Chen's speed was extremely fast. The moment he said he forfeited, he immediately leapt off the stage.
It was done in one smooth motion, without the slightest hesitation.
Gekko Chizan and Hatake Sakumo stared wide-eyed.
This old guy… he might not be good at anything else, but his ability to run the moment the fight ends was truly impressive.
He'd had enough of fighting—what about Gekko Chizan?
He'd been beaten for half the day. Look at him now in that Crystal Armor—cracked here, shattered there.
It was infuriating, but Chen had already jumped down. What could he do?
He could only turn his head and look toward Hatake Sakumo.
Hatake Sakumo felt Gekko Chizan's intense gaze and immediately laughed, sheathing his White Fang short blade without hesitation.
"Since teacher Pakura and teacher Chen aren't fighting anymore, as the principal I can't bully you either."
"I'm done too. It's just a demonstration match—what matters is the performance."
"Chizan-sensei, you really are the new star of the village. Your strength is excellent!"
"Alright, let's go down."
Hatake Sakumo didn't give Gekko Chizan a chance to object and jumped down immediately.
After landing, he didn't forget to add:
"Chizan-sensei, you built this platform. Remember to destroy it—don't let it crush the flowers."
"Otherwise, I'm docking your pay!"
Still standing on the platform, Gekko Chizan was stunned.
He was uncomfortable, miserable, completely unconvinced!
They each fought enough and then retreated?
Leaving him alone, injured, standing in the wind?
"I swear! You two old geezers!"
"You can't do this! You just decide not to fight anymore?!"
"Get back up here! Let's fight another 300 rounds!"
Gekko Chizan was losing his mind—absolutely losing it. His temper was already boiling, and now the ones who provoked him had stopped fighting! What kind of nonsense was that?!
"Nope. Students, return to class now."
"Remember today's demonstration match and understand why we showed it to you."
"As shinobi, studying well and learning from experience is also very important."
Hatake Sakumo ignored him completely and instructed the teachers to take the students away.
Gekko Chizan was furious, but he had no solution.
Suddenly, several figures appeared near the Ninja Academy.
All wore masks—they were ANBU. Their leader was Shinnosuke.
"Principal Hatake, things got a little too loud on your side."
"Hokage-sama asked me to come check."
"Judging by the situation, it seems nothing serious happened."
Shinnosuke's gaze fell on Gekko Chizan still standing on the high crystal platform. Though hidden under a mask, his expression was full of shock.
He had arrived the earliest. He had watched the entire exchange between the four.
Although no large-scale destructive ninjutsu was used, just their swordsmanship, taijutsu, and ninjutsu clashes were terrifying enough.
Gekko Chizan's Transparent Release, Hatake Sakumo's kenjutsu, teacher Chen's taijutsu, and Pakura's Fire Release.
Each one of them was a powerhouse capable of taking the stage alone.
"Hahaha, ANBU showed up?"
"It's fine, we're teaching the kids."
"Alright, hurry back to class."
"Gekko Chizan, hurry up and take care of that crystal platform!"
"Didn't you see ANBU came just to scold you?"
Hatake Sakumo's face had become thicker and thicker—completely unlike the man who once almost committed suicide over a mission.
Now, to him, educating students and honing his swordsmanship were the meaning of life.
The moment he let go of his past glory, he discovered that his swordsmanship still had room to grow. That was one of the reasons he abandoned his former self completely.
"Damn it, isn't this all because you two wanted a demonstration match?"
"And now I have to clean up?"
Gekko Chizan cursed while jumping down from the high platform. He placed one hand on a crystal pillar.
The next second all the crystal began to shatter, then gathered toward him.
Under his control, the crystals slowly formed a statue.
This statue was no one else—it was himself.
"That's it. I'll make a statue of myself, declaring that I'm the winner of this demonstration match!"
Gekko Chizan was still fuming. In his anger, he made himself a statue standing tall at the front of the training field.
After finishing, he turned and walked toward the teaching building.
...
Hokage Office Building.
"Hahahaha, even Principal Hatake would do something like that."
"Looks like Gekko Chizan really made him angry yesterday."
A hearty laugh filled the office as Jiraiya sprawled lazily across the sofa.
Hearing Shinnosuke's report, he laughed even harder, the gloom in his heart dissipating a bit.
"But that kid Chizan really is getting scarier and scarier in strength."
"Chen's Konoha Dragon God combined with Hatake kenjutsu still couldn't beat him?"
"Even if it was just a demonstration, those two were going all out."
"Yeah, that kid's potential is limitless."
"Maybe it won't be long before he surpasses us."
Tsunade said with her arms crossed.
"Hmph, not necessarily. I'm very strong, you know."
"Right, Minato?"
Jiraiya puffed up proudly and looked at his beloved student, waiting for support.
"Oh please, you just want to brag that you can use Sage Mode."
"Don't forget Gekko Chizan is also a successor of one of the three Great Holy Lands."
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
But her words made Jiraiya awkward for a long moment.
Right… he forgot—Gekko Chizan was the inheritor of Ryūchi Cave, and he had already mastered Sage Mode.
"Sensei, are you free recently?"
"I happened to have—"
"Minato, farewell! I just remembered there's intel I need to check in the Land of Hot Water!"
Jiraiya didn't give Minato a chance to speak and strode away.
Watching his teacher leave, Minato shook his head. His master had returned only to deliver information.
Even though the war had ended, the major villages were still stirring secretly.
They had no choice but to stay alert.
"Tsunade-sama, how is everything at the hospital?"
Tsunade nodded.
"There are no more issues. All kinds of medical methods are being standardized."
"Minato, you promised me—once the hospital is fully established, I'm leaving."
"I'm taking Shizune and continuing our travels."
"Now that the war is over, I can finally relax."
Tsunade had long wanted to leave the village—there were memories here she didn't want to face.
Only because of the war and those dreams did she return to the battlefield.
But thanks to those dreams, she had gained some control over her hemophobia.
"Oh… you're leaving too?"
"Even though the war is over, the village still—"
Before he could finish, Tsunade raised her hand to cut him off.
"Stop right there. Can you stop acting like the Third? Always 'the village, the village.'"