Uchiha Chiri's Natural Enemy

Seeing that Uchiha Chiri was ignoring him, Watanabe shifted his gaze to Hiruzen and Hyuga Rei beside her.

The two were wide-eyed and bewildered, looking as if they were trapped in an illusion and unable to break free.

"Hypnotized by an Illusion Technique?"

Watanabe had heard that some leading teachers would give new genin a show of force during their first assembly to solidify their authority within the team. Hiruzen and Hyuga Rei must have fallen victim to Chiri's display.

"Teacher..."

"Don't call me Teacher," Chiri said sullenly.

"You're already talking back to me on the first day. You'll definitely be worse later on. I don't want to take you into my squad anymore."

Watanabe: "..."

Huh? Is that allowed?

"I will be very respectful to you, Teacher," Watanabe conceded, genuinely afraid she might get angry and kick him out.

"I'll ask you a question. If you can answer it, I'll take you," Chiri said, looking at him.

"What question?"

"Why—"

As she spoke, Chiri's clear, beautiful eyes were instantly covered in a scarlet hue. Six tomoe appeared and began to spin rapidly like a pinwheel.

[Hypnotized by Illusion Technique: Willpower +42, Spirit +40, Drowsiness -35...]

Watanabe felt as if he were swimming in an ocean of peppermint oil, his mind clear from the inside out. He felt incredibly awake.

"My Illusion Technique is ineffective against you?"

Watanabe gave a wry smile. "Did Teacher find out?"

"Hmph, you can't fool me."

Chiri pouted, retracted her Sharingan, and her beautiful eyes returned to normal. On the surface, she acted as if nothing had happened, but inwardly, she was extremely curious about Watanabe's next answer.

After a moment of hesitation to choose his words, Watanabe explained, "I also discovered by chance that no Illusion Technique works on me. I looked it up in the library because of it, and I think I've awakened a special Kekkei Genkai."

"Kekkei Genkai..."

Chiri suddenly understood.

This explanation was quite reasonable. Although Chiri had never heard of a Kekkei Genkai that could grant immunity to Illusion Techniques, the ninja world was vast and full of wonders. There was no reason why only her Uchiha Clan could awaken the Sharingan while others couldn't awaken a Kekkei Genkai that was immune to Illusion Techniques.

But if that were the case—

A strange thought suddenly popped into Chiri's mind, and she looked at Watanabe with a peculiar expression.

Wasn't this boy her natural enemy?

How novel. She wasn't some kind of animal, yet she had a natural enemy.

Chiri had to admit that she, who excelled at Illusion Techniques, and Watanabe, who was immune to them, were indeed a complementary pair, and it was she who was completely suppressed...

"Teacher."

Watanabe's voice interrupted Chiri's wild imaginings. He asked, "You're an Elite Jonin and have seen much. Do you know what Kekkei Genkai I've awakened?"

Chiri glanced at him sideways, suddenly feeling guilty. How could she possibly know what kind of Kekkei Genkai Watanabe had?

But if she couldn't answer, wouldn't she lose face as a leading teacher again?

"Ahem, your ability is just immunity to Illusion Techniques. It's not worth mentioning," she said dismissively, while inwardly muttering, It just happens to counter me...

Watanabe nodded humbly. "Compared to Teacher's Sharingan, it's indeed far inferior."

Chiri felt too guilty to continue talking to him. A red glint flashed in her eyes, and in the next second, Hiruzen and Hyuga Rei, who had been trapped in the illusion, regained their clarity.

"G-greetings, Chiri-senpai!"

Hiruzen quickly bowed, so nervous he even stammered.

He felt incredibly lucky to have been accepted into Uchiha Chiri's squad and wished he could kneel and kowtow to her to show his loyalty.

Hyuga Rei was more composed. She first glanced at Watanabe, then said with a smile, "As expected of Chiri-senpai. Your Illusion Technique was completely irresistible."

Facing someone who was not her natural enemy, Chiri was clearly more assertive. She said coldly, "The Illusion Technique just now was a test for you. Your performance..."

Chiri had intended to say "I'm very disappointed," which would have established her authority and motivated her team members. But as her gaze swept over Watanabe, the word "disappointed" couldn't leave her lips. She abruptly changed her tone:

"Your performance needs improvement. I don't allow useless trash in my squad. If you haven't made any progress after a while, I might just kick you out."

Hiruzen's heart tightened. As expected of Konoha's most renowned Elite Jonin. She's so strict it's chilling.

"I will definitely work hard to improve my strength and will absolutely not disappoint Chiri-senpai!" he declared first.

Chiri nodded with satisfaction. This is how new genin should be. Not like Watanabe, who not only talks back to me but even dares to lecture me.

"Although I couldn't resist Chiri-senpai's Illusion Technique, I don't think I'm so bad that I'll be kicked out of the squad," Hyuga Rei said with a pure smile, exuding an obedient and docile demeanor.

Watanabe silently agreed, "Me neither."

Chiri commanded, "Introduce yourselves one by one. The more detailed you are, the better. I want to get a comprehensive understanding of you all. You with the white hair, you go first."

Called out by Chiri, Hiruzen was immediately flattered.

"My name is Hiruzen, I'm a commoner... commoner. I'm best at the Substitution Technique, and my dream is to become Hokage... Hokage..."

Hiruzen's voice grew weaker as he spoke. Watanabe, watching from the side, felt embarrassed for him, thinking Hiruzen's performance was pathetic and that he was too nervous.

He really wanted to tell Hiruzen that he didn't need to be like this. Uchiha Chiri wasn't a difficult superior to get along with. As long as one mastered the correct way to communicate with her, she wouldn't actually kick someone out of the squad.

As for Hyuga Rei, there was even less need to be nervous when facing a girl like her.

"My name is Watanabe. I'm skilled in Ninjutsu, I hate war, and my dream is world peace."

Watanabe said simply, causing both Chiri and Hyuga Rei to look at him.

"Watanabe-kun's aspirations are very grand!"

Hyuga Rei smiled sweetly, "This is the first time I've heard someone's dream is that."

Watanabe remained noncommittal, thinking, Don't put on an act. You probably wish you could hang me up and beat me senseless with the Gentle Fist Style.

"It's my turn."

"My name is Hyuga Rei. I'm a member of the Hyuga clan's branch family. I don't have anything I particularly like, nor anything I particularly dislike. As for my dream, I hope that one day I can defeat Watanabe-kun in a fair fight."

Hiruzen had been listening intently at first, finding Hyuga Rei's smile very gentle and charming. But he froze when he heard the end.

Defeat Watanabe?

Could that even be considered a dream?

Uchiha Chiri, as one of the examiners for the graduation test, knew well the feud between Hyuga Rei and Watanabe, so she wasn't surprised by her words.

She didn't care what Hyuga Rei wanted to do to Watanabe, as long as she remained respectful and didn't cause trouble during missions.

"As per tradition, ninja squads usually have a meal together when they first assemble. Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"

"Can we eat yakiniku? I prefer that."

Hyuga Rei winked at Watanabe and Hiruzen.