Chapter 515: Astonishing Rewards

Chapter 515: Astonishing Rewards

After Rockruff had fully recovered, the final battle was about to commence.

"Despite your evolutionary advantage, Rockruff is cunning and crafty. You must be extra cautious during the fight," Obito warned Charizard.

While it was true that Charizard had evolved, Rockruff had been born much earlier and had a longer time to train. Not only did it have a better grasp of its own abilities, but it had also learned Kakashi's lightning-style chakra nature transformation.

"Char!" Charizard crossed its arms and exhaled a gust of hot breath from its nostrils, exuding the aura of a formidable opponent.

"You will win," Sobble translated.

Obito facepalmed, feeling a strange sense of deja vu as if he were seeing someone else's shadow in Charizard's demeanor. Could it be Might Guy?

"Charizard versus Rockruff," the referee, Kakashi, announced the names of the battling Pokemon.

Charizard and Rockruff walked onto the combat arena, their eyes locking with a mutual desire to win evident in their gazes.

"If I lose to an unevolved Rockruff, that naturally evil white-furred puppy will definitely mock me!" Charizard thought, its claws tightening involuntarily.

"Kakashi has put in so much effort into my training, and I was the first one to hatch. I must not lose!" Rockruff's gaze was resolute.

"Begin the battle!"

As Kakashi's voice rang out, Charizard and Rockruff immediately sprang into action.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

While running, Rockruff used its chakra to create five identical illusory clones of itself, all running at full speed and switching positions, making it difficult to discern which was the real one.

Charizard had intended to start with a Smokescreen to confuse Rockruff, but this clone technique made it hesitate.

If it couldn't even differentiate the real Rockruff from the clones, how effective would a Smokescreen be?

"Lightning Flash!"

Whoosh!

Just as Charizard was pondering which Rockruff was the real one, Rockruff unleashed its chakra and dashed towards Charizard at incredible speed.

Bang!

Caught off guard, Charizard was knocked to the ground.

"Rock Throw!"

Rockruff didn't hold back, either. It concentrated its chakra above Charizard, forming a one-meter-tall boulder.

Sensing the impending danger, Charizard rolled away just in time to dodge the falling boulder, only to be engulfed by a cloud of fine sand.

In that moment, Charizard completely understood how Lycanroc had felt in the previous battle.

The sand irritated Charizard's eyes, causing them to water and blur its vision.

Obito stood there with his mouth agape, shocked that Charizard, despite having evolved once, seemed utterly helpless in the early stages of the fight.

"You evil white-furred pup, you really know how to play dirty!" Obito wanted to ban Rockruff from using the sand attack.

This ninjutsu was just nasty; it was like throwing a handful of lime powder into your opponent's eyes during a fight.

Kakashi, however, remained unperturbed. In a battle, winning was all that mattered, and this tactic was one he had taught Rockruff himself.

Huff, huff!

Fearing that Rockruff might take advantage of the situation to attack, Charizard opened its mouth and spewed a torrent of flames towards its front.

But Rockruff was well prepared for Charizard's fire attacks and swiftly dodged out of range with a Lightning Flash.

"Woof!"

Rather than rushing to attack, Rockruff let out a loud howl, concentrating its chakra to enhance its strength.

Then, it used the Shadow Clone technique again, rushing towards Charizard in an attempt to repeat its previous success.

"Char!" This time, Charizard didn't hesitate. If it couldn't find the real one, it would just strike randomly.

Charizard gathered a large amount of chakra in its mouth and exhaled a powerful blast of fiery breath.

The two leading Rockruffs in front were instantly dissipated by the intense heat.

"Rock!" Rockruff quickly performed a nature transformation, pulling up a small wall of earth in front of it to block the attack.

It was currently on all fours, which made sealing hand signs inconvenient. It couldn't create a thick and tall earthen wall like Kakashi, but it managed to construct a small barrier using its innate talent, which was just enough for now.

The wall shielded Rockruff from Charizard's fiery breath, but it began to crumble, shedding chunks of soil.

Charizard, gritting through the discomfort in its eyes, charged forward and concentrated all its power in its right claw, slashing at the crumbling wall with tremendous force.

Bang! Boom!!

Charizard's mighty blow caused the already damaged wall to collapse instantly.

Huff, huff!!

Without hesitation, Charizard unleashed another blast of flames, confident that Rockruff wouldn't anticipate such a swift and fierce attack.

Just as Charizard had predicted, the Rockruffs behind the wall were caught off guard by the speed and intensity of its assault, and none of them could escape the reach of the flames.

A smile spread across Charizard's face, as if it could already envision its victory.

However, Obito couldn't help but cover his face with his hand. If an opponent could use Earth Release, one should always consider the possibility of them tunneling underground to launch a surprise attack from behind.

Bang, bang!!

Then, something unexpected happened. The Rockruffs that had been scorched by Charizard's flames all dissipated into smoke and vanished without a trace.

Charizard was stunned. What just happened? Did it kill Rockruff? It had only wanted to win the battle.

Suddenly, Charizard noticed something. A shadow appeared a short distance in front of it, and Charizard instinctively looked up to see a boulder forming in the air.

A strong force pushed against its back, causing Charizard to stumble forward, and the boulder dropped, landing squarely on Charizard and pinning it to the ground.

"Rock!" Rockruff raised its head proudly and glanced at Kakashi.

Kakashi nodded in response, acknowledging that Rockruff had executed the tactics he taught exceptionally well. Charizard had been trapped in Rockruff's rhythm for most of the fight and couldn't showcase its true strength.

Rockruff then turned its attention to the pinned Charizard, recalling Kakashi's repeated emphasis on never celebrating victory halfway through a battle. One must persist until true victory is achieved.

Lycanroc had easily shattered the Rockruff's stone attack with a single punch, while Charizard seemed to be on the verge of passing out from a single hit.

"I'll buy it some treats later to cheer it up," Tobirama thought to himself.

It was indeed frustrating to lose a battle despite having evolved first, and Tobirama could empathize with that feeling all too well.

On numerous occasions, he had been ahead in terms of raw power only to be defeated by his fellow disciples due to his own carelessness, and the sting of those losses had caused him to question his entire being.

"I will not fall! I refuse to be looked down upon by that Tobirama guy!" Charizard roared inwardly.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the flames on Charizard's tail blazed with renewed intensity, doubling in size and radiating immense power.

Charizard felt a surge of strength coursing through its entire body.

Upon witnessing this, Rockruff attempted to strike while Charizard was still vulnerable, but it was a step too slow.

Boom!

With a mighty burst, Charizard broke free from the large stone, rising swiftly and unleashing a torrent of orange-red flames at Rockruff.

Tobirama watched this turn of events with astonishment. He never expected Charizard to mirror Kakashi's ability to unleash a powerful comeback after sustaining severe damage.

"Did it really win?" Tobirama exclaimed in surprise. He had already been contemplating what treats to buy to console Charizard, assuming it would lose.

Given Rockruff's frailty, where it nearly collapsed from Lycanroc's single strike, it stood no chance against Charizard's exceptional display of firepower.

Bang!

The slightly charred Rockruff suddenly burst out of the flames, ramming into Charizard and knocking it down mid-attack.

Tobirama: ???

Was Rockruff hiding its true strength earlier? Why did it portray itself as a fragile pup against Lycanroc but transform into an indomitable rock-hard canine against Charizard?

Not only Tobirama but even Kakashi was taken aback. He hadn't anticipated Rockruff's resilience in withstanding Charizard's flames and then knocking it down.

After the tackle, Rockruff showed no mercy, channeling its chakra to deliver a decisive blow that left Charizard utterly incapacitated.

"Charizard is unable to continue the battle. The winner is Rockruff!" Kakashi declared, observing Charizard's condition for a moment before announcing the final victor.

Miyako tended to the lightly wounded Rockruff, while Mu Yue attended to Charizard.

"You're really good at training your summoned beasts, Kakashi," Miyako praised as she treated Rockruff's injuries.

Undoubtedly, Rockruff's combat style was more akin to that of a ninja. It not only utilized its own abilities to the fullest but also employed a variety of tactical maneuvers.

"I suppose. It's also due to its own diligence," Kakashi replied as he groomed Rockruff's fur.

He didn't feel it was right to take all the credit. Kakashi acknowledged that if it had been a different summoned beast, he might not have been able to train it to be as exceptional as Rockruff.

"Ruff!" Rockruff happily licked Kakashi's palm, its tongue hanging out.

Defeated, Charizard kept its eyes tightly shut, as if it had fainted from the exertion.

In truth, Charizard was still conscious, but it believed that feigning unconsciousness might spare it from any reprimand, even from the malevolent Tobirama.

Tobirama approached Mu Yue, who was tending to Charizard, and gazed down at the fallen Pokemon.

Hearing that familiar voice, Charizard remained outwardly unaffected, but inwardly, its heart skipped a beat.

"Is Charizard alright? It seems rather weak, unlike Lycanroc and the others," Tobirama inquired with concern.

Charizard: ...

It was unsure if Tobirama was mocking or genuinely concerned about it.

"It's not that Charizard is weak, but its chakra is being suppressed, making it difficult to withstand Rockruff's attacks," Mu Yue explained.

Indeed, in the battle against Rockruff, Charizard was at a severe disadvantage. At present, it only possessed two types of attacks: fire-type and normal-type moves. In the game, both of these attributes dealt only half damage against rock-type Pokemon.

While reality might not have fixed numerical values like the game, the disparity was still evident when the raw power gap was not significant.

"Huh?" Tobirama was bewildered. He knew that chakra nature transformations had a rock-paper-scissors relationship of strengths and weaknesses, but he was unaware that regular chakra could also be suppressed.

"Everyone's chakra is slightly different, and some unique chakras possess distinctive effects. Your summoned beasts all have this type of special chakra," Mu Yue elaborated.

"Is Charizard ineffective against Earth Release jutsu?" Tobirama asked, his curiosity piqued.

Mu Yue shook her head. It wasn't the earth attribute that weakened Charizard; it was Rockruff's unique chakra after it adapted to the local environment.

Tobirama breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Charizard wasn't suppressed by all Earth Release ninjutsu users, he could live with that.

"Why does my Charizard have to be the one that's suppressed?"

Tobirama had stumbled upon a grave concern. If Charizard was suppressed by Rockruff, wouldn't it be doomed to a lifetime of subjugation?

"Is Rockruff's chakra suppressed by Lycanroc?" Kakashi recalled the intense battle between Rockruff and Lycanroc and directed the question to Mu Yue.

Compared to its fight with Charizard, Rockruff's battle against Lycanroc had been far more perilous.

Mu Yue nodded in affirmation. Lycanroc's fighting style, whether it was hand-to-hand combat or Steel-type moves, effectively countered Rockruff's rock-based abilities.

"Where exactly did these summoned beasts come from?" Kakashi wondered, his curiosity piqued by the unique chakras they possessed.

If special chakra was defined by its unusual effects, could one even call their chakra "special" when all their beasts had it?

"Teacher Mu Yue, who is Charizard effective against?" Tobirama couldn't help but ask.

If Rockruff, which suppressed Charizard, was itself suppressed by Lycanroc, then surely Charizard must have an advantage over some other Pokemon.

"None, for now," Mu Yue replied with a shake of her head.

If Charizard evolved into a Charizard and Lycanroc into a Lucario, then Charizard's fire-type attacks would be super effective against Lucario. However, in its current state, Charizard didn't have a type advantage over any opponent.

Obito suddenly realized that Charmeleon inherently possessed fire-type abilities, which explained why it was always at a disadvantage. After all, it was a fire type, the bane of all Pokemon.

If it were a fire type, that would be understandable.

Charmeleon shivered, feeling the weight of the world's unfairness toward dragons.

"It's quite unfortunate. Let's buy it some extra treats these days to help it grow stronger," Obito sighed.

At that moment, he felt a strange sense of camaraderie with Charmeleon. Charmeleon was naturally suppressed, just as he was suppressed by people like Kakashi.

Charmeleon opened its eyes wide, staring at Obito in disbelief. Could these kind words really be coming from the innately evil Obito? Was this even real?

Could it be that it had been knocked unconscious and was now dreaming? Charmeleon felt a twinge of guilt. Perhaps it should rein in its temper and strive for harmonious coexistence with Obito.

"Translate this to Sobble: 'I'm sorry, but I won't be able to attend tonight's 'Let's Prank Obito' meeting,'" Charmeleon apologized to Sobble with a remorseful look.

Although Sobble was a good friend, Obito was its contractor.

"I did some research, and it turns out that a balanced diet and regular training are key to becoming stronger. Just training without proper nutrition won't cut it," Obito added.

Charmeleon was stunned. What was with Obito suddenly being so nice? Was he planning to wait here for it so he could hypnotize it with his Sharingan after it finished eating?

"My eyes just twitched. The meeting is still on for tonight," Charmeleon communicated to Sobble through eye signals before quickly closing its eyes again.

Contractor? Screw that! When dealing with an inherently evil Uchiha like Obito, only a strong fist would work.

...

Rain Country.

The Six Paths City under construction.

Following Onoki's orders, Kitane arrived at the Ninja Academy to gauge their intentions.

As the intermediary between the Ninja Academy and Amegakure, as well as a participant in Mu Yue's unlimited class, Kitane had a decent relationship with the Ninja Academy ninjas. He soon managed to meet with the academy's high-ranking officials.

"Is the Ninja Academy accepting commissions now?" Kitane asked.

"That depends on the nature and specifics of the commission, as well as the amount offered," Kakuzu replied.

The Ninja Academy was about to hold a tournament to make a fortune, so their current focus was undoubtedly on the construction of the Six Paths City and the pacification of the eastern region.

While other Ninja Academy ninjas might have had a favorable impression of Kitane due to his efforts to promote peace in Amegakure, Kakuzu knew that Iwagakure definitely had ulterior motives. Therefore, he wouldn't offer Kitane any convenience and would handle everything by the book.

"Iwagakure wishes to commission the Ninja Academy, or more specifically, to request the academy's leader to cultivate some ninjas for us," Kitane stated his purpose for the visit.

Kakuzu furrowed his brow slightly, his mind racing with thoughts of the lucrative opportunity that had just presented itself.

With the reputation that Sosuke Uchiha now held in the ninja world, anyone who wanted to commission him specifically would have to offer several million or even tens of millions of ryo.

Although Kakuzu already viewed Kitane as a walking stack of cash, his expression remained unchanged.

"What do you mean by that? Our leader is a top-notch powerhouse in the ninja world, known to all and sundry. Even a demi-god like Minato Namikaze would be no match for him. How dare you ask our busy and immensely powerful leader to cultivate ninjas for you?" Kakuzu asked sternly.

Anyone who understood the nuances would be able to tell that despite Kakuzu's harsh words, his tone and the implications between the lines suggested that he was open to negotiation—for the right price.

However, Kitane was a straightforward person. Hearing Kakuzu's response, he apologized and said, "Sorry, it seems we've disturbed you."

Kakuzu looked at Kitane in confusion. What was going on? Why wasn't he following the usual script?

Fortunately, Onoki had anticipated such a scenario, and the Iwagakure jonin behind Kitane quickly stepped in, saying, "Lord Kitane means for me to handle the negotiations from here."

Kakuzu turned to Kitane, who nodded in confirmation. Onoki had mentioned this before their departure.

"Iwagakure comes to the Ninja Academy with great sincerity and a desire for cooperation. Considering the difficulties the academy is facing, if you are willing to collaborate, Iwagakure is prepared to assist in establishing a branch here," the Iwagakure jonin proposed.

Kakuzu wore an expression that suggested he was pondering the offer. The jonin's implication was clear: they had the money, and as long as the Ninja Academy was willing to cooperate, anything could be discussed.

Of course, Kakuzu didn't trust them until he saw the money. He could always renege on the deal if they went back on their word.

"I'll need to seek permission from our leader," Kakuzu said, not bothering to probe for Iwagakure's bottom line. Instead, he intended to consult with Mu Yue and hear her thoughts on the matter.

He wouldn't dare to accept the commission on his own, as that would be somewhat disrespectful to Mu Yue, who was the true leader of the Ninja Academy.

"We can help with the training, but Iwagakure must cover all the expenses. You can decide on the specific training fees," Mu Yue replied after giving it some thought.

The Ninja Academy was short-staffed, so having help from Iwagakure would be beneficial. The ninjas they sent for training could also assist with the construction, and earth-style ninjas were likely to have superior building capabilities.

Mu Yue probably wouldn't teach Iwagakure any special abilities anyway. At most, she would help them lay a solid foundation, similar to a large-scale class, so any improvements would take time.

After answering Kakuzu's questions, Mu Yue continued to brainstorm ideas for the Young Ninja Contest.

The first-place reward, Sosuke Uchiha's signature Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bomb technique, was already an attractive prize.

However, the rewards for second to fourth place also needed to be enticing, as not everyone could aim for the top spot.

Mu Yue had previously developed the Super Water Style: Explosive Water Wave, an S-rank water-style jutsu. However, since she had used it herself, revealing it as a reward might expose her alias.

If she wanted to offer the Super Water Style: Explosive Water Wave as a reward, she would have to modify it slightly, as the technique was designed specifically for Water Style: Water Breathing Chakra Mode. Without that chakra mode, only a water-style user on par with Tobirama Senju would be able to master it.

After some thought, Mu Yue wrote "Custom Jutsu Development" as the second-place reward.

The bodyguard began, "Fire Dragon Bomb is gaining a reputation as the most powerful fire-style ninjutsu in the ninja world. Any ninja who specializes in fire style would yearn to witness its might."

"As for Sensei Sosuke Uchiha, his profound knowledge and mastery of ninjutsu are renowned. Should he personally develop a ninjutsu for someone, it is sure to be extraordinary."

"Being one of the pinnacle figures in the ninja world, Sensei Uchiha's insights and training notes are invaluable."

"A thousand million ryo may not mean much to you, Lord, but it is enough to fund ten S-rank missions in Konoha."

The ninja bodyguard skillfully highlighted the allure of each reward, capturing the Feudal Lord's interest.

"The strongest fire-style technique, huh? It does sound impressive. I assume many ninjas will be drawn to this contest?" The Feudal Lord's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Even without a deep understanding of ninjutsu, the word "strongest" was enough to convey the power of the Fire Dragon Bomb.

The ninja bodyguard nodded in agreement, knowing full well how irresistible such extravagant rewards would be to aspiring young ninjas.

Intrigued, the Feudal Lord instructed, "Contact the Hokage of Konoha. I wish to know if any of our village's ninjas will be participating."

He had a newfound interest in witnessing the contest, as one of his few hobbies was observing powerful ninjas in battle. The more skilled the ninjas, the more captivating the fight.

While he couldn't see their swift movements, the explosive ninjutsu displays were always thrilling.

Upon receiving the Feudal Lord's message, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, swiftly scanned through the information on Konoha's ninjas who were under eighteen years old.

After some contemplation, he realized that the strongest candidates were none other than Kakashi's disciples: Obito, Might Guy, and Itachi.

If only time could be turned back by three years, Sarutobi would have popped open a bottle of champagne, for a three-year leap back in time would have made Minato Namikaze and Mu Yue eligible to participate, and with a stroke of luck, they might have swept the top two spots.

Sarutobi himself was curious about the Fire Dragon Bomb and, with the Feudal Lord's interest piqued as well, he saw an opportunity to earn some extra income.

Sarutobi proceeded to search for other young geniuses and instructed his ninjas to notify them of the contest.

Since Obito, Guy, and Itachi were all Mu Yue's disciples, Sarutobi decided to inform Mu Yue and ask her to inquire about her disciples' intentions.

"Will there be many participants in this Youth Ninja Contest? What are the rewards?" Obito asked curiously.

Obito enjoyed competing, but he had a few conditions: he wanted to place well, have Rin by his side, or, at the very least, have attractive prizes worth fighting for.

"Most likely, there will be a large turnout," Mu Yue replied as he handed Obito a scroll containing the details of the Youth Ninja Contest.

"The first-place reward is a powerful fire-style technique called Fire Dragon Bomb," Kakashi added, not waiting for Obito to start reading.

Kakashi, always keeping a close eye on the developments in the ninja world, was already somewhat familiar with the contest and the rewards on offer.

Hearing that it was a fire-style technique, Obito's expression changed, and he couldn't help but ask, "Just how powerful is it?"

He desperately needed a potent fire-style technique. While his current fire-style moves were adequate for fighting other ninjas, they fell short when facing his peers in Konoha.

"I haven't witnessed it myself," Kakashi replied, "but many in the ninja world consider it the strongest fire-style technique." He glanced at Mu Yue as he finished speaking.

Kakashi believed that Mu Yue's fire-style techniques were also exceptionally strong and might even rival the famed Fire Dragon Bomb.

"Teacher Mu Yue, do you know about this Fire Dragon Bomb?" Obito eagerly turned to Mu Yue, hoping to hear confirmation of its strength from the all-knowing sage.

"It should be quite powerful," Mu Yue answered thoughtfully.

Indeed, the Fire Dragon Bomb was an incredibly strong technique, but even if Obito were to obtain it, he wouldn't be able to use it right away. If that were the case, Mu Yue would have already taught it to him, and he could always negotiate for a different first-place reward if he won.

Hearing Mu Yue acknowledge its strength, Obito's eyes lit up. This was a technique endorsed by the wise Mu Yue, and its value was immeasurable.

"What? There's an age limit of eighteen? It's like this contest was tailor-made for us!" Obito exclaimed as he scanned through the rules.

Ever since graduating, Obito had easily defeated his peers, and the only challenging opponents he encountered were ninjas in their twenties or older.

"Hmm, I don't see anything here that I particularly need." Might Guy leaned forward to take a quick look before running his hand through his hair.

He had no interest in learning ninjutsu, so the first and second prizes held no appeal for him. As for the training notes, with Mu Yue as his teacher, he didn't need them. The only reward that caught his eye was the chakra knife worth a thousand million ryo, which he could sell for a substantial sum.

"I think it would be best if we all participated together," Itachi chimed in. "If anyone is unsatisfied with their reward, we can always trade afterward."

Among Mu Yue's disciples, Itachi recognized that Might Guy was the most well-rounded and powerful, and he believed that Guy would likely secure first place.

"Itachi's right!" Obito agreed.

While he knew that Guy's participation would make it difficult for him to claim the top spot, he was confident that with Guy there, the fire-style technique would be theirs for the taking.

Obito firmly believed that there wasn't a single underage ninja in the ninja world who could surpass Might Guy in terms of overall strength.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end