Chapter 78: The Forgotten Battle

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This was a battle destined to be forgotten by the world.

Years later, when people recalled this match, they would only remember someone named Kiba Inuzuka, along with his dog, fighting bravely against the air.

In the arena, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame had already entered the field.

Naruto was still feeding his wife; Hinata still accepted all offerings without refusal.

Naruto gained a new level of understanding regarding Hinata's stomach. He suspected it wasn't a question of how much she could eat, but rather that she could always eat.

This couldn't help but remind him of the Konoha Great Eater Competition he had watched before. Others were down after thirty-something bowls at most. Hinata ate forty-six bowls, and that wasn't even her limit – the competition time was just up!

Touching the entirety of his worldly possessions hanging around his neck, Naruto felt genuine gratitude towards his cheat for the first time.

This was the one-ryo coin Jiraiya had given him. It had a hole, and Naruto had strung it onto a cord to hang around his neck.

Since my dream isn't becoming Hokage, I probably won't be able to get Tsunade's cursed necklace anyway.

Although what I'm wearing is a bit lacking compared to the necklace the original protagonist wore, it was still a gift from one of the Sannin, wasn't it?

Originally, Naruto had four more coins, but he had used them to send Shadow Clones out to buy spoons.

The Shadow Clone had a resentful look when it first appeared. Other clones get to have all the explosive fun, while I'm stuck buying things! In a fit of pique, it transformed into Naruko as soon as it went out.

Taking out berries soaked in ice water from the wooden bucket, he put them in a teacup, added ice cubes, and crushed them together – a bowl of shaved ice was made.

He stuck a spoon in and handed it to Hinata, who passed it to Hanabi.

Hanabi accepted the shaved ice, turning her face to the side as she ate.

Naruto picked up another spoon and ate with Hinata, one bite for him, one bite for her.

Little loli Hanabi scraped up a spoonful with her spoon and put it in her mouth. The eyes under her hat brim curved like crescent moons.

This... hmm... still doesn't count as bribing me! It's not enough! Hmph!

Naruto brought the spoon to Hinata's lips, preparing to run another routine: "Hinata, guess who will lose?"

"What does Naruto-kun think?" Hinata countered. She couldn't answer Naruto's question; both were teammates, saying either would lose wasn't right.

"I guess Kiba." It wasn't time for Shino's undefeated myth to be broken yet. Shino was guaranteed to win.

"Then I'll guess Shino," Hinata reached out and wiped the shaved ice from the corner of Hanabi's mouth.

"Then shall we bet something else?"

"What does Naruto-kun think would be good to bet?" Hinata played along. She wasn't stupid; Naruto had asked who would win the previous two times, but this time asked who would lose. Anyone could tell something was up.

"If I win, you accompany me to climb a snow mountain."

Naruto could still see that huge movie poster for Fujimi Yukie Shinobu.

Since that woman exists, then the Land of Snow must exist too.

Naruto didn't know if the Land of Snow had large snow mountains. If not, he'd just pile one up himself. Blast everything else around away, wouldn't what's left be a mountain?

"A snow mountain..." Hinata looked wistful, then asked, "Then what if Naruto-kun loses?"

Hinata didn't know where the snow mountain was, but if Naruto said he'd take her, then they could definitely go.

"Then I'll accompany you to climb the snow mountain!"

"Okay."

"Hic!" Hanabi hiccuped again.

Naruto definitely had to start the Land of Snow side quest, just because Fujimi Yukie was an actress.

An actress who can't sing isn't a good princess.

Miss, I have a song here called 'Home Sweet Home', the theme song for Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow. It needs you to sing it.

The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki plays rap; the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki plays songs.

The One-Tail Jinchuriki builds pyramids; the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki builds snow mountains.

The Two-Tails Jinchuriki loves raising mice; the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki loves raising cats.

Jinchuriki are all weirdos, and I am the strongest weirdo.

This way, I won't tarnish the Nine-Tails' name as the strongest Tailed Beast!

"Naruto-kun, it's all gone."

"Oh."

Naruto continued crushing ice.

Strongest or not can wait, but Nine-Tails, you will definitely be the roundest in the future.

In the arena.

The two had already finished their probing exchanges and started using ninjutsu.

"Secret Technique: Parasitic Destruction Insects!" Shino flung out large swarms of bugs from both hands.

Ino silently hoped Shino would lose. If Shino won, it would be okay if she lost her next match. But if she won and the drawing was unfavorable, she'd have to face Shino, which would be a nightmare!

"Shino, these little tricks won't beat me!" Kiba dodged the insect swarm, then picked two bugs off his body.

Akamaru also bit a few off his own body with his mouth.

The two had spent a lot of time together; Kiba remembered Shino's scent. For the match, he even specifically memorized the scent of some of the bugs inside Shino's body.

"Is that so?" Shino remained unperturbed.

"Take this, Shino! Fang Over Fang!"

Two high-speed whirlwinds, one from the left and one from the right, charged towards Shino in a crisscross pattern.

However, Shino merely retreated a few steps, and the whirlwinds passed right by his sides.

"That move is useless against me. Why, you ask? Because I'm too familiar with your attack trajectory," Shino's tone was still as placid as ever.

Kiba, spinning in the air, grinned. Shino, I prepared a special gift just for you!

The two whirlwinds intersected in mid-air, then Kiba and Akamaru (transformed into Kiba's likeness) grabbed each other's hands.

"Wolf Fang Over Fang!"

Kiba and Akamaru spun together, vertically smashing down towards Shino.

This was something he comprehended after seeing Rock Lee use the Primary Lotus. He had secretly practiced it, just for today's fight with Shino.

"Nani!?"

"Boom!"

The sudden change in direction, coupled with the whirlwind's speed, meant Shino couldn't dodge and was hit.

"Heheh, Shino, it's me... Insect Clone!!!"

I clearly locked onto Shino's scent! How could this be!

The ground nearby shattered, revealing Shino hidden underneath.

"I knew you would memorize my scent, even the scent of the insects. I didn't know which ones you memorized, so I replaced the insects within my body to create this clone. Although this consumes a large amount of chakra and time."

"When?"

"After Shikamaru's explosive tag detonated. I told you I was going to the restroom. I started replacing them then. I suppose you forgot?"

"..."

"Secret Technique: Insect Sphere!" The insects from the clone were manipulated, enveloping Kiba and Akamaru.

"Crap!" Kiba and Akamaru leaped back, dodging the move, though some bugs still clung to them.

"Crack!"

After Kiba landed, cracks began to appear on the ground.

"While I was underground, I also made some preparations," Shino adjusted his glasses.

"Akamaru!" Kiba yelled. Before the ground collapsed, he and Akamaru (as Kiba) kicked off each other's feet.

However, when man and dog fell to the ground, more cracks appeared.

"Crack!"

This time it was faster than before. Kiba and Akamaru had nowhere to gain leverage and both fell into the pit.

The walls of the pit were densely covered with insects. Akamaru had already reverted to his original form and was yelping in terror.

Shino held his hands out flat, controlling the insects to surround Kiba and Akamaru: "To be precise, quite a lot of preparations."

"Damn it! I concede!" Kiba knew Shino was holding back by not letting the insects attack. He also knew the outcome of being caught by this technique, so he could only concede.

"Winner, Shino Aburame!"

"NO!" Ino felt even worse than Kiba.

Shiranui Genma picked up the list: "Then let's begin the next match. Yamanaka Ino versus Dosu."

"I forfeit." Dosu raised his hand.

Orochimaru had given instructions; he wanted to see Sasuke's match sooner, then execute the plan.

Dosu lowered his hand, feeling anxious internally. My two teammates haven't arrived yet. Are they on some mission they didn't tell me about?

"NOOOO!" Ino's despairing cry echoed through the arena.

Shiranui Genma glanced at the list again: "Then let's proceed to the next match. Uchiha Sasuke versus Gaara."

"Shua!" A black shadow flashed past. Little Cool Guy Sasuke was already standing in the center of the field.

Sand slowly gathered in the arena as well. Gaara entered the field simultaneously.