Chapter 37 (Patreon)

The first test ended.

The second event was a contest of physical skill between the students.

“Listen up. For the second test, the only thing allowed is taijutsu. No ninjutsu. No weapons. That’s all.”

The instructor gave a light cough, then raised his voice.

After that, he was about to call the first group of students forward.

“Sensei!”

A voice suddenly rang out.

“Hm? Hayate Gekkō, what is it?”

The instructor looked at him curiously.

Hayate Gekkō leapt down into the competition area, lifted his head, and said loudly,

“I want to challenge Yujiro!”

In the audience, Yujiro slowly opened his eyes.

“Hayate, are you stupid?”

Beside him, Uzuki Yūgao could not hold back anymore.

She knew Hayate had some feelings for her, but she already had someone she liked.

Right now, Hayate had already lost whatever little favor he might have had in her eyes.

When Hayate heard Yūgao’s words, the anger in his chest burned even hotter.

“Yujiro! Get down here! Or are you afraid to accept my challenge?!”

The moment he finished shouting, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

A black training uniform entered his vision.

Yujiro stood behind him and said calmly,

“Afraid? Of you?”

So fast!

Hayate’s eyes widened. He kicked off the ground and instantly retreated more than ten steps.

Even the instructor standing nearby showed shock in his eyes.

With his Chūnin-level perception, he had not caught Yujiro’s movement at all.

Does that mean this kid is already faster than me?

The instructor’s expression sharpened.

This was no joke.

“Wow! He’s so cool!”

“Yujiro-kun is amazing!”

“I want to marry him!”

Some of the younger girls only knew how to call him handsome.

The ones who were a little more aware had already started thinking far ahead into the future.

Yujiro casually removed the black blade from his back and waved toward Yūgao.

Yūgao quickly ran over and obediently took the blade from him.

“What? You calmed down already?” Yujiro asked lightly.

“Scared? Don’t mess with me!” Hayate’s face flushed red at once.

He was completely provoked.

“Without that sword, you’re nothing! Come on! I don’t believe your taijutsu is anything special!”

In Hayate’s eyes, Yujiro’s strength came entirely from that blade.

Without it, he was just an ordinary student with no real combat ability.

Today, in front of Uzuki Yūgao, he would show everyone who was stronger.

With that thought, Hayate’s confidence rose again.

He stepped forward and stood across from Yujiro.

“Begin!”

The instructor gave the signal.

The match started.

Below the stage, Uchiha Izumi looked at Yujiro with a little worry.

“Yūgao… can Yujiro-kun beat Hayate?”

She tugged lightly at Yūgao’s sleeve and asked in a low voice.

“How could he lose?”

Yūgao smiled, then gently rubbed Izumi’s hair.

“Don’t worry. Yujiro is strong. Hayate alone can’t touch him.”

“Even if all the students here rushed him together, they still wouldn’t win.”

“Really?” Izumi blinked in surprise.

Her contact with Yujiro had only been brief, and they had not spoken much during class.

After all, the Yujiro who attended class was usually just his Shadow Clone.

And during class, that clone mostly slept.

“Hehe. Just watch.”

Yūgao was completely confident.

At the competition ground, Yujiro exhaled softly and said,

“Come.”

Across from him, Hayate roared and rushed forward.

He swung his fist straight toward Yujiro’s head.

“Direct attack. Not bad.”

Yujiro’s mouth curved slightly.

He stood in place without moving.

Then, like lightning, his hand shot out and clamped around Hayate’s neck.

Hayate’s mind went blank.

By the time he reacted, his body could no longer move.

Even breathing became difficult.

Yujiro looked at Hayate, who had lost all ability to fight in a single instant, and gave a faint, self-mocking laugh.

I actually took that a little seriously.

Then, with a casual flick of his arm, he threw Hayate out of the competition area like a discarded sack.

It was over.

The instructor froze.

Was that even a match?

That was complete domination.

Hayate Gekkō had been thrown aside in Yujiro’s hand like he weighed nothing.

“Ahem… first match, Yujiro wins.”

The instructor hurriedly announced the result.

Yujiro walked down from the stage.

When he reached Yūgao, he stood there calmly and took back his blade.

“The second match…”

After that, the rest of the students went forward one by one to compete.

Once everyone’s results were recorded, school ended.

Yujiro carried the black blade and left with Yūgao and Itachi.

Uchiha Izumi hesitated for a moment, gritted her teeth, and followed after them.

Yujiro did not pay much attention to the new little girl.

For now, most of his focus was still on sparring with Itachi, Shisui, and Kakashi.

…

…

Konoha Administration Building.

Inside the Hokage’s office, Minato looked at the entrance test results that had just been delivered to him. A warm smile appeared on his face.

First place: Yujiro.

As expected.

At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen pushed open the door and entered.

Minato was already used to it.

When he saw the Third Hokage, he calmly put the freshman test sheets away and said,

“Sandaime-sama, ANBU has already found some clues.”

His expression became serious.

“We should begin the arrest operation as soon as possible.”

“An arrest operation…”

Sarutobi Hiruzen lowered his voice.

Then, with a solemn expression, he said,

“Very well. This time, I will move personally. I’ll take responsibility for the entire operation.”

“This…”

Minato paused.

The Third Hokage would act personally?

For some reason, that made him feel uneasy.

“Don’t worry.”

Hiruzen lowered his eyes slightly.

“I am not so soft-hearted that I would ignore a threat to the village.”

“If things are truly as you suspect, then I will give Konoha a proper answer.”

Seeing Hiruzen speak so firmly, Minato could only sigh inwardly and nod.

He hoped everything would go smoothly.