Observation Is the Foundation of All Illusions

"Princess Tsunade, the Hokage has summoned the Jonin class for a meeting!"

Tsunade left the medical tent area and headed toward the command post.

Outside the medical tent, Kawadera Uchiha saw that the person who had come to notify Tsunade was none other than another Jonin, Dan Katō.

Unlike the original plot, Nawaki had not died this time; Tsunade had been startled, but she had not suffered the severe psychological trauma seen in the original work.

She might not necessarily propose assigning a medical ninja to every squad during the Jonin meeting, and even if she did, and Dan Katō stood up to support her, she would not be easily swayed by emotional vulnerability stemming from Nawaki's death as she had been before.

Tsunade now gave off a tough, unyielding impression—a true tomboy—and would not show the fragile side seen in the original story.

It was a pity that Kawadera Uchiha was only a Chunin and could not attend the Jonin class meeting.

Tsunade had already walked some distance away when she suddenly turned her head and beckoned to Kawadera Uchiha.

"Come, follow me."

Kawadera Uchiha pointed at himself, wondering if she was calling him.

"Yes, you, Kawadera, follow me."

Kawadera Uchiha hurried to catch up.

Dan Katō, walking to Tsunade's right, looked curiously at Kawadera Uchiha on her left, wondering why Tsunade would call upon this Uchiha.

Kawadera Uchiha initially felt like a third wheel, but then he realized that at this point in time, Tsunade and Dan Katō were not yet lovers, so what did he have to fear?

Dan Katō was the actual third wheel; his own relationship with Tsunade was quite good.

Upon arriving at the command tent, Tsunade first sought out the Third Hokage's assistant, Naraichi.

Tsunade said, "Senior Naraichi, I intend to recommend Kawadera Uchiha for the rank of Special Jonin. Could you please help prepare the recommendation form and the paperwork?"

Kawadera Uchiha was stunned. She wanted to recommend him for Special Jonin?

This was truly extraordinary—a princess of the Senju Clan recommending an Uchiha?

He had never had such an opportunity within his own clan, yet he had found it here with Tsunade.

Naraichi did not ask any questions and said, "Let the Jonin meeting proceed first. I will have the staff help him fill out the recommendation form and assess his abilities."

Hearing that there would be an assessment, Kawadera Uchiha felt a bit uneasy.

What if... what if the village discovered his strength was too high and insisted he join the Jonin class meeting immediately?

Forget it, he shouldn't entertain such wild thoughts; it was too fantastical.

Naraichi, Tsunade, and the other Jonin entered the tent. Kawadera Uchiha glanced inside and saw the tiered seating arranged like a lecture hall.

He was led by a Nara ninja to a separate tent nearby.

"Dazhou Yamanaka, organize a few people to assess this Chunin. Princess Tsunade has recommended him for Special Jonin."

The ninja named Dazhou Yamanaka, who had been half-reclining in his chair, stretched and stood up upon hearing this.

"Special Jonin? Let me see if you're special enough."

Dazhou Yamanaka brought two other ninjas—a Nara ninja and an Akimichi ninja—to the open ground behind the tent.

The two men behind him looked somewhat reluctant.

A dozen torches burned, illuminating the clearing.

Dazhou Yamanaka said, "Young Uchiha, the big shots are in that tent having a meeting. Keep it light, and don't force your abilities.

Especially, do not use the Great Fireball.

I've been a ninja for twenty years and have never seen a Great Fireball kill anyone; it's a total waste."

Kawadera Uchiha couldn't help but defend himself: "I've killed two or three people with the Great Fireball in the last six months; it's not that useless."

"Six months? Two or three people? I've killed more enemies with rocks in the last six months than you have with your fireballs."

Kawadera Uchiha had no rebuttal, because... the Great Fireball was indeed inefficient at finishing off opponents.

Most Uchiha ninjas used the Great Fireball as an opening move and then finished the job with kunai.

"Princess Tsunade recommended you for Special Jonin, so first, explain to me what makes you more special than a regular Chunin."

Kawadera Uchiha said, "Senior Dazhou, do you assume that because I am an Uchiha, I am skilled in genjutsu?

That is a stereotype!

But stereotypes are usually quite accurate; I am indeed skilled in genjutsu and consider myself stronger in that regard than the average Chunin."

Dazhou Yamanaka said, "Young man, don't be so confident; confident ninjas die quickly.

Since you claim to be skilled in genjutsu, and my Yamanaka Clan's spiritual energy is naturally strong, try attacking me with a genjutsu. Let me experience the genjutsu of your Uchiha Clan."

Kawadera Uchiha said, "Then I won't hold back."

"Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!"

In his Sharingan, the two tomoe spun rapidly.

Genjutsu chakra surged along his line of sight and slammed into Dazhou Yamanaka's eyes.

Dazhou Yamanaka curled his lip, not believing from the bottom of his heart that this young man's spiritual energy could be all that strong.

A person walked in front of the tent; it was a ninja from the Akimichi Clan.

"Hey! Dazhou! Why did you abandon me to form an Ino-Shika-Cho formation with Gan Akimichi?"

"I didn't abandon you, it's... it's..."

A ninja from the Nara Clan also walked over and said, "I know the reason. Dazhou contacted many Akimichi Clan ninjas, casting a wide net, teaming up with whoever agreed."

Dazhou Yamanaka hurriedly explained, "I didn't cast a wide net! I was just observing your personalities in advance, not knowing if we could coordinate well!"

A beautiful female Nara ninja also arrived behind the tent and said, "Scumbag! You scumbag! You deceived me! I turned down Futaka Yamanaka's invitation for you!"

"Listen to me, I'm not a scumbag, I..."

Cold sweat seeped from Dazhou Yamanaka's forehead, and as it dripped into his eyes, the stinging pain brought him to his senses instantly.

He shook his head, and everything before him vanished. He hurriedly looked behind the tent, but there was neither a female Nara ninja nor an Akimichi Clan ninja there.

Genjutsu!

How could he have fallen for a genjutsu so easily?

Looking at Kawadera Uchiha opposite him, he saw that the boy had already deactivated his Sharingan and was staring at him with a smile.

"You! How did you do it? Why is your genjutsu so realistic?"

Kawadera Uchiha said, "Since this is an assessment, I'll explain my genjutsu.

When I first saw you, you were different from the other Yamanaka ninjas. You were lying alone on a chair, appearing relaxed, but in reality, you were constantly observing the other Ino-Shika-Cho formations in the tent; you were somewhat anxious.

After you received the mission, you called over ninjas from other Ino-Shika-Cho formations, broke up their teams, and then looked quite pleased with yourself.

I guessed that you were anxious because you lacked an Ino-Shika-Cho formation, so I wove a genjutsu for you.

My approach to genjutsu is quite sound; it is far more efficient than forcibly breaking through your defenses with genjutsu chakra."

Dazhou Yamanaka's expression turned ugly. He looked left and right at the ninjas from the other two Ino-Shika-Cho formations, but they all turned their heads away, refusing to look at the solitary Dazhou Yamanaka.

They truly had not wanted to come here with Dazhou Yamanaka.

Dazhou Yamanaka said in a fit of pique, "You're cheating! This isn't using genjutsu; this is clearly psychological warfare!

Aren't you applying to be a Special Jonin? Is there even such a thing as a Special Jonin who specializes in psychological warfare?"

Kawadera Uchiha said, "My apologies, but that is my philosophy of genjutsu.

Observation is the foundation of all genjutsu!"

Just then, two claps rang out.

Orochimaru stepped out from the darkness:

"Observation is the foundation of all genjutsu—this statement is somewhat enlightening even to me. Your genjutsu is not bad."

With that, Orochimaru walked toward the command tent, not caring in the slightest that he was late, and brazenly lifted the tent flap to walk inside.

Dazhou Yamanaka had no choice but to grit his teeth and say, "Fine, you've passed the strength assessment for Special Jonin. Just wait—wait for Naraichi to review your mission record!"