This "Mr. Kawano" was, naturally, Gisei Shiraishi transformed using the Transformation Jutsu. He just didn't expect the effect to be quite this good—scaring Taro Mitsui straight to tears.
Seeing the real Mr. Kawano approaching with a dark expression, Gisei quickly canceled his Transformation Jutsu, putting on an innocent "I didn't do anything" face.
Taro Mitsui wasn't a fool. As soon as he saw Gisei standing there, he understood everything. His eyes turned red with rage, and he looked ready to pounce and fight for his life.
Kids care most about saving face and acting tough; that's exactly why I don't play with you guys!
Gisei was prepared to use the Clone Jutsu to deliver a "mixed doubles" beatdown, but fortunately, Mr. Kawano arrived just in time to stop them.
"Winner, Gisei Shiraishi."
Under Mr. Kawano's "kind" gaze, Taro Mitsui reluctantly formed the Seal of Reconciliation.
At this moment, the classmates finally started to exclaim in surprise, momentarily unable to believe their eyes.
Gisei Shiraishi, the guy who had always been all talk, actually won. Although the way he won wasn't exactly glorious, just seeing him use the Transformation and Substitution Jutsu was enough to shock them greatly.
Originally, everyone was at the same level, and no one would call anyone else weak. But suddenly, the "salted fish" of the class had flipped over, acting like he'd hired a booster. Anyone would be surprised.
Hiruko leaned over quietly. "When did you learn the Transformation Jutsu and Substitution Jutsu?"
"I always knew them. I was just pretending not to know to save face for you guys."
Gisei didn't blush at all while lying. It was actually the truth, in a way; if it weren't for his lack of chakra, he would have learned ninjutsu of this level long ago.
"Braggart!"
"Well, believe it or not."
After a few more sets of practical training, it was time for school to end.
Gisei was kept behind alone by Mr. Kawano.
"When did you learn the Transformation Jutsu and Substitution Jutsu?"
Kawano was quite concerned about Gisei; after all, the relationship between the two was a bit "abnormal."
He had originally thought that Gisei had mediocre talent and was just "smashing a broken pot"—giving up on himself—but he didn't expect a dark chicken could turn into a phoenix.
"Yesterday. I also learned the Clone Jutsu. Don't be so surprised. I want to apply for early graduation, Sensei."
As he spoke, Gisei used the Clone Jutsu again to show Kawano.
Originally, seeing that Gisei could use the Clone Jutsu, Kawano was quite happy. But hearing about early graduation, his expression became serious.
"You've only just learned the Three Basic Jutsu. It's too early to graduate. The practical exam is very difficult; wait another year."
If it weren't for Eisawa being unable to wait, Gisei would have happily hung around in the ninja academy until graduation day.
Anyway, he was a man who relied on his clan; he didn't care whether the village valued him or not.
"Sensei, I have already decided. In fact, my family has already started preparing for my path after graduation."
Hearing Gisei mention his family, Kawano finally understood his determination.
"Alright, I will report this matter to the Hokage. Just be mentally prepared; the practical exam isn't something the current you can easily pass."
After finishing speaking, Kawano told Gisei to go home and began organizing his files to submit to the Third Hokage.
Gisei stood still in his original spot, looking at him eagerly.
"Do you still have something else?" Kawano asked, confused.
Of course there was something—a matter of life and death.
But he couldn't just say, "I'm thinking about your daughter." Gisei felt it was better to be a bit tactful.
"Kawano-sensei, I've been under your care for more than two years. Now that I'm graduating, I should express my gratitude. When do you think you have time to bring Sister Mie to my house for a meal?"
Kawano was touched but shook his head. "I am the teacher, you are the student. Teaching you is my responsibility. If you learn well, that's your own ability. There's no need for gratitude or anything like that."
It is very necessary. If you don't come, how can my uncle hook up with your daughter?
"Kawano-sensei, I was ostracized and isolated in class. It was you who saved my soul and gave me a new lease on life."
"I will never forget your kindness for the rest of my life. My uncle is also very grateful to your daugh... no, also very grateful to you. Please, you must come to my house for a gathering."
Almost let it slip. Gisei panicked inside, but on his face, he looked moved to tears.
Best Actor is not far from me. Gisei felt the golden statue waving at him.
"Alright, since you put it that way, then in three days I will bring Mie to visit your home."
Done...
After leaving school, Gisei walked down the street, wondering where to find Orochimaru.
Nominally, the two were deskmates, but in reality, they didn't have much connection.
In two years, they had spoken only a few dozen sentences. Everyone was busy, so "let's not waste each other's time" seemed to be the mutual understanding.
Gisei thought this way, and he estimated Orochimaru had the same thought.
Thinking it over, unable to find a way to locate Orochimaru, Gisei could only go to the place where he met them yesterday and start waiting blindly.
Fortunately, his luck was good. Half an hour later, he heard Jiraiya's loud voice from afar.
"Orochimaru, didn't I say I could handle that dog alone? Why did you interfere?"
Orochimaru: "..."
Tsunade gave Jiraiya a punch. "Bastard, who knows when you would have finished it alone? Jiraiya, when can you be a bit more mature?"
Orochimaru: "..."
Anyway, it was just the two of them arguing. Orochimaru just walked silently with that expressionless face.
When the three of them approached Gisei, he felt that since he was the one asking for a favor, it was better to greet them first.
"Yo, Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya. Good evening."
Orochimaru glanced at him and walked past expressionlessly.
Tsunade had an expression like she was looking at a monster, then also followed and walked past.
Jiraiya scratched his head, feeling it was better not to deal with Gisei, and ignored him as well.
Gisei: "..."
Bastards, remember this!
Can't eat pork without the butcher?
I must be sick in the head to want to get information from you guys.
Gisei turned around expressionlessly and went home.
Turning the street corner, Orochimaru looked back at Gisei's retreating figure, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Tsunade laughed until she was out of breath. Jiraiya completely didn't understand why they were happy.
When she had laughed enough, Tsunade finally said, "That nerd actually took the initiative to say hello. He definitely wants to ask us for something."
Orochimaru: "Yesterday when I took the initiative to say hello, his attitude was quite annoying."
Jiraiya asked, "Is this really okay? What if he really needs our help with something, and we just ignore him like this?"
Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya and didn't forget to drop a word as he turned to leave.
"Idiot."
Jiraiya bristled. "Bastard Orochimaru, what did you say?!"
Tsunade quickly held him back. "Calm down, calm down. If it's something where he can't even let go of a little pride, it won't be anything big."
After returning home, Gisei still felt very stifled. I really can't get along with them.
Gisei thought for a while longer but had no clues, so he simply took a ninjutsu scroll and tried to learn something new.
What ninjutsu should I learn?
The Butterfly Clone wasn't usable yet. Thunder Ball seemed quite good. But when his gaze moved to the Body Flicker Jutsu, his eyes lit up.
This ninjutsu, which almost everyone in Naruto knows, plays too big of a role in combat. Mastering this ninjutsu before the practical exam should increase his chances of winning.
Following the hand seal order on the scroll, Gisei began to practice.
"Body Flicker Jutsu."
Failed...
Looking at his right foot stuck in the ground, Gisei fell into deep thought.
The Body Flicker Jutsu recorded on the scroll involved concentrating chakra on the soles of the feet and suddenly exerting force, which would then grant speed several times faster than usual.
This should be considered the simplest version of the Body Flicker Jutsu; it shouldn't be that hard.
Is it because my chakra control ability is insufficient?
Thinking of this, Gisei suddenly remembered he hadn't done tree climbing and water walking training yet. He hadn't succeeded before, and he didn't know how it would go now.
There was a large tree in the yard. He tried concentrating chakra on the soles of his feet, then slowly walked up.
He only took three steps before he fell off, blowing a chunk of bark off the tree in the process.
Frowning, he began to carefully sense the flow of chakra in his body, then once again gathered chakra at the soles of his feet.
One step, five steps, ten steps. Then he started walking backward, slowly retreating back to the ground.
The whole process was very slow because he had to carefully sense the chakra flow, so he didn't use much speed.
It seemed very simple. Gisei began to slowly accelerate.
Up and down. After climbing the tree six times, he had completely mastered this technique.
In the plot, Naruto and Sasuke seemed to take several days. I learned it just like that?
Am I a genius?
Impossible. Remembering his "good" uncle's evaluation of him—no talent, no perseverance, a genin for life...
Thinking it over, Gisei could only attribute this abnormality to the chakra control ability brought by the butterfly seed.
Try water walking next. Gisei found a large basin and filled it with water.
As for why not train by the river? Do you think everyone wants to take a cold bath?
Gisei wasn't stupid. Anyway, it's all water, what's the difference?
With the experience of climbing trees, Gisei didn't spend much effort to complete water walking.
Too simple, right? Gisei scratched his head, confused.
He stirred the water in the basin vigorously with his hand until a whirlpool formed, then stopped.
Then he stood on it again. His body swayed with the water surface, making him a bit dizzy, but undoubtedly, he didn't fall in.
It seems I really learned it.
"Not bad. To learn water walking and tree climbing so simply. Eisawa, I agree to your request."
An aged voice suddenly sounded behind him. Gisei hurriedly turned his head.
Unknown to him when, Eisawa Shiraishi and an old man with a white beard were standing behind him. Gisei quickly jumped out of the water basin.
"Uncle Eisawa, this is?"
"I am Shuichi Takemoto. Your uncle asked me to be your teacher. According to seniority, you should call me Grandpa."
Gisei: "..."
Becoming someone's grandson for no reason... such a big loss...
Endure it.
There was no choice but to endure. Eisawa saw him hesitating to greet, and the expression on his face became a bit ferocious.
"Grandpa Shuichi, good evening."
Takemoto stepped forward two steps and reached out to stroke his head. "Good boy. Eisawa said you want to graduate early. Do you have confidence in passing the exam?"
As he spoke, Takemoto saw the scroll on the table and reached out to take it.
Gisei was stunned for a moment, then remembered he hadn't put away the scroll just now. Seeing Takemoto about to look at the scroll, he became nervous and frantically signaled Eisawa with his eyes.
Unfortunately, his "good" uncle completely ignored him.