Chapter 7: A Hidden Genius
Mocking whispers filled the classroom. Smirks and scornful glances were directed at Aizen, and even Iruka's expression became one of profound awkwardness. No one had expected the new student's chakra to be so pitifully thin, resulting in nothing but a pale, weak white light from the crystal ball. To them, it meant he could barely harness any chakra at all, likely incapable of performing even a single ninjutsu.
They had no way of knowing that Aizen had only cultivated this chakra for a single night. A growth rate like that would be considered top-tier genius-level even by the Academy's standards. More importantly, they were completely blind to the faint, suppressed flicker of golden light hidden deep within the white glow.
The crystal ball's reaction was due to the unique nature of Aizen's energy. His power was a hybrid, a fusion of chakra and spiritual energy—a force beyond the crystal ball's standard parameters for measurement.
"Student Aizen," Iruka began, his voice gentle but laced with regret, "the pale white light indicates you currently possess only entry-level chakra reserves. I'm afraid you are still quite far from meeting the graduation requirements."
Aizen's expression remained perfectly serene. A gentle, unbothered smile still graced his handsome features. "Do not worry, Iruka-sensei. I will dedicate myself to training and strive to catch up with my classmates as soon as possible."
"It's good that you have such a positive attitude. I'm sure your graduation day will come," Iruka encouraged, offering a supportive smile.
Gradually, the ridicule died down. For the other students, the arrival of a new "dead-last" was merely a brief diversion in their monotonous school life.
Iruka pointed to an empty seat. "Aizen, for now, you may sit next to Hinata."
"Understood, sensei." Aizen nodded humbly and walked to the designated seat, utterly ignoring the lingering strange looks from his peers. A slumbering lion does not concern itself with the opinions of ants.
When he reached the seat, he saw Hinata's familiar, timid face. He offered her a small, polite smile. "Hyūga Hinata. I did not expect us to meet again so soon."
Hinata, shy and flustered, could only manage a slight, nervous nod and a faint smile in return, words failing her.
Hyūga Hinata. Truly a child brimming with innocence, Aizen thought, a trace of inward amusement crossing his mind. He saw a faint, nostalgic reflection in her demeanor.
"Class," Iruka's voice boomed, reclaiming everyone's attention, "today's lesson is ninjutsu practice. We will be reviewing the Transformation Jutsu. I will call your names one by one. You will come up and demonstrate the technique, transforming into my appearance."
He held a student roster and began calling names.
"First, Uchiha Sasuke!"
At the sound of Sasuke's name, a wave of excited whispers passed through the female students. In their eyes, he was the epitome of a cool, powerful, and handsome genius.
Sasuke ignored them entirely, his sole focus being the pursuit of strength. He stepped onto the platform, formed a quick, flawless set of hand seals, and in an instant, his form was replaced by a perfect replica of Iruka.
"Excellent! As expected of the top student in this class," Iruka praised, giving a thumbs-up. Genius always commanded attention.
Next, Akimichi Chōji, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, Hyūga Hinata, and the other members of what would become the Konoha 11 all took their turns, each successfully demonstrating the technique.
Finally, only two names remained on the list: Uzumaki Naruto and Aizen Sōsuke.
Naruto was the officially recognized dead-last, having failed previous tests. Aizen, after the crystal ball display, was now considered his rival for the title.
"Next, Uzumaki Naruto!"
Naruto bounded up to the platform, a mischievous grin plastered on his face as he looked at Iruka.
Iruka felt a familiar headache coming on. "Naruto, perform the Transformation Jutsu. Turn into me."
"No problem! This is a piece of cake!" Naruto's grin widened. His hands flew through a set of seals. Poof! A thick cloud of white smoke erupted.
Seeing the smoke—a sign the jutsu had activated—Iruka felt a flicker of relief. Maybe Naruto had finally gotten it.
When the smoke cleared, however, Iruka saw a sight that nearly made his blood pressure skyrocket.
Long, flowing hair, snow-white skin, a voluptuous figure, large, seductive eyes, and slender, pale arms. It was not Iruka who stood before him, but a stunning, alluring woman he had never seen before. Her enchanting eyes and captivating figure, especially one particular ample asset, caused Iruka's nose to gush with blood.
The Sexy Jutsu!
"Naruto, you—!" Iruka yelled, clamping a hand over his bleeding nose while scolding the boy. Fortunately, the illusion was brief and mostly obscured by smoke, meaning only Iruka had gotten the full, traumatizing view.
"Heh, see, Iruka-sensei? I passed! You even got a nosebleed!" Naruto stuck out his tongue triumphantly and hopped off the platform.
With Naruto's farce over, only Aizen remained. Iruka looked at him hesitantly. As a new student who had never formally studied ninjutsu, he wasn't expected to participate.
To Iruka's surprise, Aizen calmly walked onto the platform of his own accord.
"Student Aizen, as this is your first day, you are exempt from this assessment," Iruka quickly explained, hoping to avoid another spectacle.
"That will not be necessary," Aizen replied, his voice flat. "Such a simple technique is trivial."
His indifferent response caused a stir in the classroom. Even Uchiha Sasuke turned his head, a flicker of interest in his eyes. He knew that mastering a jutsu through observation alone was no small feat.
Without another word, Aizen's hands moved. They formed the necessary seals with a speed and precision that seemed unnatural for a first-timer. Poof! Another cloud of smoke billowed out.
"How is this possible?!"
The entire class was struck dumb. As the smoke dissipated, it revealed Aizen, now transformed into a perfect copy of Iruka. The likeness was impeccable, the details even slightly more refined than Sasuke's had been.
Students rubbed their eyes, thinking they were seeing things. But the evidence was undeniable. Aizen had succeeded.
"To master a jutsu just by watching... Such innate talent..." Iruka swallowed hard, a cold sweat beading on his forehead. "It's on a level comparable to the Legendary Sannin."
In one flawless demonstration, Aizen had revealed a sliver of his monstrous, hidden genius.