Chapter-18

Squeezing the golden knob of his cane, Wao struck the Hong three times consecutively. As a result, the door of the cage swung open for the final match. Various individuals of different sizes, genders, and appearances entered through the door. Some carried weapons, while others seemed to possess expertise in hand-to-hand combat. Amidst this array of challengers, the bald man with the cane fixed his gaze on the boy surrounded by his formidable contenders.

"Does anyone here really have the guts to fight a kid?" Naruto couldn't help but ask with a hint of panic in his voice. Facing multiple opponents without his clones or relying on his Rasengan was a novel challenge for him, and the mocking smiles from his adversaries only added to his unease.

"You're a goner, kid," declared one fighter—a tall, muscular man with a beard, who casually rested a hammer on his shoulder.

"It's a pity... it's just too cute and adorable. I would have loved to keep it as a pet," chimed in a woman with white hair, fair skin, and bright blue eyes. Her attire was an unusual mix of winter clothing in blue and white hues. A mysterious bag adorned her back, adding to her enigmatic appearance. With a lecherous smile, she ran her long nails over her lips, locking eyes with the golden-haired boy. "If he survives, he's all mine." Her words sent a shiver down Naruto's spine, causing his entire body to tremble.

"Enough talk! I'm going to finish him!" cried out a young man dressed in typical Earth Kingdom attire. He brandished a chain with a steel sphere on one end and a small scythe on the other. Taking the lead, he launched his attack, soon followed by several others.

The shinobi's first move was to charge towards his opponents. Without hesitation, he threw a powerful punch that struck the one who had just shouted. The force behind the blow sent the man flying, causing him to collide with some of his companions before falling unconscious against the battle arena. Without pausing, the blonde swiftly ducked to evade a sword swing.

"Ahhh!" In a fit of rage, a swordsman dressed in gray attire unleashed a flurry of slashes. The boy managed to sidestep and maintain his distance. However, his respite was short-lived as a hammer struck his right side, causing him to skid across the ground and kneel in pain. The blow was so fierce that it nearly shattered his ribs.

Naruto barely had time to process this onslaught before another attack was launched. This time, it came from an overweight man carrying a hefty log on his shoulder. "Die, you trash!" Lowering the wooden pillar, the mercenary attempted to crush his target. The boy swiftly rolled away, then sprang to his feet and leapt onto the fat giant's shoulders. Gripping the man's neck tightly, Naruto held on stubbornly despite the giant's furious attempts to dislodge him.

"Stay still!" Several mercenaries scrambled to avoid being crushed by their hefty comrade, who thrashed from side to side in an attempt to shake off the boy. Amid the chaos, some fighters were accidentally stepped on or slammed against the bars by their own teammate. After a few minutes, the colossal man dropped to his knees and then collapsed to the ground due to the shinobi's unyielding grip, deprived of oxygen.

"Get him!" The swordsman from earlier lunged at Naruto, aiming to strike him. Yet, the boy retaliated using the trunk he now wielded. The force of the blow snapped the swordsman's back and sent him crashing to the ground, rendering him unconscious.

"How about this?!" Naruto's fierce grin was accompanied by a powerful swing of the trunk he held on his shoulder. He launched his attack at whoever was closest, striking from side to side, effectively reducing his enemies to only six. As he prepared to continue his onslaught, an unexpected earth block emerged, striking him at the center of his stomach and lifting him off the ground, then slamming him against the roof of the cage. "Ugh!" The pain was agonizing, his insides felt crushed.

"Hey, he's an earthbender! That's not fair!" Dororo's protest rang out, his gaze fixed on the dark-haired young man dressed as an Earth Kingdom soldier, sporting armor and a circular hat.

"…" The earthbender fixed a piercing gaze on the ground, causing a pillar of earth to surge towards his intended target.

"My house, my rules!" Wao's response was accompanied by a hypocritical smile as he disregarded the boy's complaint, his attention remaining fixed on the ongoing battle from his private room. "My fighters aren't bound by the rule against weapons or bending materials! Let the battle continue!" He nonchalantly poured himself a glass of alcohol, fully immersed in his own entertainment.

"You... bastard…" Naruto's teeth clenched as he growled in frustration. He drove his fist into the earth block with all his might, causing it to crack and shatter into thousands of fragments. He managed to evade an incoming earthen pillar just in the nick of time, the attack barely grazing his head. Collapsing back onto the battle arena, his gaze shifted to a large puddle of water beneath his feet.

"I love you," came a whisper from the white-haired woman who stood only a few steps away from the shinobi. With a playful motion of her hands, she conjured a water whip from her bag, which then split into four more whips. These watery appendages coiled around each of Naruto's limbs, and with a confident smile, she took a few steps forward. Lowering her hands, she compelled the boy to his knees, only for the water to freeze solid moments later.