Bang, bang, bang...
As the sounds of heavy blows rang out continuously, an extremely visually shocking scene unfolded before the eyes of all the students and teachers, leaving them too stunned to speak.
Namikaze Minato, whom Gojo Yoru had sent flying with one punch, had not even hit the ground before three Gojos Yoru began batting him around like a ball.
If those three Gojos Yoru had been his original body and Shadow Clones, it would not have been so shocking.
But whenever one Gojo Yoru sent Namikaze Minato flying, another would rush ahead of Minato's flight path at an even faster speed and knock him away again.
Moreover, Gojo Yoru did not use Body Flicker Technique at a speed too fast for the naked eye to see. Instead, he simply moved slightly faster than Namikaze Minato's backward flight and passed directly through his body.
While being kicked around like a ball, Namikaze Minato had not failed to try fighting back.
However, the result of every counterattack was the same as when Gojo Yoru passed through him: they all went straight through Gojo Yoru's body.
Every Gojo Yoru was like an incorporeal Phantom Clone, yet any one of them could turn solid at any moment.
Let alone these inexperienced students, even Yuya and the Medical Ninja, both already Chunin, had never seen such a technique.
They were absolutely certain that Gojo Yoru's two clones were merely the most basic Phantom Clones.
As for why the Phantom Clones did not disperse when attacked, and why they could become solid...
They could not understand it at all.
But seeing that Gojo Yoru was giving Namikaze Minato no chance to land, that the latter had already put on a Pain Mask, and that one Gojo Yoru had leapt into the air and assumed the posture for an Axe Kick, Yuya instantly snapped out of it. He hurriedly used Body Flicker to catch Namikaze Minato and shouted at Gojo Yoru, "The winner has been decided. The fight is over."
At those words, the Gojo Yoru in the air and one of the Gojos Yoru on the ground immediately turned into puffs of white smoke and vanished.
"Sorry. I got too carried away just now. Are you all right?" Gojo Yoru's original body walked over and, unusually, apologized for his actions.
"...I'm fine."
Namikaze Minato, whose body Yuya had steadied, endured the pain that felt as though his body were falling apart. He shook his head at Gojo Yoru and said sincerely, "I lost, Yoru. That technique of yours is incredible."
"Your Wind Style is strong too. If I hadn't already mastered Earth Style, you might have taken me out in an instant." A smile that his classmates could scarcely imagine appeared on Gojo Yoru's face. Then he raised his hand and extended two fingers toward Namikaze Minato, smiling. "Thanks for the lesson."
"Thanks for the lesson."
Namikaze Minato also extended two fingers and formed the Seal of Reconciliation with Gojo Yoru.
Perhaps it was just an illusion...
But Namikaze Minato felt that Gojo Yoru seemed to have changed slightly compared to before the fight began.
Was it because of his smile?
Namikaze Minato would never know that, from this moment onward, he was no longer Gojo Yoru's Imaginary Enemy, nor was he the Inner Demon that had left Gojo Yoru struggling for breath all these years.
They might both be cheaters, but once Gojo Yoru defeated someone, he would never give them the chance to catch up to or surpass him again.
Gojo Yoru's change was the transformation that came after removing his Inner Demon.
From now on, Gojo Yoru would no longer overthink things, nor would he need to put on an act every day.
He could put down every mask and begin living freely for himself.
His talent, his strength, his Golden Finger... they would let him obtain everything he wanted!
Naturally, Namikaze Minato knew none of this.
After forming the Seal of Reconciliation with Gojo Yoru, he could not help asking curiously, "Yoru, may I ask something presumptuous? Were those two clones of yours Shadow Clones? How did you make them switch between solid bodies and phantoms?"
At that, everyone's gaze focused on Gojo Yoru.
Gojo Yoru merely curled his lips slightly and said proudly, "They weren't Shadow Clones. They were a technique I developed myself... the Phantom Body Flicker Technique."
"Phantom Body Flicker Technique?"
Everyone remembered the name of that technique.
After pondering for a moment, Yuya and the Medical Ninja suddenly changed expression. "Body Flicker Technique? It was just Body Flicker Technique?!"
Namikaze Minato realized it as well. He stared at Gojo Yoru in disbelief. "But why didn't your Phantom Clones disperse after being hit?"
Gojo Yoru smiled without answering, then turned and left.
Seeing this, Uzumaki Kushina, who had also finished her exam, hurried after him, leaving behind a group of teachers and students still lost in confusion and shock.
On the way, Uzumaki Kushina was equally curious. "Yoru, was that technique really just an ordinary Clone Technique and Body Flicker Technique?"
"If you want to know, work hard and become stronger." Gojo Yoru smiled faintly and encouraged her. "Once you become strong enough, you'll naturally learn the secret of that technique."
Uzumaki Kushina froze and stared blankly at Gojo Yoru.
The curiosity in her heart had already been eclipsed by Gojo Yoru's smile.
So this guy looked this good when he smiled?
It was not as though Uzumaki Kushina had never seen Gojo Yoru smile at her, but most of them had been mocking smiles, or cool, faint smiles and cold sneers.
A smile this pure, one that came from the bottom of his heart, was exceedingly rare.
And perhaps it was just her imagination, but Uzumaki Kushina felt as though some sort of change had occurred within Gojo Yoru.
That change made it seem as though his entire body were radiating light, making him even more handsome!
Coming back to her senses, Uzumaki Kushina's little face grew somewhat hot. She turned her gaze away and looked aside, pretending to be disdainful. "Tch... Fine, don't tell me. Anyway, your technique can only bully effeminate guys like that."
"Heh... You really dare to say that. Want to give it a try?"
"Bring it on!"
"Sometimes I really admire you. It'd be great if your body's defense were as tough as your mouth."
"Enjoy being arrogant while you can. Once I master that technique, you'll have plenty to cry about!"
"What technique?"
"Hehe... I'm not telling you!"
Feeling as though she had regained a point, Uzumaki Kushina made a face at Gojo Yoru, then skipped ahead, refusing to give him the chance to mock her back.
The corners of Gojo Yoru's mouth rose slightly as he followed behind with his hands in his pockets.
"Youth really is wonderful..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had deliberately used the Crystal Viewing Technique to watch this Final Exam, could not help smiling with emotion.
As he watched Gojo Yoru in the Crystal Ball, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes were filled with satisfaction.
He likewise could not see through the principles of the Phantom Body Flicker Technique, nor did he know how Gojo Yoru had made Phantom Clones that would not disperse when struck.
Sarutobi Hiruzen would not investigate it further either.
Because Sarutobi Hiruzen, hailed as the Professor of Ninjutsu, could tell at a glance that this technique had been born from Gojo Yoru's unique Body Flicker Talent.
If one's Body Flicker Technique could not reach Gojo Yoru's ghostly, silent level, then even if one understood the principles behind this technique, one still could not learn it.
Moreover, this bizarre shifting and switching of positions could only grant an advantage in taijutsu against opponents of the same level.
Phantom Clones were Phantom Clones in the end.
Without solid bodies, they could not perform techniques like Shadow Clones.
As long as one mastered large-scale ninjutsu, this technique could easily be broken. It was not worth fearing.
Still, the talent Gojo Yoru had displayed drew Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention.
"To develop a Body Flicker Technique at this age that belongs neither to the five basic natures nor anyone else, but solely to himself, not only demonstrates powerful Chakra control and reaction speed, but also means his understanding of space is extraordinary. Perhaps... he has the potential to learn that technique of Teacher Tobirama's." Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes slightly, then suddenly turned toward a certain direction and murmured in a voice only he could hear, "After remaining uninvolved for so long, does this mean that you approve of them as well, Lady Mito?"
Before you continue