Naruto: Becoming Stronger through Bonds

Chapter 14: Want To Show Off With Shadow Clone? I Don't Agree!

____

Itachi and Ervin were both well-known geniuses in their class and even throughout the school.

Itachi's reputation was bolstered by his Uchiha surname, and he consistently achieved perfect scores in quizzes and tests.

Ervin, on the other hand, earned his reputation through sheer physical dominance, often by beating others up.

Even senior students had been on the receiving end of his strength, earning him the title of "school bully."

The two had never faced each other directly before, and debates often arose about who was stronger.

However, the majority of the school supported Itachi. The prestige of the Uchiha clan was simply too overwhelming to ignore.

Today, for the first time, the two were about to face off. The students in the class were buzzing with excitement.

"Come on, Ervin! You have to win!"

"Defeat the arrogant Uchiha!"

"Both are so cute, I can't choose... Never mind, Ervin is cuter. Go, Ervin!"

The atmosphere was electric. Most of the class cheered for Ervin, except for those who had been beaten by him in the past.

Despite his reputation, Ervin had a surprisingly warm relationship with his classmates. He didn't intimidate or alienate others unnecessarily, which made him unexpectedly popular.

Itachi, on the other hand, fit the stereotypical image of an Uchiha perfectly: quiet, contemplative, and often appearing lonely and aloof.

Hiruzen, seated nearby, straightened in his seat, his curiosity piqued by the match.

In the clearing, Ervin and Itachi stood a few meters apart, sizing each other up.

Earlier at noon, Ervin had asked Kazama to pair him with Itachi for this duel.

Graduating with the title of "genius" would leave a lasting impression on others, making it easier to strengthen bonds in the future.

And, of course, it was a good opportunity to take down Itachi.

Kazama walked between them and said, "Both sides, make the seal of opposition!"

At his command, Ervin and Itachi raised their hands and performed the seal.

After stepping back, Kazama announced the start of the match.

Itachi quickly assumed a defensive stance, but to his surprise, Ervin didn't move. Instead, Ervin turned to Kazama and said, "Teacher, I don't think I'll be able to make the seal of reconciliation today."

Before Kazama could respond, Ervin shot forward.

"So fast!"

Gasps erupted from the crowd as the first-year students saw only a blur. Ervin closed the nearly ten-meter gap between him and Itachi in an instant.

Even Hiruzen widened his eyes in surprise.

This speed… it's reminiscent of Uchiha Shisui's Body Flicker Technique!

Itachi's instincts kicked in as he saw the incoming punch. He raised his hands to block, but Ervin's speed was too overwhelming.

Itachi was hit squarely in the face before he could react.

Bang!

A puff of smoke erupted, and Itachi's form vanished from the field.

A Shadow Clone?!

Hiruzen abruptly stood up, and his guards exchanged stunned glances.

Ervin's speed and strength were impressive enough, but what shocked them even more was the fact that he had already learned the B-rank ninjutsu, Shadow Clone, in his first year—and sent a Shadow Clone to school in his place.

"Teacher," Ervin said, turning to Kazama. "I told you earlier that I couldn't make the seal of reconciliation today. But it doesn't matter. I hope Itachi comes to school tomorrow so we can fight again."

With that, Ervin raised his fingers into a seal, and his body turned into smoke, disappearing entirely.

Another Shadow Clone?!

Hiruzen sat back, utterly stunned.

This kid…

He didn't know what to say. Ervin had completely left him speechless.

Outside the campus, under the shade of a large tree, Ervin lay back with his eyes closed, leisurely taking a nap.

The Shadow Clone that defeated Itachi with a single punch hadn't been shocking enough. In the end, it had only served to let Itachi showcase his strength, leaving Ervin as little more than a supporting character.

So, before the battle even began, he quietly created a Shadow Clone to fight in his place and hid under the tree, waiting for the results to roll in.

[Host established a bond with Yamanaka Junya and was rewarded with Earth attribute Nature Transformation (Excellent).]

[Host established a bond with Nara Shikaku and was rewarded with Yin attribute Chakra (Ordinary).]

[Host established a bond with Hiraashi Eiji and was rewarded with 0.5 standard units of Jōnin Chakra.]

...

[Host established a bond with Sarutobi Hiruzen and was rewarded with Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Thunder attributes (Genius).]

---

Ervin's eyes lit up.

Hiruzen finally delivered gold coins, and what a big payout it was!

The Third Hokage, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, didn't possess any special bloodline limits. Instead, he relied on his mastery of all five elemental Chakra natures. His ability to seamlessly combine these into advanced ninjutsu made him one of the strongest Kage-level ninjas.

His strength, however, couldn't be judged based on his battle with Orochimaru.

An elderly man in his seventies, injured before the fight even began—how much strength could he realistically bring to bear?

It was fair to say that the Third Hokage and the Fourth Hokage represented the pinnacle of power achievable by an ordinary ninja.

The Third Tsuchikage could be included in this category as well, but his Dust Release fell under the unique classification of bloodline elimination, which set him apart.

Five genius-level Chakra attributes from the first stage. What kind of rewards would the second and third stages bring?

"Tsk, Grandpa, look at Hiruzen. Then look at yourself." Ervin chuckled. "No wonder you couldn't become Hokage."

Smiling to himself, Ervin activated the Body Flicker Technique, disappearing from under the tree in an instant.

Meanwhile, back at the school, chaos erupted. Kazama was on the verge of fainting.

Both students had taken the exam using Shadow Clones, and as their teacher, he hadn't even noticed.

"Continue the tests. I'll handle Ervin and Itachi later," Hiruzen said calmly, giving his orders to Kazama.

"Yes, Hokage-sama," Shuichi replied, doing his best to remain composed.

---

When all the candidates finished their tests, Hiruzen gave a brief speech of encouragement before leaving the school in a hurry.

"Summon Danzo and Uchiha Fugaku to my office," he ordered.

"Yes, Hokage-sama!"

An Anbu ninja hidden in the shadows disappeared instantly to carry out the order.

Not long after, Danzo and Uchiha Fugaku arrived at the Hokage building and exchanged glances.

Fugaku offered a polite bow, while Danzo paused briefly, his face expressionless, before heading inside.

---

That night.

After leaving the Hokage building, Danzo returned home as quickly as possible.

"Ervin! Ervin, are you asleep?"

"No."

Ervin opened his bedroom door and came downstairs, holding a book in his hands.

Danzo nodded in satisfaction. "You did well today."

Danzo was clearly pleased. Seeing the Uchiha clan suffer a setback, especially at the hands of his grandson, brought him immense satisfaction.

"It was just defeating a Shadow Clone. It's no big deal," Ervin replied casually.

"Yes, defeating one Shadow Clone isn't much," Danzo admitted in a serious tone. "That's why you'll be fighting again tomorrow."

"Hiruzen, I, and the other two elders will be there to watch, and Fugaku will also attend."

"How about it, Ervin? Do you have the confidence to defeat Uchiha Itachi?"