Chapter 648: Chapter – 641 Assessment at Academy
"Neji, you did a fantastic job, and your grade is an 'A+.'" Iruka smiled and complimented Neji, giving him an 'A+' in the grade book.
On the podium, Neji released the 'Clone Technique' he had just utilized, bowed to Iruka calmly, and then slid back into his seat.
Neji has long mastered this level of ninjutsu; as a result, the stressful assessment for other students poses no challenge for him, and to be honest, he did not feel the least bit proud of Iruka's compliment just now.
'Sigh, Neji-kun is a true genius...' Iruka grumbled to himself as she observed Neji's placid expression. In Iruka's opinion, a student like Neji is perfect in every way.
"Next is, Uchiha Sasuke," Iruka said, turning past the page containing Neji's information.
"Sasuke-kun, it's your turn!"
"Please, Sasuke-kun... You've got this!"
"Sasuke-san! You're the best!"
The podium was quickly covered by a chorus of applause from the spectators... Without a doubt, all of Sasuke's cheers came from the academy's girls who had a crush on him, which accounted for more than ninety percent of the girls.
Sasuke stepped up from his seat, his hands in the pocket of his trouser, and walked towards the platform with a cool smile on his face.
'Damn, why does Sasuke get all the attention?' thought Naruto, looking at Sasuke with an envious frown.
"Tch..." snorted Kiba from the side. "This guy, Sasuke, is incredibly arrogant... Just wait, I'm getting my ninken shortly, and as soon as that happens, I'm kicking his arse!"
As Sasuke approached the stage, the students fell silent, and Iruka asked Sasuke, "Sasuke-kun, according to the topic of the assessment, you must demonstrate one of the three Basic Ninjutsu... which one do you want to demonstrate?"
While provocatively staring at Neji, who had just returned to his seat, Sasuke ignored Iruka's query and rapidly weaved the hand gestures and exclaimed, 'Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!'
Poof…!
Another Sasuke appeared next to Sasuke, with the same appearance and features as Uchiha Sasuke, thanks to a flash of white smoke.
"Wow, Sasuke-kun is really an expert at Bunshin no Jutsu?"
"Amazing… He and his Clone have the same appearance... It's impossible to distinguish between them!"
And... as soon as Sasuke finished the Jutsu, the girls in the audience became active again, discussing the Jutsu he used and how great he is at it.
The majority of the boys were dissatisfied, but they couldn't bring out any flaws, so they had no choice but to remain mute while clenching their teeth.
Iruka, on the other hand, was different, he had a dignified expression, unlike adulation or jealousy... Because he could see that the Jutsu Sasuke used was not the 'Bunshin no Jutsu' that he should have possessed, but rather 'Kage Bunshin no Jutsu,' which is an extremely difficult Jutsu for an academy student to learn and master. And Iruka could clearly see that Sasuke has excellent mastery and control over this Jutsu by the ease with which he accomplished it!
Aside from Iruka, there were a few other pupils who realized something was wrong but couldn't pinpoint what it was, with the exception of Neji.
Only Neji, other from Iruka, knew the Jutsu that Sasuke had just used... But, unlike Iruka, Neji was unfazed and unconcerned about it... After all, he, like Sasuke, has mastered the 'Kage Bunshin no Jutsu,' it's just that he doesn't want to flaunt it like Sasuke is doing right now.
As Neji snorted, sparks shot between the eyes two.
Since the day Kuroto single-handedly crushed eight Jonins of the Uchiha Clan, Sasuke, and Neji's bond has changed. They are no longer just friends, but rivals, shouldering the reputations of their clans.
Of course, their friendship continues, but they also have a rivalry... They've both landed the first spot of the year...
"Sasuke-kun...," Iruka said sincerely as he stepped closer with a worried gaze. "Isn't it 'Kage Bunshin no Jutsu' that you used? This Jutsu, while extremely valuable, comes with a risk... As a result, you should avoid utilizing it for the time being... at least until yo-..."
"I'm aware of the danger Iruka-sensei... You don't have to be concerned; the Uchiha clansmen have stronger chakra reserves than the general public... Now that it's out of the way, Sensei, what's my score?"
"Uh…" Iruka's remarks were lodged in his throat, and he shook his head in frustration before grading him.
"What the hell, Sasuke-kun just did Kage Bunshin no Jutsu'?"
"'Kage Bunshin no Jutsu'...?" That's a ninjutsu at the B-level... To learn it, you have to be at least a Chunin, right?"
"Is this the Uchiha clan's talent?"
Iruka and Sasuke's chat made the already boisterous classroom much noisier. This time, not only the girls, but also the members of the 'League of Losers,' which comprised Naruto, Kiba, Fu, and others, idolized Sasuke... They were also taken aback at this point...
Only Rock Lee stood out from the crowd... He had both hands on the table, his eyes were whirling in circles, and he was muttering, "It's over, it's over!" in a terrified tone.
"Lee, what are you scared about?" Shikamaru, who was sitting next to him, remarked casually. Sasuke's use of 'Kage Bunshin on Jutsu' has no bearing on us, and it has no bearing on our grades... If we just use 'Bunshin no Jutsu,' we can still get a good grade..."
"But...but I can't!" Rock Lee shook his head, tears in his eyes and a runny nose.
"In that case, utilize one of the other two Jutsu," Shikamaru suggested casually. "Substitution Jutsu can be used... It's a lot less difficult than 'Bunshin on Jutsu.'"
The three basic Ninjutsu are the most fundamental aspects of Shinobi training... As a result, these simpler and life-saving Jutsu are taught to Shinobi Clan youngsters at a young age. And because these Jutsu are so simple to learn, most of the children from the great clans don't even bother... As a result, children like Shikamaru have long mastered them and are unconcerned about this evaluation.
However, this is not the case for children from non-military families...
Rock Ree has had a particularly bad run of luck... As a result, he sobbed miserably and added, "I can't utilize 'Substitution Jutsu' either..."
"What about the 'Transformation Jutsu?'" Shikamaru inquired, slightly astonished.
"Can't use it either..." said Rock Lee, shaking his head.
"Then don't worry..." Shikamaru said, blinking twice before smiling slightly and patting Rock Lee on the shoulder.
"Wait... Why?" says the narrator. Lee looked perplexed.
"You can't employ either of the three fundamental Ninjutsu, therefore you'll undoubtedly fail and finish last," Shikamaru stated. "It's pointless to worry about the outcome because it's already been determined and can't be changed... Remain calm and be relaxed, even if you worry, you won't be able to change a thing."
Tenten on the side smiled and covered her mouth, "Shikamaru-kun... Do you truly have no idea how to console someone?"
Shikamaru was perplexed... "Why?"
Tenten didn't have to respond since Shikamaru's answer was given by the unexpected sound of... 'Thump,' Lee had collapsed on the ground and his eyes had lost focus... he had apparently passed out.
"I see... I believe I was a tad too direct." He muttered with a helpless expression, then turned away from Lee and gazed at the podium.
…
On the stage.
"Uchiha Sasuke, the result of the assessment is 'A+'!" Iruka sighed as he saw Sasuke return to his seat casually.
The assessment continued after a round of applause from the trainees.
The evaluation was eventually completed after a hard day, and the booklet containing all of the kids' grades arrived in Kuroto's office.
"Kuroto-san…" As he delivered the booklet to Kuroto, Iruka stated, "The assessment is finished, and this booklet reflects the results."
Kuroto grinned slightly after taking a quick look at it...
'As expected, Sasuke and Neji are momentarily tied for top place in the grade with an 'A+,' while the other shinobi clan students have also performed admirably.
Iruka, noticing Kuroto's smile, tentatively inquired, "Do you really want to post the results of this assessment on the bulletin board, Kuroto-san? Isn't this inequitable to the trainees who come from a civilian background?"
Rock Lee was the student who finished last in the class... He comes from a civilian background, therefore it's understandable that he couldn't learn any of the three bodily procedures... However, posting the results on the bulletin board in this manner... This did not sit well with Iruka.
"Rules are regulations, and no one is an exception... even if someone from the Uchiha or the Hyuga came at last, I would still post the results" Kuroto nodded honestly.
And letting Rock Lee go through this isn't a negative thing..."
"I'm concerned that he might..." remarked Iruka.
"I am aware of your concerns..." Kuroto nodded.
.
.
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Chapter 649: Chapter – 642 Iruka’s Helplessness, Hiruzen’s Doubts, & Orochimaru’s Expectations
"I'm concerned that he might..." remarked Iruka.
"I am aware of your concerns..." Kuroto nodded.
"Then why...?" Iruka inquired...
"You don't have to worry about that," Kuroto said calmly, "I have my plans…"
"But to display the test results on the notice board outside the academy, won't it..." Iruka was still a little irritated.
Kuroto locked his gaze on Iruka, then sighed and asked, "Answer me, Iruka... You have learned the three basic Ninjutsu, and you have been teaching them to other children for quite a while… How long do you think it takes a beginner to learn one of the three basic ninjutsu?"
"This... One month, I guess?" Iruka tentatively said after a little pause.
"If someone can't learn one of the 'three basic ninjutsu' in a week, it means they don't have any ninjutsu talent!" Kuroto said, shaking his head.
This criterion is actually somewhat relaxed. If Orochimaru's standards are to be followed, anyone who cannot acquire one of the "three basic ninjutsu" in a single day can be labeled as an idiot who has no qualifications to become a shinobi or Kunoichi at all!
Furthermore, geniuses like Sasuke, Neji, and Kimimaro may learn the three basic Ninjutsu in as little as an hour.
Kuroto gave trainees a full two weeks of time, which is more than enough to learn one of the three basic ninjutsu techniques... Within two weeks, even children from a civilian background who had never been exposed to any type of ninjutsu and knowledge should have mastered one of the three basic ninjutsu... Even so, if someone still fails to learn even one ninjutsu, they clearly do not have a ninjutsu talent... This is an undeniable reality.
"You mean Rock Lee has no skill for ninjutsu?" Iruka asked, his expression darkening, "Do you want him to be kicked out of the ninja academy?"
"I am sure I said a while back that I have plans for him..." Kuroto shook his head, "True, he's a ninjutsu failure, but that doesn't mean I'm going to throw him out. Rock Lee is a unique breed of genius... Rock Lee, even if he failed and finished last, is still a very gifted child in my opinion; it's only that his talent is different from that of his contemporaries..."
"But... won't doing this... be too harsh for him?" Iruka wondered, relieved that Kuroto had no plans to remove Rock Lee.
Kuroto cast a glance out the window "Warmth and sheltered shinobi are not tolerated in today's Ninja world... If someone wants to be great, he must bear everything and march forward with his heart full of it!"
Iruka sighed and walked away... He's powerless... Kuroto is the principal, and he can't refuse the principal's orders... therefore he'll have to follow them...
Kuroto set the grade book aside and got a copy of the test data from his desk drawer, which he continued to review attentively after Iruka had departed.
Kuroto was not idle during Danzo's recovery after the transformation operation... He was concentrating on cell fusion experiments and the Earth Chakra Nature Clone.
The experiment's outcome was also the same this time... Because Kuroto's and Deidara's cells are incompatible, the success rate of the fusion is extremely low...
Despite that he was able to get a large number of eligible samples thanks to his superior technology... of which he selected the most active ones and began to produce ten Earth Chakra Nature clones with the support of ten Nutrition Tanks.
And the test data in his grasp right now comes from the ten Earth Chakra Nature Clones.
The development of these ten clones appears to be normal, with no deformity or mutation, according to the statistics. As a result, Kuroto has a hard time deciding which clone to develop and train further.
"I think I'll have to wait a while to decide which of these ten clones is the best... The clone with the best overall stats will be picked, however, it will take some time to choose that clone..."
Even with updated technology, clone culture will still take two months, thus Kuroto predicts that Danzo should have a result before this batch of Earth Chakra Nature clones develops...
…
Hokage Building, Elder Hiruzen's office.
"Are you sure of it?" the former Hokage asked Kakashi, holding his tobacco pipe in his hand.
"According to my investigation, Danzo-sama has transferred over a thousand shinobi," Kakashi said, nodding, "And practically all of them have left the village in stealth."
Elder Hiruzen's brows furrowed, "Did you manage to figure out where they were going?"
"Unfortunately, no, I haven't tracked that as of yet," Kakashi said with a shake of his head.
"Danzo has mobilized over a thousand Shinobi at once... what precisely is he trying to do?" Sarutobi Hiruzen was concerned.
The news that Danzo surreptitiously mobilized over a thousand Konoha Shinobi may be kept from the rest of the world, but not from Elder Hiruzen, who has ruled Konoha for decades... But the problem is, even if Sarutobi Hiruzen has deduced this, he is stumped as to why Danzo did what he did.
"According to the feedback I've gotten, more and more Shinobi are being ordered by Danzo-sama..." Kakashi said, concerned, "In fact, a large number of Iryo-nin have lately been relocated from Konoha."
Sandaime pondered for a moment before muttering, "Does he... intend to start a war?"
It doesn't take over a thousand shinobi to start a war with a small country, so this option is indeed possible, especially with Danzo's personality…
However, due to the existence of the Akatsuki Organization and the Amatsukami Organization, nearly all Shinobi Villages have signed a covenant stating that no war will be started until the threat posed by these two organizations is eradicated.
As a result, Hiruzen is quite concerned... He doesn't want Danzo to make a mistake that will make Konoha seem bad...
"What should I do now?" Kakashi inquired hurriedly.
"We need to find out where the ninja Danzo surreptitiously transferred went and what they're doing!" Hiruzen instructed, pausing for a moment before adding, "You should also pay attention to your own safety!"
"Understood!" Kakashi gave a quick nod before disappearing from Elder Hiruzen's office.
Whoosh…!
Elder Hiruzen got up from his seat and strolled back and forth in the office after Kakashi had departed. The more he considered it, the more concerned he was. "Go and convene all the members of the Advisory Board for an emergency meeting!" he commanded the Anbu Guards after some thought.
…
Inside an active Volcanic Cave in the northern portion of the Land of Fire.
Orochimaru smiled from the corner of his mouth as he stood atop a cliff, gazing at the massive volcanic cave that smelt like burning sulfur.
The volcanic cave in front of him is undoubtedly the location where Danzo will perform the 'Kekkei Genkai Absorption Ritual,' and hundreds of Shinobi from 'Root' are currently busy making various preparations here.
According to the plan, these Root Shinobi are constructing a ritual altar in the cave's center. Fortifying the cave's walls, and, a sophisticated chakra transmission line is set up for the chakra transmission array.
Orochimaru was ecstatic when he saw this scenario and smiled to himself "Will the Ninja world change as a result of what's going to happen tonight? Hey, it's something I'm really looking forward to!"
Orochimaru was enthusiastic about the approaching 'Kekkei Genkai Absorption ceremony,' and why wouldn't he be, after all, he has put in just as much effort as Kuroto.
If he were, to be honest, Orochimaru has no regrets, even if the person undergoing the rite is Shimura Danzo, whom he despises. Every cell in his body is ecstatic at the prospect of taking part in a "God Creation Project" of this magnitude!
Orochimaru has always despised the idea that a person's bloodline determines the upper limit of their strength... What he despises, even more, is the fragility of human existence... Orochimaru has a deep desire to break free from the two cages that imprison all humans in this shinobi world... And now such things are about to happen right in front of his eyes, something he has always wished for is about to become a reality... tonight!
He's curious to see how the Shinobi World will evolve from here...
He's curious as to what will happen if this ceremony is successful.
.
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