This Kawano-sensei was naturally Shiraishi Yoshijo transformed with the Transformation Technique. He just hadn't expected it to work so well that it would make Mitsui Taro burst into tears.
Seeing that the real Kawano-sensei had already turned a dark expression his way, he hurriedly dispelled the Transformation Technique and put on an expression that said he hadn't done anything.
Mitsui Taro wasn't stupid. The moment he saw Shiraishi Yoshijo, he understood everything. His eyes reddened, and he lunged at him, ready to fight to the death.
Kids care most about saving face and showing off. That's why I don't play with you guys!
Shiraishi Yoshijo was about to use the Clone Technique to make it a two-on-one fight, but fortunately, Kawano-sensei arrived in time to stop them.
"Winner: Shiraishi Yoshijo."
Under Kawano-sensei's "kind" gaze, Mitsui Taro reluctantly formed the Seal of Reconciliation.
Only then did the students in the class start crying out in surprise. For a moment, they could hardly believe their eyes.
Shiraishi Yoshijo, who had always been all talk, had actually won. His method of winning might not have been very honorable, but just the Transformation Technique and the Substitution Technique were enough to astonish them.
Everyone had been at about the same level, so no one could call anyone else useless. But when someone suddenly went from dead last to the top, it was like they'd hired a ringer. Anyone would be surprised.
Hiruko quietly came over. "When did you learn the Transformation Technique and the Substitution Technique?"
"I've always known them. I only pretended I didn't to spare you guys the embarrassment."
Shiraishi Yoshijo didn't even blush when he lied. Besides, it was true. If he hadn't been short on Chakra, he would have learned Ninjutsu of this level long ago.
"Liar!"
"Well, believe it or not."
A few more rounds of combat training followed, and then it was time to go home.
Kawano-sensei kept Shiraishi Yoshijo behind by himself.
"When did you learn the Transformation Technique and the Substitution Technique?"
Kawano was quite concerned about Shiraishi Yoshijo, after all, their relationship was a little "unusual."
He'd thought Shiraishi Yoshijo had mediocre talent and had given up on himself. He hadn't expected even a lame duck to turn into a phoenix.
"Yesterday. I've also learned the Clone Technique. Don't look so surprised. I want to apply for early graduation, sensei."
As he spoke, Shiraishi Yoshijo used the Clone Technique again to demonstrate it to Kawano.
Kawano had been quite pleased to see that Shiraishi Yoshijo could use the Clone Technique. But when he heard about early graduation, his expression turned serious.
"You've only just learned the Three Basic Techniques. It's too early to graduate ahead of schedule. The combat assessment is very difficult. Wait another year."
If Shiraishi Eizawa weren't in such a hurry, Shiraishi Yoshijo would have been happy to coast at the Ninja Academy until graduation.
After all, he was a man who could rely on his clan. He didn't care whether the village valued him.
"Sensei, I've made up my mind. In fact, my family has already started preparing for what I'll do after graduation."
Hearing Shiraishi Yoshijo mention his clan, Kawano finally understood how determined he was.
"All right. I'll report this to Lord Hokage. But you need to be prepared. You can't pass the combat assessment at your current level."
After saying that, Kawano sent Shiraishi Yoshijo home and began organizing his records to submit to the Third Hokage.
Shiraishi Yoshijo stood there without moving, gazing at him expectantly.
"Is there something else?"
Kawano asked in confusion.
Of course there was. Something important enough to concern someone's life.
But I can't exactly say I've got my eye on your daughter. I'd better put it tactfully.
"Sensei Kawano, you've looked after me for more than two years. Now that I'm graduating, I should thank you. When would you have time to bring Mie along for dinner at my house?"
Kawano was touched, but all he said was, "I'm your teacher, and you're my student. Teaching you is my responsibility, and how well you learn is up to you. There's no need to thank me."
There is. If you don't come, how's my uncle supposed to get close to your daughter?
"Sensei Kawano, I was ostracized and isolated in class, but you saved my spirit and gave me a new lease on life."
"I'll never forget your kindness for as long as I live. My uncle is also very grateful to your daughter—no, I mean, he's very grateful to you. Please, you must come to our house for a visit."
Shiraishi Yoshijo almost let the cat out of the bag. He was flustered inside, but his face wore an expression of overflowing gratitude.
I'm not far from becoming an award-winning actor.
Shiraishi Yoshijo felt the little golden statuette waving at him.
"All right. Since you've put it that way, I'll bring Mie to visit your house in three days."
Success!
After leaving the school, Shiraishi Yoshijo walked down the street, wondering where he could find Orochimaru.
They were seatmates in name, but in reality, they weren't very close.
They'd exchanged only a few dozen words in the past two years. They were both busy, so there was no need to waste each other's time.
That was how Shiraishi Yoshijo saw it. Orochimaru probably felt the same way.
After thinking it over, Shiraishi Yoshijo still couldn't come up with a way to find Orochimaru. In the end, he could only go to the place where he'd met them yesterday and wait around like an idiot.
Fortunately, he was lucky. Half an hour later, he heard Jiraiya's booming voice in the distance.
"Orochimaru, didn't I tell you I could deal with that dog by myself? Why did you interfere?"
Orochimaru was silent.
Tsunade punched Jiraiya. "Idiot! Who knows how long you'd take to deal with it by yourself? Jiraiya, when are you going to grow up?"
Orochimaru was silent.
The two of them kept arguing while Orochimaru walked along in silence, his face expressionless.
When the three of them approached, Shiraishi Yoshijo figured that since he was the one who needed something, it was better to greet them first.
"Hey, Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya. Good evening."
Orochimaru glanced at him and walked on, his expression unchanged.
Tsunade looked at him like he was a freak, then followed along.
Jiraiya scratched his head. He figured it was better not to get involved with Shiraishi Yoshijo, so he ignored him too.
Shiraishi Yoshijo was speechless.
Bastards, just you wait!
Can't you eat pork just because the butcher's gone?
I must have been out of my mind to want to ask you guys for information.
Shiraishi Yoshijo turned around expressionlessly and went home.
After turning the corner, Orochimaru looked back at Shiraishi Yoshijo's retreating figure, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Tsunade laughed so hard she could barely catch her breath, while Jiraiya had no idea why they were amused.
Once she'd laughed enough, Tsunade said, "That bookworm actually greeted us first. He definitely wants something from us."
Orochimaru said, "Yesterday, I greeted him first, and his attitude was quite irritating."
Jiraiya said, "Isn't that a bit mean? What if he really needs our help? Are we just going to ignore him?"
Orochimaru gave Jiraiya a glance and turned to leave, tossing out two words as he went.
"Idiot."
Jiraiya bristled. "You bastard, Orochimaru! What did you say?"
Tsunade quickly held him back. "Relax, relax. If he can't even swallow a little loss of face, then it can't be anything important."
After returning home, Shiraishi Yoshijo still felt irritated. I really can't get along with them.
Shiraishi Yoshijo thought it over again, but still couldn't come up with anything. He simply picked up a Ninjutsu scroll and started studying.
What Ninjutsu should I learn?
He couldn't use the Butterfly Clone yet. The Thunder Ball seemed pretty good, but when his gaze landed on the Body Flicker Technique, his eyes lit up.
Almost everyone in the Naruto world knew this technique, and it could make a huge difference in a fight.
If he could master it before the combat assessment, it should improve his chances of winning.
Following the hand-seal sequence on the scroll, Shiraishi Yoshijo began practicing.
"Body Flicker Technique!"
He failed.
Looking at his right foot, which had sunk into the ground, Shiraishi Yoshijo fell into thought.
The Body Flicker Technique described in the scroll concentrated Chakra in the soles of the feet and then released it in a sudden burst, granting speed several times greater than usual.
This should be the simplest kind of Body Flicker Technique. It shouldn't be that difficult.
Is it because my Chakra control is too poor?
At that thought, Shiraishi Yoshijo suddenly remembered that he hadn't practiced Water Walking or Tree Climbing yet. He hadn't succeeded in the past, but he wondered how he'd do now.
There was a tree in the yard. He tried concentrating Chakra in the soles of his feet, then slowly walked up it.
He managed only three steps before falling. He even stomped the bark apart.
Frowning, he began carefully sensing the flow of Chakra in his body, then concentrated it in the soles of his feet once more.
One step, five steps, ten steps. Then he started backing down, slowly returning to the ground.
He kept moving slowly the whole time because he needed to carefully sense the flow of Chakra. He didn't try to move quickly.
It seems easy. Shiraishi Yoshijo began to pick up the pace.
He climbed and descended the tree. After doing it six times, he had completely mastered the technique.
In the story, Naruto and Sasuke seemed to take several days. I've already learned it?
Could I be a genius?
Impossible. He remembered his good uncle's evaluation of him: no talent, no perseverance, a Genin for life.
After turning it over in his mind, Shiraishi Yoshijo could only attribute this strange ability to the Chakra control granted by the Butterfly Seed.
He decided to try Water Walking too. Shiraishi Yoshijo found a large basin and filled it with water.
As for why he didn't train by the river, did everyone really enjoy taking cold baths?
Shiraishi Yoshijo wasn't stupid. It was all water, so what difference did it make?
With his experience from climbing trees, it didn't take Shiraishi Yoshijo long to master Water Walking.
This is too easy. Shiraishi Yoshijo scratched his head, baffled.
He stirred the water in the basin vigorously with his hand, stopping only once it had formed a whirlpool.
Then he stepped onto it again. His body swayed with the water, making him a little dizzy, but there was no doubt that he hadn't fallen in.
It seemed he really had learned it.
"Not bad. You've learned Water Walking and Tree Climbing so easily. Eizawa, I accept your request."
A hoarse voice suddenly spoke from behind him. Shiraishi Yoshijo hurriedly turned around.
At some point, Shiraishi Eizawa and an old man with a white beard had appeared behind him. Shiraishi Yoshijo hurriedly jumped out of the basin.
"Uncle Eizawa, who is this?"
"I'm Takemoto Shuichi. Your uncle asked me to teach you. By seniority, you should call me Grandpa."
Shiraishi Yoshijo was speechless.
I've inexplicably become someone's grandson. That's quite a loss.
I'll put up with it.
There was no other choice. Shiraishi Eizawa's expression had turned rather fierce because he'd been waiting for Shiraishi Yoshijo to greet him.
"Good evening, Grandpa Shuichi."
Takemoto Shuichi stepped forward and patted him on the head. "Good boy. Eizawa said you want to graduate early. Are you confident you can pass the assessment?"
As he spoke, Takemoto Shuichi noticed the scroll on the table and reached for it.
Shiraishi Yoshijo froze for a moment. Only then did he remember that he hadn't put the scroll away. Seeing Takemoto Shuichi reaching for it, he panicked and frantically signaled to Shiraishi Eizawa.
Unfortunately, his good uncle paid him no attention.
Before you continue