The next day. Afternoon.
"Hmm... my head hurts. Is this the side effect of excessive chakra consumption?" Rubbing his dizzy, swollen head, Ishikawa muttered as he got up and washed.
Last night, after possessing the carp, he had tested his limits. He managed to control the carp for about twenty minutes before the spell automatically deactivated and returned his spirit to his body.
If he went with the flow and minimized consumption, Ishikawa estimated he could maintain possession for nearly an hour.
One hour might seem long, but in real combat situations—where conserving chakra and stamina is essential—he wouldn't dare spend more than ten minutes gathering intel.
And if the consumption turned out to be high, the technique would have to be released within three minutes, tops.
Of course, as Ishikawa's strength and proficiency with the Spiritual Transformation Technique improved, that time limit would increase—until one day, it might evolve into a true S-rank jutsu capable of killing souls from miles away in an instant.
"Poor guy. You may be the first carp in history to drown..." After washing up, Ishikawa glanced at the dead carp floating belly-up in the basin and softly mourned it.
Because its soul had been shattered, the fish lost its ability to breathe on its own. When Ishikawa left its body, it simply drowned.
He felt a little helpless, but mostly pleased. This way, even if someone stumbled across the animals he possessed, they wouldn't be able to trace anything back to him after he left.
After checking the time, Ishikawa grabbed his wallet and a few chakra pills, then headed for Konoha's Commercial Street. After a simple lunch, he made his way toward the Forest of Death with a bit of food in hand.
Now that he knew the jutsu of animal possession, there was no reason not to use it. The carp had only been his first test subject—far from the last.
Eagle eyesight, snake infrared sensing, feline agility, chameleon stealth… To maximize the effectiveness and safety of his scouting, Ishikawa planned to gather and test a variety of birds, beasts, fish, and insects, storing them as needed for emergency use.
He had no intention of chasing random animals around the forest and hoping to get lucky—he wasn't that dumb. Wild animals were alert and quick to flee. They wouldn't stick around and wait to be captured.
And even if you did spot one, who knows whether it was the right kind?
More importantly, he had to test what types of animals he could even control. After all, the soul strength of a mouse, a crow, a black bear, or a tiger could vary widely...
"Here's fine. No need to go deeper and stir up trouble." Gazing into the thick canopy of the forest, Ishikawa crawled into a hollow tree and set up defensive measures.
Once he activated the Spiritual Transformation Technique, his soul would be separated from his body, so safety was a must. If it weren't for the fact that this forest had an abundance of birds, beasts, and insects—and offered decent cover from surveillance—he wouldn't have risked sneaking into the Forest of Death.
After a brief scan, Ishikawa spotted a bird perched nearby. With the strength of an elite Genin, catching it was a breeze.
"Spiritual Transformation Technique!"
A flash of soft white-blue light glowed faintly from within the trap-riddled tree hollow, brief and unnoticed in the darkness of the Forest of Death.
A second later, a brown bird launched from the tree hole and soared into the air.
'Amazing! So this is what it feels like to fly... I'm really flying!' Soaring above the treetops, Ishikawa looked down at the vast Forest of Death and the distant rooftops of Konoha, his heart swelling with exhilaration.
After a few minutes of gliding, he reluctantly landed on a nearby tree and prepared to cancel the jutsu. He had brought chakra pills, but still needed to be cautious. If he delayed too long, he could pass out midair.
Almost the moment the jutsu was released, a thin streak of blue light shot out from the bird's body and flew back into the tree hollow.
Seconds later, Ishikawa jolted awake, gasping. He immediately swallowed the chakra pill he had tucked in his mouth to replenish his chakra.
Ugh... how do I even describe this thing? As disgusting as everyone says. Can't the idiot who made it at least add some flavor?!
"Continue." After resting for ten minutes, Ishikawa quickly regrouped and set his sights on a giant python.
If you're going to play, play big!!
---
While Ishikawa trained diligently, in another world, Minato's team officially began their participation in the Chunin Exams.
"Damn it, why is it a written test?!" At the exam venue, the high-spirited Obito-kun barely got to enjoy his excitement for three seconds before his expression turned pale. Seeing the test content, he nearly broke down in incoherent panic.
What now?! He had planned to ace the exam, show Kakashi how amazing he really was, and make his goddess Nohara Rin look at him with new admiration!
He never imagined there'd be a written test in the Chunin Exams. That's just outrageous!!
Are they seriously expected to outwit enemies with knowledge on the battlefield? What is the Hokage thinking...?
"Examiner, I'm handing in my paper." Just as Obito was wallowing in despair, Kakashi's indifferent voice echoed across the room, shattering Obito's composure and sending his anxiety skyrocketing.
"Damn you, Kakashi! I'll never lose to you!" With a growl of frustration, Obito lowered his head and prepared to write.
But…
"I really can't!" Obito's hands trembled as he nearly burst into tears. The mix of helplessness, jealousy, and frustration nearly drove him insane.
Just when he was about to mentally collapse, Nohara Rin quietly passed by and dropped a small paper ball onto his desk.
"Rin…" Obito instantly understood. Grasping the ball like a lifeline, his eyes welled up with tears of gratitude.
As expected, that heartless Kakashi was nothing like the kind, gentle, and caring Rin!
What kind of so-called genius has no team spirit at all?
"Rin, I won't let you down." Choking on his words, Obito carefully opened the paper ball and began copying.
'Ishikawa said I'd pass the Chunin Exams this time, so Obito should too. But these two still don't get along…' Outside the room, Nohara Rin glanced at Kakashi, who leaned silently against the window, a troubled expression on her face.
She didn't want them to only learn to cherish each other at the Battle of Kannabi Bridge—by then, it would be too late.
"Kakashi, how about we wait for Obito and then invite Minato-sensei for dinner to celebrate?" After hesitating a moment, Rin decided to start strengthening their team spirit now.
When the time came, she'd ask Minato-sensei to bring along his girlfriend, Kushina. That sister was cheerful, enthusiastic, and full of energy—perfect for lightening the mood!
It also gave her the chance to ask Minato-sensei if he knew any high-level sealing techniques for suppressing the brain…
"Celebrate? You think Obito's going to pass?" Kakashi glanced over with his trademark dead-fish eyes and said coldly, showing no intention of joining the celebration.
"Kakashi!!" Obito, who had just stepped out of the classroom beaming with joy, instantly exploded with rage. This guy not only ignored Rin's goodwill but also dared to mock him too?
How infuriating!
"You really think a loser like you passed? You probably didn't get a single question right." Kakashi's sharp jab made Obito explode with fury as he rolled up his sleeves, ready to brawl.
"You two, stop arguing! Come with me—" Seeing this, Nohara Rin rushed over and scolded them before grabbing both boys by the hand and dragging them down the hallway.