"The Taijutsu challenge has two stages. The first is a forest sprint. I've set up numerous traps and mechanisms in a specific area of the forest. For each trap triggered or mechanism hit, you lose a point. Losing three points means failing the challenge."
"We have three chances?" Obito felt that the challenge Mokgetsu described wasn't too difficult.
Setting up traps is also one of the courses that a ninja must learn, so this was not unfamiliar to Obito.
"Also, I'll send a shadow clone that's slightly slower than you to follow you. If you're too slow and it catches you, that's also a fail," Mokgetsu added.
If you proceed slowly step by step, it's naturally easy to avoid traps. But having someone chase you from behind makes it uncertain.
"And your shadow clone is chasing from behind." Suddenly, Obito realized it wouldn't be as simple.
"As long as you can maintain your speed, the shadow clone won't catch up to you," Mokgetsu said with a smile.
"Then, Teacher Mokgetsu, take me to try the challenge once." Obito wanted to give it a shot first.
"Alright, I'll give you the challenge fee first." Mokgetsu pulled out three test papers, saying, "There are about one hundred questions here, consider this the fee to start the challenge."
"Huh?" Obito was dumbfounded looking at the test papers Mokgetsu handed over, surprised that it was a paid challenge, but why was Mokgetsu paying him?
"Teacher Mokgetsu, I think this isn't right. When does a boss give money to the customer? How about I give you three test papers as the challenge fee?" Seeing the three test papers already made Obito dizzy, and he started to spout gibberish.
Bang!
Mokgetsu knocked on Obito's head with two fingers and laughed:
"Do you think it doesn't take time for me as the teacher to set up the field? Without making you pay a bit, if you don't pass once and keep pestering me to challenge again, I'd be exhausted setting up traps."
The knock made Obito instantly clear-headed, revealing an embarrassed smile, feeling that Mokgetsu made a lot of sense.
"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Mokgetsu." Obito stood on a rock, massaging Mokgetsu's shoulders.
"But I think both the numbers one hundred and three are not that good. Two is quite nice, how about we discuss doing just two questions? I promise not to bother you too much, Teacher Mokgetsu."
"Use a bit more force." Mokgetsu hinted.
"So about the questions?" Obito's face lit up with joy.
"Fine, if you really like number two that much, then let's change it to two hundred and fifty questions." Mokgetsu smiled kindly.
"Uh, actually, I quite like three and one hundred as well." Obito swiftly switched expressions, changing his tune immediately.
"Stop joking around, I'll take you to the challenge site." Mokgetsu grabbed Obito and swiftly reached the challenge location using Soru.
Obito looked around for a long time, failing to find any difference from other parts of the forest, just the trees were a bit sturdier.
"You just need to keep heading east to reach the finish line. My shadow clone will start three seconds after you set off," Mokgetsu pointed in a direction.
Hearing Mokgetsu's words, Obito nodded, took a deep breath, and ran out full force, worrying and looking back at the shadow clone while running.
However, not watching the road while running has severe consequences.
Obito directly stepped into a snare trap set up by Mokgetsu and was hung up on a tree.
"Minus one point." Mokgetsu's warm voice reached Obito's ears.
"And one more thing, if you don't hurry and get rid of the trap, the shadow clone will set off."
Hearing Mokgetsu's words, at that moment, Obito remembered the hundred-question gate pass fee, he definitely couldn't fall at the gate like this, those were three whole papers!
Obito gathered strength in his abdomen, performed a leg raise sit-up, directly grabbed the rope with his hands and burned it off, then dashed eastward.
After suffering a loss, Obito paid special attention to the terrain, refusing to step on anything that looked unnatural.
"Looks like as long as I'm focused, this challenge isn't that difficult." After running for a minute without triggering any traps, Obito smiled.
But the next moment, Obito couldn't smile, without touching anything, several thick logs suddenly swung towards him, swinging back and forth like a swing.
Obito finally understood why Mokgetsu said he couldn't complete it before.
If it weren't for Obito getting used to Kakashi using Instant Body Jutsu to kick him, improving his reaction speed, he would have been struck by the logs a month prior.
Although Obito could avoid the attack from mechanisms, his speed slowed down, allowing the shadow clone to catch up, resulting in a challenge failure.
"If I had known, I might as well have taken a hit, just to lose a point." Obito was a bit upset, actually he could have gone faster just now.
"Why not make yourself faster, reacting more quickly, and thus passing through the mechanism area faster?" Mokgetsu reminded.
This challenge wasn't meant to train Obito's ability to take a hit.
The Soru challenge is to train Obito's corresponding abilities for better cultivation of Soru later.
"I wish I knew Instant Body Jutsu, then I'd definitely be able to zip past all the mechanisms in an instant," Obito concluded after some thought.
"Go cultivate." Mokgetsu indicated that this was a good thought, and next time, don't think about it anymore.
Since today was a Saturday, Mokgetsu went to Asuma's house in the afternoon to start this week's cultivation.
"Third Hokage-sama." Mokgetsu found Sarutobi Hiruzen unexpectedly at home and greeted him.
When Mokgetsu arrived, Sarutobi Hiruzen was sitting in the living room chair, smoking a pipe as if contemplating something.
"You came to take Asuma for cultivation, he's waiting for you in the backyard." Sarutobi Hiruzen, taking the pipe out of his mouth, responded with a smile.
Suddenly, Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled Mokgetsu's extraordinary results from yesterday and suddenly asked, "Mokgetsu, if a great war breaks out in the Ninja World and Konoha gets involved, what would you do?"
Mokgetsu thought for a moment and smiled, answering, "As a teacher, I would conduct special training for the students, increasing their strength and doing my best to strengthen the village's power. As a Konoha ninja, I am willing to fight for the village!"
Keeping in mind the news of the Third Kazekage's disappearance yesterday and his abilities shown, Mokgetsu vaguely guessed Sarutobi Hiruzen's intentions.
Not only did Mokgetsu not mind Sarutobi's thoughts, but he even worried that he might be overthinking, thus deliberately steering Sarutobi towards what he wanted to discuss further.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, satisfied with Mokgetsu's answer.
He then told Mokgetsu about the imminent outbreak of war due to the Third Kazekage's disappearance.
"I think we should gather the fourth-year students about to graduate for summer special training, enhancing their abilities, and outstanding students of other grades could also join in," Mokgetsu suggested.
In this way, Obito and others not only receive more intense training, but he can also continue to earn teaching rewards.