"Very well, thank you to Contestant Number One for their Clone Jutsu performance. Their score is eight points."
"Next, let's welcome Contestant Number Two to the stage."
"Teacher Mokgetsu, why are we watching this kind of competition? It feels like a waste of time. Not many official ninjas even participate in such events."
Asuma arrived at the scene and saw the clumsy Clone Jutsu performance on stage, asking in confusion.
Mokgetsu chuckled and said, "Asuma, did you forget about your last battle with Shisui? Never underestimate anyone."
Asuma was immediately at a loss for words. If it weren't for Mokgetsu's timely consolation after his fight with Uchiha Shisui, he might have withdrawn into himself.
"It's beneficial to understand the strength of your peers in the village." Mokgetsu casually explained.
Mostly, he was worried Obito might mess up, and watching on-site eased his mind a bit.
Asuma glanced around, feeling he recognized some familiar faces.
"Kakashi is actually here too; he's not participating, is he? That would really be unfair." Asuma quickly noticed Kakashi and his group.
He considered Kakashi a friend and knew how freakishly talented he was, graduating at five and becoming a Chunin at six, with an incredibly intimidating talent.
While others were still learning the hand signs for the Three-Body Jutsu, Kakashi had already moved on to cultivating various ninjutsu and nature transformation.
Not only Kakashi, Asuma also saw the Uchiha Shisui who had previously defeated him.
Asuma was quite looking forward to Uchiha Shisui facing off with Kakashi, letting these two freaks have their own fun.
"Let's invite Contestant Number Two, Hagane Kotetsu, to the stage!" The host eagerly called out for the second contestant.
Hagane Kotetsu immediately walked up onto the stage upon hearing his name.
"Kotetsu, go for it!" Kamizuki Izumo cheered on his good buddy.
Feeling his own cultivation wasn't quite there yet, he chose not to participate.
Anko was interested in participating, but she had something to do today and couldn't make it.
"Contestant Hagane Kotetsu, may I ask which ninjutsu you wish to perform?" the host bent over and asked with a smile.
"I want to perform the Deception Jutsu that I developed with my friend!" Hagane Kotetsu said proudly.
In the audience, Kamizuki Izumo beamed with pride, as he had a hand in contributing to this ninjutsu.
"You really can't underestimate the new generation; even though our Contestant Hagane Kotetsu is young, he's already begun developing new ninjutsu." The host couldn't help but praise him.
"May I ask which grade you're currently in at Ninja Academy?" the host inquired.
Hagane Kotetsu answered honestly, "First grade."
"Incredible." The host was very surprised. First-grade students wouldn't have been studying for more than two months. Mastering the Three-Body Jutsu would already be impressive.
The audience was also in disbelief, especially the second and third-year students, feeling their schooling had been in vain.
Mokgetsu already had a vague idea of what ninjutsu Hagane Kotetsu might perform, but didn't know how well he could execute it.
The host retreated a distance and said, "Next, please enjoy Hagane Kotetsu's Deception Jutsu!"
Hagane Kotetsu quickly formed hand signs, guiding his chakra, and with a puff and a flash of white smoke, a chair taller than himself appeared on stage.
Silence—
The scene fell into a dead silence.
Everyone gaped in confusion at the chair that was taller than Hagane Kotetsu, thinking, "What the heck is this?"
The host, thinking he wouldn't be puzzled by any ninjutsu after hosting competitions for five years, was stumped today. He was dazed for a moment, unable to immediately return to the stage.
"Ahem, Hagane Kotetsu, this...your ninjutsu..." The host didn't even know how to phrase his question for a moment.
"Isn't Clone Jutsu meant to confuse enemies? My aim with this ninjutsu is to combine Clone Jutsu and Transformation Jutsu to create a more effective confusion." Hagane Kotetsu explained the intention behind their ninjutsu's development.
"Then why a chair?" The host couldn't help but ask. He wasn't sure if the enemy would be confused, but teammates would definitely have questions.
"Because a chair is easy to transform into; right now, I can't transform into anything else." Hagane Kotetsu candidly replied.
Laughter erupted from the audience. They had thought they were about to witness a genius child, but it turned out to be a silly goose.
"This kid is truly a character."
Asuma twitched at the corner of his mouth. Just a moment ago, he was mentally groaning about why there were so many geniuses, developing ninjutsu in first grade, reincarnated Second Hokage, huh? But then everything flipped in an instant.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, are all current Ninja Academy students like this?" Asuma couldn't help but quip.
Mokgetsu was a bit speechless too. Letting you start with the chair, how did it end up that's all you can transform into?
"In terms of mastery, having this level of Clone Jutsu and Transformation Jutsu in first grade is decent." Seeing as Hagane Kotetsu was one of his students, Mokgetsu objectively evaluated.
With Mokgetsu's comment, Asuma realized Hagane Kotetsu was just a first-grade student, not a ninja, and with such skills, he was already impressive.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, you're really insightful, not getting deceived by appearances." Watching the laughing crowd around him, Asuma suddenly felt a sense of superiority.
Kamizuki Izumo settled into silence after the laughter, relieved he hadn't participated. With so many students from the same school present, the news would spread across campus, marking the end of his school life.
"Let's see the judges' scores. A total of twelve points. Actually, the intent behind this ninjutsu is good. With more refinement, it could earn higher scores." The host announced.
"I will keep working hard, with my good buddies Kamizuki Izumo and Mitarashi Anko, to refine this ninjutsu we developed together." Hagane Kotetsu smiled, intentionally mentioning their full names.
"So the other two talents are named Kamizuki Izumo and Mitarashi Anko. I wonder if they're here today."
Hearing the discussions around him, Kamizuki Izumo's face turned pale. If this reputation got out, how would he ever find a girlfriend?
"Next, let's invite Contestant Number Three, Uchiha Tekka, to the stage."
"Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Uchiha Tekka, a man of few words, immediately showcased his most proficient Great Fireball Jutsu, swiftly forming hand signs and spouting a human-sized fireball.
"As expected of the Uchiha Clan's youth, mastering such a powerful ninjutsu as the Great Fireball before even graduating!" The host exclaimed in amazement.
"It's impressive for a Genin to master this kind of ninjutsu." A judge spoke, promptly giving a high score.
The other judges nodded in agreement, awarding high scores as well.
"Twenty-six points! Contestant Uchiha Tekka scored a high twenty-six points, taking the lead!" The host announced excitedly.
In his five years of hosting experience, unless a truly exceptional contestant appeared, twenty-six points were a secure first place.
Uchiha Tekka serenely stepped down from the stage. If it weren't for the eight thousand ryo, he wouldn't even be interested in participating in such a contest.
"Shisui, what did you think of my Great Fireball just now?" Uchiha Tekka asked.
"I can tell, Tekka, you've put genuine effort into your cultivation," Shisui remarked. He was planning to meet up with Obito, but ran into Uchiha Tekka and other clansmen, deciding to join them instead.
Even though Uchiha Tekka's Great Fireball was decent, Shisui didn't think he'd stay in first place because he had seen Obito's Great Fireball.
"Now let's welcome Contestant Number Four, Uchiha Obito, to the stage."