Chapter 16: The Strongest Lieutenant
THUD THUD THUD...
The sounds of flesh striking flesh rang out continuously.
The scene shifted from bustling streets to a sparsely populated forest.
An abandoned training ground, years neglected—training dummies broken and decrepit, weeds flourishing everywhere.
One boy and one girl, two children engaged in what qualified as extremely intense taijutsu combat for their age on a clearing they'd specifically cleared.
Without gender considerations or restraint, the two continuously utilized physical prowess and tactical thinking to fight. Whenever gaining advantage, they unleashed relentless offensive barrages upon their opponent, as if desperate to beat the other black and blue.
These two children were Gojo Yoru and Kushina Uzumaki.
Between them, naturally Kushina bore more injuries. Her cute round face was covered in bruises, her hair and clothes filthy with dust and footprints.
In contrast, Yoru's clothes merely showed some dust. His face bore not a single bruise.
But careful observation revealed Yoru's expression at this moment was remarkably serious.
His body tensed, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Across from him, Kushina had entered berserk mode, freely displaying the Uzumaki clan's natural gifts, tanking Yoru's attacks while attempting to trade blow for blow.
Facing Kushina's wild haymakers and bull rushes, Yoru retreated repeatedly, constantly dodging.
He had no choice but to dodge!
Last time, an overconfident Yoru had taken one of Kushina's enraged punches head-on, nearly vomiting yesterday's meals.
Using Body Flicker, Yoru could toy with Kushina effortlessly, dominating completely.
Without Body Flicker, he could still leverage his superior reaction ability to suppress her.
However, once Kushina stopped feeling pain, the situation reversed—Yoru became the one suppressed.
This was the gap in natural talent!
Senju, Uzumaki, Kaguya, Hyuga, Uchiha... These five families connected to the Otsutsuki possessed enviably extraordinary gifts.
Simply awakening their clan bloodline effortlessly made one a prodigy in taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, sealing, sensing, or medical techniques.
Fully realizing their potential meant becoming masters of these categories.
Current Kushina, though not yet having awakened the Uzumaki clan's unique abilities, already displayed potential to become a Steel Fist master.
However, this future Steel Fist master had currently lost her composure.
"Argh! Can you stop dodging?! If you're so tough, let me hit you once!" Kushina's hair rose against gravity in fury as she gnashed her teeth at Yoru.
Yoru sneered: "Can't hit me? That means you're too weak. Go home and practice more."
Seeing Yoru's mocking expression, Kushina ground her teeth harder.
But quickly, as if remembering something, she suddenly crossed her arms with a cold laugh: "Enjoy being smug while you can. You'll be crying later."
Yoru's brow furrowed immediately. He beckoned to Kushina, his expression concerned: "Come here, let me check. Sorry... I hit your head too hard earlier. Seems I damaged your brain."
"Gojo Yoru, you jerk!"
Enraged, Kushina charged Yoru, only to have his "long arms" press against her head while her small hands couldn't reach him at all.
After some horseplay, Yoru treated Kushina's injuries.
Her cooperation and habituation during treatment indicated considerable time had passed since their first match.
"Tomorrow's the final exam. What are your vacation plans?"
On the return journey, Kushina asked Yoru.
Her face brimmed with expectation, as if hinting at something.
Yoru remained oblivious, coolly uttering one word: "Training."
"You training maniac. All you ever think about is training." Kushina couldn't help complaining, though she added: "Count me in."
Yoru maintained his cool silence.
Having figured out his personality, Kushina knew this meant tacit approval.
Therefore, Kushina looked forward to the vacation's arrival, filled with motivation to grow stronger.
Noticing her transformation, Yoru smiled inwardly.
This interaction style was deliberate on Yoru's part. Beyond showing leadership his transformation, the main purpose was stimulating Kushina to grow stronger.
As a transmigrator, no one understood better than Yoru that after the Second Shinobi World War ended, the next era should be named "Uzumaki."
Because this generation produced two beyond-Kage potential candidates, both Uzumaki clan descendants.
These two were Nagato and Kushina Uzumaki.
One transplanted with Rinnegan, the other becoming the complete Nine-Tails jinchuriki.
If not for both willingly becoming another's subordinates while suffering severe handicaps, the Third Shinobi World War's protagonists wouldn't have been Minato Namikaze and the AB Combo at all.
A healthy Nagato mastering at least six nature transformations wouldn't need to divide his power into six bodies. Alone, he could wield all Six Paths of Pain abilities, summon the Gedo Statue, and unleash instant-death chakra dragons.
Aside from sealing abilities and Space-Time techniques, no power could counter him.
Kushina Uzumaki, sheltered by the Senju clan, possessed qualification to learn Senju secret techniques plus Uzumaki sealing technique inheritance. Her future: Steel Fist master and sealing master.
If she awakened body healing, she'd surpass even Tsunade as a medical saint capable of reviving anyone with a single breath remaining.
Possessing the Tailed Beast-specialized Adamantine Sealing Chains, becoming a perfect jinchuriki was virtually guaranteed.
Half Nine-Tails Naruto plus Sage Mode already qualified as beyond-Kage level.
Complete Nine-Tails jinchuriki Kushina would only be stronger.
If she also learned Sage Mode, Kushina's ceiling would be an enhanced version of Mito Uzumaki.
With such potential, how could Yoru possibly let Kushina become a trophy wife?
He would develop Kushina into a super-powered fighter—his strongest lieutenant.
Konoha Year 33, December 23rd.
For the ninja academy, another special day had arrived.
Today marked the second term's final day.
Years one through six welcomed this semester's final examinations.
Morning remained cultural subject testing.
Afternoon brought combat courses.
The ninja academy's combat courses divided into three stages.
Years one and two comprised the first stage.
This stage's combat courses consisted only of shuriken throwing and taijutsu matches. The former only issued actual equipment during finals—normally using stones as substitutes.
Years three and four formed the second stage.
This stage added survival exercises while upgrading both throwing and taijutsu matches.
Shuriken throwing added kunai throwing.
Taijutsu matches approached third-stage pseudo-no-rules combat.
What were no-rules matches?
Anything goes—Three Basic Techniques, elemental ninjutsu, genjutsu, Body Flicker, bloodline limits, kunai and other tools... Whatever you possessed, you could use.
This was the academy's strictest and most unfair examination, designed to simulate battlefield life-or-death combat.
Taijutsu matches required only one ordinary medical ninja on standby.
No-rules matches, besides the instructor serving as referee, mandated two medical ninja capable of Mystical Palm Technique present.
However, this examination only applied to fifth and sixth years. Third and fourth year pseudo-no-rules matches couldn't yet employ weapons or elemental techniques.