Naruto: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

Chapter 112 The Third Hokage Instructs Him in Martial Arts (15/16)

The smoke and dust slowly dissipated.

Shinichi straightened up and slowly raised his right arm. The standard longsword made of fine steel in his hand had been completely shattered, turning into countless fragments scattered all over the ground.

He took a deep breath, glanced at the remaining hilt of the knife in his hand, and without hesitation tossed it aside like trash.

"This power is terrifying!"

"Even the knife is broken!"

"Oh no! Is Shinichi still alright?"

A collective gasp and worried exclamation rose from the stands, and many people stood up nervously, their palms sweating.

"ha!"

In the center of the arena, the warrior who had landed a successful blow let out a triumphant low roar, pulled his halberd from the deep crater with one hand, and casually flicked it to shake off the gravel and dust clinging to the blade.

However, he did not press his advantage and simply casually placed the heavy halberd beside him, the tip of which lightly touched the ground with a dull thud.

They simply waited quietly, their eyes seeming to say: Go find new weapons, let's continue.

"Huh? He didn't continue his attack?"

"It seems like they're waiting for Shinichi to get his new weapon?"

"This...this guy actually has some sense of martial ethics?"

"I've never seen such elaborate techniques used when we were using muskets or stepping on toes..."

'

A murmur arose from the audience, a mixture of surprise and slight change in opinion.

Although the methods were still despised, the gesture of pausing the attack when having an absolute advantage and waiting for the opponent to regroup unexpectedly resonated with the audience's perception of the etiquette of samurai duels in the Land of Iron.

On the high platform, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, watched this scene unfold, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

He pondered for a moment, then raised his hand to signal. One of the undercover agents who had been standing in the shadows behind him immediately stepped forward and bowed, ready to obey.

It was his eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke.

"Shin-no-suke." The Third Hokage took a scroll from his robes and handed it to him, saying, "Go, give this iron rod to Shinichi."

During the time that the Monkey King trained Shinichi, he did more than just train his physique; he also taught him the staff techniques of the Monkey King clan.

The Third Hokage knew that Shinichi's staff skills were also extremely refined, no less than his swordsmanship.

Upon hearing this, not only was Shinnosuke slightly taken aback, but even the two advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, showed obvious surprise.

A solid iron rod!

Of course they know what it is.

That was the Third Hokage's most frequently used personal weapon when he was young. It was made entirely of a special metal, making it heavy and tough.

Most people associate the Third Hokage's symbolic weapon with the Vajra Staff, but this weapon was transformed from the Monkey King and cannot be used anytime, anywhere. Moreover, the Third Hokage, as a master of staff techniques, was not born with staff techniques; he had to practice regularly.

So the Third Hokage in his youth also had a weapon he used for sparring and daily practice—the Iron Rod!

This staff accompanied him through countless battles until his strength gradually increased. He could defeat ordinary enemies with his bare hands, but when he encountered a powerful foe, he would directly summon the Spirit Ape Demon King to transform it into the Vajra Ruyi Staff.

This iron rod was gradually sealed away, more as a memorial.

Now, the Third Hokage is actually going to hand it over to Shinichi Higashino for use in this situation?

Koharu Utatane frowned, seemingly wanting to speak but holding back, while Homura Mitokado gave the Third Hokage a deep look, as if he understood something, and ultimately did not object.

"Yes, Third Generation Lord." Shinnosuke suppressed the turmoil in his heart, accepted the order in a low voice, and instantly disappeared from the high platform.

The next moment, he appeared beside Shinichi in the arena, handing him a storage scroll with both hands.

"Shinichi-kun!" Shinnosuke's voice, though low through the mask, carried a clear hint of goodwill: "This is the weapon the Third Hokage used in his youth—the Iron Cudgel!"

Upon hearing this, Shinichi's face showed a perfectly timed expression of surprise as he solemnly accepted the scroll with both hands: "The Third Hokage's weapon from back then?"

Shinnosuke nodded, then couldn't help but add in a low voice, "The Third Hokage has high hopes for you, but Shinichi, you have already performed exceptionally well, far exceeding everyone's expectations. Don't push yourself too hard. Remember, no matter the outcome of this match, Konoha and the Hokage are proud of you."

"I understand, thank you, senior."

Shinichi took a deep breath, his eyes regaining their firmness and sharpness. He held the scroll horizontally in front of him and quickly formed a simple hand seal with his other hand.

"untie!"

A burst of white smoke revealed a long staff, over two meters long, entirely black, with a faint metallic sheen running through its body, slightly thicker at both ends, and with a simple and unadorned design, which he held firmly in his hand.

It's heavy to the touch!

The solid feel brought by the density far exceeding that of ordinary steel is like holding a miniature mountain. The stick is cold, but you can seem to faintly feel its inherent toughness and fierceness after being tempered by the fires of war.

Shinichi weighed the iron rod in his hand, flicked his wrist, and the rod drew a smooth arc in the air, producing a deep and pleasant sound of wind breaking.

He looked up, first towards the high platform, and then solemnly nodded toward the Third Hokage.

He then turned to the burly warrior in the center of the arena who was patiently waiting and carrying a halberd. He gripped the iron staff with both hands, one in front and one behind, and assumed a starting stance that combined offense and defense.

His aura seemed to become more solid and profound with the acquisition of this heavy weapon, as if he were more closely connected to the ground beneath his feet.

"Mr. Isshin! I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!"

Shinichi's clear voice echoed in the gradually quieting arena: "Let's continue."

"Interesting lad!" Isshin laughed loudly, swinging his halberd from his shoulder, the blade pointing at Shinichi: "Then let's go!"

Before he finished speaking, another wave of air exploded beneath his feet. His burly body dragged the heavy halberd, and like an ancient ferocious beast charging forward, he charged towards Shinichi once again with a violent aura that could crush everything!

Zhenyi's gaze was calm and composed. He neither flinched nor dodged, his feet firmly planted on the ground as he held the iron rod horizontally in front of him.

"Thump!!!"

The next moment, the crescent blade of the halberd and the shaft of the iron rod once again engaged in a clash of ultimate power and mass, devoid of any fancy moves!

A deep, resounding boom, like the tolling of an ancient bell, accompanied by flying sparks and visible shockwaves, heralded the official start of a new and even more intense battle!

This time, when Shinichi, wielding the iron rod, slid back only two steps before firmly standing firm against the terrifying impact!

The stick hummed, but remained completely undamaged!

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The collision between the iron rod and the halberd rang out continuously, like heavy hammers striking war drums, producing a deep, heavy, and awe-inspiring roar!

Each impact generated visible shockwaves and scattered sparks. The ground beneath their feet continued to crumble and sink, the battle zone expanded, and dust filled the air.

Zhenyi wielded the heavy iron rod with wide and wide moves that were also exquisite and varied. He smashed, swept, picked, and stabbed, making the heavy iron rod seem like an extension of his own arm. The rod's shadow was so thick that it was both impenetrable in defense and fierce and powerful in attack!

He actually fought to a standstill with a foreign warrior wielding a terrifying heavy halberd and possessing unparalleled strength, and the two were evenly matched!

"My God! Shinichi...."

...Is his staff technique that good too?!

"Isn't he famous for his swordsmanship? His staff skills look pretty impressive!"

"His strength seems immense, easily on par with his opponent!"

"That was a brilliant move!"

The audience gasped in amazement; Shinichi had once again shattered their expectations.

On the high platform, advisors Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu watched the young man below, wielding a long black iron staff and calmly maneuvering and counterattacking amidst the shadows of halberds. Their eyes were somewhat dazed, as if they were seeing a scene from decades ago through time.

"This staff technique...this momentum..." Koharu murmured, her tone complex.

"So similar..." Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses, his gaze filled with reminiscence, and couldn't help but sigh, "When Hiruzen was young, he was just as sharp and steadfast as a mountain."

"hehe...."

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, didn't say much, but simply stroked his beard with a contented smile, his eyes barely concealing amusement.

The battle is raging on the field!

"drink!"

With a sharp look in his eyes, Zhen seized the moment when Yi Xin's sweeping halberd was about to lose its power. He changed his footwork quickly, his body cutting into the gap in the opponent's halberd shadow like a fish. He used his iron rod to stir and guide the halberd shaft, and then the rod tip, like a poisonous dragon emerging from its cave, stabbed fiercely into Yi Xin's abdomen with a spiraling force!

Phoenix amidst flowers!

This strike cleverly utilizes the opponent's strength and inertia; the timing, angle, and force are all exquisitely precise!

"Um?!"

He was struck in the chest and abdomen, and his burly figure was knocked back more than ten meters by the enormous force.

"good!"

"Hit!"

The audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

"Squeak squeak squeak squeak!!!"

However, a series of sharp, violent, and ear-piercing sounds, like the shrill cries of thousands of birds, suddenly rang out, interrupting the cheers of the audience. A violent, azure lightning, like a lightning snake breaking free from its restraints, instantly spread from his right arm, which was tightly gripping the halberd, and wrapped around the heavy halberd!

The blade and tip of the halberd crackled with blinding arcs of electricity, emitting a chilling, explosive sound!

The air seemed to be ionized, filled with a scorching atmosphere!

It was from Kakashi that he learned Chidori. Not only that, Isshin went a step further and spent some time incorporating the form-changing techniques of Rasengan into it.

The power is more controllable, and the form is more refined!

"What?!"

"Lightning... Lightning Release?!"

"How does this samurai know Lightning Release ninjutsu?!"

"Isn't he a samurai from the Land of Iron?!"

The entire audience gasped in astonishment. The samurai of the Land of Iron were actually using the nature transformation of Lightning Release chakra, which completely overturned their understanding!

"It's not over yet! You Konoha ninjas!"

With a loud laugh, he stomped his feet on the ground and launched himself into the air again!

With the halberd in his hand, crackling with boiling lightning, he cleaved down towards Zhenyi with the force to shatter everything!

Lightning Release: Chidori Blade!

This attack not only contained the previous terrifying brute force, but also added the unparalleled penetrating power, speed and paralyzing effect of Lightning Release!

In a flash, Zhen's eyes focused, and he raised the iron rod horizontally overhead with both hands.

"boom!!!"

The thunder halberd clashed with the iron rod once again!

But this time, the sound was completely different! In addition to the loud bang of metal colliding, there was also the booming of lightning!

Blinding lightning exploded at the point of contact between the halberd blade and the staff, rushing wildly toward Shinichi's arm and entire body!

"Well!"

Zhenyi groaned, feeling his arms go numb instantly. His body was pushed backward by the immense force of the halberd mixed with thunder, his feet carving two deep trenches in the ground!

"Oh!"

Shinichi let out a low growl, his arm muscles tensed to the limit and suddenly exploded, skillfully deflecting and turning in the direction the halberd blade was pressing down!

Amidst the sickening clang of metal scraping against metal, the incredibly heavy halberd, crackling with lightning, was actually moved slightly to the side by him!

However, just as Shinichi was about to move the halberd with all his might, his old strength was gone and his new strength had not yet been generated, and his body was paralyzed by the lightning and his movements were stiff.

Isshin's left leg, which shot up like a battle axe, seized the fleeting opening and delivered a solid, unadorned kick to Shinichi's abdomen, which was tilted forward due to the force of the kick!

"Bang!"

A heavy, muffled thud.

Shinichi was thrown backward like a stone launched by a catapult, flying in an arc before his back slammed heavily against the hard stone wall at the edge of the arena, dozens of meters away!

"Boom!"

The stone wall was dented by his smashing, covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and filled with smoke and dust.

"Cough cough..."

""

Shinichi slid down the wall, kneeling on one knee. He barely managed to keep from falling by using his iron rod for support. He coughed a few times, thinking to himself, "That's enough. I've seen and felt enough! Next..."

"This is incredible! This samurai's power and techniques are simply endless! He even used lightning release!"

"He's nothing but a ferocious beast in human skin!!"

"It's incredible that Shinichi could do this! How old is he? His body hasn't even fully developed yet!"

"Yes, if given a few years, he might be able to... no! He definitely can!"

In the audience, voices of worry, regret, and amazement surged like a tide.

Many people have already realized that although Shinichi is exceptionally talented and his skills are amazing, he is ultimately at a disadvantage in the face of absolute strength, physique and the opponent's endless stream of strange abilities. The difference in their physical abilities is particularly obvious at this moment.

But it wasn't really Zhenyi's fault; it was just that the child was too young.

He's only ten years old; he hasn't even reached puberty yet.

boom!

Just as the audience was discussing among themselves, the samurai present did not waste any words. He exerted force with his feet again, and his burly body, like a giant beast from the barbaric era, charged towards Shinichi again with a suffocating sense of oppression!

The heavy footsteps, like war drums, struck the hearts of everyone, eliciting another gasp.

Facing the enemy charging forward again in a frenzy, Shinichi took a deep breath, his right hand forming a sword shape with his fingers together, and a blood-red flame suddenly ignited on his fingertip!

The flame wasn't large, but it was terrifyingly solid, with a deep dark red center that emitted a scorching heat that caused the air around his fingertips to distort slightly.