Projection Magic

Natsuki stood where he was, deep in thought.

First was the condition for unlocking the Zoro Template's second ability: placing first in a real combat match.

It had been three months since school began, and they had gone through three monthly exams, but there had never been any actual combat.

Most students had not even mastered the Substitution Technique yet. If they fought, it would only turn into a rookie brawl with everyone pulling each other's hair.

Normally, real combat would not begin until the year-end exams of the first grade.

In other words, he would have to wait until next February.

Natsuki gave it some thought and realized that was not necessarily a bad thing.

In the past three monthly exams, he had consistently placed either seventh or eighth.

If he suddenly became first, it would look far too suspicious.

Besides, there was another problem.

If he defeated Namikaze Minato and took first place, he would inevitably draw Shimura Danzō's attention.

Natsuki's plan was to improve little by little, then defeat Namikaze Minato in next February's Final Exam and take first place.

Over those eight months, he would have enough time to establish himself in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes as an outstanding inheritor of the Will of Fire.

But that still was not enough.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō were inseparable old comrades.

In the original story, Shimura Danzō had even sent people to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi. Even after it was exposed, he received no real punishment.

What Natsuki feared was being forcibly taken into Root.

Would Hiruzen Sarutobi storm Root for his sake?

Natsuki did not think so.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had only ever forcibly entered Root for Yamato, a Wood Release Ninja.

Other geniuses, such as Aburame Torune, whose strength surpassed Namikaze Minato before he learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, had still been abandoned.

Natsuki believed he needed another protective talisman.

Tsunade, with her generous bosom, immediately came to mind.

If he hid in her embrace, combined with Hiruzen Sarutobi's favor, Shimura Danzō would be unable to touch him for the time being.

To make Tsunade step in against Shimura Danzō, he would have to rely on Yakushi Nonō.

Simply put, he needed Yakushi Nonō to display her talent as a medical Ninja.

A rough plan quickly formed in Natsuki's mind.

He collected himself and looked at the Zoro Template's third ability.

Its unlocking condition was mastering an Earth Release ninjutsu.

That requirement was comparatively simple.

Natsuki's parents had left him two Earth Release ninjutsu, so he could learn them directly.

Though his talent was ordinary, neither Earth Release ninjutsu was particularly difficult: one was D-rank, while the other was C-rank.

His goal was the D-rank Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu. He would try to master it before next February.

The condition for unlocking the Zoro Template's fourth ability was obtaining a famous sword.

To Natsuki, that was the most difficult requirement.

There simply were not many famous swords in the Ninja World, and nearly all of them already had owners.

For example, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of Kirigakure possessed seven Ninja Swords, every one of which was renowned throughout the Ninja World.

But as someone from Konoha, there was no way Natsuki could obtain any of them.

Stepping back, if he limited his target to Konoha, the most famous sword was the White Fang Blade.

It had belonged to Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha, and after his death, it was inherited by Hatake Kakashi.

Besides the White Fang Blade, there were two more swords: the Kusanagi Sword and the Sword of the Thunder God.

Several Kusanagi Swords had appeared in the original story, but every one of them was connected to Orochimaru.

The Sword of the Thunder God had belonged to Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage. He was already dead, and Konoha now held the sword.

Natsuki could not help frowning at the thought.

All three swords would be extremely difficult to obtain.

For the White Fang Blade and the Kusanagi Sword, the most likely way for Natsuki to acquire them would be to become Hatake Sakumo's or Orochimaru's student.

As for the Sword of the Thunder God, he would have to render great service to Konoha and obtain it as a reward.

No, that was not necessarily the case.

Natsuki suddenly thought of the method he had devised to help Yakushi Nonō approach Tsunade. Perhaps he could use it to obtain the Sword of the Thunder God as well.

After making his plans, he extended both hands.

Projection Magic!

Two visible streams of Chakra appeared in the air and rapidly formed into two kunai.

Natsuki gripped them and immediately felt their solidity, as though he were holding two genuine kunai.

After thinking for a moment, he took out a real kunai and slashed down.

The two kunai trembled violently, and faint dents immediately appeared on the kunai formed by Projection Magic.

As expected, they could not compare to real kunai. They had roughly seventy percent of their strength, but that was already enough for combat.

He also had Reinforcement Magic. Once reinforced, they would become even sharper than genuine kunai.

Natsuki did not continue testing them and simply stood there waiting.

About three minutes later, the two projected kunai trembled faintly before turning into specks of light and vanishing.

Natsuki felt that the duration was a little short, but it was acceptable.

After all, once they disappeared, he could simply project another one.

Natsuki felt that Zoro was particularly suited to Projection Magic.

Projection Magic could reproduce legendary swords.

Once he later fused with Zoro's Two Sword Style, he would be able to project the two famous swords, Ganjiang and Moye.

"Nonō."

Natsuki turned and walked over to Yakushi Nonō. "How is your study of basic medical knowledge going?"

"Give me another two months, and I'll have learned it all."

Yakushi Nonō thought for a moment before answering confidently.

The timing was just right.

Natsuki had hired Chiwa as her teacher, with a six-month deadline.

Yakushi Nonō would finish in five months, leaving them one extra month.

"Nonō."

Natsuki smiled. "To become a medical Ninja, besides basic medical knowledge, you also need powerful Chakra control."

In the original story, Haruno Sakura's talent as a medical Ninja was reflected in her Chakra control.

The clearest example was Tree Climbing. She was the first to complete the Tree Climbing training, faster than both Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto.

"Starting today, set aside time to practice Tree Climbing and Water Surface Walking."

Natsuki explained, "These two methods can effectively train your Chakra control."

The principles behind Tree Climbing and Water Surface Walking were not difficult. They had been explained clearly in the original story.

Yakushi Nonō nodded at his words.

What Natsuki said was definitely right. All she had to do was follow his instructions.

Yakushi Nonō would practice Tree Climbing and Water Surface Walking, while he learned Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu. The rest was only a matter of time.

The Ninja Academy year was divided into three terms, beginning in March and ending in February of the following year.

The first term ran from March to mid-July, with four monthly exams. Summer vacation lasted until the end of August, and school resumed in early September.

Time quietly passed.

June soon ended, and July's Final Exam arrived as scheduled.

There were no changes to the written exam. The Combat Exam added a Substitution Technique assessment alongside Ninja Tool Throwing and the Physical Fitness Test.

But there was still no real combat.

Following his planned pace, Natsuki rose from seventh place to fifth.

His greatest improvement was in the Physical Fitness Test.

After four uninterrupted months of running, his ranking in the Physical Fitness Test had stabilized within the top five.

Namikaze Minato remained first in the Final Exam.