241-245

Chapter 241: The Test Begins  

Seeing Yoru still writing intently, Terumi Mei could only shake her head helplessly. She chose not to disturb him and quietly left.  

Still, she wondered—maybe she should take a page from Yoru’s book and simplify some of those convoluted, dense documents. It wasn’t a bad idea.  

The Next Day 

By the time Yoru arrived at the training grounds at the agreed-upon hour, Nakamura Shouta and the others were already there, looking like they’d been waiting for a while.  

Noting their confident, composed expressions, Yoru spoke:  

"Seems like you all discussed things yesterday. Good. That means you understood my intentions. In that case, take two minutes to prepare. After that, the test begins!"  

Hearing this, Nakamura Shouta and the other two exchanged glances before huddling up for another quick strategy session.  

Meanwhile, a few hundred meters away, the other eight teams—aside from Team Two—had gathered to observe. They were all curious about what Yoru’s first lesson would entail.  

The Challenge 

Two minutes passed in a flash.  

Yoru pulled out three bells from his waist and announced:  

"Your test is simple: within thirty minutes, steal these three bells from my water clone."  

"Of course, the clone will only use taijutsu—no kenjutsu. Fail to take all three bells in time, and you lose. And as I said yesterday, you already know the consequences of failure."  

"If you’re ready… begin!"  

With that, he fastened the bells to the water clone’s waist and signaled the start.  

The Observers’ Reactions 

"Stealing three bells in half an hour? That’s brutal!" someone muttered nervously from the sidelines.  

"It’s Yoru-sama’s water clone. Even holding back, the pressure’s insane," another agreed.  

Facing Yoru—even a weakened version—was daunting for anyone.  

"Think they’ll make it? If not, they’re getting sent back to the academy. Harsh..."  

Excitement buzzed through the crowd. Watching Yoru in action was always a thrill.  

The Battle Begins 

"Let’s go!" Nakamura Shouta barked.  

The three fanned out, charging the water clone from different angles.  

"Ninjutsu: Earth Senbon Jutsu!"  

Sasaki Mirei struck first. With a series of hand seals, sharp stone needles erupted from the ground beneath the clone, all aimed at the bells on its waist.  

"Not bad," the water clone remarked, leaping back—  

Only for Natsume Yuushi to suddenly appear behind it. "Gotcha!" Her hand shot toward the bells.  

"Too easy."  

The clone grabbed her and hurled her straight at Sasaki Mirei, disrupting their momentum.  

"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!"  

At the same moment, Nakamura Shouta’s hand burst from the ground, seizing the clone’s ankle. Gasps rippled through the spectators.  

"Did they do it?!"  

"Nope. Fail."  

The clone stomped down—*BOOM!*—shattering the earth and flinging Nakamura into the air before kicking him away.  

"Since you’re so eager, I’ll start with you, Nakamura."  

In a flash, the clone closed the distance and flicked his forehead.  

Nakamura’s pupils shrank.  

Too fast!  

During his graduation exam, he’d defeated a chūnin-level proctor after a grueling half-hour fight. He’d assumed he could at least hold his own against a taijutsu-only clone.  

Yet here he was—one move, and he was done.  

"This is Yoru-sama’s strength? Even a fraction of his power is this overwhelming?"  

As he went flying, Sasaki Mirei barely managed to catch Natsume—only to freeze when she saw Nakamura already defeated.  

"Distractions get you killed, Mirei."  

The clone materialized in front of her and—*flick!*—sent her flying too.  

"Just you left."  

It turned to Natsume, who had wisely retreated. But the clone was faster.  

Just as it lunged, Natsume dissolved into water—a substitution!  

"Water Style: Surging Wave!"  

She reappeared behind the clone, unleashing a torrent. But the clone dodged mid-air, drew its sword, and hurled it like a kunai.  

Natsume barely avoided the blade—only for the clone to slam a spinning kick into her ribs, sending her crashing down.  

Team wipe.  

Aftermath 

"That’s it? They lost already?"  

The other genin stared in disbelief. If they didn’t know Nakamura’s team’s skill, they’d assume they were weak. But that was the scary part—these three were borderline chūnin level.  

Yet Yoru had dismantled them effortlessly.  

Then again, this was the same Yoru who, at twelve, infiltrated Kumogakure and fought the Raikage. At thirteen, he toppled the Mizukage, then the Tsuchikage and Hokage, cementing himself as the world’s strongest. Now, at seventeen, his power was only more terrifying.  

Of course he was a monster.  

Perched on a tree branch, the real Yoru—munching on an apple like this was just another day—called out:  

"Twenty-eight minutes left. Better hurry, guys."  

Chapter 242: From This Moment On, Embrace Despair  

Hearing his words, Natsume Yuuki and the others quickly stood up. The last thing they wanted was to fail and be sent back to the ninja academy for retraining. Their pride wouldn’t allow it!  

"Again!"  

The three of them—Natsume Yuuki, Nakamura Shouta, and Sahishi Meriko—formed a sanshin (three-person formation), trapping the water clone in the center with fierce determination. Exchanging a glance, they silently agreed on their next move.  

"Then... let's begin again!"  

The water clone shot toward Meriko like an arrow. Reacting instantly, Yuuki formed hand signs:  

"Suiton: Suijinheki!" (Water Style: Water Wall)  

A torrential surge of water erupted, shielding Meriko and blocking the clone’s advance.  

"Raiton: Kangekiha!" (Lightning Style: Shockwave)  

Without hesitation, Shouta unleashed a crackling storm of lightning, channeling it through the water to paralyze the clone and weaken it.  

The clone tried to retreat, but—  

"Ninpou: Kyoryoku no Jutsu!" (Ninja Art: Superhuman Strength)  

Meriko lunged forward, her fist rocketing toward the clone’s ribs with a vicious whoosh—enough force to shatter bone.  

Of course, the clone wouldn’t take the hit. It flipped backward, evading effortlessly.  

"It’s not over yet, Yoru-sensei!"  

Meriko wasn’t done. She hurled five shuriken, then formed another seal:  

"Ninpou: Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" (Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique)  

Swish! Swish! Swish!  

The shuriken multiplied into a deadly storm, glinting coldly under the sun. With no room to dodge midair, the clone was shredded like paper—the bell at its waist clattering to the ground.  

"We did it!"  

Yuuki and Shouta gasped, eyes blazing with triumph. Instantly, they lunged for the fallen bell—  

"Not so fast."  

The clone’s voice cut through the air as it kicked the bell away, then forced Yuuki and Shouta back with two swift strikes.  

"Meriko, grab it!"  

No sooner had they shouted than Meriko was already moving. This was their chance—they couldn’t waste it!  

"Will they actually succeed...?"  

The spectators held their breaths. The trio’s coordination had been flawless.  

"Not a chance."  

Someone muttered just as the clone retaliated—hurling Meriko’s own shuriken back at her with terrifying speed. She barely had time to react, forced to abandon the bell or be skewered.  

And just like that, the clone reclaimed it, reattaching the bell to its waist.  

"Damn it!"  

Yuuki and Shouta gritted their teeth but quickly regrouped with Meriko, their expressions grim. They were running out of options. No matter what they tried, the clone countered effortlessly. A suffocating sense of despair crept in.  

Was Yoru-sensei even serious about letting them graduate?  

Stealing the bell from his clone felt impossible—maybe even for a jōnin.  

"Giving up already?"  

Yoru’s teasing voice rang out as he took another lazy bite of his apple, utterly relaxed.  

"What exactly is Yoru-sama testing them on? This is too harsh..."  

Even the onlookers were baffled. By all accounts, the trio had performed exceptionally. Most wouldn’t have even touched the bell.  

Matatabi shot a glance at Yagura. "What’s Yoru’s game? Why push them so hard?"  

The crowd leaned in, eager for an answer.  

Yagura chuckled. "You already know. Just watch—he’ll show you. But becoming Yoru’s student was never meant to be easy."  

The audience groaned. So much for a clear explanation.  

Internally, Yagura mused: Yoru’s standards are sky-high. This isn’t just about teamwork—it’s about real strength, endurance, adaptability, and unshakable resolve.  

But were genin fresh from the academy really capable of all that? It felt borderline cruel.  

Even with just taijutsu, Yoru’s clone was a nightmare. Most jōnin would struggle, let alone these three.  

"We’re not giving up, Yoru-sama! Just watch—we will take that bell!"  

With renewed determination, the trio huddled, strategizing fiercely. The clone waited, granting them no mercy.  

"Ready? Here we go!"  

Two minutes later, they charged again.  

"Then I’ll begin."  

The moment the clone’s blade cleared its sheath, the air itself seemed to freeze. Its sheer killing intent crashed over them like a tidal wave—spectators gasped, and Yuuki’s team found themselves rooted in place, helpless as the clone sent them flying.  

"Just his presence is this terrifying...? How strong is Yoru-sama?!"  

Even the other teams paled. They knew he was powerful, but this was monstrous.  

"Again!"  

Yuuki and the others forced themselves up, refusing to yield.  

Bam! Slash! Crash!  

Even restricted to taijutsu, Yoru was a force of nature. Exhausted from earlier, the trio was pushed to their absolute limits—cornered, battered, but still fighting.  

Chapter 243: The Test Ends  

"Are they really going to get sent back for retraining?" 

"No way… Is there really no hope left?"  

The spectators watched as the three—battered but unbroken—forced themselves back up, shouting "Again!" with gritted teeth. Some even gulped nervously, a few privately relieved they hadn’t been chosen by Yoru.  

That kind of despair… they’d have broken under it.  

Who could keep fighting when defeat was certain? Why struggle when the outcome was inevitable? Better to accept retraining, graduate again in three years, and start fresh.  

"BAM!" 

"CLANG!"  

Another crushing defeat.  

"Again!"  

Yet they rose once more, charging the water clone.  

"BAM!"  

Failure. Again.  

"Again!"  

Natsume Yuushi, Nakamura Shouta, and Sasaki Mirei stood, bruised and bleeding, their breaths ragged—but their eyes burned with defiance.  

The onlookers were stunned.  

How could anyone keep getting up after so much despair? They’d have shattered long ago.  

"A…gain…"  

The trio swayed on their feet, wounds littering their bodies, exhaustion dragging at their limbs. But they refused to yield.  

Helping each other up, they faced the clone once more, their spirits blazing like wildfire.  

"Mirei, cover me!" 

"Shouta, hold Yoru-sensei off!"  

Natsume barked orders, her voice raw but firm.  

"Got it!"  

The two lunged in unison, a last-ditch assault. Sasaki and Nakamura attacked from both sides while Natsume fell back, hands flying through seals.  

"CLANG!" 

"BAM!"  

The clone dodged Sasaki’s strike, flung her aside, then pivoted to intercept Nakamura—only for Natsume’s voice to cut through:  

"Water Style: Surging Wave!"  

A torrent blasted toward the clone. It leaped clear, but Nakamura was already upon it, kunai flashing.  

"And me!"  

Natsume drew her short sword, joining the fray.  

"Too weak."  

The clone’s blade danced like a living thing, driving them back effortlessly.  

But just as it moved to finish them—  

"Fūma Shuriken!"  

Sasaki’s voice rang out. A massive, spinning shuriken hurtled toward the clone.  

Yoru sidestepped it easily—  

Then *"POOF!"*—the shuriken dissolved into smoke. A shadow clone!  

The real Sasaki materialized behind the clone, hurling a barrage of kunai straight at the bells.  

"What?!" 

"That’s insane!"  

The crowd gaped. What kind of tactic was that?!  

Caught off guard, the clone backflipped—only for Natsume and Nakamura to close in, forcing it to freeze mid-air as kunai streaked past.  

But then—  

"Got you!"  

Sasaki yanked her hand back. The kunai hooked mid-flight, their wires—previously invisible—suddenly taut around the clone’s limbs.  

"Not so easy!"  

The clone tried to block—  

"SNAP!"  

Its own movement severed its arm. The bells tumbled free, snatched up by Natsume and Nakamura.  

"They did it?!"  

The spectators erupted in cheers, moved by the trio’s relentless spirit. After so much struggle, their victory felt earned.  

But then—  

"Congrats. You got the bells… with one minute left."  

Yoru dropped from the trees, smirking.  

"Now for the final test."  

Silence.  

"Wait… it’s not over?!"  

The crowd’s joy died. Were they seriously being pushed further? The trio could barely stand! Wasn’t this enough?!  

Even Matatabi, watching from the sidelines, arched a brow. "Yoru’s playing with fire." But her eyes gleamed—she knew him. This wouldn’t be another fight.  

It’d be worse.  

Ignoring the outrage, the trio steadied themselves.  

"Name your challenge, Yoru-sensei," Natsume panted.  

Yoru’s grin turned fox-like.  

"You each hold one bell. But the test requires you to destroy one. The person whose bell is broken… fails."  

He paused.  

"So—who will you sacrifice?"  

The air turned to ice.  

Every spectator paled. What kind of twisted question was that?!  

This wasn’t a test—it was sabotage. Forcing them to betray each other. The "chosen" loser would hate the others forever.  

Had Yoru lost his mind?  

But then—  

The trio exchanged glances.  

And smashed their own bells simultaneously.  

Chapter 244: A Small Bell, A Profound Lesson  

Without hesitation, they declared:  

"We’re a team. If even one of us leaves, it’s incomplete. If we have to choose… then we’d rather all fail and repeat the academy together!"  

Firm. Unshaken. Not a trace of doubt.  

The spectators stared in shock as the trio stood shoulder to shoulder, hands clasped. This was their answer?  

All eyes turned to Yoru, waiting for his reaction.  

"You’re certain?" His voice was calm, almost indifferent. "This means all of you return to the academy. Three more years before you can graduate again."  

"We’re certain."  

Their confidence was unshakable—as if they’d already deciphered his true test.  

Yoru sighed, then shrugged. "Congratulations. You pass." A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "You’re sharper than I expected. Seems you understood the point of this exam."  

"Starting today, you’re officially genin. Report back here in three days for your first mission."  

The trio erupted in cheers—then winced as their injuries protested.  

"Wait, they passed? Just like that?"  

The crowd buzzed in confusion. What just happened?  

Yagura chuckled, shaking his head. "Only Yoru would design such a brutal test. But those three… impressive. They saw right through it."  

His words only deepened the mystery. If he understood, why not explain?  

Then, one of Yagura’s companions spoke up:  

"The test was never about the bell. It was about unity."  

—The first round tested their teamwork, tactics, and resolve. 

—The second choice revealed their loyalty.  

Had they sacrificed even one teammate, they’d have failed instantly.  

"Yoru-sama’s rule is clear: ‘Those who abandon comrades are worse than trash.’ Would you trust someone who’d discard their own team?"  

A true squad never leaves anyone behind. That was the answer Yoru wanted.  

The crowd finally understood—some nodding, others exchanging glances. Only Yagura looked uneasy.  

After all, his reign had treated comrades as expendable.  

This was Yoru’s message to Kirigakure: A team’s strength lies in its bonds.  

Later, in the Mizukage’s Office 

Mei signed the training scroll with a curious glance. "This ‘bell test’—how did you come up with something so simple yet profound?"  

It assessed everything: teamwork, strategy, loyalty…  

Yoru laughed. "Oh, I didn’t. I stole it from Konoha. The Sandaime Hokage invented it—the ‘Professor’ had a knack for teaching. I just tweaked it."  

Mei blinked. "Calling the ‘God of Shinobi’ weak? Only you would dare."  

Yoru grinned, taking the scroll. "He was strong, sure. But you, Mizukage-sama? You’re his equal now."  

Over the past three years, he’d secretly boosted Mei’s speed and kekkei genkai. In raw power, she could rival the Sandaime himself.  

Chapter 245: Naruto’s Origins—The Fourth Hokage’s Son  

After her power-up, her two Kekkei Genkai abilities had become terrifyingly strong.  

Yoru had tested it—even tempered steel would melt into molten iron within two seconds under her enhanced Hidden Mist Technique (Futton no Jutsu).  

Fighting Mei Terumī meant risking being dissolved into a puddle of blood.  

As for her Melting Apparition Technique (Yōton no Jutsu), she’d once liquefied an entire hillside in just a few minutes. If not for her limited chakra reserves, Yoru suspected she could’ve melted a mountain without breaking a sweat.  

Even his barriers struggled to withstand prolonged exposure to her dual techniques.  

"Heh, well, what do you expect from someone like me? With a little monster like you for a brother, I can’t afford to fall behind!"  

Mei smirked, tossing her hair with pride.  

Though she’d never fought the Third Hokage and couldn’t say for sure who was stronger, she did know one thing—her power was undeniable. After all, she’d already defeated Yagura, the Three-Tails Jinchūriki and former Mizukage. Beating another Kage-level opponent was proof enough.  

Yoru chuckled and left without another word.  

Meanwhile, in Konoha, the village’s higher-ups were in an uproar.  

"Jiraiya, are you certain about this? You know the consequences—this isn’t something to take lightly!"  

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged uneasy glances as they stared at the solemn-faced Jiraiya.  

"Naruto’s parentage has always been a forbidden topic. Revealing it now could cause unnecessary turmoil. Are you really sure this is necessary?" Koharu pressed.  

Jiraiya massaged his temples with a sigh. *"This isn’t my call. Circumstances are forcing our hand. Hiruzen—you explain."*  

The Third Hokage exhaled slowly before speaking. *"During their mission in the Land of Waves, Kakashi’s team encountered Yoru."*  

Koharu and Homura stiffened. "What was he doing there?!"  

"He deliberately provoked the existing tension between Naruto and Sasuke. Then… he hinted at the truth about Naruto’s parents—and how we concealed it from him. He planted a bomb in that boy’s heart."  

"Naruto’s on the verge of exploding. If we keep lying, he’ll resent Konoha itself. And if he loses control…" Hiruzen’s voice darkened. "The fallout would be catastrophic."  

A cold sweat broke out on the elders’ backs.  

When Jiraiya repeated Yoru’s exact words, Koharu slammed the table. "That bastard! How dare he—!"  

"First, he seizes the Land of Waves through ‘economic aid.’ Now this? That country controls the maritime routes for the Land of Fire and its neighbors. Is he using it as a staging ground for invasion?" Homura muttered, paling.  

Jiraiya nodded grimly. "He’s clearly expanding his ambitions beyond the Land of Water. But we can’t prove anything—the Land of Waves is neutral territory. All we can do is warn the Daimyō and reinforce our borders."  

"Back to the matter at hand—Naruto must learn the truth now. Yoru was right about one thing: secrets don’t stay buried forever. Better he hears it from us than let that resentment fester."  

Hiruzen’s gaze swept over the room. "The question is how we reveal it."  

"The villagers’ reaction will be… problematic," Koharu admitted grudgingly. *"Damn that White Flash—he’s backed us into a corner."*  

Homura scowled. "I never trusted that man."  

The debate raged on—though notably, one elder was absent.  

Danzo Shimura hadn’t been allowed to attend.  

Confined to ROOT, he could only watch and wait.  

Three days later…  

A rumor began spreading like wildfire across the shinobi world.  

"Hey, you hear? The Yellow Flash had a son! And get this—he’s Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchūriki!"  

"No way! That guy had a kid? Why’s this the first we’re hearing about it? Bet he’s some genius prodigy!"  

"Genius? Nah, word is he’s a total dead-last. But apparently, even Yoru-sama took notice of him—said something about ‘potential.’ Kid’s name was… Naru-something?"  

Even in distant Kirigakure, whispers of Naruto Uzumaki had begun.  

The storm was coming.