Chapter 183: Execution of the Plan
Konoha.
Ninja Academy, Training Ground No. 91.
"Ugh~ Haven't we graduated? Aren't they supposed to assign us our squad leaders? Why do we have to come to a training ground like this!"
Naruto rested his hands behind his head, looking at his classmates and the surrounding environment. He didn't get it. He was already looking forward to life as a Genin, and he proudly adjusted the headband on his forehead.
"You actually became a Genin? Did the Third use the back door for you?" Shikamaru, standing next to him, remarked. He honestly couldn't believe that with Naruto's theoretical scores and his clumsy Three Basic Jutsu, he had actually managed to graduate.
Naruto tilted his head up. "Don't you know? Turns out I'm the son of the Fourth Hokage. It's only natural I have this kind of talent."
"..." Shikamaru was speechless. What does that have to do with you graduating? You still used the back door.
Choji "crunched" on a potato chip. "If Naruto became a Genin, it must have been with the Hokage's approval. Relax, Shikamaru."
"I'm not worried about that. I just hope I'm not on a team with him. That would be a total drag," Shikamaru said dismissively. Naruto's personality was far too troublesome.
"Tch! I don't want to be on a team with you either! I want to be with Sakura-chan." Naruto looked toward Sakura, a blush creeping onto his face. But the girl he liked was currently staring at another boy—the one he hated most.
Please don't let me be on a team with Sasuke, Naruto prayed silently.
"They're here."
Amidst the chatter, a figure suddenly appeared, followed by several others.
Whiz! Whiz!
Kakashi, the Third Hokage, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma, Iruka, and other Jonin arrived. The central figure was naturally the initiator of this event, Tonbo Tobitake.
"Lord Third, Captain Tonbo, Copy Ninja Kakashi..."
"So many Jonin."
"Why is the Hokage here too?"
"Didn't they say it was a reward for the graduating students? What's going on?"
The students chirped excitedly, staring at the famous shinobi of Konoha.
"Tonbo, is this jutsu of yours reliable? It won't cause any damage to the children, will it?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked worriedly.
Tonbo replied confidently, "Lord Hokage, this isn't a forbidden jutsu. It's just a large-scale barrier-based genjutsu. I've refined it for a long time. I gave you the scroll on how to perform the technique; you're the 'Professor of Shinobi,' you should be able to see that, right?"
"Cough, of course. Let's begin then. Don't waste the children's time," Hiruzen said with a dry cough. When Tonbo had applied for this, he had shared the mechanics. Hiruzen had reviewed it and concluded that the learning difficulty was Rank SSS. It was more difficult than any forbidden jutsu he had ever mastered. It was absurdly complex.
"I'm really looking forward to this. Tonbo's 'super-jutsu,'" Kakashi noted. He had heard Guy's description and knew this was a legendary method for training combat experience. Using ninjutsu not for combat, but for training—it was a unique philosophy.
Asuma Sarutobi muttered, "He's about to show off again."
Kurenai Yuhi thought, This genjutsu would take me over a decade of research just to learn. I doubt anyone will be willing to learn it in the future!!! It seemed the Hokage would have to create a specific education department just for this. The difficulty was immense, and it required accumulating a massive amount of combat memories. Unless someone's talent matched Tonbo's, it was unreachable.
Tonbo looked at the little sprouts before him. Well, they weren't that small—twelve years old. When he was twelve, he had already been mucking around on the battlefield for a long time.
"Then, let us begin."
Without giving anyone time to prepare, the pre-set barrier rose as he wove his signs. It covered the entire training ground. This version of the barrier was larger and improved, allowing him to cast the jutsu with less effort. There were other ninjas stationed around the perimeter to assist him, reducing the mental strain. As a high-ranking member of Konoha, he knew how to delegate work to lighten his load.
"Genjutsu: Battlefield Simulation!"
After the final seal, he pressed his palms to the ground. Nerve fibers, invisible to the naked eye, extended with incredible speed to every young ninja. Before the graduates could even react, the world around them began to warp and change. At the same time, a holographic-like projection appeared above each graduate's head.
The observing Jonin looked toward the teams assigned to them by the Hokage. They didn't feel anything was amiss regarding the branch-like patterns appearing on the graduates' skin; Tonbo had warned them beforehand that he would be using a secret technique to manage the mental load and told them not to make a fuss.
Only the Third Hokage felt something was slightly "off," but he couldn't put his finger on it. Who could have imagined that human nerves could be extended outside the body and invade others as a medium for data collection?
"Eh? What is this place?"
Sakura looked at the deep valley and the eerily silent forest around her. She felt a cold wind brush past. Her body began to shiver.
Caw! Caw!
The sounds of crows and frogs echoed intermittently. The sun was setting, leaving only a faint afterglow.
"This is scary! What's going on?" Just a moment ago, she was at the Academy. Now she was here. she pinched her arm; it turned red instantly, and she felt the pain.
Swish!
"Who's there?" Sakura screamed. "Who is it? Come out!"
Whiz!
Thwack!
For the first time, the inexperienced Sakura was instantly headshot by a kunai from the shadows. It entered through the back of her head and exited through the bridge of her nose. Sakura felt a split second of agonizing pain before falling into an endless abyss.
Warp—
She reappeared in the same spot as before. She was dazed. What happened? She touched the back of her head. Just now, she had clearly seen herself being pierced by a kunai. She even remembered the feeling of fluid leaking from her skull.
"I'm in a genjutsu?" She immediately tried to dispel it using the methods taught at the Academy. It didn't work. It was as if everything that had just happened was a mere phantom.
Swish! Swish!
Hmm? Sakura felt the same sensation as the "dream" and heard the sound again. She immediately jerked her head to the side. A kunai grazed her cheek, slicing a lock of her pink hair.
An enemy! She went on high alert, staring at the direction the kunai came from.
"That was just a feint!"
A figure clad in black with a Hidden Rain headband suddenly dropped from above, plunging a kunai downward.
Squish!
Sakura heard the sound and a look of pure terror filled her face. She was paralyzed with fear, her limbs turning to jelly. The kunai drove straight through the crown of her head. Brain matter sprayed. She didn't even fight back; she just stood there as the kunai claimed her life once more.
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