It was another sparring class. Cries rang across the training ground without pause.
Compared to that first practical lesson, training had become much livelier.
Many of the students had learned to use Chakra and could perform the Three Body Technique. They could even put together a few simple tactics.
But when Gong Yi stepped onto the field, everyone held their breath.
Over the past few months, Gong Yi had displayed unmatched strength in every sparring class.
He had defeated Asuma, Genma Shiranui, Might Guy, and others.
And today, his opponent was Kakashi!
The strongest student of their year and the top student at the Ninja Academy, he was also the son of Lord White Fang of Konoha!
In terms of family background and reputation, Kakashi had the advantage by every measure.
But no one dared underestimate Gong Yi.
His record in the previous matches was simply too impressive.
Aside from his first match against Asuma, when he had used the Three Body Technique in quick succession, Gong Yi had defeated his opponents in the following matches with fast, fierce Taijutsu.
Gong Yi was so strong and so fast that he often beat his classmates before they even realized what was happening.
Ishii Kawa looked at the two students before him, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
These two were probably the strongest students he had ever taught.
Gong Yi in particular had come this far without any training resources, which made Ishii Kawa immensely proud.
And he was especially looking forward to today's match between Gong Yi and Kakashi.
Which of them was stronger—Kakashi or Gong Yi?
Gong Yi looked at the white-haired boy before him. His usual dismissiveness had vanished, replaced by a hint of caution.
The Hatake Clan was renowned for its swordsmanship!
And their Taijutsu was just as formidable.
With White Fang of Konoha himself guiding Kakashi, no one knew how far the boy had progressed.
Gong Yi also knew that, in the story, Kakashi had spent only a year at the Ninja Academy before graduating early and going on missions.
He had reached Jonin rank soon afterward.
In other words, Kakashi was definitely stronger than a Genin at this point. He might even have the strength of a Chunin!
As for Gong Yi, he had recently completed the "Undying Xiaoqiang" mission, and his Taijutsu was a cut above that of his peers.
He had also completed his first research project in Ninjutsu and learned several additional techniques from Ishii Kawa.
By every measure, he ought to be a match for Kakashi.
It was impossible to say who would win!
Kakashi's expression was just as grave. He had watched Gong Yi fight several times, but hadn't learned anything useful. All he knew was that Gong Yi was fast!
He had no information at all about Gong Yi's other abilities.
Just as the two were about to begin, someone suddenly ran onto the training ground, shouting Kakashi's name.
"Kakashi, hurry! Come home with me!"
Kakashi walked over in confusion, and the person leaned in to whisper something in his ear.
Everyone saw Kakashi's face change after they exchanged a few words.
He didn't even have time to greet Teacher Ishii Kawa before running out of the academy.
Gong Yi frowned. Judging by the timing, he had a vague idea what had happened.
The ninja who had run onto the training ground explained something briefly to Ishii Kawa, then left as well.
Ishii Kawa was utterly stunned. His mouth stayed open, unable to close.
Gong Yi was standing nearby and could only hear him muttering to himself:
"How could this be?"
"Why would Lord White Fang do this?"
After school, Gong Yi ran three laps around the village. Covered in dust, he returned home.
He practiced the Three Body Technique, trained his Taijutsu, threw shuriken five hundred times, and practiced fighting with a Kunai in hand.
He kept up the enormous workload without stopping. Compared to a few months ago, he was doing almost five times as much.
An ordinary person would have been too exhausted to lift their arms before getting halfway through.
But Gong Yi was different. After using the Recovery Technique three times in succession, all his fatigue vanished.
He let out a long breath, created a Shadow Clone, and began the final part of his training: Ninjutsu!
Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall, Headhunter Jutsu, Rock Pillar Spear, Underworld Swamp.
Gong Yi's strongest Chakra affinity was Earth, and these were the techniques he had gone to great lengths to learn.
Some had been taught by Ishii Kawa, while others had been requested from other teachers by Ishii Kawa, who wanted to help him grow.
Besides Earth Style, Gong Yi had also learned two C-rank Ninjutsu of other elements:
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique and Water Release: Water Bullet Technique.
He had only mastered them to an ordinary level, though.
Along with familiarizing himself with these techniques, Gong Yi was working on something else.
He was trying to cut the Chakra required for each technique in half!
Ever since completing his first research project, Gong Yi had picked up a few tricks.
C-rank Ninjutsu weren't especially difficult, but they consumed nearly as much Chakra as B-rank techniques. To a large extent, this was to help beginners learn them more easily.
But with careful study, it was entirely possible to conserve some of the Chakra they used.
For now, Gong Yi had only managed to halve the Chakra cost of three techniques. He was still working out how to improve the others.
The moon climbed high overhead. After finishing his training, Gong Yi let out a long breath.
He used Water Bullet Technique above his head. A rush of water poured down, sweeping the dust from his body.
"If I took a ninja rank assessment now, I'd probably be strong enough to qualify as a Chunin!"
Gong Yi considered it. "Kakashi should be at Chunin level now too, but he doesn't have anything like the Recovery Technique. He definitely isn't as proficient with Ninjutsu as I am!"
"If I fought him, I should be able to win by combining my various techniques tactically!"
"It's a shame our match didn't happen today."
Gong Yi felt a little regretful.
Ever since he had obtained the Ninja Scholar System, he had set himself a short-term goal:
Become the top student in his year at the Ninja Academy!
He wasn't afraid of standing out, or of being a tree that rose above the forest and drew the wind.
In Gong Yi's view, keeping a low profile was not the way to succeed in the Naruto world. Making a name for yourself was the right approach.
That was especially true for a civilian ninja like him.
Only by standing out and displaying exceptional talent could he attract the attention of influential figures, earn the village's support, and receive more resources!
If he had no talent to speak of, the village might assign him an ordinary Jonin as a team leader when he graduated—or even some useless Chunin.
Then, once he started going on missions, the chances of failure and death would rise dramatically.
That would be a terrible trade-off.
That was why Gong Yi had spent the past year building up his reputation.
Defeating Asuma!
Defeating Genma Shiranui!
Defeating Gekko Hayate!
Defeating a Uchiha clan member!
Defeating a Hyuga clan member!
Only Kakashi remained.
Gong Yi regretted missing his best chance today, but he had been interrupted.
As for whether he would get another chance, Gong Yi shook his head.
The next day, Gong Yi didn't run as fast as usual on his way to school. Instead, he slowed his pace.
The village was already in an uproar early that morning. Talk of the news could be heard everywhere.
Yet beneath all that commotion, Konoha's High Command remained silent.
Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha who stood above even the Sannin, had taken his own life at home.
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