As the chakra, vast as the deep sea, receded, countless gazes turned toward Naruto.
They whispered cautiously among themselves, stealing glances at him—the protagonist of their murmurs.
"Konoha Village has gained another terrifying monster, it seems."
"I heard his name is Uzumaki… Naruto. Even in the Ninja Academy, he was called a prodigy."
"He's a bit handsome, sure, but with moves that ruthless... I guess we can't judge by appearances anymore."
"Monster... Monster... He's a real monster. Pray you don't face him in a match."
---
"I am Might Duy, a Genin of Konoha. Pleased to make your acquaintance!"
A rough, booming voice cut through the hushed discussions in an instant.
Naruto's face darkened slightly. That rough voice, that messy hairstyle, that sharp and eccentric attire…
The Might family's reputation for having only one descendant per generation wasn't without reason.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto, also a Genin of Konoha."
Pausing, he rubbed his temples, his voice indifferent. "Might Duy, what exactly are you trying to do?"
After speaking, Naruto's expression showed a hint of helplessness, his tone carrying deep resignation.
Might Duy was famously stubborn. Those who had crossed paths with him often likened him to a piece of sticky toffee.
Once he set his mind on something, he would cling to it relentlessly…
Moreover, Might Duy's fiery temperament and peculiar behavior made him an oddity.
Even until his death, Might Duy remained a mere Genin, while his contemporary, Hatake Sakumo, had already gained reputation across the Five Great Nations.
But to underestimate Might Duy? That would be a grave mistake—the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were a testament to that.
"Naruto-kun, I challenge you to a duel right here and now!"
With a dazzling smile that revealed his gleaming teeth, Might Duy's black eyes fixed intently on Naruto's indifferent face.
"No. You're too troublesome."
Naruto brushed off the dust on his clothes and declined Might without hesitation.
"Rejection is part of youth! But even if you refuse now," Might Duy said, raising a thumbs-up and speaking in his signature loud voice, "I'll keep coming back until you agree to duel with me!"
Naruto shuddered at the words, beginning to understand how troublesome this guy is.
---
Ding!
A system notification rang in Naruto's mind.
[Character quest triggered.]
[Task Objective: Defeat Maito Dai using Taijutsu.]
[Reward: Eight Gates Formation (No Side Effects).]
[Failure Penalty: None.]
Hearing the task, Naruto's expression shifted slightly.
"The system's playing games with me again?!"
That was Naruto's first reaction upon seeing the task. Competing in Taijutsu against
Might Duy…
Wasn't that like showing off swordsmanship in front of Hatake Sakumo? Absolutely absurd.
After weighing the pros and cons, Naruto made a quick decision. Better to defeat Might Duy here and now than endure his constant harassment.
With a deep exhale, Naruto calmed his irritation.
After a moment of thought, his cold voice rang out, "Fine, Might Duy. Stop being annoying. I'll accept your challenge."
"Wonderful! Facing strong opponents to surpass oneself—this is youth!"
Naruto frowned slightly, his lips twitching as he spoke, "This place is too crowded. Let's go to the second floor."
With that, he pushed off with his foot, leaping directly to the second-floor plaza.
"Ah, youth waits for no one!" Might Duy exclaimed joyfully, shaking his head. "But I will not lose!"
Imitating Naruto's move, Might Duy bent his knees slightly, then propelled himself up to the second floor.
Meanwhile, Mikoto and Kushina hurriedly followed Naruto, grumbling as they went.
"This is all Naruto's fault for being so flashy. Look at the trouble it's caused."
"You can't entirely blame him, Kushina. Showcasing your team's strength can help deter unnecessary problems."
The two women exchanged a glance, then spoke in unison: "But he's overdoing it."
Back on the first floor, the crowd exchanged uneasy looks, too wary to approach this "calamity."
---
When Mikoto and Kushina reached the second floor, a group had already gathered in the plaza, forming a human ring.
The crowd murmured amongst themselves.
"It's that monster from earlier and that eternal Genin, Might Duy. What are they up to?"
"Didn't you hear on the first floor? They're going to duel."
Pushing through the throng, Mikoto and Kushina finally caught sight of the scene.
Might Duy was stretching his joints, producing sharp cracking sounds. "I'm coming for you."
"Hurry up. My patience is wearing thin."
Naruto stood with his arms crossed, his gaze briefly catching sight of Mikoto and Kushina. The corner of his lips curled into a faint smile.
"Naruto-kun, focus! He's attacking!" Mikoto shouted in alarm.
Might Duy stomped his left foot forcefully, his figure vanishing in an instant.
Suddenly, he appeared behind Naruto, shouting, "Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
Naruto shifted slightly, showing no intention of dodging. He simply kicked out.
Boom!
The collision of their strikes sent shockwaves rippling through the air, cracking the floor beneath their feet.
========================
HAPPY NEW YEAR!🎇