NARUTO: GOD LEVEL FORGING SYSTEM

It has also become a taboo in the village, much like the subject of the Uchiha Clan massacre, and can no longer be mentioned.

But this is enough to prove that in the world of ninjas, age is not a measure of a person's strength—as seen when young prodigies like Kakashi became Anbu at thirteen or when Itachi achieved the same at eleven.

"It turned out to be Yamato (Tenzō), the captain of the Second Anbu Assassination Unit, personally conducting the test. Now it's interesting!"

"I don't think this kid is simple. Look at him—no stage fright at all! Such composure is rare, even among Chunin. That kind of calmness is something only a seasoned shinobi like Kakashi had at his age!"

"If this kid can really hold on for five minutes against Captain Yamato—who was trained directly under Danzo and Orochimaru—he'll have bragging rights that'll last him through every mission. Hahaha!"

…

The surrounding discussions continued endlessly.

Kazuki directly ignored these gazes.

He followed Yamato, stepping onto the middle of Training Ground Three—a field known for witnessing countless legendary battles—and adjusted his battle stance.

"Let's start," Yamato said curtly, his tone reminiscent of his ANBU discipline, as he assumed his defensive Wood Release stance.

Kazuki nodded. With a flash of dark light around his ankle, he dropped the weighted sandbags—just like Rock Lee did during the Chunin Exams.

The next second—

He had no intention of holding back.

In an instant, he became a white whirlwind, his body moving with the speed reminiscent of Rock Lee's "Konoha Senpū" (Leaf Whirlwind) from the Chunin Exams.

"Konoha Gōriki Senpū! (Strong Leaf Whirlwind!)"

Blue chakra enveloped his calf and sole in an instant.

Whoosh! With a sharp whistling sound, Kazuki's kick—powered by raw taijutsu—fiercely targeted Yamato's flank.

This blow carried Kazuki's full strength from the start.

Facing an elite ninja like Yamato—a Wood Release user groomed for Anbu Black Ops—underestimating him was suicidal.

Kazuki had already resolved to display his full power.

Not with the intent to kill, but to honor Yamato's strength by going all out—just as Might Guy taught him: "A true challenge deserves your full power!"

His full-speed charge caused a wave of exclamations from the crowd.

Even to the trained eyes of the Anbu present, Kazuki's movements seemed like afterimages—impossible to track, even with their battle-honed reflexes!

His speed at this moment surpassed Rock Lee's speed after removing his weights during the Chunin Exams against Gaara, approaching the velocity of Lee after opening the First Gate (Kaimon)!

His years of relentless training under Might Guy, starting from the age of five—seven years of non-stop physical conditioning—had culminated in this explosive power and speed.

The crowd fell into a stunned silence.

A shared question arose in their hearts: Could we reach this speed?

The chilling answer hit them hard: No... we can't.

Despite being full-fledged Anbu, their action speed—honed by years of deadly missions—was still inferior to that of this twelve-year-old boy!

"So fast!" someone gasped in disbelief.

"This... If I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't believe that a twelve-year-old could achieve such monstrous speed!"

"Wait... Isn't that Senior Might Guy's Konoha Taijutsu technique?! How did this kid... Has he trained under Guy-sensei?!"

"It's no wonder Hokage-sama personally chose him for Anbu. This boy... he's already a monster in the making!"

The astonishment was not limited to the onlookers.

Even Kakashi Hatake, the proctor of this Anbu selection and a veteran of countless battles, found his usual lazy demeanor replaced by surprise and admiration.

He knew Kazuki had trained under Guy before, but to execute the "Konoha Gōriki Senpū" with such precision and power at this age... it was beyond his expectations!

It felt like witnessing the birth of another genius—one that reminded him of his old rival, Might Guy, and the raw determination of Rock Lee.

Kakashi's lone eye narrowed with interest. He felt a tinge of guilt for underestimating Kazuki earlier.

But now? His gaze sharpened with newfound seriousness.

Yamato, standing in the center of the battlefield, felt the pressure firsthand.

In the blink of an eye, Kazuki had closed the distance—his extraordinary speed faster than the average Anbu Shunshin (Body Flicker Technique).

"So fast!" Yamato's eyes widened in shock, recognizing that this speed was no fluke. This boy had forged his body to the limit, just like Might Guy's training philosophy dictated.

A boy of twelve... standing shoulder to shoulder with the elite.

This was no ordinary prodigy.

This was a future legend in the making.

However, Yamato possessed the strength of an elite Jōnin, and his reaction speed was exceptionally sharp.

At the instant Kazuki's right leg swept forward in a powerful kick—

Snap! The final seal in Yamato's hand was completed.

Boom!

A thunderous impact erupted—

Yamato's body was sent flying into the air from the force of the blow—

But it instantly transformed into a wooden stake, which burst apart mid-air into a shower of splintered wood fragments—

Substitution Technique!

Yamato, having performed the classic substitution jutsu, reappeared at a distance.

His hands already formed the necessary seals as he declared:

"Wood Style: Silent Strangling Binding Technique!"

The moment his voice fell—

The once-flat training ground bulged and cracked.

Thick, gnarled tree trunks erupted from the earth, growing and twisting at incredible speed—

Rushing straight toward Kazuki!

From the sidelines, astonished voices erupted:

"That's the Captain's Wood Release!"

"He's using his Wood Style right from the start? The Captain must really see this kid as a threat!"

"To witness the legendary Wood Style, a jutsu known to be used only by the First Hokage… We're in for a show!"

Yet, Kazuki showed no sign of surprise.

Without turning his head, he raised his elbow—

"Konoha: Rock-Shattering Rise!"

Crack!

The instant his elbow collided with the oncoming tree trunk—

A web of fractures raced across the bark—

Splintering it from the point of impact, thin cracks spreading in all directions—

"Break!" Kazuki roared.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A rapid chain of explosions erupted—

The massive trunk linking him to Yamato shattered from the inside—

Bursting into countless fragments that scattered through the air!

"What—?!" Yamato's eyes flashed with shock.

He hadn't expected his Wood Release—known for its resilience—to be obliterated by raw taijutsu alone!

The disbelief quickly faded into a focused, grave expression.

"He destroyed my Wood Release… with pure physical power?!"

It was clear to Yamato now—his opponent was more formidable than he had assumed.

Wood Release techniques, known for their binding strength, were usually highly effective against power-based fighters.

But Kazuki wasn't a typical power-type combatant.

Power-focused shinobi were usually slow, their raw strength leaving openings for faster, more agile opponents.

Yet, from Kazuki's movements just now—his speed outstripped even elite Jōnin standards.

"A formidable opponent indeed…"

Behind his mask, Yamato's brow furrowed.

"A direct confrontation won't work. I need another approach to gain the upper hand."

At this moment, even Yamato himself realized—

He no longer saw Kazuki as a mere challenger.

He was facing an equal—an opponent worthy of his full strength.

Yamato's hands flew into a new series of seals.

"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

A jutsu born from the legendary techniques of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju—

A pinnacle of the Wood Release, accessible only to those with the First's bloodline limit.

Yamato poured his chakra into the earth—

Suddenly—

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The ground ruptured.

Tree seedlings burst forth, growing at a speed visible to the naked eye—

Within moments, the entire training ground transformed into a towering forest—

Vast trees, thick with foliage, stretched skyward, casting a labyrinth of shadows across the battlefield.

The onlookers gasped in disbelief:

"That… That's the First Hokage's legendary jutsu!"

"Unbelievable! Captain Yamato has mastered the First's secret technique!"

"This is it! Nobody escapes Deep Forest Emergence! It's over for that kid!"

The colossal forest now engulfed the entire arena—

Kazuki stood at the heart of the dense woodland—

But the battle was far from over.

The forest itself became his enemy—

Vines and roots surged toward him from every direction—

A relentless, choking tide, seeking to bind and crush him—

But Kazuki was already in motion—

Weaving through the jungle, his form a blur—

Roots lashed and trunks crashed—

But none found their mark.

The forest hunted him—

But he was faster.

Suddenly—

Whoosh!

A whip-like vine shot forward—

Its sharpened tip pierced straight through—

Kazuki's body.

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