Ryosuke watched Nawaki climb again and again, fail again and again, and then climb again and again.
That hot-blooded brute force was contagious, and he too roused his spirits, challenging the pillar.
He didn’t copy Nawaki’s method of using running momentum to rush up.
Instead, he climbed steadily, one step at a time.
He had continuously strengthened his Chakra control while developing Lightning Release Ninjutsu, gaining considerable insight.
Thus, he easily stepped onto the pillar and began to ascend.
But when he reached the tenth step, his body was pulled off the pillar by gravity, about to fall.
He quickly pushed off the pillar, did a somersault, and landed on the grass.
‘It’s so hard.
If the Chakra amount between one step and the next is different, it won’t adhere.
If I use an excessive amount of Chakra to adhere, although it won’t damage the pillar, it won’t sustain me for twenty meters.
It needs to be just right.’ Most importantly, it needs to be sustained and even, striving for precision.
‘Interesting, again.’ Ryosuke took three deep breaths to calm himself, then concentrated all his attention on his feet, carefully circulating Chakra to coat them, adjusting it to the appropriate amount, before stepping onto the pillar.
This time, he rushed up over ten meters in one go, almost succeeding.
But when he stepped on the carved line of text, the contact between his Chakra and the pillar surface was insufficient, and with a whoosh, the adhesion broke, and he fell horizontally.
He quickly kicked three times to reduce his fall and landed steadily on the ground.
‘What a clever design.
The carved line of text makes the pillar surface around the top uneven.
The amount of Chakra that was originally enough to support the body now produces insufficient adhesive force due to the reduced contact area, causing one to fall, making all efforts futile.
To embed a test at the very last moment, Kado-sensei has quite a few mischievous tricks.’ Ryosuke looked up and saw Mikoto covering her mouth, secretly smiling.
She naturally knew about the trick with the pillar but didn’t say anything.
Even with her gentle personality, she had a mischievous side.
Ryosuke shrugged and after responding to Mikoto, he started climbing the pillar again.
With the experience of his previous near-success, he quickly reached seventeen or eighteen meters, the place where the text was carved.
He very carefully increased his Chakra output, and with utmost caution, took a step, adhering steadily to the pillar.
Then, in one go, he successfully reached the top.
“Yahoo!
I made it up!” Ryosuke raised his arms and cheered, expressing his excitement and joy.
“Smug Ryosuke, I’m coming!” Nawaki yelled as he climbed the pillar.
By the time Ryosuke poked his head down to look, Nawaki had already climbed fourteen or fifteen meters from the ground.
Ryosuke didn’t warn him, watching with interest as he stepped on the text, then, as expected, fell.
“Idiot Nawaki, where are you?
I can’t see you.
Oh, you’re on the ground.” Ryosuke teased.
“You just wait!” Nawaki yelled, then immediately began climbing the pillar.
Having received elite education since childhood, Nawaki’s Chakra control was already not low.
After a few attempts, he found the trick, and this time, he rushed up in one go, successfully reaching the top.
Nawaki stood with his hands on his hips and said, “See?
A mere pillar can’t stop me.” Ryosuke patted his shoulder and calmly said, “Yes, you’re right, Number Three.” “Number Three?” Nawaki was surprised.
Ryosuke explained very kindly, “Because you were the third to reach the top, you’re Number Three.
By the way, Mikoto is Number One, I’m Number Two, and you’re after me, so you’re Number Three.” “I…” Nawaki wanted to argue but couldn’t say anything, as he really was the last to reach the top.
After several seconds of stifled frustration, he huffed and turned his head away, ignoring the annoying Ryosuke.
Mikoto asked, “So, do we just wait here now?” A five-meter diameter area, less than twenty square meters, was inconvenient even for walking.
Just sitting there and waiting would probably be very boring.
“Let’s wait.
It’s already afternoon, Kado-sensei will appear soon.” Ryosuke said, lying down to rest.
“Alright.” Mikoto knelt beside Ryosuke, quietly waiting for Gekko Kado to arrive.
Nawaki also sat down cross-legged to rest for a bit.
At this moment, the sun was setting in the west, casting its orange-red glow across the sky.
Not long after, more people gradually climbed the pillar: the Hyuga siblings, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, Tsume, Shibi.
Over a dozen people gathered, almost everyone in the class was there.
Gekko Kado also appeared.
Seeing the considerable number of students, he said with some happiness, “Not bad, only six people couldn’t make it up.
I now announce that you all have passed the special training.” “Yay!” Only Nawaki was jumping and cheering.
The others looked at Gekko Kado, waiting for him to continue.
“This is the last lesson I’ll teach you.
In the coming days, you will train individually and don’t need to come to school.
One week from now, on June 1st, the graduation exam will be held at the school, with a strict assembly time of 10 AM.” Gekko Kado paused, then continued, “For the six who couldn’t make it up, I will give them a final intensive review.
You can also come to me for a special training plan or guidance.
In these next few days, I will do everything in my power to help you.
Alright, that’s all I have to say.
Did you all understand?” “Understood!” The six replied in unison.
“Very good, then, dismissed!” With a pop, Gekko Kado dispersed into a puff of smoke.
It turned out he was a Shadow Clone.
Shikaku sighed, “Graduation exam…
another troublesome thing.” Choza had pulled out a bag of potato chips at some point and was crunching away happily.
“Alright, to celebrate the success of the special training, let’s go eat ramen together.” Nawaki excitedly suggested.
“Then, let’s go.” And so, a group of people walked together, intending to go back to the village to celebrate with ramen.