Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sounds of bodies colliding rang out without end.
The scene had shifted from the bustling streets to a secluded forest.
It was a training ground that had been abandoned for years, its Wood Golems broken and battered, weeds growing everywhere.
A boy and a girl were engaged in an extremely intense Taijutsu Duel in a clearing they had specially cleared out, far beyond what children their age should have been capable of.
There was no concern for gender or any holding back. They continuously fought using their physical abilities and wits, and whenever one gained an advantage, they unleashed a storm of attacks on the other, as though they wanted nothing more than to beat the other black and blue.
The two children were Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina.
Naturally, Uzumaki Kushina had suffered more injuries. Her cute round face was covered in bruises, while her hair and clothes were stained with dust and footprints.
Gojo Yoru, on the other hand, merely had some dust on his clothes, without a single bruise on his face.
But upon closer inspection, one would discover that Gojo Yoru's expression was incredibly serious.
His entire body was tense, as though he were facing a formidable enemy.
Uzumaki Kushina had entered a berserk state, freely displaying the Uzumaki Clan's gifts. She endured Gojo Yoru's attacks head-on, intending to trade injury for injury.
Faced with Uzumaki Kushina's wild punches and bull-like charges, Gojo Yoru retreated repeatedly, constantly dodging.
He had no choice but to dodge!
The last time Gojo Yoru had underestimated her, he had taken one of Uzumaki Kushina's furious punches head-on and had nearly coughed up last night's dinner.
If he used the Body Flicker Technique, Gojo Yoru could hang Uzumaki Kushina up and beat her however he pleased.
Even without the Body Flicker Technique, Gojo Yoru could still suppress Uzumaki Kushina with his powerful reflexes.
But once Uzumaki Kushina stopped fearing pain, the situation reversed, and it became Gojo Yoru's turn to be suppressed.
That was the gap in talent!
Senju, Uzumaki, Kaguya, Hyuga, Uchiha... These five clans connected to the Otsutsuki Clan possessed talents that made others envious.
As long as they awakened their clan bloodline, they could easily become geniuses in taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, sealing, sensory techniques, or medical techniques.
If they fully realized their potential, they would become masters in those fields.
Although Uzumaki Kushina had yet to awaken the Uzumaki Clan's unique abilities, she had already displayed the potential to become a master of steel fists.
However, this future steel-fist master had just lost her composure.
"Arghhh... Can you stop dodging? If you've got the guts, let me hit you once!" Uzumaki Kushina snarled at Gojo Yoru, so furious that her hair seemed to rise against gravity.
Gojo Yoru sneered. "If you can't hit me, it means you're too weak. Go back and train some more."
Seeing the mocking look on Gojo Yoru's face, Uzumaki Kushina gritted her teeth again.
But soon, as though she had thought of something, she suddenly crossed her arms and sneered. "Go ahead and be as smug as you want now. You'll have plenty to cry about later."
Gojo Yoru's brows immediately furrowed. He beckoned to Uzumaki Kushina with a worried expression. "Come here and let me check you. Sorry... It's all my fault for hitting too hard just now. I actually damaged your brain."
"Gojo Yoru, you bastard!"
Uzumaki Kushina charged at Gojo Yoru in fury, only for him to press her head down with his "long arm." No matter how she swung her little fists, she could not reach him.
After their bout of horseplay, Gojo Yoru treated Uzumaki Kushina.
Uzumaki Kushina's cooperation and habits during the treatment showed that a long time had passed since their first duel.
"The Final Exam is tomorrow. What are you planning to do during the break?"
On the way back, Uzumaki Kushina asked Gojo Yoru.
The anticipation on her face seemed to be hinting at something.
But Gojo Yoru acted as though he did not notice and calmly replied with two words. "Training."
"You training maniac, all you ever think about is training." Uzumaki Kushina could not help complaining, but she still added, "Count me in."
Gojo Yoru remained silent, looking as cool as ever.
Having figured out his personality, Uzumaki Kushina knew that meant he agreed.
Thus, Uzumaki Kushina became filled with anticipation for the coming break, as well as motivation to grow stronger.
Noticing her change, Gojo Yoru secretly smiled.
He had deliberately cultivated this way of getting along with her. Besides showing the higher-ups that he had changed, his main purpose was to stimulate Uzumaki Kushina into growing stronger.
As a transmigrator, no one knew better than Gojo Yoru that after the Second Shinobi World War ended, the next era should have been named "Uzumaki."
Because there were two Super Kage Level prodigies in this era, both descendants of the Uzumaki Clan.
Those two prodigies were Nagato and Uzumaki Kushina.
One had received transplanted Rinnegan, while the other would become the Jinchuriki of the complete Nine-Tails.
If not for the fact that both of them had willingly become another person's subordinate and had been severely weakened, the protagonists of the Third Shinobi World War would never have been Namikaze Minato and the AB Duo.
A healthy Nagato would have mastered at least six Nature Transformations. He would not need to divide his power into six parts, as he alone could wield the power of the Six Paths of Pain. He could also summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and unleash the Chakra Dragon, which killed anyone it touched.
Other than sealing abilities and Space-Time Ninjutsu, no ability could counter him.
Uzumaki Kushina, who resided with the Senju Clan, was qualified to cultivate the Senju Clan's Secret Techniques and also inherited the Uzumaki Clan's Fuinjutsu. In the future, she would become a master of steel fists and a sealing master.
If she could awaken Physical Healing, she would become an even greater medical expert than Tsunade, capable of saving someone as long as they still had a breath left.
With Adamantine Sealing Chains, which were especially effective against Tailed Beasts, becoming a perfect Jinchuriki was practically guaranteed.
Uzumaki Naruto, with half of the Nine-Tails and Sage Mode, was already a Super Kage Level fighter.
As the Jinchuriki of the complete Nine-Tails, Uzumaki Kushina would only be stronger.
If she could also learn Sage Mode, Uzumaki Kushina's upper limit would be an enhanced version of Uzumaki Mito.
With such potential, how could Gojo Yoru possibly let Uzumaki Kushina become a mere decoration?
He wanted to train Uzumaki Kushina into a super powerhouse, his strongest right-hand.
Konoha Year 33, December 23rd.
For the Ninja Academy, this was another special day.
Because today was the final day of the second semester.
First through sixth grade had also reached this semester's Final Exam.
The morning was still reserved for written exams.
The afternoon, meanwhile, was for practical classes.
The Ninja Academy's practical classes were divided into three stages.
First and Second Grade formed the first stage.
At this stage, practical classes consisted only of Shuriken throwing and Taijutsu Duels. Physical tools were even issued only during the Final Exam; normally, pebbles were used instead.
Third and Fourth Grade formed the second stage.
At this stage, besides the addition of Survival Exercises, both throwing and Taijutsu Duels were upgraded.
Shuriken throwing gained an additional Kunai throwing event.
Taijutsu Duels became Pseudo No-Rules Duels, nearly identical to the third stage.
What was a No-Rules Duel?
It meant using anything at one's disposal: the Three Body Techniques, Five Element Ninjutsu, genjutsu, the Body Flicker Technique, Kekkei Genkai, tools such as Kunai... As long as one possessed it, one could use it.
This was the Ninja Academy's strictest and most unfair exam, designed to simulate life-and-death battles on the battlefield.
For Taijutsu Duels, only one ordinary Medical Ninja stood by.
For No-Rules Duels, besides the teacher serving as referee, there had to be two Medical Ninjas present who had mastered the Mystical Palm Technique.
However, this exam was only available in Fifth and sixth grade. Third and Fourth Grade's Pseudo No-Rules Duels still prohibited weapons and Five Element Ninjutsu.
Before you continue