"It seems our Deception Jutsu isn't all that different from ordinary Clone Jutsu right now."
During the classroom break, Hagane Kotetsu couldn't help but remark.
"Yeah, whether we turn into a monster or the opponent, against a top ninja, it's not much different from an ordinary Clone Jutsu," Kamizuki Izumo nodded and said.
From classroom battles to grade battles, they watched two matches between Anko and Shisui.
From their perspective, Anko did well enough, using a clone of Shisui's form to play a trick between real and fake Anko.
Even so, Anko still couldn't successfully deceive Shisui, and was easily defeated.
"I think we should follow my idea, create clones that draw enough attention in an instant, and then take the opportunity to strike," Kamizuki Izumo felt his strategy was correct, only that the monsters weren't scary enough.
"But Izumo, you haven't even defeated Anko," Hagane Kotetsu objected.
"But I beat you, Kotetsu," Kamizuki Izumo stated, emphasizing that at least he won against Hagane Kotetsu.
"Try winning against Shisui, then I'll concede your idea is spot-on," Hagane Kotetsu tried to shift the topic to Shisui.
But Kamizuki Izumo had already seen through Hagane Kotetsu's intentions and chuckled, "Beating you, Kotetsu, is enough for me."
"You got thrashed by Anko."
"I beat you," Kamizuki Izumo attacked the sore spot.
Hagane Kotetsu couldn't hold back anymore, feeling that the end-term exam was a major failure in his life.
"You two really don't understand at all," Ebisu, passing by, overheard their conversation, adjusted his sunglasses with a single finger, and said with disdain.
Such a good idea, yet turning into monsters, what a waste.
"You are..." Hagane Kotetsu scratched his head, puzzled.
"He seems to be a senior from group B," Kamizuki Izumo whispered.
Due to Ebisu's sunglasses, Kamizuki Izumo had a certain impression of Ebisu.
"Senior, since you know what we don't understand, why not guide us a bit?" Hagane Kotetsu thought it was worth pooling ideas.
Saying this, Hagane Kotetsu pulled out a bag of chips and offered them to Ebisu.
Ebisu looked around for a moment, saw no one particularly close by, and then accepted the chips.
Ebisu sat down and gestured for Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu to come closer.
"Your idea isn't bad, the most important thing about Clone Jutsu is to distract the enemy, but you shouldn't just think about turning into monsters," Ebisu told Kamizuki Izumo.
"Instead of turning into monsters, why not transform into..." said Ebisu, his voice growing much quieter, as the eyes of Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu widened.
"Senior, are you really a genius?" Hagane Kotetsu sincerely admired him.
Imagining the Deception Jutsu as described by Ebisu, he felt he would definitely fall for it; what man could resist such temptation?
"I think this jutsu has great potential," Kamizuki Izumo was already eager to develop it according to Ebisu's idea.
"Ahem, don't say it was my idea when you use it," Ebisu said, looking around furtively.
Hagane Kotetsu nodded and then asked, "Senior, what's your name? I'm Hagane Kotetsu."
"I'm Kamizuki Izumo," Kamizuki Izumo introduced himself.
"Ebisu," Ebisu said as he stood up, not turning back.
Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo silently remembered the name as they watched Ebisu leave, their eyes filled with respect—it was a great kindness to impart knowledge.
Today, Ebisu essentially opened a door to a new world for them.
Just before the end of afternoon class, Mokgetsu called a halt to training and gathered everyone together.
"Starting this week, every week there's a strength test, and every two weeks, there's a practical battle test. Those who excel can be promoted to a higher group for training," Mokgetsu explained the upcoming special training assessment schedule.
Mokgetsu couldn't resist testing whether the system had a loophole.
Excellent performance in a disciple's examination yields rewards. At Ninja Academy, he had no authority to affect exam frequencies, but he was in full control of this summer special training, so he could conduct exams as he wished.
Although he previously thought this might not work, now that he had the chance, he wanted to try.
After all, there's no downside without rewards, but if it works, it would yield a great benefit.
"What's the difference between these?" Anko asked.
"A strength test doesn't require you to fight; it's an exam to assess your grasp of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and other subjects. The practical test is conducted in the same way as a Ninja School practical exam," Mokgetsu explained.
With Mokgetsu's explanation, Anko understood that a strength test was like the group tests they did yesterday, while a practical test was like fighting.
After Mokgetsu finished explaining, class ended, and he directly announced the dismissal.
Afterward, Mokgetsu did just like yesterday, first heading back to the main city for lunch, and then teaching disciples in the Southern Border Forest.
However, once the disciples had left, Mokgetsu didn't return to the main city; instead, he continued his own cultivation.
"Finished," Mokgetsu looked at the Chakra Ball in his palm, which was emitting a faint glow, and the Rasengan skill in his arsenal, nodding in satisfaction.
Although he knew the process of cultivating Rasengan, and was proficient in Chakra Form Transformation, he had spent too little time on Rasengan, so it wasn't until now that he completed its cultivation.
Each day he had to teach classes, instruct disciples, and study Fuinjutsu, recently adding a Breathing Technique for body training. Only after completing all of these did he begin developing Rasengan.
The reason he didn't emphasize Rasengan was mainly because it offered little enhancement to his current power level.
Rasengan consumed a lot of Chakra—don't let its palm-size fool you—a Chakra Ball, highly compressed, demands a substantial amount of Chakra.
From his current perspective, using Rasengan wasn't as beneficial as other advanced Ninjutsu.
Mokgetsu's goal in developing Rasengan was to lend Minato a hand when he later develops it, earning Minato's gratitude.
Rasengan was inspired by the Tailed Beast Ball, and Kushina wouldn't use a Tailed Beast Ball on Minato. Factoring in time, it could only be during the Third Ninja World War when Minato encountered a Tailed Beast on the battlefield and gained inspiration.
So, Minato hasn't completed Rasengan's development yet.
Without an invincible power, Mokgetsu hopes to make more and more good friends.
Additionally, though it's not useful now, it doesn't mean it won't be useful later.
When he has more Chakra and has mastered Sage Mode, he could craft Rasen Shuriken and various Nature Transformation Rasengan. At worst, it can be used to earn rewards for his disciples.