“…Hundreds of shuriken!
I was almost turned into a damn sieve!!” the Chunin yelled, blood still spurting from his head.
Iruka kept bowing and apologizing with a strained smile, eventually escorting the injured ninja to the infirmary.
Before stepping out, he shot a glare back at Kamiki, his eyes practically screaming: You just wait, brat!
Kamiki shrank his neck the moment he met Iruka’s fiery gaze.
It’s over!
I caused trouble again!
Still, my performance today was probably pretty decent, right…?
Naruto leaned in close to Kamiki and teased, “Hey, Kamiki, have you noticed that ever since your head cleared up, Iruka-sensei has gotten super busy?” Kamiki thought about it for a second, realized it was true, and chuckled along.
By the time Iruka returned, half an hour had passed.
As the culprit, Kamiki was naturally dragged to the faculty office for a lecture.
“That man is fine now.
Luckily his injuries weren’t severe, and the medics patched him up.
Don’t you ever throw anything over the school walls again, you hear me…?” Iruka scolded.
Kamiki nodded innocently.
“But Sensei, you were the one who told me to demonstrate the Shuriken Shadow Clone…” Iruka glared.
“Did I tell you to chuck hundreds of shuriken straight into an innocent bystander, too?!” Realizing he was in the wrong, Kamiki shut his mouth obediently.
For the rest of the school day, Kamiki felt like the teacher was constantly glaring at him from the podium.
To keep Iruka from getting more irritated, Kamiki kept his head buried in his desk, sleeping soundly through class to avoid any eye contact.
Being a ninja really was too hard!
Soon, the day’s classes came to an end.
This time, Iruka did not mention any practical tests for tomorrow.
Instead, he faced the room with a grave look and spoke up.
“Tomorrow, we shift our focus to ninja academic knowledge.
Besides the three basic support techniques—the Clone Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Substitution Jutsu—the written exam carries significant weight.” “This is crucial.
Whether you graduate from the academy and become true ninja all comes down to this final exam.
Everyone, make sure to study hard at home.” Kamiki and Naruto nodded, then headed home.
Night fell.
Just like every previous night, Kamiki and Naruto were training their ninjutsu.
Right then, Kamiki caught sight of a dark silhouette just like last night.
The shadow crouched on top of the courtyard wall, hesitating for a long time.
“Who are you?” Kamiki called out toward the shadow, choosing not to strike rashly this time.
“Huh?
Kamiki, what are you talking about?” Naruto looked confused, wondering if Kamiki had trained so hard lately that he started talking to thin air.
Kamiki’s expression turned serious.
Guessing the intruder might be one of the Third Hokage’s covert operatives working on a secret mission, he made an excuse: “Never mind, my eyes must be playing tricks on me.
I’m stepping outside for a bit.” Naruto scratched his head as he watched Kamiki walk out the door.
“Why has Kamiki been acting so mysterious these past few days?” Once outside, Kamiki indeed met the masked Anbu operative.
From the familiar vibe radiating off the man, Kamiki recognized him right away—this was the poor guy he had injured with his Wind Release shuriken the night before.
Kamiki instantly felt guilty.
Is this Anbu here for payback?
With that in mind, Kamiki put on an obedient face and asked politely, “Lord Anbu, is there something I can do for you?
Did the Third Hokage send you?” “Yes,” Yamato replied reluctantly, lines of exasperation running across his face behind the mask.
Getting beaten up by Kamiki yesterday had completely humiliated him in front of the Anbu corps!
He continued, “Actually, my purpose today is the same as yesterday.
Lord Hokage instructed me to teach you a special kind of ninjutsu…” Hearing this, Kamiki’s eyes lit up.
Could it be that the Third Hokage finally recognized his latent talent and arranged private, elite training just for him?!
“What kind of jutsu?” Kamiki asked with genuine excitement.
Behind his mask, Yamato showed a satisfied smirk.
Now that’s more like it.
This is the exact attitude a kid this age should have.
Way cuter than yesterday, when he greeted me by hurling a self-invented Wind Release shuriken right at my face!
Yamato began his explanation.
“Wood Release.
A secret art created solely by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
It is a Kekkei Genkai formed by combining Earth and Water chakra natures.
The caster uses their own chakra as the source of life to bring vegetation into existence.” “You’ve likely heard of the First Lord’s legendary deeds.
In that era of chaos and warfare, he quelled conflicts, tamed the tailed beasts, and conquered the world with his Wood Release alone…” “Does Lord Hokage want me to learn Wood Release?” Kamiki interrupted.
“That’s right,” Yamato nodded.
“But you just said Wood Release is a Kekkei Genkai.
Can I really learn that?” Kamiki asked in confusion.
“Since Lord Hokage sent me to guide you, it means you possess the qualifications to learn it.
Just study hard, and that’s all that matters,” Yamato replied with the poise of an experienced teacher.
“Let me introduce myself.
I am Yamato, and I will be your instructor from now on.” “Tonight, I will give you your first lesson: sensing the presence of Wood Release…” As he spoke, Yamato closed his eyes and pressed his palms together.
“Follow my lead.
Channel Water chakra into one hand and Earth chakra into the other…” Kamiki shut his eyes, blankly copying the posture…
Yamato continued, “Next, we need to plant a seed between the ‘Water’ and ‘Earth.’ When that seed sprouts, that is the Wood Release we seek to command…” Kamiki followed Yamato’s instructions word for word…
Very quickly, he felt something like a small sapling sprouting from the center of his palm…
“Sensei, I think I feel it…” Kamiki reported, sensing something stir.
Yamato was baffled.
A genius!
He sensed the presence of Wood Release this quickly?!
When Yamato had learned it back then, he had spent two to three full days just trying to feel it before barely managing to bloom a tiny flower in his hand…
“What do you feel?” Yamato asked with his eyes still shut.
“A blade of grass, maybe?” Kamiki said uncertainly.
Yamato nodded, thoroughly impressed inside.
Not bad at all.
To sense the presence of Wood Release so fast and condense a blade of grass in his palm…
Remarkable talent!
“Sensei, this grass feels a little too heavy…
I can’t hold it up…” Kamiki spoke up again.
Hearing that, Yamato felt a twinge of annoyance.
“It’s just a tiny blade of grass.
Just hold it!
Can’t a young boy even manage something so simple?” Yamato had just started thinking the kid was reliable, and here he was showing weakness.
A spoiled flower in a greenhouse that couldn’t endure the slightest hardship!
“No, Sensei, I think this grass grew a bit too big…” Kamiki continued.
“I told you to hold it!
How heavy could a blade of grass possibly be?” Yamato snapped, his irritation rising.
With that, he opened his eyes to look at Kamiki’s palm…
The very next second!
His pupils dilated wildly, his hand flew to his chest, and an expletive ripped out of his throat: “HOLY CRAP!!!” Kamiki opened his eyes at Yamato’s scream and looked down at his own hand.
Resting on his palm was a colossal, towering tree—as thick as a water vat and soaring forty to fifty meters into the sky!!
“Th-th-this is the grass you were talking about?!” Yamato’s voice trembled in utter shock.