teach him a lesson!" The beaten trio sprang up, their fury ignited like a pack of Akamaru's kin on the hunt. They spread out, surrounding Kazuki like a coordinated Inuzuka assault.
Despite the three rushing toward him from different directions, Kazuki remained calm. He didn't even reach for the kunai in his ninja pouch.
This was just a fight between academy students—no ninjutsu, no strategy—just brute strength.
And in a battle of pure power, Kazuki had the advantage.
While his opponents had undergone clan training, their strength was nowhere near that of someone like Might Guy, who trained endlessly. Kazuki, accustomed to wielding heavy tools daily, had built up far superior physical power.
As the closest boy lunged, Kazuki didn't step back—he advanced.
With a swift movement, he sidestepped his opponent's punch and grabbed his arm with both hands.
Like Jiraiya effortlessly tossing Naruto aside during training, Kazuki swung the boy into the air and flung him straight at the other two!
Boom!
A loud crash echoed through the classroom.
All three boys flew backward, colliding against the far wall with a resounding impact.
With just a flick of his wrist, Kazuki had sent them sprawling across the floor.
The entire class went silent.
Even Neji Hyuga, the so-called prodigy of their generation, raised an eyebrow and studied Kazuki for a moment before resuming his usual composed demeanor.
After effortlessly dispatching his opponents, Kazuki simply returned to his seat as if nothing had happened—like it was an everyday occurrence.
And in truth, to Kazuki, it was just another minor event.
So what if they were from prominent ninja clans? If they lacked true strength, they would still be knocked down!
"Heaven… Big Brother Kazuki is incredible!" Rock Lee's eyes gleamed with admiration.
As someone from a civilian background himself, he couldn't help but look up to Kazuki, who had already surpassed their clan-trained peers.
"That's right! Of course, my brother is amazing!" Tenten said proudly.
"I've made up my mind! From now on, Big Brother Kazuki will be my role model! I must become as strong as him!" Rock Lee clenched his fists in determination.
This time, no one in the class dared to mock Lee's enthusiasm.
Kazuki's strength was undeniable.
At that moment, in Kazuki's mind, the system's voice chimed again:
[Ding! New Mission Released: Complete Shuriken Projection Training – 100 Accurate Hits.]
Reward: Basic Space-Time Storage Ring Blueprint!
This time, the task's difficulty had increased.
To succeed, Kazuki had to achieve precise shuriken accuracy—a fundamental skill taught at the academy.
By their final year, most students could hit their targets with a near-perfect success rate.
But Kazuki wasn't about to follow the academy's slow training pace. He would push far beyond that.
The quest reward this time is none other than the Basic Space-Time Storage Ring Blueprint!
This is incredibly important to Kazuki.
Recently, he forged over sixty kunai of three different types—each with distinct weights and balance, inspired by the craftsmanship of legendary blacksmiths like Muramasa.
A standard ninja pouch can barely hold a dozen kunai.
Kazuki can't just walk around with an oversized storage backpack like a merchant hauling wares from the Land of Iron.
The Space-Time Storage Ring, however, is the perfect solution—an inconspicuous, portable inventory that allows him to carry a vast arsenal while keeping his secret weapons hidden.
This is why he must complete the mission as soon as possible.
For now, his kunai supply is sufficient.
Thus, forging more can be set aside for the time being.
Instead, he will dedicate all his time and energy to perfecting his shurikenjutsu—his accuracy, speed, and control—all in pursuit of mastery.
After school,
Kazuki and Tenten walked out of the Academy together.
"Brother, that's not the way home, is it?"
"I'm heading to the training ground to practice shuriken. Do you want to go home or tag along?"
"Heehee, no one's home right now. Of course, I'm coming with you!" Tenten grinned mischievously.
Kazuki nodded. "Perfect. You can train with me."
The two quickly made their way to the training grounds.
However, they soon ran into a problem…
All the training fields were occupied!
Since neither of them had reserved a spot in advance, they were now met with the frustrating reality of a fully booked facility.
Just as disappointment began to set in, a familiar voice called out.
"Kazuki! Tenten! You guys here to train?"
It was Rock Lee, radiating his usual enthusiasm.
"Yeah, but there's no space left," Tenten sighed.
"You can train with me!" Lee exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. "The training ground I booked is huge! There's more than enough room for the three of us!"
"Really? That's awesome!" Tenten's eyes lit up.
"Thanks a lot," Kazuki said, accepting the offer without hesitation.
Together, the three entered the spacious training ground.
Without delay, Kazuki set up a series of wooden targets, then retrieved a handful of shuriken from his pouch. His movements were practiced and fluid—reminiscent of Itachi Uchiha's legendary shuriken techniques.
Tenten followed suit, mirroring his precision drills.
Watching them, Lee couldn't help but marvel.
"Kazuki-kun is so skilled! He already moves like a true shinobi!"
Lee came from a civilian background.
Unlike those from prominent clans or families with ninja lineage, his household couldn't afford the luxury of expensive weapons or chakra-infused scrolls.
As a result, Lee had no knowledge of ninjutsu, genjutsu, or advanced weapons training.
Though his work ethic was unmatched, his training was limited to physical conditioning—rope-jumping, push-ups, and endurance drills, much like how Might Guy had trained as a youth.
"Want to give it a try?"
Tenten offered one of her shuriken to Lee.
"N-no, it's fine!" Lee shook his head, declining politely. "I'll stick to my fist training! By the way, Kazuki-kun, the way you handled those bullies earlier today was amazing!"
Despite his words, Lee couldn't hide the flicker of envy in his eyes.
Being from a ninja tool shop family, Tenten had access to an abundance of high-quality weapons.
Meanwhile, Kazuki was casually throwing dozens of shuriken in rapid succession—each one worth a small fortune in ryo.
The sheer cost of those shuriken alone…
For Lee's family, such an expense was unimaginable.
Hours passed.
The sun sank toward the horizon, streaking the sky with hues of crimson and gold.
As darkness began to settle, Kazuki finally lowered his arm.
Training was about improvement, not just endurance.
If his vision was compromised, continuing to throw would be pointless. Reckless practice wouldn't refine his skills—it would only build bad habits.
Understanding this, he decided to stop for the day.
Before leaving the training ground,
Kazuki unexpectedly handed his ninja pouch to Lee.
"Kazuki-kun… w-what are you…?"
"This is for you," Kazuki said.
Lee's eyes widened.