[Steel Strength]

A/N: So guys, for more than 10-15 chapters, the MC will do dumb shit due to being a newbie in the field, but he'll get better.

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Three ninjas were wearing the standard red outfit of the Iwa shinobi.

The ninjas from Iwa had still not sensed the presence of Sakumo and Yukan and were maintaining a status quo.

Yukan now had a different aim.

He wanted to make sure that he would not be a liability to Sakumo in the future, so right now, what Yukan needs is more fighting experience.

"Sensei, those three ninjas, please let me fight them." Yukan wanted to now go ahead and harvest some skills.

"They are all some people who must be considered strong in the level of genin. Go on, first tell me how you will deal with them?." Sakumo warned Yukan.

"By sneaking behind and killing the three at the same time with the help of a shadow clone," Yukan answered.

Yukan's chakra reserves, at this age, are big enough for him to make 3 shadow clones.

"Go." Sakumo waved his hand, gesturing for Yukan to proceed with his plan.

Yukan planned not only to use his shadow clones but also to use Benimaru's skill, [Steel Strength] if required.

He had previously not used it since it came with quite a big penalty.

Yukan's steel strength was not at a high level and his body was not fully developed either, so the steel strength skill consumed his stamina at an astonishing rate, rendering him capable of only doing two slashes.

Yukan slowly sneaked behind and stood on a branch of the tree right behind them while they sat behind the bushes below him.

Yukan focused on hearing the conversation between them.

"Hey, how long do we wait here?"

"Just wait till they come out. We will just take the red-haired girl and run away. If we give her to Ohnoki, he will give us freedom."

"What about the other girl and the two boys?"

"We'll sell the other girl as a sex slave, she will have a good face in the future, she will fetch us good money and as for the boys… just kill 'em."

Yukan heard all this.

He was getting angry thinking that these people were trying to sell a 9-year-old as a slave but then he remembered Sakumo's words.

"But, what is this freedom they talk about?"

Yukan wondered for a moment, if they were a ninja from Iwa, they shouldn't be scared of their leader.

"I'll wonder about it later," Yukan said as he created two shadow clones and all of them unsheathed their katana.

The original Yukan said to his shadow clones," I will go for the one on the left, you go for the middle and you for the remaining one."

The shadow clones nodded and the three bent their knees a little, ready to launch themselves like a catapult.

Yukan gestured from his hands to start.

As soon as he did that, the three jumped downwards at an amazing speed aiming their katana at the opponent's throat.

Yukan and his shadow clone, who aimed for the ninja in the middle cut the throat of their opponents and their heads fell, separated from the body.

The eyes of the head were wide open, the faces had a surprised expression.

But, the shadow clone at the right was not able to kill his target.

All of them were at the same speed but the enemy had used Body Substitution jutsu at the last moment, making a narrow escape.

Yukan wanted to sense where the enemy was but he instinctively tilted his neck to his left.

Yukan saw a kunai flying through the place where his head was a moment ago.

"... You have some good reflexes kid." A voice came from behind him.

Yukan turned back and saw the last ninja smiling looking at him.

Yukan lifted the shadow clone jutsu and felt his mind getting a little tired.

'Even if I have enough chakra, it strains my mind'.

Yukan gave the ninja no reply and charged onto him.

He swung his katana at him but the enemy blocked it using his dagger.

The Iwa ninja had to take a step back fur to the power Yukan put in the swing.

Then the opponent threw his kunai but it was easily dodged by Yukan.

The two exchanged blows for quite some time. Sakumo in the back felt it would be better for Yukan to quickly finish the ninja.

"Finish him now, Yukan"

"Yes, Sensei."

The Iwa ninja was distracted for a second after hearing Sakumo's voice and Yukan took an advantage of it.

Yukan used his [Steel Strength] skill just to try it out once during combat.

Yukan's blade first hit the kunai but since his strength was too much, his katana broke the kunai into two pieces and kept on going forward.

Yukan cut the opponent from the middle of his chest, separating the upper part of his torso from the rest of his body.

The lungs and heart's bottom part of the man were visible and Yukan looked at it. It was too gore for a person who had just done his first kill some time ago but Yukan still stopped himself from vomiting again and further ruining his image in front of Sakumo.

Yukan suddenly got on one knee and started breathing heavily.

'So, this is the result of using the skill. I can still do one more swing using the skill. Just 7 more years and I will be able to use this easily.' Yukan said in his mind.

Sakumo appeared beside Yukan and had a worried expression on his face.

"You alright?" Sakumo asked.

"Yes, Sensei." Yukan said as he again thought in his mind,' Looks like my Sensei is pretty good, not only in combat but otherwise also.'

" Hmm, you stay here I will go into the cave and see if Team 1 is in there,"