Naruto: Evolution

That gaze… was unbearable to him.

He had been called a genius in his youth. Reaching the level of a Jōnin was sufficient proof of his talent and effort.

But compared to Gen, that title was nothing more than a joke. Something empty. Insignificant.

Every strike the boy launched, every movement he executed with precision, only fueled the fire of his fury and, at the same time, his killer instinct.

It wasn't just the threat he posed at this moment.

It was what he could become in the future.

If at this age he was already capable of fighting at this level, what would happen in a few years? If he didn't eliminate him now, sooner or later, he would be the one in the sights of that growing beast.

And he wasn't going to allow it.

'Water Release: Water Severing Slash'

The moment Gen emerged from the crater, Baishi unleashed himself.

Until now, he had reserved part of his strength, wary of the possibility that Hayato might intervene. But that no longer mattered.

It was all or nothing.

He bent his legs and propelled himself, leaping into the air, rising above Gen in a dominant stance.

His katana gleamed, but this time it wasn't just steel that cut.

A torrent of water enveloped the blade, swirling around it.

Swish

The strike descended with impossible speed, and the edge cut straight toward Gen's head.

The cut was clean.

The boy's body split in two.

The sound of the slash echoed clearly.

Because what had been cut… wasn't Gen.

It was a log!

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique"

Seizing the moment of distraction caused by the substitution, Gen reappeared at close range. His hands moved swiftly, chaining seals before filling his lungs and exhaling forcefully.

Boom

A massive fireball, over five meters in diameter, shot toward Baishi. The heatwave was extreme, scorching the ground as it advanced with unstoppable violence.

In a matter of seconds, the explosion completely engulfed Baishi's silhouette.

But something was off.

There were no screams of pain or signs of agony. Instead, a sharp hissing sound filtered through the flames, followed by a thick mist that began spreading through the area.

"A water clone?"

Gen's eyes narrowed, scanning the area cautiously. The dense fog distorted visibility, but his instincts told him something was coming.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Technique"

From the depths of the nearby forest, the sound of rushing water rang out. A massive current rose like a furious serpent, twisting in the air before taking the shape of a colossal dragon nearly twenty meters long.

The creature, made entirely of constantly moving water, opened its jaws. Its appearance was so imposing that it caught the attention of everyone present.

Azora, Momo, and Hayato, who were still fighting their own opponents, noticed it immediately. The three stepped back, putting some distance to get a better view of what was happening.

"Is that the Water Dragon Jutsu?!" Azora murmured in astonishment.

The Water Dragon Technique was a B-rank ninjutsu, but its complexity made it accessible only to the best Jōnin. Not just anyone could execute it with such precision and power.

Even Momo was stunned to see the aquatic beast rise.

But Hayato didn't take his eyes off Gen.

He knew what was coming.

Although the Water Dragon required a series of complex hand seals, its attack speed was impressive. From the moment it formed to the instant it lunged, barely a second had passed.

The dragon's roar echoed loudly before it dove straight toward Gen.

'He's fast…!'

Gen's pupils contracted as he realized he didn't have time to dodge.

So he didn't hesitate.

Channeling his chakra, he activated the Strength Jutsu and concentrated all his chakra into a single point. At the exact moment the water dragon descended upon him, his fist tensed with overwhelming force before striking directly at the dragon's head.

Boom

The impact echoed like an explosion, and a shockwave swept through the area, unleashing a rain of water that scattered in all directions.

The ground beneath his feet cracked from the force of the collision. The dragon's head disintegrated under the blow, but the rest of its still-intact body surged forward like a raging river.

And Gen was swept away by the current.

The water uprooted trees and carved out a 'highway' more than five or six meters wide, stretching for dozens of meters through the forest. When it finally dissipated, the ground was unrecognizable—a muddy swamp, littered with debris and remnants of vegetation.

"I don't want to die!"

"Did that little Konoha ninja… really die?!"

"Shut up and stay together! Don't spread out!" The caravan leader, though pale with fear, forced his voice above the chaos, trying to maintain control before hysteria consumed them.

Boom

At the far end of the devastated path left by the Water Dragon, a pile of shattered logs and broken branches suddenly exploded.

From within the cloud of water and debris, a figure emerged.

Gen.

His clothes were soaked, his hair dripped, but his expression remained unchanged—cold as steel. Despite the overwhelming force of the current, his body showed no serious injuries.

As he moved forward, his eyes scanned the other end of the destroyed terrain, analyzing where his opponent might be hiding.

Swish

Without warning, the ground beneath his feet burst apart as Gen propelled himself with explosive speed. His silhouette became a blur as he crossed the devastated stretch of forest in the blink of an eye, returning to the main road where the caravan was advancing.

'Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire'

Even as his body remained in motion, his hands had already woven the seals. The moment he landed, he took a deep breath and exhaled, unleashing a roaring fire dragon.

The air became suffocating in an instant.

The flaming dragon surged forward, consuming everything in its path, reducing the ground to ashes and leaving a blackened trail behind. Its target was clear—the exact spot where the Water Dragon had emerged moments ago.

But his opponent didn't remain idle either.

'Water Style: Water Wall'

From the depths of the forest, the sound of rushing water echoed. A torrent surged up, rising as a barrier directly in the Fire Dragon's path.

Shhhhhh

The collision between fire and water produced a deafening explosion, and the clash of elements unleashed a dense mist that quickly engulfed the entire area.

Within seconds, visibility was reduced to almost nothing.

________

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