Chapter 111: Becoming Famous (25)

“Sandaime-sama.”

“Hokage-sama.”

Group C had just finished drawing lots when Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, and the students greeted Hiruzen Sarutobi one after another.

“Just act as you normally would, I’m just here to observe,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a benevolent smile.

“Number 1, Anko Mitarashi, and Number 2, Asakawa Miken, prepare to begin your battle,” Muzuki’s Shadow Clone announced as he began to preside over the test.

The students called by Muzuki quickly went to the battleground, assumed their stances, and prepared to fight.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced around; the three group test locations were quite far apart to avoid mutual interference.

“Muzuki, you’ve worked hard these past five weeks, leading over three hundred students by yourself,” Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

In such a situation, one person was simply not enough; he had to use the Shadow Clone.

Sure enough, Muzuki’s main body was still beside him, while his Shadow Clone was still presiding over the examination over there.

“It’s my duty,” Muzuki replied with a smile, not saying too much.

The Sandaime smiled and nodded, turning his gaze to the battle that had already begun.

Although his opponent, Asakawa Miken, was a Fourth Grade student, and Anko was at a disadvantage in terms of height, Anko showed no fear, charging directly at Asakawa Miken to engage in close-quarters combat.

Anko’s Taijutsu was very aggressive, the kind where ‘I can get injured, but you’ll definitely be more injured than me.’

Feeling the many eyes watching, Asakawa Miken secretly groaned; he was somewhat overwhelmed by Anko’s frenzied attacks.

Asakawa Miken used the force of Anko’s punch to retreat to a tree, then directly sprinted up the tree and threw a large number of Shuriken at Anko, attempting to kite her.

But Anko was not shaken off; having completed tree-climbing training long ago, she had already practiced fighting in the forest and quickly caught up to Asakawa Miken, engaging him in a battle of wits and strength in the trees.

Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, and Substitution Technique, the three basic Ninjutsu, were all used by the two of them.

“Muzuki, this Anko Mitarashi is a student from your class, isn’t she?” Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly asked.

Because Muzuki’s class performance was so outstanding before, he had a slight impression of the top few students in Muzuki’s class.

“Yes, she is a student from Class 1, Grade 1,” Muzuki nodded.

“To have such Chakra control ability and Ninjutsu level in the First Grade, she is a very excellent student,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said, stroking his goatee and nodding.

He was very satisfied with Muzuki’s teaching results; the strength displayed by both students was very good, and this was even Group C, which had the slowest progress.

“Yes, with such strength, even ordinary Third Grade and Fourth Grade students might not be able to achieve it,” a Chunin teacher who came with Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

“Her opponent is also good; with a bit more practice, he should be able to reach graduation level,” Hiruzen Sarutobi continued.

Other Chunin teachers also nodded in agreement.

One Chunin teacher, in particular, was full of surprise because Asakawa Miken was a student from his class.

He remembered that this student was usually quite ordinary, and he didn’t expect such great progress after only five weeks of special training.

He didn’t know yet whether it was because he hadn’t studied seriously before, or if he had worked too hard these five weeks, or if Muzuki was truly an excellent teacher.

“Anko Mitarashi wins.”

Ultimately, Asakawa Miken was slightly inferior, and Anko achieved victory.

“Number 3, Kotetsu Hagane, and Number 4, Nakamori Gōichi, prepare to begin your battle,” Muzuki quickly announced the names of the next combatants.

“Nakamori Gōichi, ah, that’s my student,” Ikegaya Yu said.

“Oh, then how are his usual combat scores?” Hiruzen Sarutobi asked curiously.

“Rather ordinary, his combat scores are usually around fifteen points,” Ikegaya Yu said honestly.

“But his opponent seems to be a First or Second Grade student, so there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Hiruzen Sarutobi understood Nakamori Gōichi’s level upon hearing fifteen points; according to the Ninja Academy’s grading standards, it was a very ordinary score.

“Not necessarily, that Kotetsu is also a student from Teacher Muzuki’s class, and his combat scores are quite excellent,” Ueda Aya said before Muzuki could acknowledge his student.

While the onlookers below were discussing, the battle also began.

Nakamori Gōichi, relying on his physical advantage, quickly pushed forward and launched a series of fierce attacks.

And while Kotetsu had a disadvantage in terms of strength, being small also meant flexibility, and Kotetsu agilely dodged Nakamori Gōichi’s attacks.

For a time, the situation was very deadlocked.

“If nothing unexpected happens, Nakamori Gōichi should win,” a Chunin teacher speculated.

Although it seemed on the surface that Kotetsu was not overly suppressed at the moment, he was actually already at a great disadvantage; Kotetsu was younger and did not have an advantage in stamina, so if this continued, he would eventually be caught.

“This student is also good; although not as good as his classmates, he is also very excellent,” the Third Hokage said, puffing on his small pipe.

After all, it was a battle across several grades, and the Third Hokage felt that being able to fight like this was already very good.

“Enemy Confusion Technique!”

Seizing a moment to catch his breath, Kotetsu directly used his strongest Ninjutsu.

To enhance his Ninjutsu, Kotetsu specifically visited a women’s clothing store.

Suddenly, six older sisters wearing different styles of revealing clothes appeared on the field, surrounding Nakamori Gōichi.

“Hmm?” Nakamori Gōichi’s gaze was drawn by a mysterious force.

And Kotetsu seized this opportunity to kick Nakamori Gōichi down, then pressed the Kunai in his right hand against Nakamori Gōichi’s body.

“Kotetsu Hagane wins!”

Nakamori Gōichi, who had come to his senses, was both bewildered and shocked.

He knew about Kotetsu’s Ninjutsu, but he didn’t expect Kotetsu to dare to use such Ninjutsu in such a setting; the Third Hokage was even watching.

Silence.

At this moment, the field was silent; no one made a sound.

Both students and teachers looked at this scene with shock.

“Cough, cough.”

Ultimately, it was the Third Hokage’s cough that broke the silence.

The Third Hokage, who had been engrossed in watching, choked on his smoke; he swiftly wiped away a smear of red below his nose and then, with a serious expression, commented:

“Teacher Muzuki’s special training is still very good. Kotetsu flexibly utilized his strengths, and Nakamori Gōichi’s performance was also commendable. How many points do you think he can get for this practical combat?”

“Twenty-four, I guess,” a Chunin teacher was the first to say.

Other teachers also responded with their scores, which were roughly similar.

No teacher mentioned Kotetsu; everyone tacitly ignored what had just happened, praising Muzuki’s excellent summer special training and the great progress of the students.

They only occasionally stole a glance in Kotetsu’s direction, secretly thinking, ‘What a talent.’

“Kotetsu, you’re really going to make a name for yourself now,” Izumo Kamizuki looked enviously at the victorious Kotetsu.

To flexibly use Ninjutsu and win against a stronger opponent under the gaze of the Third Hokage, he wished he were the one standing there now.

“Number 5, Ishii Yoshi, and Number 6, Izumo Kamizuki, prepare.”

Hearing his name, Izumo Kamizuki quickly went to the stage; he, too, wanted to make a name for himself!

I’m not in good form today, and I feel like this chapter didn’t capture the intended feeling. If you see any issues, please leave a comment on this chapter, and I will revise it. The next few chapters might be a bit late.