But today's performance should be considered pretty good, right?
Naruto sidled up to Ye Yu, joking, “Ye Yu, ever since you figured it out, Iruka-sensei has been super busy.”
Ye Yu thought about it, and it really was like that, so he chuckled.
It was an hour later when Iruka-sensei finally came back.
Ye Yu, the instigator, was naturally called into the office for a lecture.
“The person’s fine now. Thankfully, his injuries weren’t serious. The doctor has bandaged him up…,”
“You better never throw anything out of the schoolyard walls again, you little rascal…”
Iruka-sensei advised.
Ye Yu nodded, “But sensei, you asked me to demonstrate the Shadow Clone Jutsu with the throwing kunai…”
Iruka glared, “Did I tell you to throw hundreds of throwing kunai at the guy?”
Ye Yu knew he was wrong and shut up obediently.
For the rest of the day, Ye Yu felt like the teacher was glaring at him during every lesson.
To avoid upsetting the teacher, Ye Yu spent the entire class pretending to sleep, face down on his desk, avoiding eye contact with the teacher.
Being a ninja was so tough!
Soon, the day’s lessons ended.
Iruka-sensei didn’t mention what the next day’s test would be but instead, he addressed the entire class with a serious tone.
“Starting tomorrow, we’ll be learning about the knowledge portion of being a ninja…”
“For the final exam, apart from the three basic auxiliary Ninjutsu: Shadow Clone Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Body Replacement Jutsu, the written test score will also play a large part.”
“This is a big deal. Whether or not you can graduate from the Ninja Academy and become a real ninja depends entirely on this exam. Go home and put in the effort.”
Ye Yu and Naruto nodded and headed home separately.
…
Night fell, and as usual, Ye Yu and Naruto gathered together to practice their Ninjutsu.
Just then, Ye Yu once again caught sight of the same black figure from last night.
The shadow crouched on the wall, looking hesitant.
“Who are you?”
This time, Ye Yu didn’t rush to attack but instead asked the shadow directly.
“Huh? Ye Yu, what are you talking about?”
Naruto was puzzled, thinking that Ye Yu must have lost his mind from practicing too hard and was talking to the air.
Ye Yu looked serious, suspecting that it was one of the Third Hokage’s men, acting in secret.
He found a way to back down, “Nothing. Maybe I was wrong. I just need to go out for a bit.”
Naruto watched Ye Yu leave, scratching his head.
“Ye Yu has been acting weird these past few days.”
When Ye Yu went out, he did indeed encounter the masked Anbu member.
He recognized the familiar energy coming from the other.
Ye Yu confirmed that it was the one he’d injured with his Wind Release throwing kunai the previous night.
Ye Yu felt a pang of unease.
This guy, was he here for revenge?
So he asked politely, “Anbu-san, what’s the matter? Was the Third Hokage the one who sent you?”
“Yeah.”
Yamato’s face beneath the mask twitched, responding reluctantly.
He had been humiliated by Ye Yu’s scolding in front of the Anbu!
He continued, “Actually, the reason I came yesterday and today is the same. The Third Hokage wants me to teach you some special Ninjutsu…”
Ye Yu’s eyes lit up.
Had the Third Hokage finally seen my potential, and wanted to give me special training, to cultivate me personally?
“What kind of Ninjutsu?”
Ye Yu asked excitedly.
Yamato felt a sense of satisfaction under his mask.
That’s right, this is the attitude a kid his age should have.
This was much more likable than yesterday’s showing off his self-created Wind Release throwing kunai upon meeting him for the first time!
Yamato began to explain:
“Wood Release. It’s a secret technique unique to the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, one of the Kekkei Genkai…”
“It’s a Ninjutsu that combines Earth and Water chakra. It’s activated using the user’s chakra as a life force.”
“You must have heard of the First Hokage’s great feats. In that era of war, he brought peace…,”
“He subdued the Tailed Beasts. He could conquer the world with just his Wood Release…”
“The Third Hokage wants me to learn Wood Release?” Ye Yu asked.
“Correct.”
Yamato nodded.
“But you mentioned earlier that Wood Release is a Kekkei Genkai. Will I be able to learn it?”
Ye Yu asked, puzzled.
“The Third Hokage sent me to teach you, which means you’re qualified to learn Wood Release. Just put your heart into it.”
Yamato had the air of a teacher.
“Let me introduce myself. I’m Yamato. From now on, I’ll be your teacher.”
“Today’s your first lesson. Let’s start by experiencing the presence of Wood Release…”
Yamato said, closing his eyes and putting his hands together, “Do as I do. Release Water chakra with your left hand, and Earth chakra with your right…”
Ye Yu closed his eyes and followed suit…
Yamato continued, “Next, we need to infuse ‘water’ and ‘earth’ with the seed of life…”
“Once it grows, it will be the Wood Release we will use…”
Ye Yu did as Yamato said…
Soon, he felt a small sapling sprout in his palm…
“Teacher, I think I feel it…”
Ye Yu reported, feeling a connection.
Yamato: ??
A genius!
He sensed the presence of Wood Release so quickly!
You know, it took Yamato two to three days to cultivate a single flower in his hand when he was learning.
“What do you sense?”
Yamato asked with his eyes closed.
“A blade of grass?”
Ye Yu replied uncertainly.
Yamato nodded, agreeing.
Not bad.
To sense the presence of Wood Release so quickly and condense a blade of grass in his palm…
Exceptional talent!
“Teacher, I think this grass is a bit heavy. I can’t hold it up…”
Ye Yu added.
Yamato heard this and felt a little uneasy, “It’s just a blade of grass, you can hold it up, can’t you? Young people these days can’t even do that?”
Yamato had just thought this kid was reliable, but then he showed a flaw.
A flower in a greenhouse can’t withstand the wind and rain!
“No, teacher, I think this grass is growing a bit big…”
Ye Yu continued.
“Hold it up if I tell you to, how heavy can a blade of grass be?”
Yamato’s voice was filled with displeasure.
Saying this, he opened his eyes and looked at Ye Yu’s palm…
Immediately!
His pupils dilated and he gasped in shock, clutching his chest.
“What!!”
As Yamato exclaimed, Ye Yu opened his eyes and looked at his palm.
There, he was holding a towering tree, as thick as a water vat and dozens of meters tall!!
“This…this is the ‘blade of grass’ you were talking about?”
Yamato’s voice trembled with shock as he asked.
“This…this is the ‘blade of grass’ you were talking about???”
Yamato was so shocked that his voice trembled as he repeated the question.
“It was a small sapling at first, almost like grass, then it just kept growing.”
Ye Yu chuckled and explained.
Yamato looked up at the giant tree in Ye Yu’s hand, his heart churning!
It felt like two people standing by a urinal.
One was a gentle stream, the other was a waterfall cascading down, a stark contrast!
A wave of shame washed over him!