[ Ding! Ninja Rock Lee fused. Remaining duration: 23:59 ]
The moment the system notification appeared, Yi Xiang felt as if every bone and tendon in his body were about to burst. Amid the crack, crack of his bones grinding together, he suddenly began doing warm-up exercises from his previous life.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight; two, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight...
Silently repeating the familiar chant in his mind, he did some chest-expansion exercises, then moved on to lunging stretches.
Seeing Yi Xiang casually doing all sorts of strange stretches, while a female student nearby whispered admiringly and praised him, only made the anger of the others—who were already preparing to attack—surge higher and higher.
"Qiupu, what's going on with Yi Xiang? If I remember correctly, he just told me he didn't care what place he got this time. Does he mean he wants to take on everyone and become the most monstrous prodigy of all? Did I misunderstand him?"
Changyang suddenly began doubting himself, unsure whether he had heard wrong.
Many of the students in the class who had received Yi Xiang's help and become his friends looked just as confused.
They knew Yi Xiang fairly well. The guy was clearly humble and laid-back, so why had he suddenly become so moody, like a completely different person?
Hearing this, Qiupu shook his head and was about to speak, but then he saw Kotetsu Hagane step between the two sides and raise his right hand.
The instant he brought his hand down, all but five or six of Yi Xiang's friends and three or four female students sprang into action.
Some threw the Shuriken they had been itching to use, while Neji Hyuga had already charged to the front, only a few steps away from Yi Xiang.
Just then, Yi Xiang didn't use his full strength. He merely took a step forward and dodged the dense volley of Shuriken aimed at his vital points. In the next instant, something unexpected happened.
Yi Xiang seemed unable to control himself. With just one step, he collided head-on with Neji Hyuga and sent him flying two meters backward.
If Yi Xiang hadn't forcibly pulled back most of his strength at the last moment, at least two of Neji Hyuga's ribs would have broken. As it was, Yi Xiang stood rooted to the spot, somewhat dumbfounded.
Neji Hyuga, who felt as if he'd been struck by the rounded base of a giant tree, stared at Yi Xiang in shock. Under the pressure Yi Xiang exerted, the Byakugan he had been able to activate at the age of eleven involuntarily narrowed.
"Uchiha Isho, how can you be this strong? My Byakugan couldn't even track your movements. Could it be that you deliberately hid your strength during the previous exams, all so you could show off today?"
Neji Hyuga clutched his abdomen. Although his ribs weren't broken, the excruciating pain from that blow seemed to spread throughout his body. He had never imagined that someone his age could take away his ability to fight back with a single strike.
The others who saw this hurriedly skidded to a stop, then stood rooted in place, staring blankly at Yi Xiang.
Good thing Lee has perfect control over his own strength. Otherwise, Neji would definitely have been badly hurt.
Even with control as ingrained as muscle memory, it can't make up for how unfamiliar I am with this power. I've only just started using it.
Somewhat relieved, Yi Xiang quickly thought things through and immediately spoke according to the excuse he had prepared.
"You're wrong. I don't know why, but my strength has improved too quickly lately. So I wanted to spar with you and see where my limits are now. I think I have a pretty good idea."
Watching Yi Xiang suddenly clench his fist, as if testing his strength, left everyone dumbfounded. What did he mean, his strength had improved quickly lately? Quickly enough to defeat in one blow someone the whole class looked up to?
It sounded like a ridiculous joke about someone living in a daydream.
How is that possible?! Even if he's awakened the Two-Tomoe Sharingan, his Taijutsu shouldn't have improved this dramatically. How did he do it?!
Suppressing his doubts, Neji Hyuga stared at Yi Xiang resentfully for several seconds. He even wondered whether the person in front of him was really Yi Xiang, or a teacher who had used the Transformation Technique to take his form. But his expression gradually sank into utter disappointment.
Since he had lost the ability to continue fighting, he could only be carried off the training field on a stretcher by medical ninja and taken to the hospital for examination and treatment.
"He beat Neji Hyuga with one move... That's Neji Hyuga, who gets first place in almost every exam! Do we have any hope of winning?"
"Neji Hyuga couldn't even last one move against him. Uchiha Isho might already be as strong as the teachers."
Several students murmured in disbelief as they took in the scene before them.
The students who had been fired up to knock Yi Xiang down now felt as if they'd fallen into an icy pit, overwhelmed by deep despair.
Seeing his classmates standing before him with their heads lowered and their will to fight gone, Yi Xiang was genuinely caught off guard.
The only upside is that I don't have to waste time beating them one by one. But the downside is obvious: how am I supposed to keep pretending I'm strong now?
When the Jonin leading us tests our strength, I can't exactly waste another Experience Card. After all, right now I'm strong enough to open the Eight Inner Gates up to the Sixth Gate, barely reaching Jonin level.
I really don't want to waste an Experience Card—not even one for a common, low-tier ninja.
After silently wailing for a while, Yi Xiang turned to Kotetsu Hagane.
"Teacher, can you announce the results of this match?"
The relaxed look on Kotetsu Hagane's face had vanished without a trace. His expression was solemn as he scrutinized Yi Xiang. Even he had only barely managed to follow the simple move from beginning to end.
This kid's talent right now might only be surpassed by Kakashi back in the day. After all, that guy graduated at five, became a Chunin at six, and was already a Jonin by twelve.
As for me, I'll probably only ever reach Special Jōnin level. Comparing yourself to others really is infuriating.
"Now, I announce the winner of this match: Uchiha Isho!"
"You're all pretty good. You made me use thirty percent of my strength."
[ Ding! Congratulations, host. You have completed Mission One. Reward: 35 Luck Points. ]
As soon as he said that, everyone fell silent again. Even the brows of Yi Xiang's friends furrowed slightly. There was no other reason: Yi Xiang's words had been too hurtful.
"A temporary win or loss doesn't mean anything. I used to be close to the bottom of the class, too. My strength today came from every drop of sweat, every hour, every ounce of perseverance and effort I put in, step by step.
"So I firmly believe that if you put in just a little more time and energy, keep surpassing yourselves, and bravely take each step forward, your future achievements may well be no less impressive than mine. Besides, I've never underestimated your potential!
"More than that, there's no such thing as failure in life. Every setback is a chance to grow. Hold your heads high and face it bravely. You're stronger inside than you think."
Imitating the impassioned speakers of his previous life, Yi Xiang spoke with sincerity and a solemn expression, moving everyone who heard him.
These twelve-year-old boys had yet to be beaten down by society or subjected to motivational speeches. Now they raised their heads, their dejection swept away, as if they had made up their minds about something.
Some were so moved—or so inspired by Yi Xiang's words—that tears streamed down their faces. Rock Lee stood out most of all. His tears flowed like a faucet turned all the way on; he could have kept them up all day.
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