Ninjutsu Talent (Please Read On)

"Very good. Thank you to Contestant No.1 for that Clone Technique demonstration. His score is eight."

"Next, let's welcome Contestant No.2 to the stage."

"Mu Yue-sensei, why did you bring us to watch this kind of competition? It feels like a waste of time. There probably aren't even many actual ninja in a competition like this, right?"

The moment Asuma arrived, he saw a contestant onstage performing a clumsy Clone Technique and asked in confusion.

Mu Yue smiled. "Asuma, have you forgotten your last fight with Shisui? Never underestimate anyone."

Asuma was instantly left speechless. If Mu Yue had not comforted him in time after that fight with Shisui Uchiha, he might have been beaten into depression.

"It never hurts to learn more about the strength of your peers in the village," Mu Yue said casually.

More importantly, he was worried Obito might mess up. Watching in person put him more at ease.

Asuma looked around and spotted a few familiar faces.

"Kakashi is here too? Don't tell me he's competing as well. That would really be bullying people." Asuma quickly noticed Kakashi and his group.

He and Kakashi were friends, so he knew just how monstrous the guy was. Graduated at five, became a Chunin at six—his talent was terrifying.

While everyone else was still learning hand seals and practicing the Three Basic Jutsu, Kakashi had already begun training in all kinds of Ninjutsu and Nature Transformation.

Besides Kakashi, Asuma also saw Shisui Uchiha, the one who had defeated him before.

Asuma was rather looking forward to seeing Shisui Uchiha face Kakashi. Those two freaks could go play with each other.

"Let's welcome Contestant No.2, Izumo Kamizuki, to the stage!" the Host called out the second contestant's name enthusiastically.

Izumo Kamizuki immediately walked onto the stage.

"Izumo, you can do it!" Kotetsu Hagane cheered for his good friend.

He felt his training was not yet up to standard, so he had not entered the competition.

Anko had been interested in participating, but she had something to do today and could not come.

"Contestant Izumo Kamizuki, what Ninjutsu would you like to demonstrate?" the Host asked with a smile, bending down slightly.

"I'll be demonstrating the Deception Technique that my friend and I developed together!" Izumo Kamizuki said proudly.

Kotetsu Hagane, standing below the stage, smiled with shared pride. He had contributed to this Ninjutsu too.

"You really can't underestimate the younger generation these days. Although Contestant Izumo Kamizuki is young, he has already started developing new Ninjutsu." The Host could not help but praise him.

"If I may ask, Contestant Izumo Kamizuki, what grade are you currently in at the Ninja Academy?" the Host asked.

Izumo Kamizuki answered honestly, "First Grade."

"Remarkable." The Host was extremely surprised. First Grade students had not even been studying for more than two months, right? Being able to use the Three Basic Jutsu already counted as learning well.

The audience also found it unbelievable, especially the other Second and Third Grade students, who felt as if they had attended school for nothing.

Mu Yue had already vaguely guessed what Ninjutsu Izumo Kamizuki was about to perform. He just did not know how far it had been developed.

The Host stepped back some distance. "Now then, please enjoy Contestant Izumo Kamizuki's Deception Technique!"

Izumo Kamizuki quickly formed hand seals and guided his Chakra. With a puff, white smoke flashed, and a chair taller than Izumo Kamizuki himself appeared on the stage.

Silence—

The venue fell deathly quiet.

Everyone stared blankly at the chair beside Izumo Kamizuki that was taller than he was, wondering what the hell it was.

The Host had thought that after hosting competitions for five years, no Ninjutsu could leave him at a loss. But today, he was defeated. He stood frozen for a moment and did not immediately go onstage.

"Ahem, Contestant Izumo Kamizuki, this... this Ninjutsu of yours..." The Host did not even know how to ask.

"Isn't the Clone Technique meant to confuse enemies? This Ninjutsu mainly combines the Clone Technique and the Transformation Jutsu to achieve a better confusing effect." Izumo Kamizuki explained the original intention behind developing the Ninjutsu.

"Then why is it a chair?" the Host could not help asking. He did not know whether it would confuse enemies, but their teammates would definitely be full of question marks.

"Because chairs are easy to transform into. I can't transform into anything else yet," Izumo Kamizuki answered honestly.

"Hahaha..." Laughter erupted from the audience. They had thought some genius boy had appeared, but he turned out to be an idiot.

"This kid really is a talent."

Asuma's mouth twitched. Just moments ago, he had been thinking about how there were so many geniuses these days, with a First Grade student already developing Ninjutsu. Was he the Second Hokage reincarnated or something? Then the situation reversed in the blink of an eye.

"Mu Yue-sensei, are Ninja Academy students all like this now?" Asuma could not help complaining.

Mu Yue was also somewhat speechless. He had told him to start by mastering chairs—how had that turned into only being able to transform into chairs?

"Actually, in terms of mastery, having this level of Clone Technique and Transformation Jutsu in First Grade is quite good," Mu Yue evaluated objectively. After all, Izumo Kamizuki was a student in his class.

Only after hearing Mu Yue's words did Asuma realize that Izumo Kamizuki was merely a First Grade student who had just started school, not a ninja. Having this level of skill already made him outstanding.

"Mu Yue-sensei, you really are impressive. You weren't fooled by appearances." Looking at the people around them laughing, Asuma suddenly felt a sense of superiority.

After everyone began laughing, Kotetsu Hagane fell silent. He was grateful that he had not competed. With so many students from the same school here, the story would surely spread throughout the academy. Wouldn't his student life be over then?

"Let's take a look at the judges' scores. The total is twelve points. The original idea behind this Ninjutsu is actually good. If it can be further refined, it should earn a high score," the Host said.

"I'll continue working hard to refine this Ninjutsu that we developed together with my two good brothers, Kotetsu Hagane and Anko Mitarashi." Izumo Kamizuki smiled, deliberately using their full names.

"So the other two talents are called Kotetsu Hagane and Anko Mitarashi. I wonder whether they're here."

Hearing the discussion from the people beside him, Kotetsu Hagane's little face turned pale. If this reputation got out, how was he supposed to find a girlfriend?

"Next, please welcome Contestant No.3, Uchiha Tekka, to the stage."

"Great Fireball Technique!"

Uchiha Tekka was ruthless and did not waste words. He immediately used his strongest Great Fireball Technique, rapidly forming hand seals before spewing out a fireball as tall as a person.

"As expected of a young man from the Uchiha Clan. He has already mastered such a powerful Ninjutsu as the Great Fireball before even graduating!" the Host exclaimed.

"It's already remarkable for a Genin to master this kind of Ninjutsu." One of the Referees gave him a high score immediately.

The other Referees nodded as well and awarded high scores.

"Twenty-six points! Contestant Uchiha Tekka has scored a high twenty-six points and temporarily takes first place!" the Host shouted.

Based on his five years of experience hosting competitions, unless an exceptionally monstrous contestant appeared, twenty-six points would securely take first place.

Uchiha Tekka walked off the stage with a calm expression. If not for the Eight Thousand Ryo, he would not have been interested in joining this kind of competition.

"Shisui, what did you think of my Great Fireball just now?" Uchiha Tekka asked.

"I can tell you put effort into training, Tekka." Shisui evaluated him. He had actually planned to meet up with Obito, but he ran into Uchiha Tekka and several other clan members on the way, so he joined them.

Although Uchiha Tekka's Great Fireball was fairly good, Shisui did not think he could take first place, because he had seen Obito's Great Fireball.

"Next, please welcome Contestant No.4, Obito Uchiha, to the stage."

I'll work harder today and see if I can post an extra chapter tonight. The bonus chapter will be released after midnight.