Your Sealing Arts Are Still Far From Enough!

Uzumaki Kuming arrived at school with a heavy heart; the scene from that morning had left a deep brand upon his mind. He didn't even know how he had made it to school, as if he had walked there unconsciously.

However, upon reaching the school gate, Kuming pulled himself together, adjusted his demeanor, and only then walked inside.

Entering the classroom, Kuming walked to his seat and sat down as usual. But no sooner had he settled in than someone leaned over to his side, whispering with a mysterious expression:

"Kuming, have you heard? The village is preparing to send young genin and chunin to the battlefield." Shikaichi Nara leaned in close to Kuming and spoke in a low voice.

"I know, I've heard." Kuming's expression remained indifferent; he propped his cheek up with his right hand while his left hand flipped through a book at random.

"I heard from my dad that the Third Hokage is going to select a group of people from the ninja academy to send to the front lines."

"Our third-year class is also within the selection range."

Seeing Kuming's lack of interest, Shikaichi immediately dropped a major piece of news. Sure enough, Kuming couldn't help but raise an eyebrow upon hearing this, then feigned nonchalance as he asked, "Is that so? Is the information accurate?"

"It's accurate. It's not just our family; the Akimichi Clan is also circulating this news. And I heard from my dad that our class is a key selection target. If nothing goes wrong, our entire class will be sent to the battlefield."

Shikaichi Nara could be considered wise beyond his years. Although he looked like a mere radish-top of a kid, the news he was relaying now made even Kuming shudder.

So that's it. They must have realized after gathering the genin and chunin last night that they didn't have enough people for the front lines, which is why they made this decision.

The class I'm in was recruited early. In terms of ability, everyone in this class has reached the level of a fifth-year student, and the outstanding ones have even met the standards of a genin.

It's understandable that those with exceptional strength would be prioritized for the battlefield. But is it really right to send us, the most talented children, to the front lines?

Is Konoha truly at its wit's end? I don't remember the Second Ninja War being this tragic.

Kuming pondered in his mind why the Third Hokage would make such a decision. The final conclusion he reached was that they must have been forced into a corner. If the children in this class were the future of Konoha, then those currently fighting on the battlefield were the present.

If the present ceased to exist, no matter how bright the future might be, it would be of no use.

"Hey, Kuming, are you listening?" Seeing that Kuming hadn't responded for a long time, Shikaichi Nara tugged on the corner of his sleeve and asked in a low voice.

"I'm listening." Kuming nodded and said.

"Are you really not concerned about this? We're going to the battlefield. Aren't you worried?"

Seeing Kuming's calm and collected appearance, Shikaichi Nara asked with some anxiety.

"Is worrying useful?" Kuming glanced at Shikaichi Nara and asked.

Uzumaki Kuming's words left Shikaichi Nara stunned. After lowering his head and thinking for a moment, he slowly replied, "No."

"Then there you have it. Instead of wasting time worrying, you'd be better off going home and practicing a few more jutsu. If you're right and our class really does get sent to the battlefield, having a few extra techniques might just save your life."

Kuming patted Shikaichi Nara's shoulder gently and spoke softly. After hearing Kuming's words, Shikaichi Nara fell silent, beginning to think seriously.

Just as Uzumaki Kuming and Shikaichi Nara were chatting, the classroom door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man walked in, accompanied by a masked ninja.

The man was their homeroom teacher, Kimura Jiudai, a commoner by birth. He had also been the chief examiner when Uzumaki Kuming's class first enrolled.

Anbu? Why would Anbu come to the school? Could what this little radish-top said be true? Kuming saw the Anbu ninja following behind Jiudai, turned his head slightly to look at Shikaichi Nara sitting beside him, and thought to himself.

Upon seeing the Anbu figure, Shikaichi Nara's body actually began to tremble slightly; fear began to cloud his mind.

"Relax, don't be nervous." Kuming reached out and put his arm around Shikaichi Nara's shoulder. At this moment, he could somewhat understand how Shikaichi was feeling.

"Students, we have a special project today. All morning classes are suspended."

"The person beside me is an envoy sent personally by the Hokage. The purpose is to witness the strength of the students in our class."

"The school will conduct a temporary test this morning. Students who pass the test will be granted the rank of genin immediately!"

"And those who become genin today will have the opportunity to receive direct instruction from the Third Hokage. You will become disciples of the Third Hokage!"

"This Anbu, who serves directly under the Hokage, is here to witness the fairness and impartiality of the test."

Kimura Jiudai began to announce this in front of the entire class.

"Become a genin, and even become a disciple of the Third Hokage?"

"Does this mean we won't have to attend school anymore? That's great!"

Jiudai's words caused the students below to begin whispering among themselves, but Kuming, hearing all of this, saw his expression turn extremely ugly.

The Third Hokage was actually using himself as bait to lure these ignorant brats into graduating early. As for what would happen after graduation, Kuming, who already knew a thing or two, could guess with his eyes closed.

Thinking of this, the anger in Kuming's heart became hard to suppress. If the Third Hokage had been upfront with these children and told them he needed to send the outstanding ones to the battlefield, he wouldn't have said anything—after all, everyone has their own choices to make. But this deceptive rhetoric was simply nauseating.

"Teacher Jiudai, if we pass this test, will we become genin?"

Unable to bear watching a group of little radishes being kept in the dark, Kuming stood up and asked loudly.

"Oh, Kuming. Yes, as long as you pass the test, you will become a genin, and you will have the chance to receive guidance from the Third Hokage."

Seeing that it was Uzumaki Kuming who had stood up to ask, Jiudai answered casually. However, the Anbu beside him turned his gaze toward Kuming, a flash of curiosity appearing in the eyes behind the mask.

"If we become genin, are we going to be sent to the battlefield!"

A cold glint flashed in the depths of Kuming's eyes as he asked in a chilling tone. Upon hearing Kuming's question, Kimura Jiudai was clearly taken aback, momentarily unsure of how to respond. After Kuming finished speaking, a significant commotion broke out in the classroom.

"The battlefield? We're still so young, how could we go to the battlefield?"

"Hmph, coward. I didn't expect there would be a chance to go to the battlefield. I must seize this opportunity; I will definitely pass the test."

"The battlefield! Doesn't that mean I can kill the enemy, earn merit, and make money for my family?"

A group of eight-year-olds began to chatter. Some longed for the battlefield, some feared it, and some naively thought of it as a ladder for their advancement. Although Kuming knew that children in the world of Naruto were generally precocious, listening to the discussion in the classroom, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

These children should have been innocent and carefree, yet many of them were now displaying desires and ambitions far beyond their years.

Kimura Jiudai had initially worried that Kuming's words would provoke resistance from the students, and he hadn't known how to respond. However, after listening to the children's discussion for a moment, the anxiety in his heart eased. But before he could speak, the Anbu agent standing to the side spoke up first:

"Uzumaki Kuming, is it? You aren't wrong. If you pass the test today, you will become Genin, and you may even be dispatched to the battlefield to shoulder a portion of the war effort."

"I believe every child in this school hopes to become a ninja. Since you have set that as your goal, I think you should be prepared for this moment."

"Glory, merit, wealth, and status—all of these can be obtained on the battlefield. If it weren't for these things, you wouldn't have come to the Ninja Academy in the first place."

"Now, this opportunity is laid out before you. What? Are you going to shrink away?"

The Anbu's words not only dispelled the fear in many of the children, but actually incited a predatory hunger in some of them. Children who had previously called the battlefield dangerous were now being swept up by their peers, beginning to clamor for a chance to go to the front lines. Even Shikaichi Nara, who had been trembling with fear earlier, was now shouting about wanting to go to war.

Even Kimura Jiudai, standing to the side, actually revealed a look of longing.

Watching his classmates grow increasingly eager one by one, a chilling frost appeared in Kuming's eyes.

"Who are you?" Kuming asked coldly. His inexplicable question left Kimura Jiudai stunned.

"I am an Anbu agent under the direct command of the Hokage. As for my identity, it is not convenient to disclose."

The Anbu replied, then turned to Kimura Jiudai and said, "Jiudai-sensei, you had better arrange the test quickly."

"Yes, of course." Seeing the high spirits of everyone around him, Kimura Jiudai agreed.

But in the next second, Kuming lunged from his seat, charging directly at the Anbu standing beside him and slamming a fist toward the man's abdomen. The Anbu's reaction speed was lightning-fast; he dodged to the side and took the opportunity to pat Kuming on the back. His own strength, combined with the momentum of Kuming's charge, made it impossible for Kuming to stop, and he slammed his fist into the blackboard.

"BOOM!!!" With a deafening roar, the blackboard and the wall behind it cracked and caved in, the deep crater a testament to the force of Kuming's strike.

"Uzumaki Kuming, what are you doing?" Seeing this, Kimura Jiudai roared in anger.

"To dare use Genjutsu on such young children—you are no Anbu agent under the Hokage!"

"Who exactly are you?"

Ignoring Kimura Jiudai, Kuming directed his question at the Anbu.

"Genjutsu?" Kimura Jiudai's heart jolted, as if something had dawned on him, the realization hitting him belatedly.

"I don't know what you are talking about," the Anbu ninja denied.

But Kuming had no intention of arguing; he swiftly charged at the man again.

"Hmph." Seeing Kuming rush him once more, the Anbu snorted and formed the "Lie" hand seal. In the next second, a black curse mark surged across Kuming's back, instantly binding his entire body and pinning him to the spot.

He planted the curse mark when he patted my back earlier?

To complete a counterattack while dodging an assault—he is an elite.

Kuming thought to himself. He didn't struggle, simply remaining pinned in place. Seeing Kuming restrained, the Anbu spoke up: "You have attacked an Anbu agent under the direct command of the Hokage. I am taking you to the Anbu interrogation room."

"Jiudai-sensei, I will be taking this one away first. Please arrange the test as soon as possible."

As the Anbu spoke, he strolled toward Kuming. But just as he reached out to grab Kuming's collar, he clearly saw a smile bloom on Kuming's face.

"Seal? Body Immobilization Technique!"

As Kuming's voice fell, the curse mark that had been binding him rapidly spread, and in the next second, it turned the tables, wrapping tightly around the Anbu.

"Impossible! This is impossible!" Amidst the Anbu's exclamation, the curse mark quickly constricted around him, binding him like a mummy.

"You brat, you dare attack me!" The restrained Anbu seemed to have strength left, roaring as he began to struggle; the curse marks binding him even began to loosen.

"Noisy."

Kuming glanced sideways at the bound Anbu, gathered chakra in his hand, and slammed a fist into the man's abdomen. The clothing tore, revealing skin, and in the next second, a black sealing array emerged on the Anbu's yellowed flesh. The masked Anbu felt his entire chakra network lock up; he couldn't mobilize a single drop.

He opened his mouth, but could only emit "uh-uh" sounds, completely unable to speak.

"Your sealing technique is still far from enough."

Kuming withdrew his right hand, tucking it back into his sleeve. From the moment Uzumaki Kuming launched his surprise attack to the moment he completely subdued the man, the entire incident had taken only a few moments. Even after Kuming had neutralized the Anbu, the students in the classroom hadn't yet realized what had happened. Even Kimura Jiudai couldn't immediately grasp why Kuming had suddenly attacked the Anbu.

"Sensei, this person was not sent by the Hokage. I suggest we send him directly to the Hokage."

Kuming turned back to look at Kimura Jiudai and said. At first, Kuming hadn't noticed anything abnormal, but once the Anbu ninja spoke and used Genjutsu, Kuming realized something was wrong.

Kuming wasn't actually sure if this person had been sent by the Third Hokage or not. But his reasoning was simple: regardless of whether the man was sent by the Third, since he had used Genjutsu on the children in this classroom, Kuming would simply strike first.

Never mind if he was a real envoy or not; he would slap a label of "malicious intent" on him first.

He didn't believe that even if the man were truly sent by the Third Hokage, the face-conscious Third would ever admit that he had sent someone to use Genjutsu on children.

And there was a deeper meaning to having Kimura Jiudai deliver the man to the Hokage. If the man really was sent by the Third, the Third could easily cover up the matter, ensuring no rumors detrimental to his reputation would leak out.

And if the man was indeed not sent by the Third, then the Third could use this person to uncover the mastermind hiding in the shadows.

Genjutsu...

I was wondering why things felt so strange earlier.

That guy used Genjutsu on us?

By now, the children in the class had returned to normal, though they were still in shock over Kuming's sudden attack on the Anbu. Only a limited few children were reflecting on what had just occurred.

Kimura Jiudai, meanwhile, realized the severity of the situation. Uneasy, he took steel wire from his ninja tool pouch to bind the Anbu tightly, and after applying a seal to block his chakra, he quickly led the man away.

"Self-study for now! Another teacher will come to hold class later."

Jiudai said a few words to his students before heading out, then quickly left the classroom. Not long after, several teachers who had heard the commotion hurried to the classroom. After a brief discussion, they left a female teacher behind to continue the lesson and soothe the students' emotions.

Uzumaki Kuming returned to his seat amidst a flurry of astonished gazes.

"Kuming, you actually subdued an Anbu?" Shikaichi Nara leaned in immediately after Kuming sat down, asking with excitement.

"I just happened to encounter a type I'm good at dealing with. Besides, if he hadn't tried to ambush me, I wouldn't have had a chance."

Kuming knew very well that his taijutsu was inferior to his opponent's; without using the Yin Seal, he would have had no chance of succeeding. Furthermore, before rushing out, he had already prepared to drag Jiudai into the fray, though he hadn't expected the opponent to try and restrain him with a sealing technique. Seeing that, Kuming simply played along.

Moreover, that Anbu clearly hadn't been very vigilant against Kuming, which allowed him to succeed with a sneak attack. Ninja battles were often like this: the prepared catching the unprepared, making it easy to achieve unexpected results.

"That's still amazing! I saw that Anbu had already subdued you, yet you were able to break free and even turn his own technique against him. So cool!"

Shikaichi Nara was like a little fanboy meeting his idol, asking question after question. Kuming answered perfunctorily, but this attitude only made Shikaichi admire him even more.

"Is this the demeanor of the strong? So cool!"

The classroom returned to its usual calm.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage office, the Third Hokage was nursing a headache.

He had already confirmed the identity of the Anbu brought in by Jiudai. From the Cursed Seal of Tongue Eradication on the man's tongue, it was easy to determine his affiliation: he was one of Danzo's men, a ninja from Root.

Knowing the man's identity was exactly why Hiruzen Sarutobi had a headache. Danzo currently held an important position on the front lines and was a long-time comrade-in-arms. As for what happened today, if there was anything the Root ninja did wrong, it was merely impersonating a direct-subordinate Anbu of the Hokage and casting a genjutsu on a child.

The man's offense was not enough for Hiruzen Sarutobi to execute him, not to mention that, theoretically, this person needed to be dealt with by Danzo himself.

However, an incident like this happening at the school was bad enough that the Third Hokage had to take a stand, otherwise, his authority would suffer a fatal blow. This was the source of his headache.

Handling it too severely would be problematic, but a light touch would lack deterrence.

"This is difficult."

"Jiudai, you just said the person who subdued this ninja was Uzumaki Kuming?"

The Third Hokage was still pondering how to handle the situation when he suddenly recalled that the person who had subdued the ninja was his own "cheap" student, Uzumaki Kuming, and he immediately spoke up to confirm.

"Yes. I didn't expect that child Kuming to be so strong; he subdued this Anbu in just two rounds."

"Without a doubt, he is a true genius. With such a genius, is it a waste to keep him in the ninja academy?"

Jiudai was merely sighing, but the Third Hokage took his words to heart.

"You're right. A genius like that is just wasting time and talent in the ninja academy."

"Prepare to transfer Uzumaki Kuming's file to the Ninja Archives and have him graduate early."

"Go back and inform the students about this ninja's identity—tell them he was a spy sent by Iwagakure. We will announce the academy assessment matters tomorrow."

"Also, notify Uzumaki Kuming to come see me after class."

After finishing, the Third waved his hand to signal Jiudai to leave. Once Jiudai had departed, the Third summoned one of his own direct Anbu to take the Root ninja away.

Having arranged everything, the Third Hokage walked to the window, gazing out at the scenery of Konoha as he fell into deep thought.

"A genius must be nurtured in the way a genius deserves."