“I challenge you!”

  Naruto jumped out and shouted boldly.

  Here es trouble.

  Li a headache brewing. What is this about? I already tolerated you following me around, and now you're jumping out to challenge me? ’t you just keep stalking quietly?

  People always promise, don’t they?

  “I won’t accept your challenge,” he said calmly. As an adult at heart, Link fully uood Naruto’s need fnition. He resolved to hahe situation rationally and maturely, without letting this child’s antics get to him.

  This wasn’t about being a superior transmigrator; it was an adult dealing with a child.

  Without responding further, Link walked away, fident that the “Child of Destiny” wouldn’t stoop to attag someohout the io fight.

  “What's the matter? Are you scared, little kid?” Naruto taunted loudly, hands on his hips.

  Little kid?!

  Link froze for a moment, took a deep breath, a walking. It’s just a word, just a word. Don’t let it bother you. I’m an adult. I won’t argue with a child.

  Naruto rao block his path. “Hey, I’m talking to you, little kid. Don’t you think you’re being rude?”

  “First of all,” Link said, stopping and taking another deep breath, “I am not a little kid.”

  “Sed, I won’t fight you.”

  Good job, Link. You’re proving how mature and posed you are. You’ll be a in in no time.

  Straightening his bad maintaining an air of nonce, Link imagihat the Third Hokage or an Anbu operative might be watg.

  Time for an impromptu performance. Showtime!

  “Oh?” Naruto raised his hand, leveling it to where Link’s head barely reached.

  Naruto stood at 145 cm, while Link was just over 120 cm tall—even with shoes on. The 20 cm difference was gring.

  Snap!

  Something inside Link’s mind broke. His body moved on its own—a textbook low kick.

  Thwack!

  Naruto hit the ground hard.

  Raising his hand to Naruto’s head level, Link decred loftily, “Listen closely. The term little kid applies to you.”

  This is such a headache.

  Link sighed inwardly. He knew Naruto wouldn’t let this go. Unless he moved house and avoided Ichiraku Rameirely, there’d be no peace.

  Ugh. I’m just still growing!

  Muttering silently, Link resolved himself: I’ll grow taller soon enough—no, I’ll reach 180 o, 200 cm!

  And if that doesn’t work, I’ll find a jutsu to make myself taller.

  He stormed off, leaving Naruto behind.

  “Darn it… that guy’s really strong.” Naruto rubbed his sore arm, a determined gleam in his eye. He wasn’t afraid of ess or indiffere was sful reje that stung the most.

  Predictably, Link had iumbled into trouble.

  All kinds of trouble.

  …

  Hokage’s Office

  “A genin with in-level talent.”

  “Ensui, you’ve got a high opinion of this kid,” the Third Hokage remarked, closing Nara Ensui’s report on Team Five. Normally, a genin team wouldn’t warrant this level of attention.

  But Team Five wasn’t ordinary. Link’s unique abilities and resourcefulness had garnered increasing reition. While his chakra reserves were modest and his casting speed wasn’t exceptional, his capabilities—demonstrated during that training ground battle—were enough to shift the tide of any flivolving genin or even in.

  Against ae jonin, Link wasn’t a threat yet. But in a real-world skirmish or localized flict? His presence alone could domihe battlefield.

  In times of war, Link might already have been promoted to in—or even a provisional special jonin or jonin—a straight to the front lines.

  But in this era of peace…

  “Ensui,” the Hokage said with a warm smile, “it looks like I’ll be ting on you a bit longer.”

  As the ior of the Will of Fire, the Third Hokage viewed children as the vilge’s future. While his aging body still held out, he saw o prematurely expose these children to the harsh realities of the shinobi world.

  Nara Ensui scratched the back of his head and smiled. “Holy, they’ve made my job easier.”

  Though Iris and Ami’s talents wereraordinary, Link’s leadership and personal excellenpensated greatly. He not only performed exceptionally himself but also managed his teammates well.

  Ensui particurly admired how, during the tree-climbing and water-walking training, Link had generously shared his insights and tips with his teammates, demonstrating a selflesshat endeared him to his instructor.

  Apart from being slightly too mature and aloof for his age, Link was one of the most promising kids Ensui had ever entered.

  “These kids nowadays… they’re something else—especially Shikamaru. That zy brother of mine…”

  Ensui’s thoughts wandered momentarily, paring the two exceptional boys he’d mentored.

  Suddenly, an Anbu operative appeared beside the Hokage, whispering a quick report before disappearing into the shadows.

  The Hokage’s smile deepened as he retrieved his crystal ball. With a flick of his fingers, he cast the Telescope Jutsu, the orb revealing Narut in the bushes, spying on Team Five.

  The boy’s sneaky antics were both amusing and endearing.

  Ensui, standing nearby, saw the se too and chuckled, immediately uanding why he’d been allowed to observe.

  Their attention soon shifted to Team Five. With their keen eyes, both men could easily deduce the team’s exercises and the lessons Link was imparting.

  “What a remarkably mature child,” the Hokage mused, his tone wistful.

  Even during the war, children forced to grow up quickly cked this kind of poise and fht.

  Having witnessed enough, the Hokage began pting promoting Link to in in the near future. With more resources and tailuidahis boy could achieve eveer heights.

  He returned his gaze to the crystal ball just in time to see Naruto leap out and challenge Link—only to be swiftly knocked down.

  “Listen closely. The term little kid applies to you.”

  The Hokage stifled a ugh as Ensui smirked, both of them oddly forted by the se.

  Overly mature children… always a little heartbreaking to watch.

  Bleam