Chapter 14 - Ambush
Night deepened.
In his room, Yukigetsu sat quietly, meditating.
He formed hand seals, clearly in a state of cultivation. Around him, spiritual energy subtly fluctuated, continuously merging with his physical energy to produce chakra.
As more and more chakra flowed into Yukigetsu's body, a faint blue glow appeared on his skin.
Within his body, the blue chakra coursed through his meridians, its potency now several times stronger than when he first started cultivating. His current mastery of Water Release: Water Formation Wall would likely exceed what Kakashi had witnessed before.
Clearly, Yukigetsu had been diligently training during this period.
Strands of chakra circulated through his meridians, finally settling throughout his body, amplifying his sense of power.
He was now highly proficient in extracting chakra, though not yet at the level of a genin. Nevertheless, he could sense that he wasn't far from achieving it.
Calm and composed, Yukigetsu quietly absorbed the chakra flowing into his body. As he integrated the last bit of chakra, he suddenly felt a slight tremor throughout his body.
The blue chakra within his meridians began to flow astonishingly, filling him with a surge of power.
Yukigetsu was momentarily surprised but soon chuckled softly, pleased with this unexpected breakthrough.
As the bright sunlight bathed the Hokage Rock the next day, Konoha began to buzz with excitement.
Since the Third Hokage established the graduation exam years ago, competition at the Ninja Academy had been fierce. As Yukigetsu once said, growth always accompanies competition. Consequently, the academy had produced many excellent genin over the past two years.
Moreover, after the Third Shinobi War, the shinobi world enjoyed a rare period of peace. With peace comes the pursuit of entertainment, and the annual graduation exam met this need perfectly. Konoha Village would come alive with activity during this time as countless residents flocked to the ninja academy.
This year's graduation exam was especially anticipated. The outcomes were often predictable in previous years, with clear frontrunners like Neji Hyuga. But this year, there was an unusual twist, with many notable clan heirs participating and drawing much attention. The competitive nature of the students, especially with the presence of many villagers and cute younger female students, spurred them to put in extra effort.
More importantly, the top spot was still undecided. Uchiha Sasuke, the previous unbeatable favorite, now faced competition from Yukigetsu, who had recently resolved his chakra issues. Though many doubted Yukigetsu could surpass Sasuke, the uncertainty added excitement.
The unknown fuels anticipation.
In the west wing of the Ninja Academy was a large arena built a few years ago, resembling a coliseum. It featured numerous large and small fighting platforms surrounded by tiered seating.
Today, these stone bleachers were packed with people.
The whispers of students and the conversations of villagers and parents blended, occasionally punctuated by girls' laughter, infusing the air with a sense of youth and vitality.
In the vast arena, dozens of students were clearly divided into classes A and B. Due to their ongoing rivalry, the atmosphere was lively, with constant taunts and challenges.
"Our class usually has the top ten spots dominated by Class A. I wonder if this year's exam will change that. It's our last chance; otherwise, it'll be too embarrassing."
"Choji, Shikamaru, and Ino from Class B are really talented, but they don't care about rankings and haven't been serious about their exams."
In the Class B section, students discussed among themselves. Hearing this, Choji scratched his head and chuckled, "The most important thing in this exam is the final competition. You all know that. It doesn't matter if our class has fewer top spots as long as Yukigetsu wins first place. That'll really embarrass Class A."
Some Class B students exchanged glances, feeling discouraged. While the idea was appealing, winning first place meant defeating Uchiha Sasuke, who came from a renowned Konoha clan…
"Has Yukigetsu arrived yet?" Shikamaru yawned.
Choji looked around and asked, "It's about to start. Yukigetsu won't be late, will he? That would be a problem…"
…
In a small forest on the outskirts of Konoha, fragmented sunlight danced among the trees, creating an eerie silence.
Snap.
A faint sound broke the stillness. A boy in a trench coat stepped on a branch, leaping swiftly through the air.
Wind whistled past his ears as he kept a vigilant eye on his surroundings, the tension in the air palpable.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed. He kicked off a branch, performing a backflip and landing on another tree. Touching the branch lightly with his left hand and drawing a kunai with his right, he coldly demanded, "Who are you?"
This boy was undoubtedly Yukigetsu. He had left early that morning, training outside the village before heading to the academy. But he had been ambushed by a masked ninja. With time pressing, Yukigetsu fought as he moved, leading the fight here.
Thud.
A masked figure in black dropped onto a branch opposite him. It was impossible to discern his identity from his build and exposed eyes.
Yukigetsu frowned. The opponent was faster, making this fight inevitable. He narrowed his eyes…
Boom.
In an instant, Yukigetsu charged forward. The two clashed mid-air, kunai flying as they fought fiercely.
Initially, Yukigetsu held back slightly. But the opponent consistently overpowered him. He couldn't gain an advantage even when he fought with full force. Growing weary, he noticed the opponent's ease and realized time was slipping away. He thought of using Spirit Release to surprise the attacker, a tactic that had even caught Kakashi off guard.
However, something felt off. He sensed he was missing something. The opponent's indifferent gaze felt familiar, reminiscent of his own past… his past?
Yukigetsu's eyes widened. This guy is from the Root! He's testing me!
Could Danzo have sent him?
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