Jiraiya's Test!

Uchiha Shingen muttered a complaint, his gaze turning serious in an instant:

"But there is one thing that's right!"

"The reason for all this crazy grinding now is so that I can lie flat and slack off later, without having to worry about any unexpected dangers!"

"Only by becoming strong enough to settle every crisis do I have the confidence to slack off!"

Bang!

A crisp explosion echoed through the air.

The stone slab beneath Uchiha Shingen's feet shattered upon impact, and in the next instant, he lunged forward.

Within his eyes, three crimson tomoe spun rapidly.

Facing Jiraiya, Uchiha Shingen did not hesitate in the slightest, unleashing his full power immediately.

After all, the man before him was perhaps one of the strongest ninjas in Konoha, aside from the Third Hokage, in this era.

Perhaps even the strongest, without exception.

If he were to hold back against someone like this, he might not even be able to withstand a single exchange.

Thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind, yet Uchiha Shingen's speed in forming hand seals did not slow down at all; after taking a few steps, the seals for the Great Fireball were already complete:

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Whoosh—!

The Great Fireball expanded against the wind, instantly growing to a massive size of nearly ten meters, swallowing everything it touched!

Before the fireball even arrived, the violent heat wave had already whipped up Jiraiya's silver hair. His expression remained calm as he nodded slightly:

"Your application of the Great Fireball is quite skillful, and your mastery of Fire Style has reached a certain height, but if this is the extent of it..."

"Hm?!"

Jiraiya suddenly realized that something seemed to be hidden within the massive fireball.

His first thought was the desperate tactic Uchiha Shingen had used in his battle against Shisui, where he hid himself within the Great Fireball.

But in the next instant, Jiraiya dismissed that possibility.

Because the massive Great Fireball suddenly shattered, bursting like a bubble, the resulting airflow blowing away all the surrounding grass and trees!

Yet, what shot out from the Great Fireball was not Uchiha Shingen.

It was a dense, overwhelming swarm of shuriken wreathed in flames!

"Is this the Uchiha clan's signature Fire Style jutsu, Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson?!"

"No, this scale... this kid also knows the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"

A flash of surprise crossed Jiraiya's eyes:

"This is... a combined ninjutsu?!"

If Jiraiya had previously only thought that his newly accepted disciple shared some personality traits with the members of the Nara clan.

Then now, he began to wonder whether it was the Uchiha bloodline or the Nara bloodline flowing through Uchiha Shingen.

Does this kid know that I watched his battle with Shisui, and that I saw his tactic of hiding in the Great Fireball to seize the opportunity to instantly defeat Shisui?

And did he use that intelligence as the core to construct this trap specifically for me?!

If I had mistakenly assumed he was hiding inside and prepared for close-quarters taijutsu, I would have been facing this overwhelming barrage of shuriken!

"Kid!"

"You're quite devious!"

Jiraiya laughed and cursed, forming hand seals with both hands and slamming them onto the ground:

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

A stone wall one meter thick formed instantly, blocking Jiraiya's front and intercepting every single kunai!

The high temperature scorched the air, and even Jiraiya felt a touch of heat.

He was just preparing to counterattack when he suddenly realized that his target had vanished from sight.

Clearly, Uchiha Shingen had taken advantage of that momentary gap to completely conceal his presence.

This tactical application caused Jiraiya's assessment of Uchiha Shingen to rise by several notches:

"When the attack didn't land, you took the opportunity to hide your aura and secretly prepare for the next round of offense."

"Advancing to attack, retreating to defend."

"From a tactical perspective, I can give this series of maneuvers a score of over nine."

"Among the ninjas I have seen, there aren't many who can reach your level at this age."

"However."

"Your frontal assault was defended, and your Fire Style offensive will be blocked by me as well. The strategy you will adopt next is likely..."

"Above!"

Jiraiya suddenly raised his head, locking eyes with the crimson Sharingan of Uchiha Shingen, and heard the voice from Uchiha Shingen's lips, laced with a hint of triumph:

"Got you!"

"A genjutsu from the Sharingan?!"

Jiraiya's entire body stiffened, a look of realization dawning on his face.

He replayed the entire battle in his mind, only then realizing that everything Uchiha Shingen had done moments ago was likely a setup for this single, lethal strike!

By the time he realized this, Jiraiya's body was already unable to move.

He could only watch as the kunai in Uchiha Shingen's hand slashed across his shoulder.

Yet, to Uchiha Shingen's surprise, he did not feel the sensation of a blade cutting into flesh; instead, he felt a sudden wave of exhaustion.

Poof!

Jiraiya instantly burst, transforming into white smoke that dispersed in all directions, obscuring Uchiha Shingen's vision.

"A Shadow Clone?!"

Uchiha Shingen's eyes narrowed.

As the most unique variant among all clone techniques, the Shadow Clone created a physical entity that neither the Uchiha's Sharingan nor the Hyuga's Byakugan could see through.

After a moment of shock, Uchiha Shingen suddenly realized what had happened.

But he no longer had the chance to react.

Jiraiya's hand shot out from the ground, grabbing Uchiha Shingen's wrist, while his other hand seized Uchiha Shingen's shoulder, pinning him against the stone wall.

"Checkmate!"

As Jiraiya's voice rang out, this battle was declared over in that very instant.

"I lost!"

"In both tactics and combat!"

Uchiha Shingen slumped to the ground. Although he had been mentally prepared, he couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration.

He had devised so many tactics, yet in the end, he had only defeated one of Jiraiya's Shadow Clones.

No!

This Shadow Clone was likely bait left behind by Jiraiya!

Realizing this, Uchiha Shingen couldn't help but curse under his breath:

"You old schemer!"

Little did he know that Jiraiya was even more shocked than he was.

In terms of tactical mind alone, this kid is probably the most—and his fighting style is the most underhanded—among all the disciples I've taught...

Oh.

Minato's Flying Thunder God and Rasengan combo, coming and going as he pleases, allowing only him to strike while forbidding others from hitting him.

Nagato's Rinnegan is even more heaven-defying, naturally proficient in all five elemental Chakra transformations, along with various unknown abilities.

Never mind, then.

Wait...

How is it that these three are all more underhanded than the last?!

Shingen is one thing, but Nagato and Minato were taught by me personally—how did they end up like this too?!

Could it be that I am that kind of person myself?!

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Jiraiya cast the chaotic thoughts from his mind and, recalling the process of the battle just now, began to help Uchiha Shingen review it:

"Whether it's your reaction in the heat of the moment or your tactical planning, you can be called excellent."

"But you also made a fatal mistake."

"Aside from techniques, Chakra, and the utilization of the environment, there is one more factor in a ninja's battle that can decide the outcome."

"And that is intelligence!"