Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki

"In that case, I will be the judge. This competition will focus on sparring."

"Be careful," Kazuyama said to Pakura. Her status was unique, and she needed to maintain propriety.

"Hmph, I know that without you having to tell me," she retorted sharply, clearly dissatisfied with Kazuyama's caution. "They're just a couple of kids," she added, snorting in disapproval.

Obito and Guy stretched briefly before shouting in unison, "Let's go!" The two charged at Pakura, one leading while the other followed closely behind.

Empty-handed... Are they planning to fight with Taijutsu?

Pakura observed their movements instantly. Simple Taijutsu wasn't enough to impress her; she was more interested in seeing the talent of the Uchiha Clan. However, as they rushed toward her, she realized she had underestimated them.

"Konoha Leaf Whirlwind!"

Might Guy took the lead, leaping up and delivering a powerful leg sweep aimed at Pakura's face. Simultaneously, Obito swung his fist toward her center. Their coordination was seamless—one attacking high, the other low.

Pakura felt the gust of wind from their attacks and was momentarily taken aback. "So, they're strong in Taijutsu…" she muttered.

As an elite Jōnin, even with her strength diminished, she wasn't someone two Genin could easily overpower. She blocked Might Guy's right leg with her hand, slamming it down with force. The movement destabilized him, and his leg remained trapped in her grip.

"Obito, get out of the way!" Might Guy shouted, refusing to surrender. He lashed out with his other leg in an attempt to free himself.

Pakura noticed his persistence and allowed a faint smile to form. Not bad, kid. However, she maintained her grip, slamming Might Guy onto the ground with a heavy thud.

"Boom!" The impact echoed loudly as Might Guy hit the ground.

"How can this be!" he exclaimed, ignoring the pain surging through his body. "Take another hit from me! Leaf Rock-Destroying Rise!"

Undeterred, he launched himself at her once more with an upward kick, transitioning into an elbow strike. At the same time, Obito, who had just evaded, rejoined the fray and once again aimed a punch at Pakura.

This time, Pakura didn't bother to block. Instead, she leapt backward, evading both attacks with ease. Landing gracefully, she gave a small, knowing smile.

"Not bad Taijutsu, but unfortunately, it's not enough to win."

Pakura's teasing didn't faze Guy, who charged forward with another fierce attack.

"Guy! Watch out and dodge!"

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Ignoring the warning, Obito immediately formed hand seals following his initial Taijutsu attempt. A massive fireball, about a meter in diameter, erupted from his mouth, roaring toward Pakura.

"Oh? Fire Release, not bad. Unfortunately, it's still not enough," Pakura remarked with a smirk.

As Guy leapt into the air to avoid the fireball, Pakura was left directly in its path. Yet, she remained calm, swiftly forming her own hand seals.

"Fire Release: Blazing Fire Technique!"

With that, four glowing points of light materialized around Pakura, transforming into flames. Under her precise control, the flames moved to intercept the incoming fireball one by one.

From a distance, Kazuyama observed the scene with a slightly raised eyebrow.

Isn't this just a simplified version of Scorch Release?

He knew Pakura's Kekkei Genkai was Scorch Release, a combination of fire and wind chakra natures. Her signature technique, Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder, could summon fireball-like constructs.

Once they made contact, they would evaporate the water within the opponent's body, reducing them to a dried husk. The technique she had just used closely resembled that ability.

As the flames clashed with Obito's fireball, two of them successfully dissipated the Great Fireball Technique.

"The same Fire Release? Seriously?" Obito muttered, wiping the sweat off his face. The sheer pressure of her technique had left him momentarily stunned. "The power is incredible…"

The remaining two flames flew toward Guy, forcing him to retreat. The intense heat pushed him back, causing him to stumble slightly.

For a moment, the two teenagers stood side by side again, both shaken. Gone was their earlier confidence—replaced instead with expressions of shock.

"Is this a Jōnin...?"

"Why do I feel like she's even stronger than Kazuyama-sensei?"

Kazuyama was slightly embarrassed but chose not to argue. In terms of sheer killing power, Pakura was indeed far superior to him.

"Are you two kids coming or not?" Pakura asked. After stretching and warming up during the sparring match, she felt entirely at ease. Even her tone had become more relaxed.

"Okay, stop fighting," Kazuyama interjected, stepping forward to end the match. "Pakura hasn't even used a fraction of her strength. If she had, the two of you would already be lying flat on the ground."

Turning toward Obito and Guy, he added, "You've both improved, but it's still not enough. Keep working hard."

Pakura was far too seasoned and skilled in combat. Even with her chakra restrained, the gap in experience made it impossible for two Genin to stand a chance against her.

"Hmph, you're really annoying, Kazuyama, I was just starting to get into it."

Before Obito could respond, he noticed her expression—Pakura looked genuinely displeased, though her beauty didn't diminish her irritation.

Kazuyama chuckled lightly. "Haha, just be careful. Don't forget about your current identity," he reminded her.

Pakura's expression softened slightly as the reminder hit home. She shrugged helplessly. After all, she was still technically a prisoner here.

"Okay, everyone disperse!" Kazuyama called out, addressing the crowd of onlookers. "Don't just stand around! Don't you all have classes to get to?"

The students scattered reluctantly, and Kazuyama led Pakura out of the Ninja Academy grounds.

"So, what do you think? Is our Konoha Ninja Academy better than your Sunagakure Academy?" Kazuyama asked, glancing at her.

Pakura scoffed. "Not even close. Just a bunch of kids."

Kazuyama didn't respond, only offering her a faint smile.

The two wandered through the village, moving from the bustling commercial streets to the quieter residential areas. As they walked, Kazuyama frequently greeted familiar faces, exchanging waves and brief conversations.

Pakura observed this with mild surprise. Does this guy really have that much popularity?

As if reading her thoughts, Kazuyama smirked. "What? Surprised by my popularity?"

Without waiting for a response, he continued, "People should make friends while they're alive. Especially young people like us—we should try to connect with as many people as possible. Having more friends means having more opportunities."

Pakura listened quietly, her thoughts drifting. She had always been alone. Even when working alongside her teammates on missions, there was always a sense of isolation.

Friends…

That sounds… nice.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she spoke up. "Where are the Uchiha and Hyūga clans? Can you show me?"