I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 29 Even a fat cat will hit someone if it's provoked.

"Minato Namikaze! Tatsuma Sakamoto! I challenge you!"

During their first practical lesson of the new semester, Tatsuma and Minato, who were sparring, suddenly paused and looked at Kushina, who stood not far away with a resolute expression. Tatsuma asked curiously, "How did you offend her?"

"I don't know, what about you?"

Minato shook his head. He even reviewed what he had done in the past week and found that he had not offended Kushina at all. If he had to say something, it would be his second smile on the first day he met Kushina a week ago.

Seeing the two whispering amongst themselves, completely ignoring her, and with the surrounding classmates starting to say that she, the "Tomato" and "Red Pepper," was being unreasonable, Kushina became so angry that her face turned red, and she shouted:

"Hey! You two cowards, do you dare accept my challenge or not?!"

Tatsuma looked helplessly at Sarutobi Akiura. Shouldn't their teacher step in to mediate at this time? But when Sarutobi Akiura noticed Tatsuma, he simply nodded.

"Hey! Why are you nodding? Are you supporting infighting among classmates?!"

Tatsuma almost wanted to rush up and question Sarutobi Akiura, but before he could act, Minato Namikaze, who had been repeatedly called a sissy and a coward, looked at Kushina, nodded, and said:

"Okay, how do you want to compete?"

"Real-world application!"

Kushina talked about practical combat, but she pulled out a safety kunai, that is, an unsharpened kunai. This was quite popular in the ninja academy, since it reduced the danger considerably.

However, Minato and Tatsuma didn't, because it would require buying them separately, and neither of them could bear to part with them. The ninja tools they used were all gifts from Sakumo Hatake a year ago.

Minato Namikaze looked at the kunai in Kushina's hand and said, "Sorry, I only have kunai for actual combat, not the kind you have."

Real-world combat.

These four words reached Kushina's ears, but they sounded like a provocation. She thought Minato Namikaze was mocking her for talking about real combat but not daring to use real kunai in battle. Her already flushed face turned even more purplish-red.

But Minato's amazing actions weren't over yet. He stuffed the kunai into his ninja tool bag and then said with a bright smile, "It's okay, I don't need ninja tools."

Minato Namikaze's intention was not to hurt Kushina with his true kunai, but to others, it meant "I don't need ninja tools to defeat you." Even Tatsuma gave Minato a "good luck" look before silently stepping aside.

"That wretched sissy!"

The instant Tatsuma stepped aside, Kushina, as if enraged, lunged at Minato Namikaze with a kunai in hand.

Minato Namikaze quickly dodged to the side, then grabbed Kushina's fist as she swung it, and with a quick twist and press, switched positions to lock Kushina in place from behind.

Kushina was surprised that she couldn't even last one round before being restricted by Minato Namikaze. She was anxious and angry, and disregarding the fact that her right hand was locked, she rolled around like a crocodile that had its prey in its jaws.

Seeing that Kushina was determined to break free despite the pain and danger, Minato decided to let go. Once free, Kushina, without thinking, immediately delivered a spinning elbow strike towards Minato's face.

Faced with the attack, Minato raised his arm to block, but Kushina's elbow strike, along with Minato's hand, slammed into his face, causing him to lose his balance and stagger.

However, it was only for a moment. Having sparred with Tatsuma for a whole year, he was already familiar with Tatsuma's overly competitive fighting style. In this situation, Tatsuma would definitely not let it go, so he decisively rolled to dodge.

Unfortunately, Kushina wasn't Tatsuma. Seeing her attack work, she already smiled, and when she saw Minato tumbling around in a sorry state, she laughed even harder, saying, "Haha~ Is this what a top student is like?"

Minato, standing up from the ground, was not angry. He simply patted his sleeves, which were covered in dust. Although it was only a half-round of offense and defense, he had already judged Kushina's level.

The fact that she was stronger than both him and Tatsuma surprised Minato. After all, he and Tatsuma were the top two in strength among their peers at the Ninja Academy. Now that a girl had come along and surpassed them, it was indeed surprising.

Aside from strength, all that's commendable is their unwavering courage; their speed, skills, attitude, and winning mentality are all lacking.

Minato looked at Kushina and said with a smile, "If that's all you've got, you won't be able to defeat me."

"Hmph! You're just spouting empty words."

Kushina ran her thumb under her nose, looking arrogant, but seeing that Minato still showed no intention of taking out his ninja tools, Kushina's good mood soured once again.

"drink!"

Kushina stepped forward again, her kunai aimed straight at Minato's heart, but Minato, having already recognized Kushina's power, wouldn't be foolish enough to fight her head-on.

Minato Namikaze used both hands to slap Kushina's right hand, which was holding a kunai, towards his right side. At the same time, he moved his body to pass by Kushina, but as he passed by, his right foot landed between Kushina's legs.

"Bang!"

Next, without Minato Namikaze needing to exert any effort, Kushina was tripped by her own speed and Minato's falling foot, and fell to the ground. This was a technique that Minato had learned from Tatsuma over the past year.

According to Tatsuma, the strategy was to use someone else's strength against them. Kushina, who had fallen flat on her face, got up defiantly and glared angrily at Minato.

She didn't think she had lost to Minato; she just hadn't expected that Minato, not only looking effeminate, would also use such delicate and feminine techniques—it was truly despicable!

"asshole!"

Kushina lunged at Minato once again. A hint of helplessness flashed across Minato's face. If it were him or Tatsuma, they would usually admit defeat if such a huge opening appeared, but Kushina clearly didn't understand.

Next, Kushina launched attack after attack, only to fall down again and again. Unfortunately, Minato Namikaze refused to lay a hand on Kushina, causing her to not only not feel that she had lost, but also to fill up her anger to the brim.

"Alright! Kushina, Minato has won."

He looked at Kushina seriously and said, then pointed at Tatsuma, "Clearly, you only have one chance left."

"Why should I?!"

Kushina retorted, unconvinced, and Sarutobi Akiura had no choice but to explain to her.

Inside the Hokage's office, Mito Uzumaki nodded, looked at Tatsuma, whose smile was even more infectious, and said, "Minato Namikaze certainly has a gentlemanly demeanor. And this Tatsuma? He shouldn't be too far off, right?"

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Lord Mito, you'd better be prepared. Tatsuma is good in every way, but his desire to win is too strong."

At this moment, in the crystal ball's image, Kushina was facing off against Sakamoto Tatsuma. Tatsuma looked at the furious Kushina and said, "As expected of a member of Mito-sama's clan, your power is indeed very strong, but I will win."

"We'll talk after you win, you seaweed broom-head!"

After saying that, Kushina angrily lunged at Tatsuma. Knowing that Kushina was strong, Tatsuma did not underestimate her. He pulled his left hand back and tucked it between his ribs. As he sidestepped and bumped into Kushina's right hand, he wrapped his arm around hers and followed up.

Immediately, Tatsuma slashed upwards with his right hand, a move commonly known as the "Big Cleaver," towards Kushina's round face. Kushina was so frightened that she quickly used her left hand to defend, but Tatsuma's right hand changed direction and struck towards Kushina's throat.

"stop!!!"

(End of this chapter)