A Solo Dance After the Field Was Cleared

On the training ground, the dust slowly settled.

Yamato stood where he was, his gaze fixed tightly on Tejima Shinichi. The bells at his waist still jingled from the recent impact, and the shock on his face had yet to fully fade.

"Rasengan..." Yamato's voice was suddenly a little hoarse. "Shinichi, where did you learn that jutsu?"

Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu had also recovered from the sight of Yamato's Wood Release. As they looked at the destruction caused by Tejima Shinichi's ninjutsu... their mouths hung open.

"Ra... Rasengan?" Kobayashi Ken murmured, repeating the name that Teacher Yamato had blurted out. "What incredible power!"

He rubbed his eyes hard, as though trying to confirm that what he had just seen was not an illusion.

"Rasengan..."

Sato Yu was equally stunned. He unconsciously clenched his fists, etching the name of that jutsu and the power it had unleashed into his heart.

Tejima Shinichi let out a breath and said:

"Teacher Yamato, I understand your doubts, but... I really did teach myself this jutsu!"

"You taught yourself?" Yamato furrowed his brow, his tone full of suspicion. "Do you know how difficult the Rasengan is to learn? Without a teacher's guidance, relying on self-study alone..."

Tejima Shinichi interrupted him.

"My parents often spoke of the Fourth Hokage's exploits—his Flying Thunder God and Rasengan. After hearing about them so much, I wanted to give it a try." He paused before continuing. "Chakra shape transformation is nothing more than control taken to the extreme. I used Shadow Clones to try countless times, starting with water balloons, then rubber balls... I failed many times, but gradually found the trick."

The words were simple, but their implications shook Yamato to his core.

Training with water balloons and rubber balls?

That was indeed one of the basic methods for mastering Chakra shape transformation, but it normally required proper guidance and a great deal of time.

Yet from Tejima Shinichi's tone, it seemed he had completed the entire process on his own, successfully compressing chaotic, spinning Chakra into something so stable?!

Using Shadow Clones to accelerate training... combined with this kid's naturally enormous reserves of Chakra, perhaps it really was possible?!

Yamato recalled the solid force and destructive power that had erupted when the Rasengan collided with the Wood Golem Wall. That had been no fluke—it was proof that Shinichi had truly grasped its essence.

Looking into Tejima Shinichi's calm, unruffled eyes, Yamato realized for the first time that what this boy possessed might be more than just the Chakra granted by his bloodline...

Inside the Hokage's Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly sat back down before the Crystal Ball. He took a deep drag from his pipe and let the smoke blur his vision.

"So it really... was self-taught..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured to himself, the turmoil in his heart still far from settled.

Training the Rasengan through balloons and water balloons...

Knowing the method was one thing. Being able to walk that path through one's own strength was another.

Especially for the Rasengan, which demanded extraordinarily precise Chakra control, the difficulty rose exponentially.

"Using Shadow Clones to share the burden of training, relying on his enormous Chakra reserves to sustain the expenditure..." Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered. "A shocking talent, and even more shocking perseverance."

He looked at the black-haired boy within the Crystal Ball, his gaze becoming incomparably profound.

The potential Tejima Shinichi had displayed had surpassed his expectations time and time again.

Such a genius...

Yamato stared at Tejima Shinichi, his assessment completely revised.

A self-taught Rasengan, enormous Chakra reserves... this was no ordinary Genin. Even ordinary Chunin could not hope to reach such a level.

"I need to reassess his threat level." Yamato's eyes sharpened as the last traces of his earlier testing and guiding mindset vanished. "First, remove the distractions and focus on dealing with him..."

"And... let's see where his limits truly lie!"

With that thought, Yamato instantly formed a plan.

"I understand," Yamato said in a low voice. "In that case... the test will continue."

Before anyone could react, Yamato's figure suddenly blurred as he lunged at Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu on the flank!

"So fast!"

Tejima Shinichi's pupils contracted as he hurriedly warned them.

"He's coming! Watch out, his targets are—you two!"

Almost the instant Yamato moved, Tejima Shinichi swiftly matched his rhythm!

His hands formed seals—

"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"

Countless sharp stone spears suddenly burst from the ground along Yamato's path!

Facing the attack, Yamato clapped his hands together mid-charge.

"Wood Release: Wood Clone Jutsu!"

Two Wood Clones instantly emerged from Yamato and split to either side. Carrying fierce momentum, they charged straight at Tejima Shinichi himself!

At the same time, Yamato's true body accelerated. Without slowing down, he charged directly toward the stone spears, extending one hand forward.

"Wood Release: Wood Golem Wall!"

A small wooden wall precisely blocked the foremost stone spears, opening a narrow passage for him as he swiftly passed through!

After clearing the obstacle of stone spears, he did not pause in the slightest. As though teleporting, he slipped between Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu, who had been preparing to support Tejima Shinichi!

"What?!"

Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu were both startled!

"Too late."

Yamato seized Sato Yu's wrist and pulled, breaking his balance. His other hand formed a blade with two fingers and pressed against the side of Sato Yu's neck.

"Urgh..."

Sato Yu's vision went black, and he crumpled limply to the ground.

"Yu!"

Kobayashi Ken cried out and hurriedly thrust his Kunai forward.

Yamato's footwork was nimble. He evaded the attack as though he had foreseen it, then slipped his left hand into the crook of Kobayashi Ken's arm during the tiny gap between his movements and pressed down.

Kobayashi Ken's arm went numb, and Yamato's right palm was already pressed against his shoulder.

"Bang!"

Kobayashi Ken was sent flying. He crashed into a tree and slid down.

"Damn it..."

Looking at how their resistance had been neutralized almost instantly, and feeling the despairing gap between himself and his teacher, Kobayashi Ken was overwhelmed by helplessness and unwillingness.

"The gap between us... and Shinichi... it's actually..."

He coughed once, his vision went dark, and he lost consciousness.

In just a few breaths, both teammates had fallen.

"Now, it's quiet." Yamato turned around, his gaze locking completely onto Tejima Shinichi. "Let me see all of your strength, Shinichi!"

Tejima Shinichi looked at his fallen teammates, frowned, and quickly widened the distance between himself and Yamato's two Wood Clones.

"Since Teacher Yamato has said so," Tejima Shinichi said, lifting his eyes to Yamato, "then... as you wish."

He then formed hand seals—

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Bang! Bang!

Two figures appeared at his side.

A faint smile curled across Tejima Shinichi's lips as fighting spirit rose in his eyes.

Sure enough... a Jonin's strength was truly terrifying. Nothing like how unimpressive they seemed in the later parts of the original story... But this was what made it interesting.

With that thought, Tejima Shinichi and his two clones spread out in a triangular formation.