The rookies had feasted last night.
They didn't make it home until after nine.
Early the next morning.
All the rookies were back in the classroom, their faces full of reverence. Today... their teachers would be assigned!
They would each have their own Jonin teacher!
"Hey, everyone! When I call your names, come with me. I'm your Jonin teacher, Sarutobi Shinnosuke. I'm Gekko Yabu, and I'm Kurama Shimotsuki!"
A white-haired young man walked in with a smile.
A short sword rested on his back. Even though his smile was gentle, his sharp air made everyone's heart skip a beat!
"It's the White Fang of the Leaf, Hatake Sakumo!"
Keigo Uchiha narrowed his eyes. "In the original story, Hatake Sakumo was already a Kage Level powerhouse. During a mission, he abandoned the mission to save his comrades. Everyone in Konoha condemned him, and he eventually took his own life!"
He could say he remembered that plotline vividly.
He just hadn't expected to encounter this legendary powerhouse so soon.
Having the White Fang of the Leaf teach Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
It was clear that Sarutobi Hiruzen was trying to win him over!
"Let's go, Keigo! Now we can get even stronger!"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke grinned, his smile bright.
His handsome, sunny face made him seem approachable.
"Keigo, I'll catch up to you! One day, my swordsmanship will surpass yours!"
Gekko Yabu stood up right after him, smiling as he followed the others out.
"And me, of course. Though I don't see things the way they do. We'll only fall farther and farther behind you. You're a true genius, Keigo!"
Kurama Shimotsuki's expression turned complicated. Soon, she let out a sigh and put it behind her. "I hope you stay safe."
Her voice was incredibly gentle.
She turned and left.
It was a tone she hadn't used even once in the past three years.
The Second Shinobi World War had shown them how cruel war could be. They might soon be heading to the battlefield. Those words—"stay safe"—weighed heavily on everyone's heart.
"Of course. The same goes for all of you."
Keigo Uchiha paused, his expression serious. "Strength is the only thing that can keep you safe on the battlefield. Don't count on anyone to help you. Don't rely on anyone's support. You have to depend on yourselves!"
Everyone nodded firmly.
Their expressions were solemn!
"What a gifted young man. He's still so young, yet he already understands the cruelty of the battlefield. And... he's brought the whole class together?"
Hatake Sakumo's eyes lit up, as if he'd spotted something interesting.
"So you're Keigo Uchiha? You have a wonderful group of friends. I hope I'll see the day you grow into a towering tree."
A smile touched his lips.
The unity of the class, their close bonds, and the ties between comrades had caught his attention.
And Keigo Uchiha was like a stabilizing pillar, drawing everyone around him!
It was as if his presence alone put everyone else at ease!
After Hatake Sakumo and the others left.
A burly young man soon walked in. His massive build was practically a dead ringer for Akimichi Lie!
"Dad!?"
Akimichi Lie stared in shock.
He shot to his feet, feeling as though his world had turned upside down!
"Dad, what are you doing here? Don't tell me... you're our team's teacher!"
"Quiet! I'm your Jonin instructor now. You, Asagao, and Kano—come with me!"
Torifu Akimichi's expression turned stern.
He led the three of them straight out. They looked like elementary schoolers caught misbehaving, all wearing awkward expressions. They knew each other too well!
The three silently bade Keigo goodbye.
They didn't dare say a word out loud!
"The Ino-Shika-Cho clans make the best team. There aren't many people suited to teach the three of them. And even though the Second Shinobi World War has just ended, tensions still remain. It's only natural for the three clans to be cautious and assign the physically powerful Torifu Akimichi as their instructor."
Keigo Uchiha gave a soft laugh.
Though the war was over.
Small-scale clashes were still common. The three great clans of Ino-Shika-Cho naturally weren't willing to take chances with these talented youngsters.
Then a weary-looking Jonin walked in. He spoke listlessly. "Senju Nawaki, Aburame Shiku, and Yuhi Kixia. I'm your Jonin instructor. Come on out!"
"Sensei, you're late!"
Senju Nawaki couldn't help complaining.
The three of them left right after that.
Keigo Uchiha's eyes narrowed at once, and he spoke calmly. "The Third's retaliation against the Senju Clan... has already begun? Assigning some nameless Jonin to teach Senju Nawaki means that even ten years from now, he won't have learned much."
This was how Sarutobi Hiruzen was targeting the Senju Clan!
Senju Nawaki had no chance of getting a good teacher.
"In the original story, Orochimaru led Senju Nawaki's team. Maybe that was because the Uchiha Clan hadn't supported Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Sarutobi Hiruzen had bowed to the Senju Clan, leaving them in control for a time."
His gaze flickered as he tried to work out how things had unfolded.
"But once Sarutobi Hiruzen had secured his position, he immediately started cracking down on the Senju Clan! At the same time, he began targeting the Uchiha Clan for not helping him back then! He was carrying out Senju Tobirama's will!"
"But now, since I needed Water Release, the Great Elder and Sarutobi Hiruzen have built a good working relationship. Sarutobi Hiruzen doesn't need to be constrained by the Senju Clan."
"So... the crackdown on the Senju Clan began much earlier!"
That was how Sarutobi Hiruzen operated.
He hadn't only learned political maneuvering in his old age.
Even as a young man, Sarutobi Hiruzen had shown a talent for it!
"Then... who'll be my instructor?"
Keigo Uchiha narrowed his eyes. Given Sarutobi Hiruzen's cunning, he certainly wouldn't pass up the chance to influence him.
The most likely candidates were the Sannin!
Sarutobi Hiruzen would make sure Keigo was branded as one of the Hokage's people, then keep trying to indoctrinate him!
"That's wonderful... I'm on the same team as Keigo!"
Inuzuka Mi's pretty face flushed.
Only three of them remained in the classroom.
She, Hyuga Ruri, and Keigo Uchiha. It was only natural that the three of them would be assigned to the same team.
"Hmph! Having me as your teammate is something to be happy about. With me around, you won't get hurt!"
Hyuga Ruri huffed. "Keigo Uchiha may be strong, but his strength only protects himself. I can use Rotation to protect you!"
"Thank you, Ruri. I'll work even harder!"
Inuzuka Mi's expression turned serious as she clasped her delicate hands.
Keigo Uchiha shook his head helplessly.
He raised an eyebrow.
Did she know how many defensive jutsu he had?
Just then, a hoarse voice rang out.
"So the three of you are the ones left. You're my students, then?"
A pale young man walked in, his eyes cold and unmoved, as if nothing could stir his emotions.
Purple eyeshadow ringed his eyes.
It gave him a hint of wicked charm.
He was a naturally alluring, handsome man!
"Orochimaru?"
Keigo Uchiha froze, then the corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. "I didn't expect you to be our instructor."
Given his and Hyuga Ruri's talents.
It was only natural that Sarutobi Hiruzen would bring him into the Hokage's faction. Their teacher would have to be one of the Sannin, and the only possibilities were Jiraiya or Orochimaru!
And Orochimaru was Sarutobi Hiruzen's most prized student.
It wasn't hard to understand why he'd been assigned to teach Keigo.
"You know me?"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, curiosity in his amber eyes. "The Uchiha Clan's prodigy, Keigo Uchiha; Hyuga Tenjin's granddaughter, Hyuga Ruri; and Inuzuka Mi, who has an exceptional knack for controlling chakra."
"From now on, I'm your instructor. I'll be leading you until you've grown into capable shinobi."
As he spoke.
He watched Keigo Uchiha with curious eyes.
The boy... made him feel as if he could see right through him. It irritated Orochimaru. And... he could sense that they were alike!
They were both absolute geniuses!
"Of course. The Cold Lord Orochimaru made a name for himself in the Second Shinobi World War. Everyone knows who you are."
Keigo Uchiha spoke calmly.
A trace of amusement surfaced in his eyes.
If Jiraiya had been his teacher, things would have been rather dull. Jiraiya was better at guiding his students and was more suited to teaching a genius like Uzumaki Naruto.
As for Keigo and Uchiha Sasuke, a teacher like Orochimaru suited them better.
"Though Orochimaru would later stop at nothing to seek immortality and conduct human experiments, he was still a young man with bonds to others."
His lips curled slightly.
His eyes were thoughtful, as if he were considering something interesting.
"Looks like you know quite a bit about me. Come along, then."
Orochimaru's voice was hoarse, and his eyes held a trace of helplessness.
To be honest, he hadn't wanted to become a team instructor.
It would waste time he could have spent training.
But his teacher had insisted, so he had no choice. As a student, it was only right to obey his teacher. After all these years of guidance and care, Orochimaru had long since come to see Sarutobi Hiruzen as a father figure.
"I can't believe the Cold Lord Orochimaru is our teacher. Of course, only someone like him is worthy of teaching me!"
Hyuga Ruri's eyes gleamed with pride.
Her pretty face was full of excitement.
With Hyuga Tenjin dead, the Hyuga Clan no longer had a top-tier fighter.
Even the current clan head was only an Elite Jonin.
So having Orochimaru, a Quasi-Kage, teach her was the best possible outcome!
"That's wonderful... I get to be on the same team as Keigo..."
Inuzuka Mi blushed as she gazed at Keigo Uchiha, then bashfully lowered her head.
Before long, they arrived at Forest No. 8.
Despite its name, it was actually a training ground set aside for combat and sparring, with a spacious open area.
"I've already familiarized myself with the basics of your personal information, so there's no need for introductions."
Orochimaru spoke slowly in his hoarse voice.
He disliked pointless formalities.
"But passing the exam doesn't mean you can become my students. If you want to become Orochimaru's students... you'll have to pass a test!"
The corner of Orochimaru's mouth lifted in a smile.
He looked at the three of them with a faintly amused expression.
He pulled two bells from his pocket.
He hadn't been interested in the bell test and had already considered dropping it. But when he saw the brilliance of Keigo Uchiha's talent, he suddenly became interested.
Wasn't this just like him when he'd been young?
"You three have to take these two bells from me. Only those who get a bell can become my students and truly graduate as Genin."
Orochimaru's lips curled with amusement.
For young people.
Graduating was the most important thing in the world. No one was immune!
"But there are only two bells."
Hyuga Ruri furrowed her brows in confusion. "Teacher Orochimaru, did you bring the wrong number?"
Beside her, Inuzuka Mi's pretty face suddenly changed as if she'd realized something. "Could it be... that there are only two bells because only two of us can pass?"
Keigo Uchiha's gaze flickered as he looked at Inuzuka Mi.
He had to admit.
Inuzuka Mi was quiet, but she was very clever and perceptive. She'd understood the key to the problem at once.
"What a clever girl. That's right. One of the three of you is destined to return to the Ninja Academy and study all over again. If none of you manages to take a bell from me, then all three of you... will have to return to the Ninja Academy!"
Orochimaru's voice was calm, but his amber eyes were icy.
Like those of... a ruthless executioner.
Staring at his prey!
"Hey, hey, hey! It can't really be like that, can it? So getting a powerful instructor... isn't necessarily a good thing!"
Hyuga Ruri's voice trembled.
But in the next instant, her eyes hardened.
"No matter what, we won't lose!"
Her breathing was ragged, yet her resolve burned even stronger.
Orochimaru paused, then the corners of his mouth curled upward.
Not bad.
Even when faced with his overwhelming presence, she could still stay calm and maintain her fighting spirit.
She was stronger than some Chunin.
"Then let's begin. Show me what you're capable of."
Orochimaru grinned, baring a dazzling set of teeth.
His amber eyes, like a snake's, gleamed with a chilling light.
"I absolutely won't lose!"
Hyuga Ruri cried out.
In an instant, she assumed the opening stance of the Hyuga Gentle Fist!
She took a deep breath and stared intently at Orochimaru. Beside her, Inuzuka Mi earnestly summoned her Ninja Cat.
Just then, Keigo Uchiha stepped forward. A breeze rose, ruffling his hair and revealing his handsome profile. "Ruri, Mi-chan, stand back!"
He grinned, and his eyes suddenly gleamed with a scarlet light!
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan was eerie and wickedly alluring.
"A chance to fight someone like Orochimaru, a Quasi-Kage, is too good to pass up. This time... I'm taking him on alone!"
"I've been holding back for years at the Ninja Academy!"
Hyuga Ruri: "???"
She'd already taken her Gentle Fist stance.
And he was telling her to stand back?
"Are you sure you want to challenge Lord Orochimaru alone? He's a Quasi-Kage-level powerhouse, and he was even bestowed the title of Sannin during the Second Shinobi World War. He's far beyond what freshly graduated students like us can challenge!"
Hyuga Ruri cried out.
Her beautiful eyes scolded him.
She was stating a fact!
Keigo Uchiha had been strong at the Ninja Academy.
But his opponents had only been other students. None of them had any combat experience.
Now they were facing Orochimaru, a battle-hardened killer, the most ruthless of the Sannin—the Cold Lord!
"That's you."
Keigo Uchiha spoke coolly. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan didn't even glance at Hyuga Ruri. "If you don't have the guts to challenge the strong, you'll be nothing but a weakling your entire life!"
"What a strong person needs is the heart of a strong person!"
"Ruri, do you know what you're lacking most right now? This very mindset! So what if someone is strong? You can still challenge them."
Hyuga Ruri's pretty face stiffened.
She looked at Keigo Uchiha, his colorful clothes gleaming in the sunlight.
Suddenly, she realized something.
The gap between her and Keigo Uchiha over the years wasn't just in strength.
It was also in the absolute confidence of a true powerhouse!
The resolve to believe you could defeat anyone, no matter who you faced!
Now, facing a powerhouse like Orochimaru, Keigo Uchiha's first thought was to test the gap between himself and a Quasi-Kage. He wanted to surpass the Quasi-Kage level!
"I understand. I'll stay here and watch."
Hyuga Ruri took a deep breath and stepped aside.
Inuzuka Mi obediently left the battlefield as well.
Only Keigo Uchiha and Orochimaru remained on the battlefield, facing each other from a distance.
"You're certainly confident, Keigo-kun."
Orochimaru was a little taken aback, but soon his amber eyes shifted, and a terrifying presence gathered around him. His gaze turned cold and utterly devoid of warmth.
Like an ice cellar!
As if... he were staring at a dead man!
Even during Sarutobi Hiruzen's bell test, none of the three of them had dared to act this arrogantly!
"But do you know what happens when you get carried away? It can get you killed!"
"Only the weak fear the consequences."
The corners of Keigo Uchiha's mouth lifted as a breeze ruffled both their clothes.
They stared at each other from afar.
One surveyed his opponent.
The other stood with his head high.
"A true powerhouse never fears a challenge, no matter what it is—not even one from someone stronger!"
Keigo Uchiha thought of Might Guy from the original Naruto.
Even facing Madara at the Six Paths level,
he hadn't been afraid for a moment. He'd been willing to burn his life away to defeat him. That was the heart of a true powerhouse!
"Then let's see what you're capable of!"
Orochimaru smiled. He'd thought bringing along students would be a terribly boring chore.
But now... it didn't seem so bad!
A Kunai shot from Orochimaru's hand!
The air burst with a sonic boom.
Even though it was just a Kunai, the one in Orochimaru's hand was too fast for an ordinary Chunin to block. He was testing Keigo Uchiha's abilities. If Keigo couldn't dodge—
or showed even the slightest sign of being caught off guard, then his words just now would have been nothing but arrogance!
"Looks like you've underestimated me."
Keigo Uchiha chuckled.
Then he enunciated each word: "Storm Release: Laser Sword!"
A long sword instantly appeared in his hand.
His movements were sharp and utterly devoid of flourish. In a flash, he knocked away every Kunai.
With that single move,
a hint of surprise appeared in Orochimaru's eyes.
"You deflected all my Kunai so easily. That means you already have the strength of a Jonin, Keigo."
He had never held back.
If Keigo Uchiha hadn't blocked his attack just now,
he wouldn't have died, but he would have been injured!
"Since you're unwilling to attack first, then I'll make the first move."
Keigo Uchiha chuckled.
Orochimaru was, after all, a Quasi-Kage-level powerhouse with pride of his own. Keigo's goal today was to force him to use his strongest techniques!
And, just as much, to enjoy a truly exhilarating battle!
The ground cracked!
Countless fissures spread across the ground beneath his feet as Keigo Uchiha shot forward like a cannonball!
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Keigo Uchiha formed Hand Seals with one hand.
He completed them in just a second, and five fireballs shot out at once!
They surrounded Orochimaru on all sides.
The only way out was straight ahead of Keigo Uchiha.
And if Orochimaru wanted to dodge the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, he'd have to face Keigo head-on!
At the same time, the Laser Sword in Keigo Uchiha's hand thrust forward,
his Three-Tomoe Sharingan spinning as if it meant to catch every one of Orochimaru's movements.
"Hand Seals with one hand!"
"And such meticulous tactics, Keigo-kun. Did you really just graduate from the Ninja Academy?"
Orochimaru's amber eyes narrowed.
His teacher had told him many times how extraordinarily gifted Keigo Uchiha was. But it was only after seeing him in person that Orochimaru realized just how monstrous his talent was!
Even an elite Chunin could fall to this attack!
And... performing Hand Seals with one hand required six seals per second!
Could Keigo Uchiha already manage six seals per second?
What an astonishing talent!
"And that vicious an attack isn't suitable for a student."
Orochimaru's eyes studied Keigo Uchiha.
The next instant,
a long sword appeared in his hand!
Its blade gleamed with a cold light!
He charged straight in!
The five fireballs exploded behind them, casting a bright glow as smoke and dust billowed!
The swords in their hands clashed at blinding speed, and... neither gained the upper hand!
Their attacks were fierce.
Sparks flew from their blades as they clashed through the air!
Every strike was lethal!
"Does Lord Orochimaru really care about a little ruthlessness? Besides, I've never considered myself a student. The moment I left the Ninja Academy, I became a ninja."
Keigo Uchiha spoke each word deliberately. "I'm sure Lord Orochimaru understands that better than I do, right?"
Their blades clashed!
Using the force of the impact, Keigo Uchiha suddenly leaped back.
The Laser Sword in his hand vanished in an instant!
A hand cannon appeared directly in his right hand!
"Storm Release: Kunai Electromagnetic Cannon!"
Biu!
The sound was so faint it was almost impossible to hear!
Yet a lightning-charged Kunai shot from the cannon's muzzle!
It streaked through the air with terrifying thunder, as though it could set the atmosphere ablaze. Orochimaru's body suddenly went cold, every hair standing on end. Even his pupils contracted sharply!
He stared at Keigo Uchiha in shock and sprang backward!
That attack... was terrifying.
And far too fast!
Could a twelve-year-old boy really display this level of strength?
Without hesitation, he hurled the Kusanagi Sword from his hand.
It collided with the lightning Kunai in midair.
Sparks flew everywhere!
The next instant, the Kusanagi Sword was knocked away.
It hadn't stopped the lightning Kunai completely, but it had delayed it for a moment—enough time for him to retreat to safety!
A whistling sound split the air.
Orochimaru's body shifted in an instant, dodging the lightning Kunai as it shot past his cheek!
Lightning flashed through the air!
His amber eyes turned utterly cold!
He didn't pause for even a moment. He shot straight toward Keigo Uchiha!
"What extraordinary talent. The jutsu you just used was a true A-rank jutsu, and with Storm Release enhancing it, its power was nearly on the level of an S-rank jutsu!"
Orochimaru's gaze was cold.
His earlier amusement was gone without a trace.
He knew perfectly well that Keigo Uchiha was now an enemy he had to take seriously. Otherwise, even he might lose if he let his guard down!
"But your greatest talent isn't your ability to develop ninjutsu. It's your terrifying control. On the battlefield, you're like a precise, meticulous machine, capable of pulling off any sneak attack, feint, or deception!"
"That's something many ninja can't even manage after becoming Jonin. It takes exceptional calculating ability—and talent!"
"Keigo Uchiha... you're a true genius."
Orochimaru's eyes were full of admiration. "Whether it was using the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique to block my escape route at the start, or using the distraction of my line of sight to form Hand Seals behind my back and unleash that terrifying lightning Kunai, catching a Quasi-Kage like me completely off guard—"
"Every one of those things proves your talent!"
Concealing his actions from view.
Using one-handed Hand Seals to perform a jutsu and catch him off guard—it was enough to make even him break out in a cold sweat!
The two figures collided, fighting with nothing but the most basic Taijutsu.
Yet they moved so fast that the two onlookers could barely make out their forms!
"I can't see them moving at all! I can only track them with the Byakugan. Just how terrifying are these two? No... it's only natural that Lord Orochimaru would be this strong."
Hyuga Ruri activated her Byakugan, the veins around her eyes bulging.
She couldn't help swallowing hard.
His eyes were filled with horror.
"But Keigo Uchiha... he's only twelve, and he just graduated from the Ninja Academy. Yet he can match Lord Orochimaru in swordsmanship, Taijutsu, and ninjutsu!"
"Could it be... he's already an Elite Jonin, at the very least?"
Hyuga Ruri took a step back, disbelief written all over her lovely face.
She had thought she was already strong enough to qualify as a Special Jonin.
And she had mastered even more powerful ninjutsu.
That alone was enough to impress anyone!
But she hadn't expected... Keigo Uchiha had already become an Elite Jonin. The gap between them had grown utterly insurmountable. The Taijutsu Keigo was using now... was something she couldn't possibly defend against!
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru attacked with a sudden punch. The instant Keigo Uchiha dodged to the side, he barked out the technique's name.
His right arm abruptly transformed into more than a dozen massive snakes!
They moved so fast that they bound Keigo Uchiha from head to toe in an instant!
"Keigo, you still need more experience. In a situation like this, for example, you wouldn't have time to react!"
The snakes' eyes were fixed on Keigo Uchiha.
Their forked tongues flicked out.
They looked ready to swallow him at any moment.
"Now... you've lost, Keigo."
Orochimaru chuckled.
Keigo Uchiha was incredibly strong, but he still lacked experience.
Compared to Orochimaru, who had faced death countless times on the battlefield,
the difference in their experience was like night and day.
"You're right."
Keigo Uchiha spoke slowly, but his dark eyes gleamed brilliantly. He smiled and continued, "Two years ago, I realized that even though I had talent, I still lacked experience."
"So I developed quite a few techniques to make up for that. Apart from the Uchiha experts who helped observe the process, you're the first person to see them."
The next instant,
flame-like, blue-white light burst from Keigo Uchiha's body!
Thunder enveloped him!
In that moment,
Keigo Uchiha looked like a thunder god descended to earth!
"Storm Release: Storm Armor Technique!"
He shouted.
Under Orochimaru's shocked gaze, thunder pierced through every snake in an instant. They fell to the ground in pieces, writhing and hissing in pain.
The sight was astounding.
Even Orochimaru was stunned!
A terrifying aura surged from Keigo Uchiha as blue-white Storm Release chakra poured off him.
Vapor and lightning coiled around his body, making him look like a god!
"You developed this ninjutsu to make up for your lack of experience? No, this technique... why does it look so much like Kumogakure's Lightning Release Chakra Mode? Actually... it's exactly the same!"
"This is a Lightning Release Chakra Mode with a Storm Release form!"
Orochimaru's pupils contracted as he immediately realized what was going on.
How could Kumogakure's ninjutsu have leaked?
Yet Keigo Uchiha clearly possessed the technique.
There was only one possibility.
The Uchiha Clan had once obtained Kumogakure's Lightning Release Ninjutsu, or... the Uchiha Clan had broken into Kumogakure for Keigo Uchiha's sake!
His mind raced, conjuring countless possibilities.
But his expression remained calm. He didn't care.
To him, none of this mattered.
"You've got a keen eye. I developed this technique based on one passed down by an elder in my family. In this mode, both my durability and my speed increase dramatically. This... is my strongest form right now!"
Keigo Uchiha made no attempt to hide it.
Sarutobi Hiruzen might care about something like this.
But Orochimaru couldn't be bothered.
He often stole ninjutsu from other countries for the sake of his research, so this was nothing unusual to him.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen really questioned him,
he could just say Uchiha Madara had obtained it back in the day.
"Then let's have a truly exhilarating fight. I'm already getting excited."
Orochimaru's smile grew wider.
He was thrilled!
It had been a long time since he'd felt this excited!
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Orochimaru formed Hand Seals, and a roaring fire dragon burst forth.
Keigo Uchiha clapped his hands together and shouted, "Storm Release: Storm Dragon Bullet Technique!"
In an instant,
a Storm Dragon roared forth as well.
The two collided in midair with a thunderous crash!
Terrifying flames erupted across the sky, deafening everyone!
"What on earth is happening?"
Just then,
the other rookies had been drawn over. They hurried here with their teacher.
They were either still competing to grab the bells
or had already finished.
Seeing the ninjutsu collide before them, they stared in shock, eyes wide.
"Wh-what the hell? Is he even human? Is this really Keigo, the same guy who fought us at the Ninja Academy?"
Yamanaka Asagao's mouth fell open in disbelief.
"Now I see... this is Keigo's real strength. Back at the Ninja Academy, he'd been holding back, going easy on us. And yet we thought... we'd be able to beat him soon. How ridiculous."
Nara Kano gave a bitter laugh.
How could they possibly stand up to him?
They couldn't even make out his movements!
Before you continue