"A day has already passed."
Little A's eyes widened in disbelief. He had been hoping to spar with Araki, but now he hadn't even had a chance to fight. He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed and said, "You're taking the Chunin Ninja Exams tomorrow, so we probably won't have a chance to spar again."
"We've been sparring all day." Araki smiled. He had gained a lot today, having mastered almost all of Nintaijutsu. Most of the difficulties that had been bothering him had been resolved through his inquiries. All that remained was to connect and systematize these techniques, and it was only a matter of time before he succeeded. He then said, "Don't you think you've gained a lot today?"
"Really."
Little A nodded. He understood what Araki meant. Their conversation had made him more proficient in Nintaijutsu, and he had learned about a way to concentrate all his Chakra in his fist. Although he hadn't been able to use it yet, it had at least pointed him in a direction where he could continue to break through.
While learning about this, Little A was also thinking that if he could do this in the future, he would unleash a lightning fist, and his explosive power might even surpass that of his father, making him the strongest being in the Kumogakure.
Such a breakthrough in the barriers of technique is difficult to achieve even with long-term training, because his mindset has been confined to this level.
"You keep challenging and sparring with people, which is essentially to break through your own limits. Our exchange today has already been about communicating knowledge in different directions. In fact, it has already achieved a quick process of continuous reflection after sparring. It's just that when you're reflecting, you need to find the answers yourself. I did the same. But after our exchange, we both found the answers to the questions in our hearts. Right now, our strength may not have improved significantly, but given time, after we train for a while longer, we will both achieve a leap forward. What do you think?" Araki said with a smile.
You make a very good point.
Little A nodded. He had been drawn into Araki's words and was completely immersed in Araki's rhythm, not noticing anything amiss. Then, he stared intently at Araki, his eyes flashing with an unprecedented seriousness.
"In that case, I wish you good luck in the Chunin Ninja Exams. I believe we will meet again in the future, but that time may be on the battlefield, where we will be opponents, and I will show no mercy!"
Chapter 60: Just kill him, and that will solve everything!
Konoha: Nobody knows I can use Wood Release! Just kill him in Chapter 60!
"I won't show any mercy either."
Araki smiled faintly, but he wasn't as naive as Little A thought. In fact, during their conversation, he had considered countless times whether or not to poison Little A.
In the end, he held back.
Although Konoha and Kumogakure are enemies, the fact that he poisoned them would make the target too obvious.
He couldn't extricate himself from this situation.
If he had come to Kumogakure alone, he could have come up with many excuses. However, he came with Jiraiya-sensei and his group, and almost everyone in that group knew that he could use poison.
Furthermore, since he and Little A had been the only ones in contact during this period, even if the poisoning was delayed, once the latter was poisoned, he would find it difficult to deny the consequences.
If this matter ultimately doesn't involve Konoha Konoha, that's fine. But if it does, then all the Konoha ninjas present will know that this matter is related to him.
Araki wasn't sure if everyone, including Jiraiya-sensei, would side with him on this matter, but he couldn't gamble, because if he lost, the consequences would be dire, and he might find it difficult to maintain a foothold in Konoha.
After considering these factors, Araki decided to hold off on attacking Little A for the time being. There would be many more opportunities in the future. His immediate priority was to focus on learning Nintaijutsu, as well as the final outcome of the Chunin Ninja Exams.
He wasn't entirely clear on how the upcoming Chunin Ninja Exams would unfold.
Having figured this out, Araki put aside his other thoughts, and after watching Little A leave, he was alone again.
Araki originally planned to continue his training here for a while, but considering that the Chunin Ninja Exams were tomorrow, if he didn't go back now while everyone was still awake, it might put more psychological pressure on Minato and Kushina. After all, the Chunin Ninja Exams tested the team, not the individual, and he couldn't be too willful.
It would be extremely irresponsible of a teammate to be absent on the eve of an exam.
Araki headed straight for their temporary lodging, pondering the matter of Nintaijutsu as he walked. He had gathered a great deal of relevant information, especially from the discussion he had had with Little A. He was subtly probing into some core issues in the core areas, asking questions in a roundabout way without Little A noticing anything amiss.
Not long after, Araki arrived at the door, knocked lightly, and then pushed the door open.
"I'm back."
Araki greeted the people inside after entering the entrance hall. Upon entering the house, he sensed a heavy and oppressive atmosphere. After all, the Chunin Ninja Exams were tomorrow, and even a powerful figure like Minato felt extremely nervous.
Are you alright?
Minato immediately went to greet him, his face full of concern. Throughout the day, he had thought of Araki many times, worrying that the latter might have been injured in his battle with Little A.
Now that he saw Araki return, he carefully examined Araki from head to toe, and after confirming that the latter was unharmed, a Taiseki was lifted from his heart.
As long as there are no injuries, it will not affect the Chunin Ninja Exams.
The Chunin Ninja Exams were a team event, not an individual battle, so each person represented the entire team, and their team represented Konoha, thus giving them deeper thoughts and ideas.
If this were simply a Chunin Ninja Exams held in Konoha, Minato might not have had such a strong feeling. It was precisely because they were participating in the Chunin Ninja Exams outside the village, and because they represented Konoha, that Minato, who had been baptized by the Will of Fire since childhood, felt a very strong sense of honor for the village at this moment, and hoped to bring glory to Konoha through his own knowledge and abilities.
"I'm fine, don't worry."
Araki nodded to Minato. He understood the latter's thoughts very well, so when he saw the latter's anxious appearance, he didn't pay much attention to it and thought it was a very normal reaction.
If Minato didn't care about Konoha, then he wouldn't be Minato.
Araki knew very well that among the Konoha Ninja of their generation, Minato probably had the strongest sense of honor for the village. So even though Jiraiya emphasized from the beginning that they should prioritize their lives and safety and try their best to avoid injury or death, they participated in the Chunin Ninja Exams under such a premise.
However, Araki knew very well that whenever he had the chance to fight, Minato would still fight with his last ounce of strength for the village, even if it meant facing danger, he would never back down.
"It's good that you're alright."
Minato slowly breathed a sigh of relief, and a sunny smile returned to his face. With the Chunin Ninja Exams approaching, his heart was filled with various anxieties. He then asked, "Any gains?"
"Have."
Araki nodded heavily. He had never intended to hide this matter, because he felt that Nintaijutsu was a regular weapon for him, which was essentially a label he could announce to the outside world, rather than a trump card. So he had to tell everyone sooner or later, and there was no problem in telling them now. He then said, "I learned the Nintaijutsu of Kumogakure through my own methods."
"What?"
This time, it wasn't just Minato who was surprised; even Jiraiya stared wide-eyed and quickly walked over, his face full of disbelief.
"What did you say?"
Jiraiya strode up to Araki. He knew all too well what the Kumogakure's Nintaijutsu meant; it was the foundation upon which the Kumogakure stood in the ninja world. Looking across the entire ninja world, apart from the ninjas of the Kumogakure, no one else had ever mastered such abilities.
If Araki can successfully learn the Nintaijutsu of Kumogakure, it will be a very good thing for the entire Konoha, as it means that the Konoha's martial arts styles can be further expanded.
This is an extremely rare thing.
certainly.
The strategic significance of this is not merely an expansion of the Konoha's martial arts schools, but also a fatal blow to the Kumogakure.
Jiraiya of the Konoha Sannin, Jiraiya had a very long-term vision, and he saw the strategic significance of this matter almost instantly.
Swish!
As Jiraiya asked the question, Minato and Kushina both turned their gazes toward Araki, their eyes flashing with intense anticipation and confusion. They were both unsure what had transpired in the past two days, but they could vaguely sense that something extraordinary had happened to Araki.
"That's right, I've learned the Nintaijutsu of Kumogakure, but I'm not very proficient yet."
Araki nodded and said this very firmly. Because he wanted to use Nintaijutsu as a very regular weapon, he had to let his teammates accept these things first so that everyone could have a phased improvement in their understanding of his strength.
This doesn't mean he's no longer low-key, but rather relatively low-key. Araki understands very well that hiding one's strength is just about hiding one's trump cards, not about making oneself look like a fool. The strength displayed must be dynamic and relative.
Araki only needs to keep his strength at a level of 40% to 60% of its true strength exposed. Then, when someone targets him or in some very important situations, revealing his trump card will have a decisive effect.
"How did you learn that?" Jiraiya asked, very curious.
Upon hearing this, Minato and Kushina were equally curious, wanting to know how Araki had managed to do it.
At this moment, Araki was the focus of everyone's attention in the room, and everyone's eyes were filled with scrutiny.
"Cough cough..."
Araki cleared his throat and silently organized his thoughts. Although it was a prepared speech, he still felt a little nervous when he was about to say it.
"Before I tell you about this, I must first mention that person's identity. He is the son of the Third Raikage and the most legitimate successor of the Kumogakure's Nintaijutsu."
Araki's revelation of Little A's identity immediately drew gasps of surprise, even Jiraiya was taken aback and his eyes widened even more.
"What did you say?!" Jiraiya exclaimed in shock. "He's the Raikage's son?!"
"My God!" Minato exclaimed in surprise.
"No wonder he could fight Araki to a draw." Kushina saw another angle to the matter.
"That's right, he's the son of the Third Raikage, and he's incredibly strong. He came to us not to cause trouble before the Chunin Ninja Exams, but because he learned that elite Genin from other villages have come to Kumogakure and he wants to challenge them," Araki explained.
"I see." Jiraiya nodded silently. With this premise, everything made sense.
"Yesterday we sparred for a whole afternoon, and neither of us could gain the upper hand. After thinking about it all night, I suddenly discovered some methods of using Kumogakure's Nintaijutsu, and I also found that Nintaijutsu is quite suitable for me. So I practiced it all night, and when he came today, I asked him some questions, more than 90% of which were about Nintaijutsu," Araki continued to explain.
"You mean you didn't really spar today, but instead exchanged experiences and insights?" Jiraiya asked, stroking his chin.
By the way... [Version]
"That's right." Araki nodded.
"There are gains and losses. He told you about the Nintaijutsu of Kumogakure, so he must have asked you some questions too. What was the price you paid?" Jiraiya suddenly stared intently at Araki. Recently, because of the traitor, he was extremely perceptive when faced with such matters, and he couldn't help but ask in a deep voice, "What did you say?"
" Chakra Enhanced Strength," Araki said casually.
"What?" Jiraiya raised an eyebrow sharply, as if he hadn't heard clearly.
"I explained part of the principles behind the Chakra Enhanced Strength Tsunade-sensei taught me, and in return, he answered my questions about Nintaijutsu." Araki's expression hardened slightly. He was somewhat dissatisfied with Jiraiya's reaction, that even he was being doubted. However, considering that Jiraiya had also doubted the Third back then, he wasn't too displeased.
"Hmm." Jiraiya's expression darkened further, as if he had something else to say, but it stuck in his throat and he didn't say it.
"The principle behind the Chakra Enhanced Strength is very simple. I can explain it to you if you want to learn, but understanding it doesn't mean you can actually master it. It requires extremely strong Chakra control. Looking at the entire ninja world, there are very few people who can learn it." Araki noticed Jiraiya's dissatisfaction and immediately explained. At this stage, it wasn't appropriate for him to have any misunderstandings with Jiraiya, as that wouldn't be good for him. He then added, "After returning to the village, I will report this matter to Tsunade-sensei. If Tsunade-sensei believes this is a loss of the Chakra Enhanced Strength, then I will personally retrieve it."
"Catch them back?" Jiraiya was stunned for a moment and couldn't react immediately. Minato and Kushina had the same question.
"Just kill him, and that will solve the problem!"
As Araki spoke, a smile suddenly appeared on his face, his white teeth revealing a sinister quality in the dim light of the room.
These words were spoken.
The scene immediately fell silent.
No one responded.
However, the way everyone looked at Araki changed.
You should know...
That's the son of the Third Raikage!
Anyone who dares to touch such a being will surely become the enemy of the entire Kumogakure!
Given the current strength of Kumogakure, if Araki were to do something like this, even Konoha wouldn't dare to protect Araki. They would have no choice but to hand Araki over to quell the situation. At that point, they would be left without any support.
However, they could sense from Araki's tone that he wasn't joking, but serious.
Let's talk about this when we get back to the village.
Jiraiya waved his hands repeatedly, the resentment that had just surged up had disappeared. He didn't want to push Araki to the point of killing the Raikage's son. Besides, it was hard to say whether obtaining Nintaijutsu would be a greater loss or a greater gain.
" Araki, now that you know Nintaijutsu, show us what you've got. Now, attack me, and I'll make you go all out. Let me see your current strength."
Chapter 61 Chunin Ninja Exams, have officially begun!
Konoha: Nobody knew I could Wood Release! Chapter 61 Chunin Ninja Exams, has officially begun!