____________
The pages of Volume Nine began turning rapidly under the fingers of eager readers, and with them began the battle everyone had been waiting for.
Uzumaki Naruto against Inuzuka Kiba. It was no mere clash between two genin, it was a confrontation between "the failure" who carries a great dream, and "the predator" who trusts in his instincts and raw power.
That Naruto was a "failure" was precisely how Kiba saw him in this moment. Kiba's last memories of Naruto, as revealed in the manga, were of someone who couldn't even perform the Transformation Jutsu properly, let alone stand across from him in a fight.
A flashback appeared: Naruto in the Academy classroom, transforming into a ridiculous imitation of the Third Hokage.
At first, Iruka and some of the students thought Naruto was trying to be funny, but it soon became clear he hadn't done it on purpose. He simply couldn't execute the technique correctly.
[— Manga Scene —]
"You fell for it… hahaha!!"
Naruto laughed, biting down on Kiba's arm after the transformation dissolved, revealing that the "Kiba" he'd grabbed was no Akamaru.
"You… you transformed!"
Kiba was completely stunned, as was every spectator in the arena.
"Agh, damn it, let go!!"
"Where's Akamaru?!!"
"You smell like a dog!! Bleegh, bleegh!!"
Naruto released his arm and coughed violently from the stench of dog, but almost immediately, another Naruto appeared, holding Kiba's dog.
"Over here…"
"Ohhhh…"
"Akamaru!!" Kiba screamed in fury.
"There's no way Naruto could pull off something this cunning using Shadow Clones and the Transformation Jutsu at the same time…"
Or at least, that was what Shikamaru had believed until now.
"That can't be the real Naruto? He's keeping up with Kiba, no, he might actually be doing better." Ino said, stunned.
"He has good timing with his moves." Temari gave Naruto her quiet approval.
"He's better than I expected…" Kankuro added.
'He's genuinely impressive… he struck his opponent with cunning and made him lose his temper.'
Neji thought to himself, a sharp smile on his lips.
'He's grown during the exam.' Kakashi thought, smiling beneath his mask.
'Heh, now that's a surprise…' The Third Hokage was smiling as he watched.
"It seems you've gotten a little stronger… but this is the end. I'm going to get serious now."
Back on the arena floor, Kiba made his decision.
"Oh yeah? Then you'll still never beat me!"
Naruto replied with a mocking grin.
[— End Scene —]
In the Art Store, Kushina, being an Uzumaki herself, was cheering for Naruto naturally and without reservation, even before the full truth of her bond with him as her future son had been confirmed.
He carried the same surname as her, and that alone was reason enough for her unconditional support.
The smile on her face was radiant as she spoke. "Minato! That scene in the Academy… it hurt my heart watching him fail at the transformation, but that's all in the past now!"
"Right here, in the present, he tricked Kiba in the cleverest way possible. He's not just using strength, he's using his head too!"
Minato nodded slowly, his eyes glowing with quiet admiration.
"He's exceeded everyone's expectations, Kushina. Kiba, in the manga, is still living in the past, he sees the 'failure' Naruto was back in the Academy. But the Naruto standing before him now is a fighter who grew up in the middle of real battles. Using Transformation alongside Shadow Clones simultaneously requires precise chakra control, something he sorely lacked before."
…
Elsewhere, Jiraiya, watching with a broad grin, gave a small nod of satisfaction.
"Haha! That's not exactly what I'd been hoping to see, but… well, at least he didn't stay on the ground long enough to embarrass himself further!"
Tsunade laughed softly, glancing over at Nawaki and Kato Dan, who were watching with eager expressions. "He has the same fierce spirit as you, Nawaki, doesn't he?" she asked, looking at her younger brother.
"Me? You must be exaggerating my worth, sis…"
Nawaki looked flustered at the idea of his older sister comparing him to Naruto, him, who had nothing particularly special about him aside from being the grandson of the First Hokage and the brother of one of the Sannin.
"No, you two actually share quite a few similarities," Kato Dan said with a gentle smile. He had been noticing the resemblance between Naruto and Nawaki throughout the whole series.
Hearing that, Nawaki grew even more flustered… they were comparing him to his favorite character. This was Naruto they were talking about.
"Well, who would have expected that Naruto, who always seemed a bit dim, would have this kind of respectable battle intelligence? Nawaki, Dan, what do you two think?"
Nawaki cried out with enthusiasm: "He's amazing! I want to learn how he does that!"
While Kato Dan smiled calmly and said, "He has a pure heart, and that's what's making him grow this fast. Naruto isn't just an ordinary shinobi, the best thing about him is that he never gives up. Kiba, who fears Gaara, will never be able to stand against a Naruto who fears nothing."
"That's exactly what I think too!" Tsunade smiled in agreement.
"Sharp eye on this one…" Jiraiya remarked approvingly, nodding toward Kato Dan.
As for Orochimaru, he watched in complete silence, his narrow eyes focused with unsettling intensity.
"Uzumaki Naruto… the failures at the Academy were simply a necessary prelude, given his particular circumstances as a jinchūriki. His true power lies in his capacity to adapt. He made his opponent lose focus and lose his temper, and anger is the first enemy of the senses."
"If Kiba continues down this path, he'll lose before he even realizes it."
…
At the head table, Uzumaki Mito smiled with quiet wisdom.
"Uzumaki Naruto… that boy is beginning to grow more mature, more aware of his own true worth, Hiruzen."
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a slow stream of pipe smoke, his eyes following Naruto's mocking grin on the manga page.
"Yes, Mito-sama. He reminds me of the Second Sensei, that same ability to find solutions in the middle of chaos."
"Tobirama? Hmm… you may be right."
Danzo, as was his nature, cut in coolly: "Comparing this child to the Sensei, have you lost your mind, Hiruzen?"
"Tsk. He's still undisciplined. But one cannot deny that his development is… interesting. Even so, his true power has yet to emerge. The Nine-Tails is still sleeping."
…
At the Inuzuka clan's table, the atmosphere was thick with tension.
Tsume Inuzuka stared at Kiba in the manga with barely concealed regret. "You fool! Kiba, stop underestimating him! We as readers know what Naruto has been through, we know he faced Zabuza and Haku, and we know what's hiding inside him."
"The Kiba in the manga thinks he's fighting a failure, but he's actually fighting a sleeping beast that hasn't shown its claws yet!"
Rin Inuzuka nodded with concern: "Tsume-san, if Naruto gets angry… that red chakra… Kiba won't last even a second against it. The problem is that Kiba is provoking him far too much right now, and if he keeps pushing Naruto toward the edge, he'll open the gates of hell on himself."
"That makes no sense. I don't think Kiba could push Naruto into using the Nine-Tails' chakra… the gap is too large."
One of the Inuzuka clan members shook his head solemnly and said what he believed to be the plain truth.
…
Nearby, Sakumo watched young Kakashi, who hadn't lifted his eyes from the manga for even a single second.
"What do you think, Kakashi? Do you still believe Kiba has the advantage?"
Kakashi adjusted his posture and answered in a voice carrying a note of quiet astonishment:
"Naruto… he's genuinely unusual. He used the Transformation not to hide, but for a direct attack. The Kiba in the manga relies entirely on his senses, and Naruto simply poisoned those senses with deception."
Sakumo's smile widened. "Precisely. Naruto reminds me of those who thrive in the heart of chaos. His opponent is strong, but lacks the mental flexibility Naruto just put on display."
Not far from them, Maito Dai was shedding tears of youth as he watched Naruto's unwavering determination.
"Guy! This is it! This is the true explosion of youth! Naruto didn't give up despite the fierce blow, despite everyone's contempt; he rose to create his own glorious moment!"
Young Guy responded with matching passion, already mimicking his father's tears: "Yes, Father! He's burning bright! Naruto is my role model for perseverance! I'll do 500 push-ups right now to celebrate this brilliant transformation!"
Dai laughed and patted his son on the back. "That's the spirit! Naruto proves that hard work and intelligence can overcome any natural talent!"
"Even so, I don't think we've seen anything yet! Let's keep reading, come on, now is not the time for push-ups! On to the next chapter, quickly!"
…
In the corner reserved for the Uchiha clan, where calm and gravity reigned, black eyes, and some red, followed the manga's pages with sharp focus.
Hoguako Uchiha, the current clan head, had his hands clasped before his face, watching Naruto's movements with precision. He had already advanced to Chapter 76, which covered the continuing battle between Naruto and Kiba.
"Hmm, soldier pills? It seems Kiba is planning to escalate things by feeding one to his dog…"
"Oh, is this the famous Inuzuka clan's combined technique? And the Tunneling Fang variation within it…"
"Whatever it is, Father… Kiba is still far too weak. Mentally, he's the weakest among all these young fighters," Fugaku said with a cold expression. He had no patience for those who surrendered without a fight, and Kiba's attitude toward Gaara had been painfully transparent. Pure, unmasked fear.
"It seems Sasuke is out of luck, he won't be able to watch Naruto's battle…" Mikoto sighed with genuine regret, her thoughts occupied entirely with her son's current condition.
"The Uzumaki and the Uchiha… it seems the future will revolve around these two names alone. Let us watch how this chapter ends. The Uzumaki storm has not yet begun."
____________
Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
____________
Chapter 173: No One Ever Tried to See the Real Naruto!
Chapter 174: The Main House and the Branch House!?
Chapter 175: A Future Beginning to Change…
Chapter 176: Toxic Words
____________
Support the journey and unlock advanced chapters!
If you're enjoying Rob's story, his journey of publishing the Naruto manga inside the Shinobi world, and the impact it has on the world, and you want to know what happens before everyone else… there's always a way to stay ahead.
I work on this novel every day, developing its world and chapters, and every bit of support helps me keep delivering higher-quality content at a faster pace.
By supporting me on Patreon, you'll get exclusive access to advanced chapters before they're released to the public. You can move ahead in the story and read up to 30 chapters in advance!
📚 Support Tiers:
$5 → Read 5 advanced chapters
$10 → Read 10 advanced chapters
$15 → Read 15 advanced chapters
$20 → Read 20 advanced chapters
$30 → Read 30 advanced chapters
Every bit of support, even a small one, makes a real difference and helps me continue writing this journey that we're experiencing together.
Join now and start reading the stacked chapters before everyone else:
Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/BlackStar_BH
You can also get the same benefits on Ko-fi:
https://www.ko-fi.com/blackstar_bh
Thank you to everyone who supports the story and believes in this world. You are the reason it continues. ❤️
____________