https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-313-The-Fire-Release-Jutsu-that-Shocked-the-Examinees/12558412/
Chapter 312: Kakashi's Windfall
Chapter 312: Kakashi's Windfall
A momentary silence fell over the surveillance room, and Yuan Shi breathed a sigh of relief. Since they couldn't access the memories, things would be simpler. He could simply assert that Kakko Juzo was a spy and a traitor.
Yuan Shi turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, but the latter's expression remained unchanged, giving no hint of his thoughts.
Yuan Shi was aware that the situation could be made as big or small as Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted it to be. If Konoha wanted to pursue the matter and accuse Kakko Juzo of being a Kirigakure saboteur, they could do so.
Just then, the door to the surveillance room opened, and Danzo stepped in, accompanied by two Root ninjas.
"Kirigakure, how dare you attempt to assassinate our Konoha's genius ninja!" Danzo shouted as soon as he entered. "If you wish to go to war with Konoha, we will gladly oblige."
Danzo continued his tirade, as if Kirigakure had already declared war on Konoha.
Yuan Shi calmly explained what had happened, once again emphasizing Kakko Juzo's status as a spy.
"The fact that his memory has been damaged by a jutsu doesn't necessarily mean he's a spy. Perhaps Kirigakure wants to clear themselves of suspicion," Danzo argued stubbornly.
"If you want to prove your innocence, then let all of Kirigakure undergo a memory search," Danzo proposed as a solution. "If you truly have nothing to hide, I will personally apologize."
"Elder Shimura, are you joking?" Yuan Shi retorted, growing impatient. "There's no way I would agree to that. Your suggestion is preposterous."
While a memory search could prove their innocence, it would also reveal Kirigakure's secrets to Konoha.
As an elder of Kirigakure, Yuan Shi was privy to many confidential matters. Even if he died in Konoha, he would destroy his own brain to prevent them from accessing his memories.
Not to mention, he couldn't allow the Jonin he had brought with him to submit to a memory search either. That would be like handing over Kirigakure's secret techniques and ninja training programs to Konoha on a silver platter.
The secrets in their minds were far more valuable than Danzo's offer of an apology, or even his suicide.
"Are you feeling guilty?" Danzo asked, his gaze cold as he looked at Yuan Shi.
"In this matter, I have a clear conscience," Yuan Shi replied, meeting Danzo's stare unflinchingly. "However, I cannot allow Kirigakure's secrets to be exposed."
"Rest assured, our ninjas of Konoha are the most honorable. They will not look at what they are not supposed to," Danzo continued.
Yuan Shi maintained a smile on his face, but inside, he scoffed at Danzo's words. If he truly believed that, he wouldn't be an elder of Kirigakure. The idea of Konoha not taking advantage of such an opportunity was absurd.
Yuan Shi firmly rejected Danzo's proposal, but the latter persisted, insinuating that Yuan Shi's refusal was a sign of guilt.
"There are many questionable aspects to this incident, and directly accessing Elder Yuan's memories may not be appropriate," Sarutobi spoke up at that moment.
"But that's the fastest and most accurate way," Danzo replied, his face showing his displeasure.
Mu Yue observed the scene silently, forming a prediction in her mind about how the situation would unfold.
Konoha didn't seem keen on escalating the matter into a fight, especially since they already had Iwagakure and Kumogakure to deal with. Even a hawkish leader like Danzo wouldn't want to take on three major ninja villages at once.
However, Konoha wouldn't let the matter rest. Whether or not Kakko Juzo was a spy wasn't the main issue. The fact that he was a Kirigakure ninja, at least until his death, was significant.
So, while it might not lead to an all-out war, Konoha wouldn't simply let Yuan Shi and his team leave. They would demand some form of compensation.
It seemed that Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi were playing good cop, bad cop. Danzo would propose an unacceptable solution, only for Hiruzen Sarutobi to step in and suggest an alternative that would be difficult for Kirigakure but still acceptable.
However, the surveillance room wasn't the place to discuss such matters, and soon, Hiruzen Sarutobi led Yuan Shi and his team out of the room to a designated conference room to negotiate a solution.
Mu Yue left her shadow clone to continue monitoring the surveillance while her main body headed to the cafeteria in the central tower for dinner.
The second stage of the Chunin Exam lasted for five days, during which both the examinees and proctors had to remain in the Forest of Death. Even if an examinee completed the requirements and reached the central tower on the first day, they had to stay there until the very end.
After the exam concluded, there would be additional instructions for the third stage.
Furthermore, if too many examinees passed the second stage, there would be an additional test to further narrow down the candidates and ensure a high-quality group for the third stage.
The third stage was different from the first two, as Konoha had invited many officials, nobles, and wealthy merchants to observe the exam and showcase the strength of Konoha's ninjas. Both the quantity and quality of the participants had to be carefully controlled.
This wasn't done for every Chunin Exam but only for those that were organized on a grand scale, like the current one.
After all, Konoha regularly held Chunin Exams twice a year, and inviting guests for every exam would be too frequent.
"Teacher Mu Yue, don't you find the food here less tasty compared to what you usually make?" Tobirama asked curiously after dinner.
In Tobirama's mind, there was only one top-tier chef, and that was Mu Yue. The gap between Mu Yue's cooking and that of others was like the gap in strength between a Jonin and a Genin.
"It's not bad," Mu Yue replied with a smile after a moment's thought. "After all, I can't always cook for myself."
When it came to food, Mu Yue didn't have any strong desires at the moment. Before his transmigration, he had enjoyed traveling to different places to sample the local cuisine. But in the world of ninjas, he didn't have the luxury to indulge in such pursuits until he became invincible.
The world of ninjas had left a terrible impression on Mu Yue—the backward feudal system and the cruel ninja wars. In such a situation, how could he find the leisure to pursue culinary delights?
"But if you want to eat something I've made, I can prepare lunch for you all tomorrow," Mu Yue offered.
"Teacher Mu Yue, I think I entered that transparent world state you mentioned earlier today," Kakashi began, recounting his recent experience to Mu Yue.
"At the time, I didn't know how I did it. I was mentally exhausted, and every part of my body was in pain, but suddenly I entered a transparent world where I could see my own body and my enemy's body clearly."
"But now that I've recovered, I can't seem to reach that state again, though my five senses are much sharper than before."
After being treated by Mu Yue, Kakashi had tried many times to recall that feeling, but he couldn't seem to enter that transparent world again.
"You did indeed enter the Transparent World, but it wasn't a true mastery of it. It was more of an accidental entry into that state under extreme circumstances," Mu Yue explained.
"However, this is a good thing for you because once you've awakened to it, you're not far from truly mastering it. Now, you just need to strengthen your breathing and keep searching for that feeling of unlocking the Transparent World, and you'll truly master it."
Even Mu Yue was surprised by Kakashi's sudden strike earlier; she had been prepared to step in and finish off Ajizen Kyohaku herself, but Kakashi had simply walked up and ended the fight with a single blow.
[Name: Kakashi Hatake]
[Skills: Lightning Breath (Entry: 499/500), Transparent World (Entry: 20/100)...]
Kakashi's proficiency in his breathing technique had skyrocketed, surpassing even those disciples who had been training longer than him. He was just a hair's breadth away from reaching the Proficient level.
However, Mu Yue estimated that it would take Kakashi a long time to reach that point, as the sudden increase in his breathing technique's upper limit was the reason for the rapid proficiency boost. To reach the Constant Concentration state, one needed to maintain a weakened full concentration state throughout the day, and Kakashi wasn't quite there yet.
Additionally, Kakashi's Transparent World skill had already appeared in his list of proficiencies, so Mu Yue was confident that it was only a matter of time before he truly mastered it.
The Spot Pattern and Transparent World abilities were derivatives of the breathing technique and would be automatically mastered upon reaching a certain level. However, those with strong enough talent could master them prematurely.
"I understand," Kakashi nodded, preparing to dedicate all his time to strengthening his breathing technique and striving for early mastery of the Transparent World.
Having experienced the power of the Transparent World once, he knew how strong it was, and he was confident that if he could master it completely, he would surpass even his father's achievements as a ninja.
"What are you two talking about? What's this Transparent World?" Obito asked, looking confused.
Since the conditions for entering the Transparent World were so difficult to achieve, Mu Yue had only mentioned it to Kakashi while trying to help him solve his problem. She hadn't discussed it with the other disciples.
Now that all the disciples were present, Mu Yue briefly explained to them the concept of the ultimate state of the breathing technique—the Transparent World.
"I thought Kakashi was being possessed by you, Teacher Mu Yue. Turns out he learned a new ability," Obito said, his expression clearing as he understood.
"This ability is really strong. Teacher Mu Yue, do you think I can learn it now?" Obito asked eagerly, looking at Mu Yue.
"Most likely not," Mu Yue shook her head. "Kakashi's situation is very unique."
He didn't want to dampen their enthusiasm, but this ability was genuinely challenging to attain. Kakashi's premature awakening of the Transparent World had taken even Mu Yue by surprise. It required perfecting one's breathing technique, which demanded an immense amount of practice. Obito and the others had been training for a year with Mu Yue's guidance, yet they still hadn't reached the Proficient level, let alone the Perfect level. The jump from Proficient to Perfect required a staggering 15,000 proficiency points.
"I see..." Obito's expression fell slightly, feeling a twinge of jealousy that Kakashi had achieved something he hadn't.
"Don't worry, I still have my Sharingan. That's something Kakashi will never have," Obito quickly consoled himself.
While he might not be able to learn the Transparent World now, there was always the possibility of learning it in the future. But Kakashi, not being an Uchiha, would never possess the Sharingan.
"Don't be envious of Kakashi, Obito. Haven't you noticed that your breathing technique has also evolved during battles?" Mu Yue said, patting Obito's head.
[Name: Uchiha Obito]
[Skills: Flame Breath (Entry: 497/500), Flame Spot Pattern (Entry: 10/100)]
Even the perfect-level Transparent World could be awakened prematurely, and the same was true for the Spot Pattern. After all, the localized version of the Spot Pattern in the Naruto world primarily burned chakra, reducing the strain on the body.
The reason for the vast difference in performance between Obito and Kakashi wasn't solely due to the Transparent World being far superior to the Spot Pattern. In fact, both abilities had their unique strengths.
However, the Spot Pattern had a significant drawback—it consumed a large amount of chakra. Unfortunately, Obito was still young and didn't have a substantial chakra reserve. Most of his chakra had already been depleted before his fight with Ajizen, which is why Obito didn't exhibit any significant changes during the battle other than increased durability and immunity to his own flames.
Kakashi, on the other hand, had fully entered the Transparent World state, while Obito's Spot Pattern hadn't truly activated due to his lack of chakra.
"If you diligently train, you can enter the Flame Breath Chakra Mode prematurely," Mu Yue said, giving the Spot Pattern a more Naruto-appropriate name since there was no physical mark on Obito's forehead.
"Once you reach that stage, all Fire Release techniques will be usable without hand seals, and their power will increase significantly."
"Okay!" Obito nodded eagerly, his mind already fantasizing about becoming a fire-spewing powerhouse and bombarding Kakashi with fire techniques.
"As expected of my rivals, you've both made remarkable progress," Might Guy said, giving Kakashi and Obito a thumbs-up.
Whether it was the Transparent World or the Spot Pattern, one could tell just by hearing about them that they were incredibly powerful abilities.
"Just continue your Constant Concentration training, Guy. You can put the Eight Gates aside for now," Mu Yue advised.
"Understood!" Might Guy flashed his bright white teeth and smiled confidently.
Even though he hadn't prematurely learned the Transparent World or the Spot Pattern like Kakashi and Obito, he didn't feel that he was any less capable than them.
Mu Yue chatted with her disciples for a while before heading off to work. After all, as one of the main examiners for the second stage of the Chunin Exam, she couldn't blatantly shirk her duties.
However, before leaving, Mu Yue shared some of her insights and experiences on training for the Transparent World and the Spot Pattern with Kakashi and Obito. Since she was aware that disciples would receive a Perfect-level reward once they reached Trust Level 4, she decided to give the reward to Kakashi first and then to Obito.
[You have gifted your disciple with the 'Guide to the Transparent World', and their immense gratitude has triggered a Super Critical Hit! Reward obtained - Water Breathing (Perfect Level)]
Mu Yue was stunned by the system's reward, as it had unexpectedly revealed the Water Breathing technique that she had been developing.
After organizing the vast amount of memory regarding her training in Water Breathing, Mu Yue realized that her understanding of the breathing technique was mostly correct, with only minor differences in the details.
Comparing her conceptualization of the breathing technique with the Perfect-level Water Breathing in her mind, Mu Yue gained a newfound understanding of the art.
"This turn of events isn't so bad," Mu Yue mused. "Now, I can focus all my efforts on researching sealing techniques." Mu Yue's mood gradually calmed as she considered the situation.
The rewards from the Teaching system were highly unpredictable, and receiving a Perfect-level breathing technique was certainly preferable to getting a Perfect-level ninjutsu. Additionally, it saved her the time and effort of developing the Water Breathing technique herself.
Each breathing technique had its unique characteristics, and Water Breathing stood out for its lower chakra consumption and greater sustainability. Furthermore, it had a distinct effect, enhancing the user's ability to manipulate chakra and increasing the variability of water-style jutsu.
Upon reaching the Perfect level in a breathing technique, one would automatically attain the Transparent World. Although Mu Yue already possessed a Perfect-level Lightning Breathing, she noticed a change in her Transparent World after attaining perfection in another breathing technique.
"I wonder what the Sun Breathing would be like?" Mu Yue pondered, intrigued by the possibilities.
Following the current trend of localizing breathing techniques, Sun Breathing would likely be associated with fire as well.
However, Flame Breathing already existed and was linked to fire, so Sun Breathing would undoubtedly be even more powerful. Mu Yue was curious about the potential effects of Sun Breathing.
...
Late at night, Obito woke up in an unfamiliar room and, as he made his way to the bathroom, he spotted Haruno Sakura's silhouette by the large floor-to-ceiling window.
"Sakura, why aren't you asleep yet?" Obito scratched his head and asked.
"I guess there were a lot of things that happened today, so I'm not feeling sleepy yet," Sakura replied with a smile, turning to face him.
"Yeah, with everything that went down, I'm not feeling tired either," Obito said with a chuckle as he walked up to stand beside Sakura.
Staring at the moon outside the window, Sakura sighed, "It feels like everyone else is so much stronger than me. Even Jonin-level ninja were defeated."
Might Guy had defeated Kisame and held off Ajizen Kyohaku, Obito had bravely withstood Ajizen's pressure for a long time, Kakashi had ended the fight with a single blow, and even the Nara Shimosu squad, whom they had rescued earlier, had played a crucial role, almost defeating Ajizen.
"That's not true," Obito disagreed. "You played a significant role, Sakura. Without your healing, we wouldn't have made it. You should give yourself more credit."
If not for Sakura's last-minute healing, he might not have lasted until Kakashi awakened the Transparent World. Moreover, the Nara Shimosu squad had also recovered and rejoined the fight thanks to Sakura's medical ninjutsu.
"But if I were stronger, maybe things wouldn't have been so difficult," Sakura said, gazing at the moon outside with a hint of regret in her voice.
Watching Kakashi and Obito accumulate wounds while she ran out of healing chakra left Sakura feeling helpless. She couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if Kakashi hadn't unleashed his power at the critical moment.
"In terms of combat, I didn't defeat a single enemy, and I don't feel like I contributed much with my healing," Sakura admitted, feeling a sense of inadequacy as she compared herself to Kakashi and Obito.
"But Sakura, you're already amazing," Obito encouraged, looking into her eyes. "None of the other Chunin Exam candidates have learned the Mystical Palm Technique, and Teacher Mu Yue said you have a high talent for medical ninjutsu. You're just starting out, and you'll only get better."
He remembered how Sakura had always encouraged him when he was at the bottom of the class, and he believed in her just as she had believed in him. He was certain that Sakura would excel in her field.
"Well, I did get a five out of a hundred on my theory exam when I first entered the Ninja Academy," Obito admitted with a sheepish smile, trying to lighten the mood.
"A five is indeed hard to imagine," Sakura said, unable to hide her smile at Obito's self-deprecating comment.
"That's not important," Obito waved his hand dismissively. "What's important is that you're already incredible, Sakura. You just need to believe in yourself and in Teacher Mu Yue." He balled his hands into fists and added earnestly, "I know you can do it."
"Mmm," Sakura nodded, her face softening into a gentle smile.
(End of Chapter)
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