Inner Demon Eradicated, Metamorphosis

Thump, thump, thump...

As the sound of heavy impacts rang out, a scene of intense visual impact unfolded before the eyes of all the students and teachers, leaving them utterly speechless.

Namikaze Minato, sent flying by a single punch from Gojo Yoru, hadn't even hit the ground before three Gojo Yorus batted him around like a ball.

If those three Gojo Yorus were his original body and shadow clones, it wouldn't have been so shocking.

But as it happened, one Gojo Yoru knocked Namikaze Minato away, and another Gojo Yoru shot ahead faster than Minato's backward flight to launch him again.

Moreover, Gojo Yoru didn't close the distance with a flicker too fast for the eye to see; he simply passed straight through Namikaze Minato's body, moving only slightly faster than Minato's own trajectory.

While being kicked around like a ball, Namikaze Minato did try to counterattack.

But the result was the same as Gojo Yoru passing through him—every strike went right through Gojo Yoru's body.

Each Gojo Yoru seemed like an intangible phantom clone, yet any one of them could become solid in the next instant.

A technique like this was beyond not only these inexperienced students but even Yuya, who had already become a chunin, and the medical ninja. They had never seen anything like it.

They were certain that Gojo Yoru's two clones were just basic phantom clones.

So why didn't those phantom clones dissipate when struck? And how could they turn solid?

They couldn't understand it, no matter how hard they tried.

But seeing Gojo Yoru refuse to let Namikaze Minato touch the ground, the latter already wearing a Pain Mask, and one Gojo Yoru leaping into the air with an Axe Kick stance, Yuya snapped to attention. He flickered over to catch Namikaze Minato and shouted at Gojo Yoru, "The winner is decided. End the fight."

Hearing this, the Gojo Yoru in the air and the one on the ground instantly turned into white smoke and vanished.

"Sorry, I got carried away. Are you okay?" Gojo Yoru's original body walked over, offering a rare apology for his actions.

"...I'm fine."

Namikaze Minato, steadied by Yuya, forced himself to endure the bone-rattling pain and shook his head at Gojo Yoru, speaking sincerely, "I lost, Yoru-kun. 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 instantly." A smile—one unimaginable to his classmates—spread across Gojo Yoru's face. He raised two fingers toward Namikaze Minato and said with a grin, "Thanks for the match."

"Thanks for the match."

Namikaze Minato extended his fingers as well, forming the Seal of Reconciliation with Gojo Yoru.

Was it just his imagination...

Namikaze Minato felt that Gojo Yoru's appearance had changed slightly compared to before the fight.

Was it because of the smile?

Namikaze Minato would never know that from this moment on, he was no longer Gojo Yoru's Imaginary Enemy, nor the Inner Demon that had suffocated him for years.

Both of them were Cheaters, but Gojo Yoru wouldn't give those he defeated a chance to catch up or surpass him.

Gojo Yoru's change was a transformation born from uprooting his Inner Demon.

From now on, Gojo Yoru wouldn't overthink or put on an act every day.

He could shed all his masks and start living freely for himself.

His talent, his strength, his Golden Finger... would get him everything he wanted!

Namikaze Minato, of course, knew none of this.

After forming the Seal of Reconciliation with Gojo Yoru, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Yoru-kun, may I ask—were those two clones Shadow Clones? How did you make them switch between solid and phantom?"

At this, everyone's gaze fixed on Gojo Yoru.

Gojo Yoru just curled the corner of his mouth and said proudly, "Those weren't Shadow Clones. They were a technique I developed myself... the Phantom Body Flicker Technique."

"Phantom Body Flicker Technique?"

Everyone committed the name to memory.

Yuya and the medical ninja pondered for a moment, then their expressions shifted sharply: "A Body Flicker Technique... it's just a Body Flicker Technique?!"

Namikaze Minato also realized this, staring at Gojo Yoru in disbelief. "But then why didn't your phantom clones dissipate when hit?"

Gojo Yoru smiled without answering, then turned and walked away.

Seeing this, Uzumaki Kushina, who had also finished her exam, quickly followed, leaving behind a group of teachers and students still lost in confusion and shock.

On the way, Uzumaki Kushina asked with equal curiosity, "Yoru, was that technique of yours really just a basic Clone Technique and Body Flicker Technique?"

"If you want to know, work hard to get stronger." Gojo Yoru smiled gently, encouraging her. "Once your strength reaches a certain level, you'll naturally understand the secret of that technique."

Uzumaki Kushina froze, staring blankly at Gojo Yoru.

Her curiosity was already overshadowed by his smile.

Was this guy always this good-looking when he smiled?

Uzumaki Kushina had seen Gojo Yoru smile at her before, but most were mocking grins or cool, faint smirks and sneers.

A pure, heartfelt smile like this was extremely rare.

And maybe it was just her imagination, but Uzumaki Kushina felt that something about Gojo Yoru had changed.

That change made him seem to radiate light, making him even more handsome!

Coming back to his senses, Uzumaki Kushina's little face flushed slightly. She averted her gaze and pretended to be dismissive. "Tch... fine, don't tell me then. That technique of yours can only bully that sissy anyway."

"Oh? You sure talk big. Want to give it a try?"

"Try it? Let's try it!"

"Sometimes I really admire you. If your body's defense were as tough as your mouth, you'd be set."

"Keep acting tough while you can. Once I master that technique, you'll be crying later!"

"What technique?"

"Hehe... not telling you!"

As if she'd scored a point, Uzumaki Kushina made a face at Gojo Yoru, then bounced ahead, not giving him a chance to retort.

The corner of Gojo Yoru's mouth lifted. He kept his hands in his pockets and followed behind.

"Youth is nice..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had specifically used the Crystal Viewing Technique to watch this Final Exam today, couldn't help but smile and sigh in admiration.

Looking at Gojo Yoru in the crystal ball, Hiruzen's eyes were full of approval.

He too couldn't discern the principle behind the Phantom Body Flicker Technique, nor how Gojo Yoru managed to make a Phantom Clone take hits without dispersing.

Hiruzen wouldn't dig deeper either.

Because as the ninja known as the Professor, he could tell at a glance that this technique was born from Gojo Yoru's unique Body Flicker Talent.

No ordinary Body Flicker could reach Gojo Yoru's ghostly, silent level. Even knowing the principle, one simply couldn't learn it.

Moreover, this bizarre displacement only held an advantage in same-level taijutsu.

A Phantom Clone was, after all, just a Phantom Clone.

Without a physical body, it couldn't perform techniques like a Shadow Clone.

As long as one mastered wide-area ninjutsu, this technique could be easily countered—nothing to fear.

Still, the talent Gojo Yoru displayed caught Hiruzen's attention.

"At this age, he's already developed a Body Flicker that doesn't belong to the five elements, but is uniquely his own. This not only shows strong chakra control and reaction speed, but also means his understanding of space is extraordinary. Perhaps... he has the potential to learn Lord Tobirama's technique." Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly. He suddenly turned to look in a certain direction and muttered in a voice only he could hear, "Having not intervened for so long... does this mean you approve of them too, Lady Mito?"