Just a Spar

"Oh, I also wanted to buy some books on Ninjutsu. Do you know anyone who could help with that, Mui?"

At Lu Zeming's question, Mui looked at him as though he were an idiot.

"Ninjutsu are closely guarded secrets. Who would be stupid enough to sell them? But if you want to learn Ninjutsu, I do know a way!"

Lu Zeming immediately perked up and asked, "What way?"

Mui gave him a mischievous grin. "Enter the Ninja selection exam. If you pass, you get Chunin benefits, and one of those benefits is learning a B-rank Ninjutsu of your choice."

Taking an exam and branding himself as a member of Kusagakure just for one B-rank Ninjutsu hardly seemed like a good deal.

Lu Zeming tried a different angle. "Then can I buy books on runes and medicinal herbs?"

"Uh, I've never even heard of books like those!"

"What about Explosive Tags, Soldier Pills, Sealing Scrolls, and Summoning Scrolls?"

"Not many people sell Summoning Scrolls. You can buy the others, but they're pretty expensive!"

An Explosive Tag cost around a thousand ryo, with high-quality ones reaching as much as two thousand. Soldier Pills cost about fifteen hundred ryo, and small Sealing Scrolls cost two thousand. The higher the sealing grade, the more exponentially the price rose.

Lu Zeming had thought he was fairly wealthy. Now he felt like a pauper.

He stopped dwelling on it and focused on building a rapport with Mui.

Lu Zeming looked only seven, but his soul was already well into its twenties. His words always put people at ease, and thanks to his cultivation, his features were as exquisitely delicate as carved jade.

By the end of the meal, Mui practically regarded Lu Zeming as a kindred spirit.

He insisted on inviting Lu Zeming to stay at his home, but after careful consideration, Lu Zeming declined.

Mui took no offense. He helped the four of them find an inn before leaving.

Once only their own people remained in the room.

Mayuko spoke first. "Boss, what do we do next?"

Lu Zeming did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked at each of the three in turn and asked solemnly, "Can I trust you?"

Mayuko was the first to respond. "Boss, you saved me from those human traffickers. When our home burned down, you gave us a new one. Just say the word—even if you ask me to die, I won't hesitate."

The brothers, Yusuke and Yuma, hurriedly added, "Boss, neither of us is good with words. All we know is that anyone used to be able to bully us. You made us Ninja and finally let us live with some dignity! If that's what you want, we're both willing to give our lives for you!"

Lu Zeming nodded. "Then let's pull off something big!"

At daybreak the next morning, Mayuko and the brothers split up to scout the city's terrain, the locations of its key departments, and the residences of its major clans.

Meanwhile, Lu Zeming found Mui and agreed to enter the Ninja selection exam with him.

Mui was delighted!

"Zeming, I'm so glad you agreed! But is it just you? What about your friends?"

"Oh, they have things to take care of!"

Mui did not give it much thought. "Oh, all right, then. You need a three-person team for the exam. Would you mind if a friend of mine joined us?"

Lu Zeming replied generously, "You're the captain. It's your call!"

Soon, Mui brought over a boy about his own age. The boy had a buzz cut, and a barely perceptible trace of arrogance lurked deep in his eyes.

Mui introduced him first. "This is Shinbu Kosuke, my best friend!"

Lu Zeming paused. Shinbu?

As though noticing his confusion, Mui continued, "He's from the Shinbu Branch Family, born to a concubine. Don't underestimate him. He's determined to become the Kusakage!"

While Lu Zeming studied Shinbu Kosuke, Shinbu Kosuke studied him in return.

Shinbu Kosuke frowned. "Mui, why did you find some little brat? What if he drags us down?"

Mui scratched his head awkwardly. Truthfully, he was not sure himself. He only had a feeling that Lu Zeming was capable, without any real evidence.

Lu Zeming spoke up at just the right moment. "Since we're forming a team, we should spar and get to know each other better!"

Mui looked at Shinbu Kosuke and asked, "Who goes first?"

Before Kosuke could answer, Lu Zeming cut in. "Both of you, together!"

Lu Zeming intended to fight them two against one. Though surprised, neither had time to think it over, because he was already charging at them.

Both retreated while flinging Shuriken at Lu Zeming.

Pop! The moment the Shuriken struck, Lu Zeming turned into a piece of dead wood.

"It's the Substitution Technique!" Before Mui's voice had faded, a foot came hurtling toward his face.

Mui hurriedly raised his hands to block. As fists met foot, he staggered back, his arms tingling with numbness.

How could someone so young be so strong?

Despite his shock, Mui kept forming Hand Seals.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

At Mui's shout, dozens of fireballs shot toward Lu Zeming.

Seeing this, Kosuke hurriedly unleashed his Hidden Weapon Technique, Rain Shower Senbon. Countless fine needles flew toward the open ground behind Lu Zeming, attempting to cut off his retreat.

With Flame Bullets ahead and Senbon behind, Lu Zeming seemed trapped.

But the next moment, another pop! rang out, and the Lu Zeming struck by the Flame Bullets once again became a piece of dead wood.

"What..." Kosuke had barely spoken when the hairs on his back stood on end. Somehow, Lu Zeming had already circled behind him.

A scabbard whistled through the air. Kosuke tried to use the Substitution Technique, but his Hand Seals were a little too slow. The scabbard struck his back, leaving a burning pain!

Kosuke used the impact to roll away and put some distance between them. When he looked at Lu Zeming again, his face was flushed. He was clearly furious now.

Gritting his teeth, Kosuke rapidly formed Hand Seals, then slapped the ground. "Earth Release: Earth Spear!"

Mui's face drained of color. Why was Kosuke using a lethal move? He wanted to stop him, but it was already too late.

A mass of sharp stone spikes burst from the earth, but the Lu Zeming they pierced vanished like a bubble with a pop!

"The Phantom Body Technique!"

Before Kosuke could even react in surprise, a scabbard smashed down on the top of his head.

Kosuke's eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.

Mui gave a bitter chuckle and said to Lu Zeming, "You win!"

Lu Zeming glanced at Mui's chest, looking as though the result had been a foregone conclusion.

Following his gaze, Mui looked down and discovered a palm print on his chest.

Mui's eyes widened in disbelief.

"When did you leave that?"

"Before I kicked you."

Mui's assessment of Lu Zeming's strength rose dramatically once again.

Throughout the fight, he had used only the most basic Three Body Technique, never mind his almost impossibly sharp combat instincts!

His speed and strength alone had been enough to overwhelm them both. If he used even a slightly more advanced Ninjutsu, wouldn't he wipe the floor with them?

With strength like that, calling him a Jonin would be no exaggeration!

Looking again at Lu Zeming's somewhat childish face and his mere 1.2-meter height, Mui cried inwardly, Little monster!