https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-74-The-Third-Kazekage-Disappears/12557800/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-76-The-Bathroom-is-Not-a-Place-for-Battle/12557802/
Chapter 75: Taijutsu Challenge and Summer Training
Chapter 75: Taijutsu Challenge and Summer Training
"There are two stages to the taijutsu challenge. The first is a sprint through the forest. I've set up numerous traps and mechanisms in a specific area, and each time you trigger a trap or are hit by a mechanism, you lose a point. If you lose three points, the challenge is considered a failure."
"There are three chances, then." Obito felt that the challenge Mu Yue described didn't seem too difficult.
Setting up traps was also one of the courses that ninjas had to learn, so Obito was familiar with it.
"Moreover, I will send a shadow clone that is slightly slower than you to follow you. If you are too slow and the clone catches up, it will also count as a failure." Mu Yue added.
If one were to walk slowly and carefully, they might easily dodge the traps, but it would be a different story with someone chasing after them.
"And your shadow clone will be chasing me, Teacher Mu Yue." Obito suddenly felt that it wasn't as simple as he thought.
"As long as you maintain a good speed, the shadow clone won't be able to catch up to you." Mu Yue smiled.
"Then, Teacher Mu Yue, let's go and try the challenge." Obito wanted to give it a try first.
"Okay, let me give you the challenge fee first." Mu Yue took out three test papers and said, "There are about a hundred questions here. Consider it the fee to initiate the challenge."
"Huh?" Obito was stunned as he looked at the test papers Mu Yue handed over to him. He couldn't believe that he had to pay to take on the challenge, and on top of that, Mu Yue was the one paying him.
"Teacher Mu Yue, I don't think this is right. How can a shop owner give money to a customer? Let me give you these three test papers as the challenge fee instead." Obito felt dizzy looking at the three test papers, and he started to speak incoherently.
Pa!
Mu Yue tapped Obito's head with her two fingers, bringing him back to his senses, and said with a smile,
"Do you think setting up the course doesn't take time and effort? If I don't give you some compensation, and you fail the challenge and keep pestering me for another try, I'll be exhausted from setting up the traps over and over."
Obito's mind immediately cleared after being tapped, and he smiled sheepishly, feeling that Mu Yue's words made sense.
"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Mu Yue." Obito stood on a stone and gave Mu Yue a shoulder massage.
"However, I feel that both one hundred and three are not good numbers. The number two is quite nice, though. How about we negotiate and you only answer two questions? I promise not to trouble you too much."
"Use a little more strength." Mu Yue instructed.
"What about the questions, then?" Obito's face lit up.
"It's negotiable. If you really like the number two that much, then let's change it to two hundred and fifty questions." Mu Yue showed a kind smile.
"Well, actually, I quite like the numbers three and one hundred as well." Obito immediately changed his mind and backtracked.
"Stop joking around. Let me take you to the challenge site." Mu Yue grabbed Obito and used the Body Flicker Technique to quickly arrive at the challenge location.
Obito looked around but couldn't spot any differences between this area and the rest of the forest, except that the trees here seemed sturdier.
"Just keep running east, and you'll reach the finish line. My shadow clone will start three seconds after you." Mu Yue pointed in a direction.
Hearing Mu Yue's words, Obito nodded, took a deep breath, and started sprinting. He even turned his head to check on the shadow clone as he ran.
However, the consequence of not paying attention to the path ahead while running was severe.
Obito stepped right into a rope snare trap Mu Yue had set up and found himself dangling from a tree.
"That's one point deducted." Mu Yue's warm voice reached Obito's ears.
"Also, if you don't get out of that trap quickly, the shadow clone will start moving."
Hearing Mu Yue's reminder, Obito suddenly remembered the cost of his entry ticket—a hundred questions. He couldn't afford to fail at the very beginning; after all, it was three whole test papers!
Obito burst with abdominal strength, performed an inverted curl-up, grabbed the rope, and burned it with his chakra, then continued his mad dash to the east.
But his smile faded in the next moment as several thick logs suddenly swung towards him like pendulums, even though he hadn't touched anything.
Obito now understood why Mu Yue had said he wouldn't have been able to complete the challenge back then.
It was only because he had gotten used to Kakashi appearing with a Body Flicker Technique and kicking him that his reaction speed had improved. If it had been the Obito of a month ago, he would've been directly struck by the logs.
Although Obito managed to dodge the mechanism's attack, his speed had slowed, and he was caught by the pursuing shadow clone, resulting in a failed challenge.
"I might as well have let myself get hit. It would've only cost me one point," Obito said with some regret. He could've been faster if he hadn't been so cautious.
"Why not focus on improving your speed and reaction time to get through the mechanism area faster?" Mu Yue prompted.
The purpose of this challenge wasn't to train Obito's ability to take a beating.
The purpose of the Body Friction Challenge was to train Obito's response capability so that he could better cultivate the Body Friction Technique.
"If only I knew the Body Flicker Technique. I could've instantly teleported past all the mechanisms," Obito concluded after some thought.
"Go and train then," Mu Yue said, pleased with his train of thought. "No more slacking off next time."
It was Saturday, so in the afternoon, Mu Yue went to Asuma's house to begin that week's training with him.
"Lord Third," Mu Yue greeted, having spotted Hiruzen Sarutobi at home.
When Mu Yue arrived, Hiruzen was sitting in an armchair in the living room, puffing on a pipe as if deep in thought.
"You're here to train Asuma, I presume. He's waiting for you in the backyard," Hiruzen said, taking the pipe from his mouth and responding with a smile.
Suddenly, Hiruzen recalled Mu Yue's outrageous performance the day before and asked, "Mu Yue, if a great war were to break out in the ninja world, and Konoha got dragged into it, what would you do?"
Mu Yue thought for a moment before answering with a smile, "As a teacher, I would give my students special training to enhance their strength. I would do my best to strengthen the village's power, and as a Konoha ninja, I am willing to fight for the village!"
Based on the news of the Third Kazekage's disappearance and his own display of abilities, Mu Yue had a vague idea of what Hiruzen might be thinking.
Not only was Mu Yue not upset about Hiruzen's thoughts, but he also worried that he might be overthinking things. He deliberately guided the conversation in the direction Hiruzen seemed to want to take it.
Hiruzen nodded, satisfied with Mu Yue's response.
Then, Hiruzen informed Mu Yue that a war was about to break out due to the disappearance of the Third Kazekage.
"I think we should gather the graduating fourth-grade students for an intensive summer training program to enhance their strength. Outstanding students from other grades can also join," Mu Yue suggested.
That way, Obito and the others could undergo higher-intensity training, and he could continue earning rewards for teaching.
(End of Chapter)
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