In the Training Ground, the smoke and dust slowly dispersed.
Yamato stood in place, his gaze locked tightly onto Tejima Shinichi. The Bells at his waist jingled from the earlier impact, and the look of shock on his face had yet to fully fade.
"Rasengan..." Yamato's voice was suddenly a bit dry. "Shinichi, where did you learn this technique from?"
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū also snapped out of their daze from Yamato's Wood Release. Looking at the destruction caused by Tejima Shinichi's Ninjutsu... their mouths hadn't closed once.
"Ra... Rasengan?" Kobayashi Takeshi muttered, repeating the name that Yamato-sensei had blurted out. "What incredible power!"
He rubbed his eyes vigorously, as if trying to confirm that what he had just seen wasn't an illusion.
"Rasengan..."
Satō Yū was equally shocked. She subconsciously clenched her fists, deeply etching the name of this technique and that moment of explosive power into her heart.
Tejima Shinichi let out a breath and replied:
"Yamato-sensei, I understand your confusion, but... I truly taught myself this technique!"
"Self-taught?" Yamato's brow furrowed, his tone filled with suspicion. "Do you know the difficulty of learning the Rasengan? Without a mentor's guidance, relying solely on self-study..."
Tejima Shinichi interrupted him.
"My parents often mentioned the deeds of the Fourth Hokage —his Flying Thunder God and Rasengan. After hearing about it so much, I wanted to try." He paused before continuing, "The shape transformation of Chakra is ultimately just extreme control. I tried many times using Shadow Clones, first with water balloons, then rubber balls... I failed many times, but I slowly got the hang of it."
Simple words, but the meaning behind them caused a massive shock in Yamato's heart.
Cultivating with water balloons and rubber balls?
That was indeed one of the fundamental ways to master Chakra shape transformation, but it usually required correct guidance and a significant amount of time.
And from Tejima Shinichi's tone, he seemed to have completed this process alone, successfully stabilizing and compressing disordered, rotating Chakra to that extent?!
Using Shadow Clones to accelerate cultivation... combined with this kid's naturally massive Chakra reserves, perhaps it really was feasible?!
Yamato recalled the solid feeling and destructive power transmitted when the Rasengan collided with the Wood Locking Wall earlier. That was definitely no fluke, but proof that he had truly mastered the essence.
Looking into Tejima Shinichi's calm, unruffled eyes, he realized for the first time that what this boy possessed might be more than just the Chakra brought by his Bloodline... Inside the Hokage Office.
In front of the crystal ball, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly sat back in his chair and took a deep drag of his pipe, letting the smoke blur his vision.
"So... he really is self-taught..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured to himself, the stormy waves in his heart not yet fully settled.
Cultivating the Rasengan through balloons and water balloons... knowing the method is one thing, but being able to rely on one's own strength to walk this path is another.
Especially for the Rasengan, which requires extremely high Chakra control, the difficulty increases exponentially.
"Using Shadow Clones to share the burden of cultivation, and relying on his own massive Chakra reserves to support the consumption..." Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured, "Astonishing talent, and even more astonishing perseverance."
He looked at the black-haired youth in the crystal ball, his gaze becoming incredibly profound.
The potential Tejima Shinichi displayed had exceeded his estimates time and time again.
Such a Genius... Yamato gazed at Tejima Shinichi, his internal assessment completely refreshed.
Self-taught Rasengan, massive Chakra... this was definitely not a level an ordinary Genin, or even an ordinary Chunin, could reach.
'I must re-evaluate his threat level.' Yamato's gaze sharpened, instantly putting away his previous mindset of testing and guidance. 'First, clear the distractions and focus on dealing with him...'
'At the same time... I want to see where his limit truly lies!'
Thinking this, Yamato instantly had a countermeasure:
"I understand." Yamato's voice was low. "In that case... let the exam continue."
Before his voice finished and before anyone could react, Yamato's figure suddenly blurred, lunging straight for Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū on the flanks!
"So fast!"
Tejima Shinichi's pupils shrank as he hurriedly shouted a warning.
"He's coming! Watch out, his targets are —you guys!"
Almost the instant Yamato moved, Tejima Shinichi quickly kept up with his pace!
Hands forming seals—
"Earth Release: Earth Spike Technique!"
Countless sharp stone spears suddenly thrust out from the ground along Yamato's forward path!
Facing the attack, Yamato clapped his hands mid-sprint:
"Wood Release: Wood Clone Technique!"
Two Wood Clones instantly emerged from Yamato's body, splitting left and right. Carrying a fierce Aura, they lunged straight for Tejima Shinichi himself!
Meanwhile, Yamato's original body's speed surged. He met the stone spears without flinching, extending one hand:
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
A small wooden wall accurately blocked the foremost stone spears, carving out a narrow passage for him to quickly pass through!
After bypassing the stone spear obstacle, without the slightest pause, he cut between Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū —who were preparing to support Tejima Shinichi —as if teleporting!
"What?!"
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū were both startled!
"Too late."
Yamato grabbed Satō Yū's wrist, using the momentum to break her balance, while his other hand, with fingers joined like a blade, pressed against the side of her neck.
"Ugh..."
Satō Yū's vision went dark, and she slumped down.
"Yū!"
Kobayashi Takeshi cried out in alarm, hurriedly stabbing forward with his Kunai.
Yamato's footwork was nimble, evading the attack as if he had predicted it. In the tiny gap where Kobayashi Takeshi was switching Moves, his left hand cut into the crook of the boy's arm and pressed down.
Kobayashi Takeshi's arm went numb, and Yamato's right palm had already struck his shoulder.
"Bam!"
Kobayashi Takeshi was sent flying, sliding down after hitting a tree.
"Damn it..."
Looking at how his resistance was neutralized almost instantly and feeling the despairing gap between himself and the teacher, a surge of helplessness and frustration welled up in Kobayashi Takeshi's heart.
"The gap between us... and Shinichi... is actually..."
He coughed, his vision went black, and he lost consciousness.
In just a few breaths, both teammates had fallen.
"Now, it's quiet." Yamato turned around, his gaze completely locked onto Tejima Shinichi. "Let me see your full strength, Shinichi!"
Tejima Shinichi looked at his fallen teammates, frowned, and quickly put distance between himself and Yamato's two Wood Clones.
"Since Yamato-sensei has said so," Tejima Shinichi looked up at Yamato, "then... as you wish."
Then, his hands formed seals—
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Poof! Poof!
Two figures appeared beside him.
The corner of Tejima Shinichi's mouth curled into a slight smile, and Battle Intent rose in his eyes.
'As expected... the strength of a Jonin is indeed terrifyingly powerful, nothing like the poor performance in the Late Stages of the original story... But, this makes it interesting.'
Thinking this, Tejima Shinichi and his two Clones spread out in a triangular formation.