"Has it finally come..."
Shengu Xuan stopped in his tracks.
He stared fixedly at the wooden dummy clad in battered armor at the ninja tool shop's entrance.
As the system notification sounded.
He felt a strange energy surge from his heart.
It flowed along his meridians into every part of his body.
[Ding! Activating a new ability for the host...] [Congratulations, host! Successfully unlocked a new ability: Rat Talisman (the miraculous divine power to animate the inanimate, granting lifeless objects life and independent consciousness)!]
Boom!
In Shengu Xuan's mind, it was as though an ancient door had been thrown open with a crash.
A lifelike rat totem glowing with a ghostly blue light.
Flashed across his chest and vanished.
This power was unlike the Dragon Talisman's explosive force.
Unlike the Horse Talisman's gentle warmth.
And unlike the Pig Talisman's scorching heat.
It was an eerie, nimble energy.
As though it carried the power of some kind of rule.
Capable of breaking the boundary between life and death.
And granting souls to lifeless objects!
"Granting life to lifeless objects..."
Shengu Xuan felt the energy within him straining to be unleashed.
A mischievous smile curled his lips.
He did not test it on the street right away.
Instead, he turned and headed toward an abandoned training ground on the outskirts of Konoha.
Few people usually came here, making it just right for testing his new ability.
Arriving at the training ground.
Shengu Xuan looked around.
His gaze settled on a thick wooden post used for Shuriken throwing practice.
The post had weathered years of exposure.
It was covered in densely packed blade marks and looked thoroughly battered.
"I choose you."
Shengu Xuan walked up to the post.
He slowly extended his right hand and pressed it against the post's rough surface.
He closed his eyes.
And summoned the newly unlocked power of the Rat Talisman within him.
Shengu Xuan chanted softly.
"Come to life."
With a hum.
A ring of ghostly blue light spread from Shengu Xuan's palm.
And instantly enveloped the entire post!
Then, something unbelievable happened!
The once lifeless wooden post.
Actually began to tremble violently!
Accompanied by the cracking of breaking wood.
A fissure actually split open at the top of the post.
Forming a crude mouth.
Above the mouth, two knots abruptly bulged outward.
And became a pair of wooden eyes without pupils!
Even more outrageous was that.
From the sides of the post.
Two arms made of branches and wooden blocks actually forced their way out.
Its base also split into two sturdy wooden legs!
"Creak... creak..."
The Wooden Dummy clumsily moved its newly formed hands and feet.
Producing a teeth-grating friction sound.
It raised its head and looked at Shengu Xuan with those hollow wooden eyes.
Then, it actually dropped to one knee.
And spoke in a hoarse voice that sounded like wood rubbing together.
"M... Master..."
"Awaiting... your... orders..."
Shengu Xuan looked at the rather comically shaped Wooden Dummy before him, fully two meters tall.
A flicker of feverish excitement crossed his eyes.
"It worked!"
"I really gave it life and consciousness!"
Shengu Xuan circled the Wooden Dummy, clicking his tongue in wonder.
This was no Puppet Technique.
The Puppet Technique required a ninja to control puppets with Chakra Threads.
But this Wooden Dummy before him.
Was a living thing capable of independent thought and action!
Shengu Xuan gave an order.
"Stand up and try punching me."
"Yes... Master."
The Wooden Dummy stood up.
And swung its thick wooden arm.
It smashed toward Shengu Xuan with a howl of wind!
Bang!
Shengu Xuan raised his hand.
And caught the punch effortlessly.
He gauged its force and nodded inwardly.
"Not bad strength."
"About equal to an ordinary Genin."
"Most importantly, it can't feel pain."
"And as long as I don't withdraw my magic, it won't die."
Countless crazy ideas flashed through Shengu Xuan's mind.
What if he used the Rat Talisman on a mountain?
What if he used the Rat Talisman on Konoha's Hokage Rock?
Bringing the statues of the successive Hokage to life.
And having them do group dances in Konoha.
The sight would surely be too beautiful to bear looking at!
Just as Shengu Xuan was immersed in his wonderful visions of the future.
A cold voice carrying a hint of arrogance.
Suddenly broke the training ground's silence.
"Shengu Xuan, so this is where you've been hiding."
Shengu Xuan turned his head.
And saw Sasuke Uchiha standing at the training ground's entrance.
His arms were folded across his chest.
And a fierce fighting spirit burned in his eyes.
After several days of rest, Sasuke had completely recovered from his injuries.
Not only that.
After witnessing Shengu Xuan's nearly godlike power.
Sasuke's inner pride had been utterly shattered.
But what followed.
Was an even more frenzied craving for power!
He trained day and night without stopping.
Trying to comprehend the supreme control over cells that Shengu Xuan had spoken of.
Today.
He felt he was ready again.
Shengu Xuan raised an eyebrow.
He glanced at the Wooden Dummy beside him.
And suddenly had a wickedly playful idea.
"Oh? It's you, Sasuke."
"Need something from me?"
"Or are you itching for another beating and want me to loosen you up?"
Sasuke's face darkened, and he snorted coldly.
"Cut the crap!"
"Shengu Xuan, I admit you're strong!"
"But a genius of the Uchiha Clan like me will never remain beneath someone else forever!"
"I've already grasped a little of the control you spoke of!"
"Today, I'll use these Sharingan to see through every one of your secrets!"
Sasuke abruptly opened his eyes wide.
His scarlet Two-Tomoe Sharingan spun wildly in their sockets.
He drew a Kunai and assumed a fighting stance.
Shengu Xuan looked at the supremely confident Sasuke.
And sighed helplessly.
"You brat, you really never learn from a beating."
"Since you want to get beaten up so badly, I'll oblige."
Shengu Xuan snapped his fingers.
And pointed at the Wooden Dummy beside him.
"But you're not worth my dealing with you personally."
"Woody, go."
"Teach this Uchiha genius what a real thrashing is."
"Yes... Master."
The Wooden Dummy creaked.
And turned to face Sasuke.
Sasuke looked at the comically shaped wooden figure before him.
He froze for a moment, then flew into a rage!
Feeling utterly belittled, Sasuke roared.
"Shengu Xuan!"
"You dare insult me with a lousy wooden post?!"
He pushed off hard.
His entire body became a blur as he charged straight at the Wooden Dummy!
"Die!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Sasuke rapidly formed Hand Seals in midair.
An enormous orange-red fireball erupted from his mouth.
And hurtled toward the Wooden Dummy with scorching heat!
As far as he was concerned, it was common knowledge that wood feared fire.
This attack would be enough to burn that lousy wooden post to ashes!
However, faced with the great fireball hurtling toward it.
The Wooden Dummy actually did not dodge.
Instead, he raised his thick wooden arm and swung his palm at it!
Boom!
The fireball burst apart.
Amid the flames filling the air, the Wooden Dummy's charred figure charged out.
His speed had not diminished in the slightest.
He slammed headfirst into Sasuke's chest!
Thud!
Sasuke took a heavy blow and spat out a mouthful of blood.
His whole body flew backward and crashed heavily to the ground.
Clutching his chest, Sasuke stared in disbelief at the unscathed Wooden Dummy.
"How is that possible?!"
Although there were scorch marks on him, he had not caught fire!
Shengu Xuan watched from the sidelines, not forgetting to mock him.
"Idiot. When I gave him life, I also gave him incredible resistance."
"You can't even beat a wooden dummy, and you still have the nerve to call yourself a genius?"
Sasuke gritted his teeth.
"Bastard!"
He charged forward again and engaged the Wooden Dummy in hand-to-hand combat.
However.
No matter how fierce Sasuke's attacks were.
Hitting the Wooden Dummy felt like striking an iron plate.
The impacts left both his hands numb.
And although the Wooden Dummy's movements were clumsy, every blow carried tremendous force.
Moreover, he completely disregarded defense, fighting with total abandon!
Before long.
The Wooden Dummy landed a punch squarely in Sasuke's face.
Blood gushed from his nose.
He collapsed to the ground in a sorry state and could no longer get up.
Sasuke lay on the ground.
His vacant eyes stared at the sky.
The feeling of questioning his whole life welled up in him again.
"I... I lost again..."
Losing to Shengu Xuan was one thing.
Now he could not even beat a lousy wooden dummy Shengu Xuan had created.
It shattered his proud self-esteem.
Just then.
A paper bird suddenly descended from the sky and landed in Shengu Xuan's hand.
This was how the Konoha Anbu delivered messages.
Shengu Xuan unfolded the note and glanced at it.
His eyebrows rose slightly.
"Oh? Are the Chunin Ninja Exams about to begin?"
"The ninja from the other villages have already entered Konoha..."
Shengu Xuan casually crushed the note.
An amused smile curled at the corners of his mouth.
"Looks like these boring days are finally coming to an end."
Before you continue