Jiraiya waved to Araki, his face full of seriousness. He was very concerned about Araki's mastery of Nintaijutsu and wanted to test it as soon as possible.
After all, the price paid is no longer important. If Araki can really perform the Nintaijutsu of Kumogakure as he said, then in a sense, this will be a very significant step forward for Konoha.
As Araki said, Chakra Enhanced Strength are not something that anyone can easily learn; it requires extremely strong Chakra control.
"Can."
Araki nodded, his expression turning serious. He knew very well that now was indeed the best time for him to demonstrate his Nintaijutsu.
If he were to demonstrate his mastery of Nintaijutsu in front of Jiraiya-sensei, his strength would be significantly enhanced, allowing his comrades and others to recognize his level of power, which would not seem so surprising in many situations.
As soon as Araki uttered these words, Minato and Kushina stared at Araki, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. They were still in a daze, not fully understanding what had happened.
Araki slowly took a few steps back. After talking with Little A about many things, he gradually understood that Nintaijutsu requires a certain distance to exert its strongest effect.
In the past, when he watched Naruto, those methods of quickly closing the distance were probably the most difficult stage for close-combat Taijutsu ninjas to go through. But in reality, for the ninjas of Kumogakure, that running start helped them increase their combat capabilities a lot.
Araki slowly retreated to the maximum distance he could manage in the room, and his Chakra began to surge. He didn't immediately activate his green Chakra, as activating it now would easily expose his own Chakra in Jiraiya-sensei's eyes. He also had enough Chakra to sustain this brief sparring and examination.
Of course, this only means that he doesn't actively mobilize green Chakra; it doesn't mean that he will completely block out green Chakra. As his body's consumption increases and his heart rate strengthens, green Chakra will still passively emerge to replenish his body's energy.
Therefore, after experiencing such a thing, Araki is not worried at all. The green Chakra that appeared passively can be well hidden in his body and has not been discovered by anyone else so far.
In fact, Araki himself felt that even if he used green Chakra casually, no one would necessarily be able to detect it.
The wonders of green Chakra were already commonplace to him. Many times, it was green Chakra that saved him from danger. As for what level this green Chakra was, he wasn't quite sure, but he always felt that it might have something to do with the First Hokage Hashirama Senju.
At least when he used green Chakra, no one noticed, including Orochimaru, who had already transformed into the Eight-Headed Serpent.
However, caution is always the best policy, after all, he was only demonstrating his Nintaijutsu in front of Jiraiya-sensei.
Araki controlled the Chakra around his body to surge into all the cells, simulating a way of stimulating cells with Lightning Release Chakra. However, the Chakra nature in his body was not primarily Lightning Release; Chakra was more gentle and resilient. Therefore, it would not activate strong physical activity immediately, but this was enough for him.
Blue Chakra formed an armor-like shell around Araki's body, and the fluctuations in his body gradually stabilized from the initial agitation. Under these circumstances, his body also underwent some subtle changes, but these changes originated from his own Chakra, not the green Chakra. Therefore, when he uses it now, it is slightly weaker than when he practices.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Araki's figure flashed out, Jiraiya as fast as lightning. With the support of his Chakra, Araki's speed became much faster than before. Although it could not match Little A's peak speed, it was close to the Body Flicker Technique.
Buzzing...
As Araki charged rapidly toward Jiraiya, he didn't maintain his Chakra Armor, knowing full well that it was a waste of Chakra. He only used the Chakra at the start to activate his body and increase his speed. Then, during this process, he contracted the Chakra, condensed it in his Chakra, and used it to unleash the Chakra Enhanced Strength.
To some extent, the Nintaijutsu Araki is currently using is not a completely Kumogakure Nintaijutsu, but rather an evolution of it by incorporating the properties of some Nintaijutsu and Tsunade-sensei's Chakra Enhanced Strength. The fact that he did not use green Chakra is a crucial point. If he had used green Chakra, the energy he is unleashing now would be even stronger, perhaps even comparable to the effect of using Lightning Release Chakra.
Araki arrived in front of Jiraiya-sensei in the blink of an eye, and without any hesitation, threw a right punch straight at Jiraiya-sensei's chest. Since the other party had already told him to go all out, there was no need for him to hold back without using green Chakra. Moreover, he knew in his heart that even if he hurt Jiraiya-sensei, he could heal him with Medical Ninjutsu.
By the way... [Version]
Tomorrow is the day they will participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams. He can unleash his full power on the battlefield of the Chunin Ninja Exams, but before that, he needs to make Jiraiya-sensei understand his strength. He also understands that even if Jiraiya-sensei at this point in time, it will not have any impact on the Chunin Ninja Exams, because Jonin instructors are not allowed to participate in them.
"So fast!"
Minato and Kushina exclaimed in surprise, their eyes filled with shock, completely unprepared for Araki's terrifying speed.
" Araki is faster than before." Minato was secretly alarmed. In the past, when he sparred with Araki, Araki hadn't been this fast. This was truly beyond his expectations, and he began to think about how he would deal with Araki if he were the one facing him.
For a moment, as Minato watched Araki and Jiraiya-sensei's sparring match, he fell into deep thought, as if he were in the midst of the battle, trying to feel what was happening.
Minato gradually became tense as well. After all, the closest companions are often the ones who compete and compare with each other, and no one wants to be easily left behind by their companions. He was no exception.
Kushina slowly smiled; she was genuinely happy for Araki.
Jiraiya's expression grew even more serious Jiraiya faced Araki's sudden punch.
The punch was fast, but it didn't leave him no room to recover. He immediately stretched out his hands, crossing them together to block Araki's fist.
" Jiraiya-sensei, you're overreacting. Do you really think you can withstand Tsunade-sensei's punches like that?"
After seeing Jiraiya's reaction, Araki suddenly burst into laughter, and then the Chakra in his fist roared out, directly unleashing the Chakra Enhanced Strength that had been enhanced with speed.
boom!!!
Araki's fist struck Jiraiya, immediately unleashing a terrifying force that sent Jiraiya flying backward.
Tap tap tap tap tap...
Jiraiya that attack, Jiraiya staggered backward, taking countless steps before finally regaining his balance. His palms were numb, and the pain in his arms stretched from his wrists to his elbows and shoulders, leaving him completely unable to fight.
Of course, Jiraiya didn't show it. He hid it well. He had a lot of experience in this kind of battle. Even if he had temporarily lost his ability to fight, he couldn't easily show it to his opponent, otherwise it might have a worse effect.
" Araki, you've surprised and delighted me. Now I can completely trust your power."
Jiraiya remained calm, though his hands were completely numb. If he were to help me remember the Hand Seals, his hands would tremble. He was trying to appear as relaxed as possible, but in reality, he was no longer able to continue fighting Araki.
He hadn't anticipated this situation. He had overestimated Araki as much as possible, but after the encounter, he realized he had underestimated his opponent. Even without Tsunade's power, that punch could have had unimaginable consequences if he hadn't gathered most of his Chakra and focused it on his hand to form a shield to resist at the crucial moment.
At that moment, Jiraiya suddenly recalled the fear he felt when he was young, after being knocked down by Tsunade's punch.
" Jiraiya-sensei, my Nintaijutsu has only just begun to break through the surface, and I'm not yet particularly adept at using it. Give me some more time, and I will hone it even better, and be able to perfectly integrate it with the Super Strength Tree that Tsunade-sensei taught me." Araki said with a smile. He had already seen through Jiraiya-sensei's problem, and he was very clear about just how powerful Jiraiya's punch was, but he just didn't show it.
" Araki, why did you suddenly decide to learn Nintaijutsu?" To ease the awkwardness, Jiraiya had to change the subject. He felt that something was very terrifying: if the Nintaijutsu and Chakra Enhanced Strength of Kumogakure were combined with Tsunade's superhuman strength, the power that would be unleashed would be truly terrifying.
"As a medical-nin, my greatest strength lies in Chakra control. Another advantage I have is my physical training. My two teachers, besides Tsunade-sensei, are Might Teacher Duy, the Taijutsu ninja from Konoha. You all know that." Araki explained, first looking at Jiraiya-sensei, then glancing at Minato and Kushina, exchanging glances before finally focusing back on Jiraiya-sensei. He continued, "After encountering the ninjas of Kumogakure, I discovered that this method of enhancing my Taijutsu through Chakra control is perfectly suited to me."
You make a good point.
Jiraiya nodded in agreement. The tingling sensation in his hands hadn't completely disappeared, but he didn't want to show it too obviously, so he kept hiding it and acted as if nothing was wrong.
It's getting late.
Jiraiya felt that continuing the discussion was pointless. If they talked too much and stirred up Araki's emotions, he might not be able to keep up if they continued sparring.
After all, this wasn't a true back-and-forth exchange; rather, he was enduring Araki's attacks. And after Araki's Nintaijutsu was enhanced, the power unleashed by that punch was simply too strong, something that an ordinary Genin couldn't possibly unleash. Even if he continued to endure such bombardment, he wouldn't fare any better.
For this reason, Jiraiya didn't want to continue the conversation. Now that he understood Araki's situation, he had even more confidence in the three of them.
"You all get some rest. Tomorrow you need to prepare for the Chunin Ninja Exams. I'm really looking forward to seeing you all."
Jiraiya finished speaking, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. This wasn't the first time he had taken on disciples. He had previously taken on three disciples in the Land of Rain. Those three disciples were all quite talented and very diligent, and they quickly made up for almost all the basics.
But now that he has these three disciples, he has found that the gap between them is still very obvious.
He was very satisfied with the progress his three disciples had made.
"Yes."
Minato was the first to nod. Since arriving in Kumogakure these past few days, he had been preoccupied with the Chunin Ninja Exams, so it was always on his mind.
Now that Araki has returned and his strength has improved dramatically, he feels very gratified and has even greater expectations for the Chunin Ninja Exams that will begin tomorrow.
The next day, early morning.
Led by Jiraiya, Minato and the other two left their temporary residence and headed towards the agreed-upon location in Kumogakure.
The Chunin Ninja Exams have officially begun!
Chapter 62 The Examiner, Nankai!
Konoha: Nobody knew I could use Wood Release! Chapter 62: Examiner, Nankai!
The meeting place for the Chunin Ninja Exams Kumogakure was a large hall, and when Araki and his group arrived, many people had already gathered there.
"You can go in, but I can't."
Jiraiya stood at the entrance of the main hall, glanced inside, and then gave Araki and the others some instructions, telling them to be careful in the following process.
"Yes."
Araki Jiraiya. They all knew that what followed was about the Chunin Ninja Exams, which had little to do with Jiraiya; everything would depend on them.
Araki and the others then pushed open the door to the main hall and went inside. The three of them stood together, still maintaining a huddled posture, since those who entered here to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams were all in teams, and each person had their own team.
There were at least a hundred people inside.
However, about half of them had dark skin, appearing as a dark brown, and their appearance made it clear that they were ninjas from the Kumogakure.
"Why are there so many Kumogakure ninjas?"
Upon seeing this scene, Kushina immediately murmured her doubts. She had anticipated the scene before coming, but she hadn't expected the proportion of ninjas from Kumogakure to be so high.
" Kumogakure is the host of this Chunin Ninja Exams, so it's perfectly normal that they have more people here. They don't need to travel long distances to get here, so they can have more slots. Other villages in the ninja world might only have one or two teams, but our Konoha only has one team." Araki slowly explained to Kushina, keeping his voice low.
"That's how it is." Minato nodded in agreement.
After saying these words, Araki immediately scanned the room. It was a very spacious area, visually much larger than the classrooms of the Konoha Ninja Academy.
Besides the ninjas from Kumogakure with their darker skin tones, he could also see the different markings on the Forehead Protector of ninjas from other villages, vaguely discerning their distinct identities.
As Araki observed these people, they were also observing Araki and his companions. When their gazes focused on the Konoha Araki Forehead Protector on their foreheads, they all wore amused smiles.
"It seems we've been targeted."
Minato also sensed these gazes and the faint smiles they emanated. He immediately lowered his voice and warned Araki and Kushina, since they weren't entirely clear on the Chunin Ninja Exams' procedures and it was hard to say whether they would face a combined attack from multiple villages. He then cautioned them, "We need to be careful."
"Clear."
Araki nodded, his expression becoming much more serious. He knew very well that Minato was not exaggerating, because from the moment he entered the room, he could clearly feel the surrounding auras locking onto them.
Under such circumstances, he was unsure whether they had discussed it beforehand. Perhaps not, since targeting Konoha was already a tacit agreement throughout the ninja world.
Araki and his two companions kept a low profile and ignored the people around them. Instead, they found a corner and stood quietly together, forming a cohesive unit. Although many eyes were still on them, no one dared to cause trouble.
However, this feeling of being watched did not dissipate over time. Even though other ninjas from other villages entered the main hall later, none of them could match the level of attention they had received when they first entered. And it was certain that the people inside were still watching them.
This process lasted for a full half hour.
After several ninjas from Kumogakure entered, the scene noticeably quieted down.
These Kumogakure ninjas were clearly not there to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams, but rather to oversee Chunin Ninja Exams. Judging from their age and the aura they exuded, they were quite capable.
Walking in the middle of these people was an older man, about the same age as Jiraiya. He also had disheveled hair, but his hair was red, which, combined with his dark brown skin, gave him a somewhat roasted appearance.
The moment this person appeared, he immediately attracted the attention of almost everyone present. Everyone knew in their hearts that this person was probably the chief examiner in charge of this Chunin Ninja Exams. After all, apart from the people from other villages who came to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams, the vast majority of the remaining people were ninjas from Kumogakure, so it was not surprising that they could recognize him.
After entering the main hall, the middle-aged man did not speak immediately, but instead scanned the crowd with his gaze.
His gaze shifted very quickly, rarely lingering on anyone for long, yet he paid meticulous attention to detail, making everyone feel seen, though in reality, they didn't experience it too obviously.
Good morning, everyone.
The middle-aged man immediately spoke slowly. His voice was relatively deep and mellow, clearly revealing his composed character. Even a simple greeting was enough for everyone present to feel the powerful foundation brought by his strength.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Jonin Kumogakure), Nankain, and I am also the chief examiner for this Chunin Ninja Exams."
The middle-aged man was the first to state his name, and then added, "I set all the rules for this Chunin Ninja Exams. If you have any questions, feel free to come to me, but I may not necessarily accept your suggestions."