Chapter 9: A Calculated Performance
All eyes were on Aizen once more. The class was eager to gauge the true extent of his abilities.
"Student Aizen, just relax your mind. Go on in. I believe you can do it," Iruka encouraged with a nod. The rest was up to Aizen alone.
Aizen stepped forward, his footsteps echoing as he walked into the dark passage until his upright figure vanished from sight.
My time was ten minutes, Hinata thought, her clear eyes fixed on the empty corridor. I wonder if he can surpass me.
Inside the chamber, Aizen surveyed his surroundings. The room was filled with thousands of identical kunai, scattered in every corner.
They all look exactly the same. Distinguishing the real one with the naked eye alone is difficult. No wonder some took thirty minutes.
Yet, to Aizen, who wielded the power of Kyōka Suigetsu, this was a trivial matter. He focused his will, and a faint, imperceptible blue light flickered deep within his pupils. In that instant, the thousand illusory kunai shimmered and dissolved into nothingness, leaving behind a single, solid blade.
From start to finish, it took less than a minute. I've probably already broken the record.
A cold smile touched his lips. He held no reverence for such trivial records. However, he remained quietly in the room for six more minutes before finally choosing to leave.
He was acutely aware that exiting in under a minute would cause an uproar and draw far too much attention. For Aizen, who needed to operate from the shadows, such a high-profile display was a disadvantage. He understood the principle that "the tall tree catches the wind." Thus, he let his final time settle at seven minutes.
When Aizen's figure reappeared at the entrance, the class was stunned once again. They hadn't expected him to complete the task so quickly.
"Seven minutes! Excellent, Aizen! Your score is second only to Sasuke's," Iruka said, taking the kunai from Aizen's hand, a look of genuine appreciation in his eyes. Aizen's performance had truly surpassed his expectations.
It seems he really does have talent. His future achievements will likely be impressive.
Many students began to revise their opinions of Aizen. They had thought he was boasting, but it turned out he was a genuine genius.
Seven minutes... that's amazing, Hinata thought, carefully studying Aizen's back, a glimmer of admiration in her beautiful eyes. Sasuke won first place largely because the Uchiha clan has a natural affinity for genjutsu. But for him to be this good...
She had initially thought Aizen was just an ordinary civilian, but his talent was undeniable. Of course, being shy, Hinata would not congratulate him openly like the others. She could only silently place her blessings in her heart.
Naturally, none of the students knew that Aizen had shattered the illusion in a single moment. In the face of Kyōka Suigetsu, all other illusions were a joke.
"Alright! The results for the genjutsu test are in," Iruka announced. "Sasuke remains the top performer, finding the kunai in just six minutes. However, our new student, Aizen, also performed exceptionally well, only one minute behind Sasuke." He cast an appreciative glance at both of them before continuing. "Next is the ninjutsu assessment phase. I will take you to a dedicated training ground, where I will teach you one of the most basic Lightning Release ninjutsu."
A wave of excitement passed through the students. The reason they all wanted to become ninja was to master the ever-changing world of ninjutsu and become powerful.
Soon, led by Iruka, the class arrived at a new venue—an open area with solid ground and several large, sturdy boulders.
"This test will assess your comprehension talent for ninjutsu," Iruka explained. "I will teach you the most basic Lightning Release technique: Lightning Strike." He pointed towards a row of fifty identical, small rocks. "Those are your targets. After you learn the technique, you will unleash it upon these stones. The higher the damage to the stone, the more powerful your ninjutsu."
The students frowned. Lightning Release ninjutsu was not easy to master, and becoming proficient enough to use it effectively in such a short time was a significant challenge.
"Watch closely. This is Lightning Strike."
Iruka's hands flew through a series of hand seals. In the blink of an eye, a sizzling arc of electricity shot from his fingertips. With a sharp crack, it struck the ground, blasting a sizable crater.
So this is ninjutsu? Quite powerful, Aizen observed, a sharp glint of interest flashing in his eyes. The prospect of this new power stirred the ambitious blood within him.
"Now, follow along and learn the hand seals with me."
As Iruka slowly demonstrated, the students imitated him. Time passed, and despite repeated attempts, not everyone succeeded in producing the Lightning Strike, as not all of them possessed the Lightning nature chakra.
"Next, just like before, I will call your names. Step forward and perform the Lightning Strike."
Iruka looked at his list. "First, Maeda Takeoka."
The named student stepped forward confidently, facing the line of stones. However, his hand seals were slow and clumsy, as he was still unfamiliar with the sequence. He finally completed them. "Lightning Style: Lightning Strike!"
A small, weak arc of electricity shot from his fingertips and fizzled against the stone, leaving only a faint white scorch mark.
"Ah, I knew it," Takeoka muttered dejectedly, returning to the group with a disappointed look.
One by one, the students with Lightning-nature chakra took their turns. Among them, Sasuke was the most impressive; his Lightning Strike blasted a deep hole into the stone, nearly piercing completely through it. The other students' results varied.
The most helpless were those without the Lightning nature, who could only watch from the sidelines. Even the Hyuga clan's prodigy, Neji, could do nothing.
Finally, it was Aizen's turn, the last to test. He walked forward calmly, his back to the class. Feeling their collective gaze, a strange, subtle arc curled at the corner of his mouth.
He raised his hands, performing the hand seals exactly as Iruka had taught. But as he completed the final seal and prepared to channel chakra, he whispered another incantation, one from a different world entirely, deep within his mind.
Hadō #4: Byakurai.