Chapter 26 (Patreon)

Team 7 had finally finished their B-rank mission. Yet on the second day after returning to Konoha, they were already back to doing dull D-rank missions.

Pulling weeds, collecting trash, walking dogs... Did anyone remember that they were ninja?

Naruto, however, was secretly pleased. His shadow clone was handling those chores while his real body traveled around the shinobi world.

He needed to grow stronger quickly, and earning points through [Killing Heart] was the best way to do it. So he had started hunting bounties through the black market. Before taking on any new targets, he had sold Zabuza’s head for a considerable reward.

With Kagura’s Mind’s Eye and the two supernatural abilities he had recently acquired, Naruto had become a deadly assassin. Used together, they allowed him to kill even jōnin.

The greatest advantage of [Ever-Changing] wasn’t that it let him take on someone else’s appearance like the Transformation Technique. Even being able to maintain that appearance after taking a hit wasn’t its most valuable feature.

It could conceal the Nine-Tails’ chakra inside him, keeping even powerful sensory ninja from detecting it.

Without that, changing his appearance would accomplish very little. Anyone who sensed the Nine-Tails’ chakra would immediately recognize him as Konoha’s jinchūriki. If word of his activities reached the village, he would be in serious trouble.

Before long, rumors began spreading throughout the shinobi world about a powerful bounty hunter: a masked woman with red hair, believed to be a descendant of the Uzumaki clan.

When the Third Hokage heard those reports, he immediately thought of the person responsible for the two earlier explosions in Konoha. He dispatched ANBU to investigate, but Naruto detected them with Kagura’s Mind’s Eye and stayed well clear of them.

To travel faster, Naruto also upgraded the Explosion Release ability he had obtained from Deidara. He could now create a bird out of explosive clay and ride it through the sky at high speed.

He could afford the upgrade. With each successful assassination, his points continued to accumulate.

His status panel now looked like this:

...

Host: Naruto Uzumaki (Male, wearing sunglasses)

Age: 12

Strength: Elite Chūnin

Chakra Natures: Wind, Water, Earth (granted by the Sage Body)

Special Title: [Killing Heart]

Points: 1,000

Supernatural Abilities:

Ever-Changing

Immortal-Binding Rope

Bloodlines:

Uzumaki Clan Sage Body (Level 4, God-Level Bloodline)

Deidara’s Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai (Level 2)

Skills:

Uzumaki Clan Sage Body — Innate Abilities (Advanced): Immense Chakra Reserves, Adamantine Sealing Chains, Kagura’s Mind’s Eye, Physical Healing, Aptitude for Sealing Techniques

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, Clone Technique, Substitution Technique, Exceptional Chakra Control, Flying Thunder God Technique...

C-rank Wind Style Ninjutsu, C-rank Earth Style Ninjutsu, C-rank Water Style Ninjutsu

Items:

...

In just two weeks, Naruto had traveled all across the country, leaving Flying Thunder God markings wherever he went. There was no telling how many places now bore his own version of “Naruto was here.”

Then, one day, after his shadow clone finished another dog-walking mission with Sasuke and Sakura, he challenged Sasuke again.

He wanted to finish that long-term mission as soon as possible, claim its mysterious reward, and keep increasing his strength.

Through his sensory ability, he could tell that more and more ninja from other villages were arriving in Konoha. The Chūnin Exams were drawing near.

That meant he might soon come face-to-face with Orochimaru.

He had to keep training. At the very least, he needed enough strength to protect himself instead of being helpless against someone like that.

“Sasuke, how about another match?” Naruto’s shadow clone asked, looking over at him. “You’ve been training all this time too. You must’ve gotten stronger.”

Sasuke gave him a sidelong glance.

“Don’t get full of yourself just because you learned a B-rank Wind Style jutsu on your own. Kakashi taught me Chidori and the Body Flicker Technique.”

Naruto blinked in surprise.

“When did you learn the Body Flicker Technique? I never saw you practicing it in the Land of Waves.”

“The day after we got back. Kakashi taught it to me.” A trace of satisfaction entered Sasuke’s voice. “Maybe he thinks I have more talent than you.”

Damn it!

So Kakashi really was giving Sasuke special treatment.

Just then, two young ninja with distinctive outfits approached from the opposite direction. Having overheard their conversation, one of them spoke with undisguised contempt.

“So this is what Konoha’s come to. Learning the Body Flicker Technique is enough to make you think you’re impressive?”

Naruto’s shadow clone and Sasuke looked up.

As Naruto had expected, the newcomers were Kankurō and Temari.

Both were fairly strong for their age, probably already at the level of chūnin. Naruto suspected they had only entered the exams to form a team with Gaara and help carry out the plan to destroy Konoha.

Whatever their reason for being here, he wasn’t about to let them insult him.

Putting up with people in his own village was bad enough. Now two outsiders thought they could walk into Konoha and push him around too?

Beside him, the proud Sasuke was even less willing to tolerate their remarks. He immediately fixed them with a glare.

Naruto grinned.

“Perfect timing, Sasuke. Let’s each take one. Whoever puts their opponent on the ground first wins our fifth match.”

He spoke as though defeating the two Sand ninja would be easy, casually turning them into opponents for his own competition with Sasuke.

“Fine by me.” Sasuke looked at Kankurō with a cold smile. “I’ll take him. I’d rather not fight a girl.”

“As if I make a habit of picking on girls,” Naruto said with a laugh. Then he added under his breath, “Your mother might disagree, though.”

Sasuke had already drawn a kunai and was watching Kankurō closely. He hadn’t quite caught Naruto’s last remark.

“What did you say?” he asked, turning his head.

“Nothing.” Naruto shook his head.

At that moment, Sakura caught up with them from behind.

“What are you two doing?”

Then she noticed Kankurō and Temari. Her eyes moved to their forehead protectors.

“You’re from another village. What are you doing in Konoha?”

Kankurō let out a mocking laugh.

“You really don’t know anything, do you? We’re here for the Chūnin Exams. Don’t tell me you haven’t even qualified to enter.” He looked from Sakura to the two boys. “And you still think you can challenge us?”

“Konoha ninja are getting awfully arrogant,” Temari said dismissively.

“Enough talking!” Naruto’s shadow clone cut in before the exchange could go any further. “You Sand ninja sure like to talk. Keep your mouths open like that and they’ll fill up with sand.”

He gestured toward the training grounds.

“Come on. We’ll settle this there.”