Just a Spar

"By the way, I'd like to buy some books on ninjutsu. Do you know where I could find any, Mui?"

Mui looked at Lu Zeming as though he were an idiot.

"Ninjutsu is a closely guarded secret. Who'd be stupid enough to sell it? But if you want to learn, I do know a way!"

Lu Zeming's interest flared. "What way?"

Mui grinned wickedly. "Take the ninja selection exam. If you pass, you'll receive Chunin benefits, including the chance to learn one B-rank ninjutsu of your choice."

Taking an exam and tying himself to Kusagakure for a single B-rank ninjutsu sounded like a bad deal.

Lu Zeming tried another angle. "Can I buy books on runes or medicinal herbs?"

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

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

"Hardly anyone sells Summoning Scrolls. You can buy the others, but they're pretty expensive!"

Explosive Tags cost around a thousand ryo, with premium ones reaching two thousand. Soldier Pills ran about fifteen hundred ryo, while small Sealing Scrolls cost two thousand. The higher the sealing level, the more the price rose—exponentially.

Lu Zeming had thought he was fairly well-off. Now he felt dirt-poor.

He stopped dwelling on it and focused on getting to know Mui.

Lu Zeming looked only seven, but his soul was already in its twenties. Talking to him felt like a breath of fresh air. Cultivation had also given him delicate, almost sculpted features.

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

He insisted that Lu Zeming stay at his home, but after thinking it over, Lu Zeming declined.

Mui took no offense. He helped Lu Zeming and the other three find an inn before leaving.

Once only their group remained in the room, Mayuko spoke first. "Boss, what do we do next?"

Instead of answering, Lu Zeming studied each of them in turn. "Can I trust you?"

Mayuko answered first. "Boss, you rescued me from the traffickers. After our home burned down, you gave us a new one. If you asked me to die, I wouldn't argue."

The brothers, Yusuke and Yuma, hurried to add, "Boss, we're no good with words. Before, anyone could push us around. You made us ninjas and finally let us live like people! If you want us to, we'll give our lives for you!"

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

At dawn the next day, Mayuko and the others split up to scout the city's terrain, the locations of its main offices, and the addresses of its major families.

Lu Zeming went to Mui and agreed to join him in the ninja selection exam.

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 thought nothing of it. "All right. The exam requires a three-person team. Do you mind if a friend of mine joins us?"

Lu Zeming waved the question away. "You're the captain. It's your call!"

Before long, Mui brought over a boy about his own age. The boy had a buzz cut and a faint, almost imperceptible arrogance in his eyes.

Mui made the introductions. "This is Shinbu Kosuke, my best friend!"

Lu Zeming paused. Shinbu?

Seeming to catch his confusion, Mui explained, "He's from a branch of the Shinbu family, born to a concubine. Don't underestimate him—he's determined to become the Kusakage!"

As Lu Zeming sized up Shinbu Kosuke, Kosuke sized him up in return.

Kosuke frowned. "Mui, why'd you bring some little kid? He'll just drag us down."

Mui scratched his head awkwardly. Truthfully, he wasn't sure either. He had a feeling Lu Zeming was strong, but no real proof.

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

Mui looked at Kosuke. "Who goes first?"

Before Kosuke could answer, Lu Zeming said, "Both of you. Together!"

Lu Zeming meant to take them both on. The two were startled, but they had no time to dwell on it—he was already charging.

They retreated, flinging Shuriken at him as they went.

Bang! The Lu Zeming struck by the Shuriken turned into a piece of dead wood.

"Substitution Technique!" Mui had barely spoken when a foot came flying toward his face.

He threw up an arm to block. The impact drove him back several steps, leaving his arm tingling.

How could someone so young be that strong?

Mui was surprised, but his hands kept forming signs.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

At his shout, dozens of fireballs hurtled toward Lu Zeming.

Kosuke quickly used Hidden Weapon Technique. Countless Senbon rained down on the empty ground behind Lu Zeming, cutting off his retreat.

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

But the next instant, bang! The Lu Zeming hit by the flames turned into dead wood again.

"Wha—" Kosuke got only one syllable out before the hairs on his neck stood up. Somehow, Lu Zeming had gotten behind him.

A sheathed blade whistled toward him. Kosuke tried to use Substitution Technique, but his hand signs were a fraction too slow. The scabbard cracked across his back, leaving it burning with pain!

Kosuke used the force of the blow to roll away. When he faced Lu Zeming again, his face was flushed. He was furious now.

Clenching his teeth, Kosuke formed signs rapidly and slapped the ground. "Earth Release: Earth Spear!"

Mui's face changed. Kosuke had gone for a killing blow! He tried to stop him, but it was too late.

Rock spikes burst from the ground. Yet the Lu Zeming they struck vanished like a bubble with a pop.

"Phantom Body Technique!"

Before Kosuke could react, a scabbard slammed down on his head.

His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious.

Mui gave a rueful smile. "You win."

Lu Zeming glanced at Mui's chest as though that had been obvious all along.

Mui followed his gaze and looked down. A palm print marked his chest.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

"When did you do that?"

"Before I kicked you."

Mui raised his estimate of Lu Zeming's strength considerably.

Throughout the fight, Lu Zeming had used only the most basic Three Body Technique. And that was without even considering his almost unfair combat instincts!

His speed and strength alone had overwhelmed both of them. If he used any higher-level ninjutsu, he could wipe the floor with them!

With strength like that, calling him a Jonin would hardly be an exaggeration!

Then Mui looked at Lu Zeming's childish face and four-foot stature. What a little monster!