Naruto: I Can Upgrade My Techniques Infinitely-Chapter 58: Reforging the Glory of Fire Release Is Our Duty

"You sure someone hired ninja to kill you?" Nara Kazuki stood on the docks of the Land of Waves, eyes narrowed. The mission was nearly over, and still—no sign of enemy shinobi.

Not even bandits.

"I... I'm not totally sure," Gatō muttered, clearly torn. B-rank missions didn't come cheap. But considering he was still alive, maybe it was worth the cost.

"Don't worry. Even if no one shows up, it's not a waste," Kazuki said, seeing the hesitation in Gatō's expression. "Back when someone betrayed me, I sent them a million ryō without blinking. That's called vision. You get it? Applaud my vision!"

He even struck a model-pose with his hand. To his surprise, Might Guy clapped along enthusiastically.

Gatō blinked, confused... and then clapped too. Well, ninja-sama were always right.

"Ahem. What I meant to say," Kazuki coughed, "is that the mission's success is you still breathing. That's vision, people! Applause!"

The applause grew louder. The entire ship echoed with polite, rhythmic clapping.

Kazuki almost died of secondhand embarrassment.

Thankfully, they arrived at the dock just in time. Workers swarmed aboard to start unloading.

"Well then," Kazuki began, "that wraps up—"

And then the mist rolled in.

Kazuki went quiet.

"Kazuki!" Guy was already at his side, face serious.

"They're here. Gatō, stay close," Kazuki ordered, eyes scanning the mist now spreading across the port.

So they'd recognized Gatō after all. It must've been one of the dockworkers. And striking here, in the Land of Waves—a neutral and minor country—was smart. Even if half the population got wiped out, no major Hidden Village would care enough to intervene.

That was the tragedy of small nations.

Kazuki didn't have time to sympathize. Hands flying into seals, he felt his body heat up.

"Katon!"

Flames surged from Kazuki's mouth, searing through the thick mist.

There had been a time, not long ago, when others sneered at Fire Release—mocking it as flashy but weak, unable to kill. Back then, Kazuki could only grind, stacking his training day after day in silence.

Now, he'd evolved.

Reforging the glory of Fire Release—was his duty.

Guy blinked. Wait... wasn't Fire Release supposed to be countered by Water Release?

Well, maybe so. But what did theory matter when this one fireball carried the weight of countless days of effort?

Kazuki's Great Fireball Technique blasted through the fog, lighting the entire area. His silhouette stretched out long and sharp, framed in the glow.

"Kazuki!" Guy shouted a warning, launching a flying kick toward a figure that had crept up near Kazuki's shadow.

But Kazuki didn't move.

From the moment the fireball tore the fog open, the battle's momentum had already tipped in his favor.

The Mist shinobi attempting a silent kill had unknowingly stepped into Kazuki's trap. His shadow moved like a serpent, snaring the enemy's limbs. And before he could react—Guy's kick smashed into his chest with full force. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

"Guy! Don't steal my kill!" Kazuki groaned. "These are my last hits!"

My kills! Mine!

"Damn you, Nara brat!" snarled the second Hidden Mist ninja, already forming hand seals.

His brother was dead.

A Water Dragon Jutsu exploded from his position, hurtling toward Kazuki.

But Kazuki's hands were already flying into seals—faster than ever. His mastery of the Great Fireball was so refined now, the jutsu practically activated on instinct.

The fireball met the water dragon head-on—and evaporated it.

Steam hissed through the air as the fireball punched through and slammed into the stone dock, blasting out a crater.

The Mist shinobi froze. What kind of monster was this kid?!

He'd barely had time to think when another blur of motion caught him. A man covered in a faint green glow charged in with a howl.

Guy.

His taijutsu was relentless. Even a Body Replacement Technique wasn't enough to escape—the pressure was too high to even use the Hidden Mist Technique.

Kazuki didn't relent. As Guy occupied the enemy, his shadow slithered across the battlefield again, aiming to bind the second shinobi.

And then, the enemy froze.

He heard it.

His brother's voice.

"Bro! Once this mission's done, I'll finally get you that wife you wanted!"

"Bro, it's cold here... Come keep me company... okay?"

The Mist shinobi blinked.

Too late.

The roaring fire engulfed him.

Kazuki stood tall as the flames faded. Two enemies down. The battle was over.

He raised his hand... and then paused.

"...Damn. I wanted to do a victory dance," he muttered.

It was kind of disappointing, really. He'd been hoping to test his jutsu further—maybe against one of those massive, musclebound shinobi from the Hidden Cloud. The kind that could survive a full fireball blast just through sheer bulk.

These Mist ninja? Toasted too fast.

The fog finally cleared.

Two charred bodies remained.

Kazuki glanced around. His shadow danced—but found no more targets.

The battle was over.