Chapter 68
"Uh… so, can we still get robbed now?"
Iwa-kun looked toward the distant competition registration point, hesitating as he asked Naruto.
Naruto immediately looked displeased: "What do you mean 'robbed'? Are you treating me like a real bandit?"
"I worked so hard to build this road—do you know how much effort I put in?"
"I'm only taking 80% of your special kunai. That's already generous because we're old acquaintances!"
Those words hit Iwa-kun like a punch to the gut.
Old acquaintances????
He'd rather not have that kind of "acquaintance"!
Still unwilling to give up, Iwa-kun shouted toward Maki in the distance: "Lord Maki! Is there any rule against robbing here?"
Maki snorted coldly and didn't answer.
Until the competition officially ended, any means could be used to obtain special kunai.
"Any means" didn't just include searching for them yourself.
So Naruto's actions were still within the rules of the competition.
With no response from Maki, Iwa-kun fell into complete despair.
Seeing this, Naruto couldn't help comforting him: "Think about it—me robbing you doesn't actually hurt you at all."
"I rob you 80%, and I rob everyone 80%."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that everyone's remaining special kunai for ending the competition will only be 20%."
"In other words, your rankings won't change at all. It just means four more people will be ahead of you."
In front of his own jōnin, Iwa-kun didn't want to lose face.
Otherwise, how would he ever hold his head high in the future?
Looking at Naruto, a trace of determination gradually appeared in Iwa-kun's eyes.
Compared to his own future, a little physical pain suddenly didn't seem so important.
So Iwa-kun shouted loudly at Naruto: "You damn robber! What kind of logic is that?!"
"Today, unless you step over my dead body, you're not taking a single kunai!"
That bold, spirited declaration actually gave Naruto a jolt of excitement.
In the distance, Maki's pupils contracted slightly. He cursed inwardly: Whose student is this? Is this how they teach ninjas? They're teaching a complete idiot!
"Good grief—now you're talking!"
"Then I'll step over your corpse!"
Naruto's smile faded. He tossed aside the kunai and clenched his fists.
A torrent of chakra surged once more. Iwa-kun's heart raced. Under this pressure, he somehow managed to unleash the greatest strength of his entire life.
He roared madly: "I will never surrender! This is the Will of Sand!"
"Earth Style—Earth Splitting Palm!!"
Slap~
"Pfft~"
Before he could fully unleash it, Naruto closed the distance in an instant and slapped him across the face. Blood mixed with broken teeth flew out and splattered against a nearby tree—a horrifying sight.
Even with Naruto holding back, Iwa-kun's body flew in a parabolic arc and crashed far away.
"What the hell? That's it?"
Naruto sighed, not bothering to look at the motionless Iwa-kun. Instead he turned to Iwa-kun's teammates: "What about you guys?"
The remaining four took two steps back in terror, then spoke in perfect unison:
"A ninja endures what ordinary people cannot. The wise know when to adapt!"
"Sir! Here are all our special kunai—please accept them!"
Iwa-kun's miserable state had turned into pure fear for them. They hurriedly handed over every special kunai they had.
Naruto nodded, then glanced into the distance.
Soon after, a pink-haired girl walked over from the side. She efficiently collected 80% of the kunai from the group.
After finishing, Sakura said to one of them: "Go take the kunai from him too. Don't miss anything."