NARUTO: GOD LEVEL FORGING SYSTEM

The clothes on his back were already soaked in cold sweat.

And the chakra in his body had long been depleted.

"I lost…"

A wry smile appeared beneath the Yamato mask.

Then, in a weak voice, he admitted defeat.

At that moment, the entire training ground fell silent.

All eyes were locked onto Kazuki, filled with shock and disbelief.

This newcomer, who had only just joined the Anbu…

Had actually defeated Captain Yamato right in front of them!

"Mink… Is he really only twelve years old?"

"This level of strength is terrifying!"

"To have defeated Captain Yamato at such a young age… his future is simply limitless!"

As murmurs spread among the Anbu, they all fell silent once more.

Yes, the young boy before them—only twelve years old—

Yet his presence, posture, and sheer power already reflected the makings of an elite shinobi.

Many among the Anbu couldn't help but look at Kazuki with newfound respect and admiration.

At that moment, from the distance, Kakashi, the Anbu Commander, strode forward with urgency.

"Quick! Call the Medical Corps!" he ordered.

The stunned Anbu members quickly carried out their superior's command.

Since the Anbu headquarters was near the Konoha Hospital, the medical ninjas arrived swiftly.

"Who's injured?" one of them asked.

"It's Captain Yamato," an Anbu ninja replied.

But before they could tend to Yamato, Kakashi stepped forward,

grabbing the medical ninja's arm and pulling him toward Kazuki.

"Yamato has only suffered some surface wounds. He'll be fine," Kakashi said, his tone serious.

"But check this boy first."

Yamato: "???"

Minister… am I just invisible to you?

I'm one of your most trusted captains, and yet you're more worried about a rookie?

Kazuki was also taken aback.

Taking half a step back, he frowned.

"I'm not injured. What's there to check?"

Kakashi ignored his protest, speaking firmly.

"It's alright, Mink. I know just standing here must be taking all your strength."

"You've already won this match, and your power has been acknowledged by everyone here."

"There's no need to push yourself any further."

Kazuki's expression filled with disbelief.

What am I pushing myself for?

With a helpless sigh, he said,

"I'm really not injured."

But Kakashi remained unconvinced.

"Mink, you've even learned the Eight Gates…"

"Don't tell me you don't understand the toll it takes on the body?"

"When the Fourth Gate opens, the muscles begin to tear apart."

"And just now, you opened the Fifth Gate—forcefully unleashing an overwhelming chakra burst."

"The damage to the body is severe. If you don't get treatment now, you could end up with permanent injuries that will impact your future as a shinobi."

Kazuki spread out his hands in exasperation, his expression completely innocent.

"But I opened the Fifth Gate, and I don't feel any pain."

"There's no damage to my body at all."

Kakashi's expression stiffened.

"…Wait, what did you just say?"

He blinked, then repeated the question in a more serious tone:

"You mean… you opened the Fifth Gate of the Eight Gates Formation… and took no damage?"

"You didn't feel any pain? No side effects?"

Kazuki nodded.

Kakashi's face was filled with disbelief.

Shaking his head, he muttered,

"No… that's impossible… Even Gai… when he opens the Fifth Gate, his whole body suffers because his capillaries rupture from the chakra strain…"

Kazuki chuckled and cut him off.

"What Guy-sensei can't do… doesn't mean I can't."

Kazuki looked at Kakashi with an expression of disbelief before simply dragging the medical-nin to his side. Rolling up his sleeves, he said, "Then give me an examination."

The medical-nin, dedicated to his craft, conducted a thorough inspection of Kazuki's body. After completing the examination, he arrived at the same conclusion Kazuki had stated earlier.

"There's no damage to his body," the medical-nin confirmed with a nod. He then turned to treat Yamato, who had sustained minor skin injuries.

Kakashi was momentarily stunned before he blurted out, "How… how is that possible?"

Kazuki smiled and explained, "Lord Kakashi, you can believe it now. So far, I've opened five gates, and my body remains completely unaffected."

"You developed this on your own?" Kakashi asked in surprise, scrutinizing Kazuki with newfound interest.

"No, this is the result of rigorous training with my teacher, Might Guy," Kazuki corrected firmly.

Kakashi let out a deep sigh. Speaking to himself, he murmured, "Guy once told me he had an apprentice with extraordinary talent—someone who might only appear once in a century. At the time, I didn't believe him."

A wry smile crossed Kakashi's lips as he continued, "Now, it seems he truly has found a once-in-a-millennium genius. With this level of strength and determination, even my sensei, the Fourth Hokage, would be impressed."

A hint of regret settled in Kakashi's heart, along with a tinge of envy for Might Guy.

He regretted rejecting Kazuki's father, Takeshi, in the past. Takeshi, a civilian shinobi, had once approached Kakashi, asking him to mentor his son. However, Kakashi had declined, believing that training a commoner's child would be a waste of time.

Yet now…

This young man, Kazuki, possessed extraordinary talent.

And the envy? That was because Might Guy had become Kazuki's mentor. With such a gifted disciple, Guy's reputation and status within the village would rise even further.

Moreover, Kazuki hadn't just inherited the Eight Gates Technique—he had refined it alongside Might Guy, working to minimize its harmful effects on the body. If their modifications succeeded, the Eight Gates might even cease to be classified as a forbidden technique.

Instead, it could become a powerful, accessible jutsu—one capable of unleashing incredible power without an unbearable cost.

Kakashi could already foresee it:

In the near future, the name "Kazuki" would be known throughout the ninja world, synonymous with the Eight Gates.

Kazuki stepped forward and asked Kakashi, "Now, can I assume the position of an Anbu squad captain?"

Kakashi nodded. "Of course. In terms of raw strength, you've already surpassed the level of an Anbu captain. You're even stronger than the leader of the Second Assassination Unit, Yamato. There are very few within Anbu who can match you."

"However, you lack experience in real missions," Kakashi continued. "So for now, I can only appoint you as the captain of the Third Assassination Unit. Are you satisfied with that?"

Kazuki nodded indifferently. "That's fine."

To him, being a captain meant no more mundane tasks—no more running errands, patrolling, or other trivial duties. Instead, he could choose his missions, focusing on assassinations and earning commendations and commissions.

This level of authority was practically the same as that of a jōnin.

After Kazuki's promotion to squad leader, he didn't immediately begin missions. Anbu required time to organize a proper team, assigning capable shinobi to his unit to form a complete four-person squad.

Kazuki had no objections to this.

Meanwhile, word of a mysterious newcomer named "Kazuki" spread like wildfire among the prominent families of Konoha.

His recent entrance into Anbu was already significant news. But what truly captured everyone's attention was the rumor that he had defeated Yamato, the captain of the Second Assassination Unit.

The battle between Kazuki and Yamato hadn't been a classified event, so there had been no restrictions on sharing details.

Additionally, the influential clans of Konoha had always sought ways to place their members in Anbu, using them to gather intelligence on the village's internal affairs. Because of this, they quickly obtained firsthand information about Kazuki's abilities.

Within days, invitations from major clans flooded in, each seeking to establish ties with him.

Kazuki had caught the eye of Konoha's most powerful families.

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