A first glimpse of strength

Apart from children from ninja clans, first-year students at the Ninja Academy generally knew only rudimentary taijutsu.

Even among clan children, few of those without exceptional talent could learn C-rank Ninjutsu at their age. Generally, their talent and strength only truly began to show after two years at the Ninja Academy.

As for the many geniuses who graduated early in the Original Story, Kakashi was one of the most famous: he graduated at six, became a Chunin at seven, and a Jonin at twelve. But with his potential being relentlessly squeezed out like that, even without the tragedies that followed, he would have struggled to reach the heights his father had achieved in life.

In the Original Story, Jiraiya probably stumbled upon Minato Namikaze two years after he entered the Ninja Academy and discovered how hard he worked. Minato reminded him of his younger self, and since he was also an orphan from a civilian family, Jiraiya took him on as the disciple who would inherit his teachings.

Yet now Hiruzen Sarutobi had solemnly summoned the three of them to watch a bunch of first-year children play Ninja, even saying that two of them were quite promising. That piqued their curiosity!

Tsunade lifted her beautiful eyes slightly, scanning everyone on the Training Ground.

Soon, her gaze settled on the black-haired, well-proportioned Qingyun and the blond Minato Namikaze.

After being nourished by the Primordial Chaos Technique and Natural Energy over this period, Qingyun's physique had gradually come to resemble an ordinary person's, while his hidden strength was several times greater.

With his Uchiha heritage, his good looks were also gradually emerging. His classmates simply hadn't noticed the changes because they saw him every day and because of his aloof personality.

As a taijutsu master, Tsunade was acutely sensitive to signs of physical training. She could tell at a glance that Qingyun possessed considerable taijutsu ability.

As for Minato Namikaze, well, that signature goofy grin of his made him difficult to overlook.

Of course, that was merely Tsunade's opinion. Jiraiya's eyes lit up when he saw Minato Namikaze. The boy's sunny smile seemed to warm his heart, immediately making him much fonder of him.

"Old man, I'm taking that blond kid as my disciple. You'd better agree, or I'll tell Princess Tsunade how you took me along to peep on her bathing!"

In his excitement, Jiraiya completely forgot that Tsunade was right beside him. Before he could react, she sent him flying with another punch.

"You dirty old man, how do you intend to explain this?"

Tsunade glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, her eyes blazing.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched. Silently cursing Jiraiya for being an idiot, he laughed awkwardly and explained that it had happened when she was little.

Furious, Tsunade knocked several large lumps onto Hiruzen Sarutobi's head.

After the commotion subsided, the four of them turned their attention to the field. The matches had already begun.

Minato Namikaze went first. Grinning, he exchanged an Opposition Seal with his opponent, then charged straight at him.

His opponent was a boy from a civilian family. Seeing Minato Namikaze charge, he dared not let his guard down. After all, Minato always took first place, whether in written exams or shuriken and kunai tests.

He drew a kunai and held it ready. As Minato Namikaze approached, he slashed at his throat.

Minato Namikaze slipped aside, caught his opponent's right hand with his left, and drew a kunai with his right, pressing it against the boy's neck. With a faint smile, he lowered the kunai, formed a Reconciliation Seal, and sauntered back to Qingyun's side.

"Wow, Minato is so cool!"

"That's my darling Minato! He's so handsome!"

"Boring."

"As expected of the disciple I've chosen. He's got some of my flair."

"Hmph, he's a genius. You were just a dead last."

Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru watched the matches with differing expressions.

As for Hiruzen Sarutobi, his gaze had remained on Qingyun from start to finish, never once straying.

This era was different from the Original Story. Minato Namikaze's talent for Ninjutsu had yet to be discovered. He hadn't learned Flying Thunder God, much less improved it.

Though he was talented, he still fell a little short of Qingyun.

Qingyun did his utmost to conceal his abilities, but how could he completely fool an old hand like Hiruzen Sarutobi? Hiruzen had already detected hints of the enormous Chakra reserves within him.

That was the real reason he had brought his disciples here today. He wanted one of them to take Qingyun as a disciple and bind him firmly to the Hokage's faction.

Time passed, and Qingyun fought twice, dispatching his opponent cleanly and decisively each time.

Soon, the top five emerged: Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Yungang, Qingyun, Hyuga Jun, and Uchiha Yunshan.

The five drew lots again. In the end, Minato Namikaze's luck was extraordinary: he drew a bye and advanced directly.

Qingyun was matched against Hyuga Jun, while the Uchiha brothers faced each other.

After stepping onto the field, Qingyun exchanged an Opposition Seal with Hyuga Jun and assumed a Tai Chi Fist stance.

Hyuga Jun frowned at Qingyun. He had long since noticed that Qingyun's taijutsu was highly unusual and somewhat resembled his own Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist.

However, Qingyun's taijutsu couldn't strike chakra points.

Seeing Qingyun remain motionless, Hyuga Jun unleashed his Chakra and shouted, "Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Two Palms!"

Watching Hyuga Jun charge toward him, Qingyun released a slight burst of Internal Force. A Tai Chi Yin-Yang Diagram flashed briefly into view. "Grasp the Sparrow's Tail!"

Gathering a trace of Internal Force in his left hand, he guided Hyuga Jun's Chakra-charged right palm off course and kept it stuck to his own hand. After leading it through several circles in the air to dissipate its momentum, he pulled backward, then thrust it fiercely toward Hyuga Jun.

Seeing Qingyun neutralize his attack so easily and send it back at him, all while he couldn't control his own hand, Hyuga Jun was so frightened that he nearly awakened his Byakugan on the spot.

His pale eyes widened as he helplessly watched the attack draw closer and closer.

Thud!

With a muffled impact, Hyuga Jun fell to the ground, sweating and twitching.

Qingyun stared at Hyuga Jun in confusion. He hadn't used much force, had he?

Scratching his head, he looked at Iruka Umino and said, "Teacher Iruka, I didn't use any force. What's wrong with Hyuga Jun?"

Before Iruka Umino could reply, Qingyun's vision blurred, and a beautiful young woman appeared on the field. She wore a green jacket over a gray shirt, and her enormous, swaying breasts made his eyes swim.

She crouched down and examined Hyuga Jun, then breathed a sigh of relief. Channeling Chakra, she gathered a green glow in her hand, then gave Qingyun a peculiar look. "His chakra points were struck. This taijutsu of yours doesn't just reflect attacks—it sends them back several times stronger than the attacker originally delivered. Didn't you know that? Who taught you this? How could they be so irresponsible?"

Tsunade's words stunned Qingyun. He stared at his hands in bewilderment.

Was Tai Chi Fist really that powerful? It could even reflect other people's attacks? Didn't that make it like Heavenly Star Shift or Heaven and Earth Great Shift, turning an opponent's own techniques against them?

Seeing that Qingyun genuinely hadn't known Tai Chi Fist could reflect attacks, Tsunade was speechless. Then something occurred to her, and her expression changed. "Don't tell me you created this taijutsu yourself!"

Her words snapped Qingyun out of his thoughts, and he nodded dazedly.

"Gasp!"

Tsunade and Iruka Umino sucked in sharp breaths. What kind of monstrous genius was this? He was only a few years old, yet he had already created taijutsu comparable to the Hyuga Clan's inherited Gentle Fist!

Hyuga Jun was so shocked that his Byakugan activated. Veins bulged around his eyes, and his formerly pale eyes brightened slightly as he stared fixedly at Qingyun.

Qingyun was a little speechless at the sight. That awakened his Byakugan? Buddy, you ought to thank me. But could you stop staring at me like that? You're making me feel like I've done something wrong.

Qingyun kept grumbling inwardly, though his face remained expressionless. Once Hyuga Jun recovered, he exchanged a Reconciliation Seal with him and returned to Minato Namikaze's side.

"Big brother, is everything all right?"

When Hyuga Jun had collapsed and started twitching after a single blow from Qingyun, Minato Namikaze had been badly frightened. Thinking Qingyun had hit too hard, he had been about to step forward and plead on his behalf when a beautiful older girl suddenly appeared and healed Hyuga Jun in no time. Seeing that everything was under control, Minato relaxed.

But he had been too far away to hear the details, so when Qingyun returned, he asked curiously.

"Oh, it's nothing. Hyuga Jun's Gentle Fist attack was reflected by Tai Chi Fist, so he ended up striking his own chakra points. That auntie in green treated him. He's fine now."

"Brat, what did you call me?"

Before Minato Namikaze could speak, an icy voice reached Qingyun's ears.

Qingyun's expression changed. He gave an awkward laugh and stammered, "The—the big sister in green. Yes, that's right, the big sister in green."

"You little brat."

Looking thoroughly displeased, Tsunade vigorously rubbed Qingyun's head. Before long, his flowing hair had been ruffled into a mess.

Qingyun rolled his eyes with an utterly defeated expression and thought viciously, Once I'm strong enough to beat you, I'll pin you to the ground and grind you into the dirt!

"Lady Tsunade, what brings you here? Would you like to oversee the remaining matches?"

Iruka Umino addressed Tsunade respectfully.

"No need. I just happened to be passing by. Carry on. I'll stay a little longer to make sure there aren't any accidents."

Tsunade spoke casually.

Iruka Umino nodded, then said to Minato Namikaze, Qingyun, and Uchiha Yungang, "The three of you will draw lots to compete for first place."