Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

"Hey! Are you underestimating me? Why give me a defective product?"

Raiden Uzumaki stood frozen, staring at the armor in his hands, a deep crack running through its surface. His voice carried a mix of disbelief and indignation. He had merely tapped it lightly with Totsuka Blade, and yet the armor broke so easily.

The attendant who had handed him the armor was equally stunned, unable to process what had just happened. "That's impossible!" the attendant stammered. "This armor is made in the village's arsenal! It's inspected before distribution—there shouldn't be any defects!"

Yuhi Makoto stepped forward, squinting at Raiden's weapon. "Raiden, calm down," he said, his voice steady but curious. "I don't think the problem lies with the armor."

Raiden raised an eyebrow, his tone sharp. "What are you implying? That I'm just trying to cause trouble?" He examined the cracked armor more closely, his irritation simmering. Then, something caught his eye—an incomplete seal etched faintly into the surface.

"Ah... so that's it," Raiden muttered to himself. "The armor had a defensive barrier, but it was compromised by Totsuka Blade's cutting power. The chain reaction weakened it."

An Unexpected Arrival

Before Raiden could delve further into his thoughts, a loud, boisterous voice echoed through the room.

"Who's causing trouble in my guard unit?"

Raiden turned to see a towering man striding toward them. He was broad-shouldered, with muscles bulging beneath his taut Anbu uniform. His rugged features were framed by an unshaven face, and his small eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and authority.

"Who's this brat?" the man asked, his voice booming as he looked Raiden up and down.

Yuhi Makoto stiffened slightly. "Vice-Captain Yabuki Shingo," he said in a respectful tone. "This is Uzumaki Raiden, the newest addition to the guard."

"Newest addition, huh?" Shingo's lips curled into a smirk. "Listen up, kid! I'm Yabuki Shingo, vice-captain of this unit. And you've got a lot of nerve causing a scene your first day here."

Raiden tilted his head, his expression unimpressed. "Aren't you a bit old to be playing the role of the big bad bully?"

Shingo's grin faltered for a moment, his veins twitching with irritation. "What did you just say?" he growled, stepping forward. His towering frame loomed over Raiden, and the air around him grew tense with unspoken challenge.

The Tension Escalates

"Alright, alright!" Yuhi Makoto interjected, stepping between them. "Let's not get carried away. It's just a misunderstanding."

Shingo's response was to shove Makoto aside with a single arm, sending him stumbling backward. The force was so great that Makoto nearly fell to the ground.

"Hmph, weakling," Shingo sneered. "I don't know why Hokage-sama lets a scrawny guy like you into the guard. And you!" He jabbed a finger at Raiden. "What's a little runt like you doing here? You think you can handle this?"

Raiden sighed, his patience wearing thin. "You've got muscles in all the wrong places," he said coolly. "Including your brain."

Shingo's face turned red with fury. "That's it, kid! You're asking for it!" He raised his massive fists, preparing to throw down.

Before he could react, Raiden's hand shot out, slamming against Shingo's chest with incredible force.

A Surprising Turn

The impact sent Shingo flying backward like a cannonball, embedding him into the wall with a deafening crash. Dust and debris rained down as cracks spiderwebbed across the stone surface.

The room fell silent for a moment, save for the sound of debris settling.

"Oh my!" one guard whispered.

"The vice-captain... with one blow?" another murmured in disbelief.

Raiden dusted off his hands, his expression unbothered. "For someone so cocky, you sure go down easy," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Shingo groaned as he pushed himself out of the wall, his uniform torn and dust clinging to his skin. Instead of anger, a broad grin spread across his face.

"Well, I'll be damned," Shingo said, brushing himself off. "You're stronger than I thought, kid. I like that."

Raiden raised an eyebrow. "You like that? Then you're going to love this."

Without warning, Shingo lunged forward, his fists raised high above his head. The sheer force of his movement sent a gust of wind rushing through the room.

"Raiden, get out of the way!" Makoto shouted from the sidelines.

Raiden's expression turned cold as Shingo's fists descended toward him. "In this day and age," Raiden muttered under his breath, "can anyone just walk into the Shadow Guard?"

(End of Chapter)

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