Drawing lots was not unfamiliar to the students of both classes. They drew lots for the practical exams during every monthly assessment.

Without Kitazawa needing to say more, they lined up and approached one by one to draw lots.

“I drew number twenty-seven.” Naruto, after drawing his lot, immediately asked impatiently, “Who else got the same as me?”

With over seventy students combined from both classes, the number of available lots was almost double that of the monthly assessment.

“I am number twenty-seven.” Sasuke said expressionlessly, “Your opponent is me.”

“It’s actually Sasuke?” Naruto immediately smiled and said, “Sasuke, let’s have another youthful showdown!”

“Last time was last time.” Sasuke said indifferently, hands in his pockets, “This time, I won’t lose again.”

“Me neither!” Naruto’s smile grew even brighter.

“Good thing I didn’t draw you guys.” Kiba breathed a sigh of relief and said.

He had just checked, and his number, Shikamaru’s, and Hinata’s were all different.

“Looks like you have good luck this time.” Shikamaru couldn’t help but smile and say.

“Don’t be happy too soon.” Shino Aburame reminded, “This is just the first round.”

Kiba’s expression immediately froze.

“The two students who drew number one, please come forward.” Kitazawa put away the lottery box and called out. He had only tampered with Naruto and Sasuke’s lots; everyone else drew normally.

Two young boys slowly walked out of the queue. They were from different classes.

After a few minutes of fighting, the young boy from Second Year Class A won, leveraging the advantage of having studied for an extra year.

Time passed.

Neji, Shino Aburame, and Sakura, among others, took turns in the arena. Since they didn’t encounter each other, they easily defeated their opponents.

The first round of practical training was coming to an end.

“The two students with number twenty-seven, please get ready,” Kitazawa said with a smile. The main event had finally arrived!

Sasuke and Naruto heard this and walked into the center of the arena together.

“Sasuke-kun, good luck!” The girls, led by Sakura, immediately became cheerleaders.

“Sasuke, you’re really popular.” There was a hint of envy in Naruto’s tone.

Because in addition to First Year Class A, many students from Second Year Class A were also cheering for Sasuke.

“Naruto!” Just then, Rock Lee gave a thumbs up and said, “Unleash your youth!”

“I will!” Naruto immediately became invigorated, “For youth!”

Sasuke’s mouth twitched, and some unpleasant memories flooded back into his mind.

“Start!” Kitazawa said after they had formed the Seal of Confrontation.

“Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!” Naruto, without another word, summoned a large number of Shadow Clones.

“Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!” Sasuke was not surprised at all.

He and Naruto had been classmates for so long, and he had a certain understanding of him.

How to put it? Naruto’s fighting style was very reckless.

But reckless didn’t mean he was easy to deal with. Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu was a dimension-shattering technique in the Ninja Academy.

Soon, the two’s battle reached a stalemate.

Sasuke searched for an opportunity to cast Genjutsu amidst the encirclement of Naruto and his Shadow Clones. Because this was his only way to win.

The next second, Sasuke identified Naruto’s main body. He suddenly accelerated and appeared in front of him.

“Genjutsu: Ephemeral!”

Sasuke’s Sharingan trembled slightly, and an invisible eye power spread out.

Naruto couldn’t help but lose focus. From his perspective, Sasuke transformed into a sky full of crows and disappeared from his spot.

But just then, his vision went black, the crows vanished, and in their place was a giant tail.

“Wait!” Naruto had just finished speaking when he felt a pain in his head and regained consciousness.

“You dispelled the Genjutsu again?” Sasuke’s pupils contracted when he saw this.

Why was this happening? Didn’t they say it was difficult for ordinary Ninja to break free from Sharingan Genjutsu on their own?

In Sasuke’s opinion, even if Naruto could break his Genjutsu, it should take him a few seconds or even longer. In that case, he could use the opportunity to defeat him.

But dispelling it instantly meant he had no time to launch a further attack.

Helpless, Sasuke could only retreat again, avoiding the Naruto Shadow Clones kicking from both sides.

“Sasuke, let’s continue!” Naruto regained consciousness and immediately re-entered the battle full of vigor.

“Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!” Sasuke, with a grim face, spat out a large fireball.

Bang! The Naruto Shadow Clone in front of him turned into smoke in the flames.

“Konoha Great Whirlwind!” Naruto suddenly kicked at him from the side.

“Konoha Great Whirlwind!” Sasuke’s eyes changed. He kicked back.

Both of their bodies trembled. But Naruto’s strength was still superior, making Sasuke retreat two steps.

“Genjutsu: Ephemeral!”

Sasuke was not discouraged, as he had found another opportunity. If it were any other Ninja, they would surely have their Shadow Clones attack while they hid to launch a surprise attack.

But Naruto was different; he liked to lead the charge.

A crimson light flashed. Naruto was momentarily stunned. He had been caught in Genjutsu again.

But in just an instant, he returned to normal.

Sasuke’s heart trembled, but his movements were not slow. Because he had already anticipated such a result, given that it had been ineffective twice.

Although he couldn’t understand why.

The moment Sasuke released Genjutsu: Ephemeral, he lunged forward with a kunai.

Naruto only felt a blur before his eyes, and the kunai was less than five centimeters from his face. In a critical moment, he instinctively raised his hands.

“You’re still wearing weighted wristbands?” Sasuke’s expression changed, and he blurted out the question.

Although he had stabbed Naruto with a kunai, he hadn’t broken through his defense. Because Naruto was wearing metal wristbands.

Sasuke never expected him to be fighting him with weights on. And he hadn’t even won yet; this was simply humiliating!

“Sorry, I forgot to take them off,” Naruto said sheepishly.

Every morning, he would put on his weights and go train with Might Guy. At the Academy, he would also train Rasengan with the weights still on.

But today, Kitazawa suddenly had them participate in a practical test, and Naruto hadn’t remembered that he was still wearing them.

“Damn it!” Sasuke’s eyes trembled as he twisted the kunai in his hand, stabbing at Naruto again.

But in his agitation, he forgot about Naruto’s numerous Shadow Clones.

As soon as his kunai was thrust out, a whooshing sound arose, and he was swept away by a whirlwind kick.

“Damn it!” In mid-air, Sasuke quickly adjusted his body.

And on the ground, Naruto’s Shadow Clones had already rushed towards him.

As soon as Sasuke landed, he was surrounded.

“Naruto, don’t hit his face!” Sakura shrieked.

“Naruto, the battle ends here,” Kitazawa said when he saw this.

Naruto immediately dispelled his Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu upon hearing this. After dispelling it, he quickly walked over and helped Sasuke up.

“Sasuke, are you hurt?” Naruto asked with concern.

Sasuke hadn’t passed out, but the humiliating defeat made him wish he had, just to avoid the embarrassment.

He looked at Naruto, his face full of unwillingness. If his Genjutsu had been effective, he would have won twice.

But there were no ‘ifs’; he had lost to Naruto twice. If you counted the time in Yakumo Kurama’s Genjutsu, that would be three times.

This was insane! Sasuke clenched his fists.

Why was his, or rather, the Uchiha’s proud Genjutsu, useless?

“Sasuke-kun, I’ll heal you!” Sakura quickly ran over.

Kitazawa glanced at Sasuke, thinking to himself that the effect was truly outstanding; this expression was exactly what he wanted to see.

However, Sasuke was not without gains; the Yin power on him had deepened a little.

“Practical test continues.” Kitazawa let Sasuke win two matches in the second and third rounds.

If he lost three matches in a row, he worried he would completely withdraw into himself.

Anyway, there was still plenty of time—no rush. He would arrange it for him again on Wednesday.

“Everyone performed well in today’s practical test.” Kitazawa clapped his hands and said, “That’s all for today. Everyone, go back and rest early.”

“Goodbye, Teacher Kitazawa!” The students from both classes left one after another.

Sasuke, with a cold expression, ignored Sakura and turned to leave. Although he won in the second and third rounds later, his opponents were too weak, which prevented him from feeling happy.

“Sasuke.” A familiar voice rang out.

“Brother?” Sasuke’s expression quickly changed, and he asked with a tone of pleasant surprise, “Why are you back today?”

“I just finished a mission yesterday, so I don’t have anything to do today.” Uchiha Itachi patted his head and asked, “Why do you look so downcast?”

“I lost to Naruto again in today’s practical class,” Sasuke said stiffly.

“As a Ninja, winning and losing is normal,” Itachi comforted him, saying, “No one can win all the time.”

After Sasuke lost to Naruto last time, Itachi had looked into the situation.

How should he put it? The loss was not unjust.

If he had encountered an opponent who could use Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu when he was seven, he would have found it very tricky as well.

“Brother, have you ever lost?” Sasuke looked up and asked curiously.

In his opinion, Itachi was invincible—a super genius rarely seen in the Uchiha Clan for a hundred years.

“Of course, I have lost.”

A masked man appeared in Uchiha Itachi’s mind, and he said in a deep voice, “And it was a crushing defeat, where I almost lost my life.”

He was referring to the time his Mangekyo Sharingan awakened. If that masked man hadn’t spared him, he would have ended up like his teammates.

“What?” Sasuke’s eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

“Sasuke, this is the Ninja World; there will always be all kinds of powerful enemies.” Itachi’s expression returned to normal, and he said gently, “It’s better to lose at the Ninja Academy than to lose after graduating.”

“Is that so?” Sasuke nodded, half-understanding.

“Let’s go, I’m free these two days, so I can teach you Genjutsu.” Itachi stood up and said with a smile.

“Why do I feel like you’re in a really good mood today, brother?” Sasuke tilted his head and asked.

“Am I?” Uchiha Itachi paused for a moment and said, “Perhaps it’s because I saw you, and I’m very happy.”

In reality, it was due to the series of chain reactions caused by Tsunade’s forceful intrusion into the Root base.

The Uchiha Clan and Konoha Village had reached their most peaceful few days in years.

Root suffered heavy losses, which forced Danzo to temporarily leave the Uchiha Clan alone.

His current focus was on Tsunade.

Because he was afraid that Konoha Village would have a different Hokage when he woke up, he had to keep an eye on her constantly.

And Uchiha Fugaku, because of Uchiha Itachi’s involvement in Tsunade’s forceful intrusion into the Root base, was uncharacteristically firm for once.

He directly ordered the Uchiha Clan to be restrained, which reduced conflicts.

In Uchiha Itachi’s opinion, if such days could continue, he would not have so many worries. He regretted even more that Uchiha Shisui had not lived to see this.

“I don’t want to learn Genjutsu.” Sasuke walked into the courtyard and said unhappily, “Genjutsu doesn’t work on Naruto.”

“Doesn’t work?” Itachi frowned slightly.

“That’s right,” Sasuke replied. “I used Genjutsu twice today, and he dispelled both instantly.”

That shouldn’t be right. Itachi’s mind stirred, and he suddenly thought of the reason.

To instantly dispel Genjutsu, one must either be a Mangekyo Sharingan user or a Jinchuriki.

Uchiha Itachi hesitated to speak.

He couldn’t very well tell Sasuke that it was normal for him not to be able to control Naruto—unless he could control the Nine-Tails inside his belly as well.

But if such words were to be uttered, the third Hokage would certainly not sit still.

At that time, the peace that the Uchiha Clan had finally achieved would be broken again.

“How about this?” Itachi pondered for a moment, then asked with a faint smile, “How about I teach you a Body Flicker Technique?”

“I’ll learn that!” Sasuke’s eyes lit up instantly.

Genjutsu was useless against Naruto, but if he could be faster than him, he could create opportunities for victory.

He had lost to Hinata before precisely because of the Konoha-style Body Flicker.

—

After Kitazawa left the Ninja Academy, he returned to Kurenai’s home.

But he didn’t go inside, stopping at the door. Because he noticed that the door to the house next door, where Tsunade and Shizune lived, was not closed.

“You’re back so early today?”

Kitazawa, surprised, walked over. He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

“It’s you.” Shizune saw him and breathed a sigh of relief.

“What’s wrong?” Kitazawa asked teasingly, “Why do you look so relieved to see me?”

“Because all day today, from morning till night, people kept coming to visit Lady Tsunade.” Shizune said with a helpless expression, “She didn’t even have time to rest.”

“Who?” Kitazawa paused, then asked.

“Most of the Ninja clans and some Chunin and Jonin,” Shizune replied.

“Could it be related to Root?” Kitazawa reacted and asked.

“Yes.” Shizune nodded and said, “They all came to thank Lady Tsunade.”

“As they should.” Kitazawa couldn’t help but smile, saying, “Being free from Root is a huge deal.”

“Come in and chat.” Shizune casually closed the door and said.

“Didn’t I say? I’m not seeing anyone!” Before he even entered the living room, Tsunade’s impatient voice rang out.

“Lady Tsunade, why are you so angry?” Kitazawa looked around and asked.

Various gifts were piled up in the corner, already forming a small mountain.

“Kitazawa?” Tsunade saw him and said unhappily, “Have you already finished school? Damn it! I didn’t even go to the casino today!”

“Lady Tsunade, not gambling for one day won’t be a loss.” Kitazawa comforted her.

For Tsunade, who always lost when she gambled, not gambling for one day meant earning for one day.

“Forget it, I’ll go tomorrow.” Tsunade snorted lightly and said, “Then I’ll get up early and won’t be blocked at the door!”

She was used to sleeping in. But when she woke up today, many people were lining up at her door, waiting to see her.

“They’re all here to give gifts, Lady Tsunade. Why are you so unhappy?” Kitazawa pointed to the piles of gifts not far away and asked.

Tsunade pouted when she heard that. Giving gifts was fake; showing loyalty was real.

She felt that if she wanted to, she could sideline Sarutobi Hiruzen and become Hokage the next day. It was precisely because of this that she felt so annoyed.

“You’ve come at a good time.” Tsunade stood up, a smile appearing on her face, “I’ll teach you Chakra Enhanced Strength right now.”

“How about we learn tomorrow instead?” Kitazawa immediately felt a bad premonition when he heard that.

“Stop babbling!” Tsunade clenched her fist and said, “Come on, follow me outside!”

Kitazawa hesitated to speak, but in the end, he could only obediently follow her.

“What’s going on?” Shizune stood frozen in place.

Had Kitazawa already started learning Chakra Enhanced Strength? Wouldn’t he be the second Tsunade if he also learned the Chakra Enhanced Strength?

But even more critical was that Kitazawa’s current strength already surpassed hers. Her title of senior sister was no longer secure; it should change to junior sister.

The two of them went outside the house.

“First, I’ll check your Chakra.” Tsunade walked over and grabbed his wrist. After a moment, she said with some surprise, “Your Chakra is quite good.”

Kitazawa’s own Chakra was average, but he had a cheat. His current Chakra was even more than Kakashi’s.

When the Senju Clan bloodline and Byakugan purity increased again, his Chakra would continue to grow.

“Chakra Enhanced Strength, strictly speaking, is a technique for exerting force.” Tsunade released Kitazawa and began to explain, “It’s about gathering a large amount of Chakra in one part of the body and then instantly releasing it.”

Time slowly passed.

Half an hour later, Kitazawa had pretty much understood Chakra Enhanced Strength. It sounded simple, but in reality, it required a lot.

On one hand, it required extremely high Chakra control so that enough Chakra could be condensed instantly. On the other hand, it consumed a lot of Chakra, so the user’s Chakra could not be low.

This was also why Tsunade had checked his Chakra earlier.

She was worried that if Kitazawa had too little Chakra, using Chakra Enhanced Strength would cause problems.

And Tsunade, having the Senju Clan bloodline and the Yin Seal to store Chakra, naturally did not lack Chakra.

With sufficient Chakra, the upper limit of Chakra Enhanced Strength was very high, and its power was no less than S-rank Ninjutsu.

—

—

Show your support with Power Stones, guys!

If we make it into the top 20 rankings at the week’s end, I’ll drop 2 bonus chapters as a thank-you!

P@atreon/Arvinstorm (45+ Advanced Chapters)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep