Chapter 78 – A Serious Punch
Kurama in the Sealing Space perked up the moment it heard this.
Naruto had always been too outstanding, leaving it with no face to speak of.
It couldn't even beat him at cards.
There'd been no chance at all to show off its greatness as the strongest Tailed Beast.
Now that opportunity had landed in its lap, it only wanted to say: "Thanks for the assist, old bro Shukaku."
The Tailed Beasts had their own private chat channel.
While Gaara and Rock Lee were fighting inside the arena, Kurama cleared its throat.
"Hello, hello, can you hear me?"
Shukaku, who'd been asleep, jolted awake.
It thought it heard Kurama's voice in a dream.
"Stupid cat!"
Kurama roared.
The chat box shook like crazy.
"..."
Not a dream, then.
Following the aura, Shukaku spotted Naruto in the stands.
"What?"
"Little fatty, let the kid in green off the hook later."
"Say what?"
Shukaku wondered if this Kurama was some demon in disguise.
Since when had Tailed Beasts turned so kind?
You're not exactly vegetarian.
"Quit yapping, just do as I say."
Kurama said irritably.
The more it dragged on, the less imposing it looked.
"Hmph, Kurama, times have changed."
Shukaku replied casually.
The Sage of Six Paths isn't around, and you're locked in a little dark room.
Pot, meet kettle.
Think you can jump out and hit me?
If you dare show your face, Konoha will gladly shove you back in.
"Little fatty, are you asking for death?!"
Kurama's fur exploded.
It could let most things slide, but not in front of Naruto—yet Shukaku showed zero respect.
Naruto couldn't help chuckling.
"What are you laughing at?"
Kurama stamped inside the Sealing Space. "Let me out and I'll flatten them all—human and beast alike!"
"I just remembered something happy."
Naruto answered on reflex with a line etched into his DNA. "Ahem, don't panic. I'll teach you three lines; it'll agree at once."
"Really?"
Kurama clearly didn't believe it, yet curiosity won. "What three lines?"
"Tell it: if it refuses, after the exam we'll ambush it on the road."
"..."
Kurama had expected something else.
But this style suited it perfectly.
Negotiation by threat.
"So?"
Kurama boasted, "Your Jinchuriki can't beat Naruto—he's already using my Chakra. No chance at all."
"You'd compromise with humans?"
Shukaku knew exactly what that meant.
For Kurama's temperament, it was unthinkable.
"Tailed Beasts shall never be slaves! Kurama, you've betrayed us!"
"Hmph, stupid cat!"
Kurama's intellect seized the high ground. "You wouldn't understand. Anyway, yes or no?"
Shukaku suddenly thought of its previous Jinchuriki, Bunpuku.
It fell silent.
Kurama never lied.
If it said ambush, it would ambush.
Getting pinned to the ground would cost more than face.
"You win this round, Kurama. Next time, we fight in the desert!"
Shukaku hurled a final threat, quit the channel, and blocked Kurama.
"Like you'd win even in the desert."
Kurama shot back.
But the message couldn't be delivered.
The frustration—Ma Fei.
"Permission granted, Lee—take them off."
Might Guy flashed a proud thumbs-up.
Naruto turned his gaze to the arena.
After Lee's probe failed to pierce the enemy's armor,
he initiated his first evolution.
Ditching his weights, he sent up twin clouds of dust.
Blinding speed ignored Newton's coffin lid and batted Gaara around like a ball.
But possessing the Absolute Defence—maternal sand thick as a mother's love—his shield was too thick.
Lee's Primary Lotus failed.
He unlocked his second state.
Super evolution!
Eight Gates!
Fierce Chakra erupted like a volcano, unbelievably powerful.
Lee's hair shot up, his body flushed crimson.
"Now is the time to uphold my ninja way—Gate Five, the Gate of Limit, OPEN!"
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
Kakashi beside him explained to Sasuke and Sakura what the Eight Gates were.
Simply put, open the eight Chakra junctions.
But the cost was unimaginable pain.
Open all eight, and death was certain.
For Lee to open five at his age made him a one-in-ten-thousand genius.
Yet after being benched so long, by the finale he'd only reach six.
Truly regrettable.
Gaara became a genuine punching bag, pummeled by five-gate Lee.
Hidden Lotus!
A thunderous boom.
No less shocking than Neji's earlier Spiraling Sword.
Everyone stared in awe.
Konoha's dead-last—terrifying!
Dust settled.
Lee's cheat time expired.
He lay on the ground, drained of strength.
Gaara, about to use Desert Coffin, froze.
His Chakra cut out for a moment.
Just long enough for Guy to arrive and stop the killing blow.
"At least the idiot knows when to quit."
Watching from inside, Kurama lifted its chin smugly. "Well? Naruto, I still carry weight, right?"
"Big or not, I don't know—but it's definitely thick."
Naruto quipped.
"Hinata, do your best."
Ignoring Kurama's protest, he patted Hinata's shoulder.
"I—I'll try!"
Hinata's fingers fidgeted.
Under so many eyes she felt mortified.
Yet she couldn't ignore Naruto's encouragement.
In the arena Choji let out a burp.
Too many chips just now?
"Hinata, watch out."
Choji warned.
The next instant his body spun.
Human Bullet Tank!
Hinata's gaze turned serious—she mustn't let Naruto down.
She struck with all her might.
Blue airflow burst forth.
As if the sky itself silently wrapped everything.
Asuma, chatting with Kurenai, suddenly paled.
He vanished, hands blazing scarlet.
Air tore, flames dimmed.
A mighty force shoved him back.
Asuma spun, pinned Choji, and stared gravely at Hinata.
This once-delicate Hyuga heiress was clearly no weaker than Neji.
Naruto scratched his head.
Hinata still didn't grasp the situation.
After hanging around Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji, she thought herself average.
Yet even without Sage Mode, with Naruto's help she'd long since become a genius among geniuses.
Neji flinched.
With his Byakugan he saw it clearly.
The power Hinata had exploded with in that instant was enough to shock him.
Like everyone else, he'd underestimated her.
"Hinata."
Naruto waved her over.
Flustered, Hinata hurried off the field.
Gekko Hayate glanced at Asuma, received a nod, and declared Hinata the winner.
Matches continued.
"Naruto-kun, I..."
"No need to say anything."
Naruto pinched her cheek and smiled. "Well fought."
He turned to see Sasuke finish off his opponent, a kunoichi from Otogakure, with a Great Fireball Technique.
"Why copy me?"
Naruto asked.
"???"
Sasuke's face was all question marks.
What do you mean copy you?
Great Fireball is a Uchiha Ninjutsu.
I'm the original.
Yet the original couldn't beat the knock-off, which stung a bit.
So Sasuke returned coldly to Sakura and Karin.
Nothing worth writing about in the rest of the prelims, so we'll skip ahead. Tomorrow starts a new chapter—fourth Shadow Clone, Mangekyo, Orochimaru's plan, etc. P.S.: Thanks to all you awesome readers for helping the series rank up again this week!