“The taijutsu challenge consists of two stages. The first is a forest sprint. I have set up numerous traps and mechanisms in a certain area of the forest. Each time you trigger a trap or get hit by a mechanism, you lose a point. If you lose three points, you fail the challenge,” Mokutsuki explained.
“We get three chances?” Obito thought the challenge sounded simple.
Setting up traps was part of a ninja’s training, so Obito wasn’t unfamiliar with this.
“Also, I’ll send a shadow clone slightly slower than you to chase you. If you’re too slow and the clone catches you, you also fail,” Mokutsuki added.
If one were to move slowly, one could easily avoid the traps, but having someone chase you made it much more challenging.
“Mokutsuki-sensei, your shadow clone will be chasing me too?” Obito suddenly felt the challenge was more complex.
“As long as you maintain a good speed, the shadow clone won’t catch you,” Mokutsuki smiled.
“Okay, Mokutsuki-sensei, let me try the challenge,” Obito said, wanting to give it a go.
“Alright, but first, I have to give you the challenge fee,” Mokutsuki said, pulling out three test papers. “There are about a hundred questions here. Consider it the fee to start the challenge.”
“Huh?” Obito was stunned, looking at the test papers Mokutsuki handed over. Why was Mokutsuki paying him?
“Mokutsuki-sensei, this doesn’t seem right. Why would the boss pay the customer? How about I give you three test papers as the challenge fee?” Obito started babbling, feeling dizzy at the sight of the papers.
Smack!
Mokutsuki tapped Obito’s head lightly with two fingers and laughed, “Do you think setting up the challenge area doesn’t take time? If I don’t charge you, you might keep asking to try the challenge over and over, and I’ll be exhausted setting up traps.”
Obito’s mind cleared instantly. He sheepishly grinned, realizing Mokutsuki made a good point.
“Thank you for your hard work, Mokutsuki-sensei,” Obito said, standing on a rock and massaging Mokutsuki’s shoulders.
“But I think one hundred and three are bad numbers. Two sounds good. How about we negotiate and make it two questions? I promise not to bother you much.”
“Put more effort into the massage,” Mokutsuki suggested.
“What about the questions?” Obito asked with a hopeful smile.
“Sure, if you really like the number two, let’s make it two hundred and fifty questions,” Mokutsuki replied with a kind smile.
“Uh, actually, I also like three and one hundred,” Obito quickly changed his tune, performing a rapid about-face.
“Stop joking. I’ll take you to the challenge site,” Mokutsuki grabbed Obito and used Soru to quickly transport him to the challenge location.
Obito looked around but didn’t see any noticeable differences from other parts of the forest. The trees were just thicker here.
“All you need to do is keep heading east to reach the end. My shadow clone will start chasing you three seconds after you set off,” Mokutsuki instructed.
Obito nodded, took a deep breath, and sprinted eastward at full speed, nervously glancing back at the shadow clone.
However, not paying attention to his footing while running had severe consequences.
Obito stepped into a snare trap set by Mokutsuki and was hoisted into the air.
“One point deducted,” Mokutsuki’s calm voice reached Obito’s ears.
“And if you don’t hurry and escape the trap, the shadow clone will start chasing you,” Mokutsuki added.
Hearing this, Obito remembered the hundred-question challenge fee. He couldn’t fail at the starting point after paying such a steep price.
Using his abdominal muscles, Obito did a sit-up to grab the rope, burned it with his chakra, and continued running eastward at full speed.
Having learned his lesson, Obito was extra cautious, avoiding anything that looked even slightly unnatural on the ground.
“If I stay focused, this challenge isn’t too hard,” Obito thought after running for a minute without hitting any more traps.
But then, without warning, several large logs swung towards him, like pendulums, coming at him from different directions.
Obito finally understood why Mokutsuki had said he couldn’t complete the challenge back then.
Thanks to his frequent training with Kakashi’s instant movement and getting kicked, his reaction speed had improved. A month ago, he would have been knocked out by the logs.
Although he could dodge the mechanisms, Obito’s speed decreased, and the shadow clone caught up, ending his challenge in failure.
“I should have let the logs hit me. It would have only cost one point,” Obito thought regretfully, realizing he could have been faster.
“Why not focus on increasing your speed and reaction time to get through the mechanisms faster?” Mokutsuki suggested.
The challenge was designed to improve Obito’s relevant skills for learning Soru.
“If only I knew the instant movement technique, I could dodge all the mechanisms in one go,” Obito concluded after thinking it through.
“Go back to training,” Mokutsuki responded, implying that it was a good thought but not worth overthinking.
Since it was Saturday, Mokutsuki went to Asuma’s house in the afternoon to start his weekly training session with him.
“Lord Third,” Mokutsuki greeted Hiruzen Sarutobi, surprised to find him at home.
Hiruzen was sitting in the living room, smoking his pipe, seemingly deep in thought.
“You’re here to train Asuma, right? He’s waiting for you in the backyard,” Hiruzen responded with a smile.
Suddenly remembering Mokutsuki’s impressive results from the previous day, Hiruzen asked, “Mokutsuki, if a war breaks out and Konoha gets involved, what will you do?”
Mokutsuki thought for a moment and smiled, “As a teacher, I would train my students to enhance their abilities and strengthen the village. As a Konoha ninja, I’m willing to fight for the village!”
Reflecting on the disappearance of the Third Kazekage and his own abilities, Mokutsuki guessed Hiruzen’s intentions.
Not only did Mokutsuki not mind Hiruzen’s thoughts, but he also hoped to guide Hiruzen in the direction he wanted.
Hiruzen nodded, satisfied with Mokutsuki’s response.
Hiruzen then informed Mokutsuki about the disappearance of the Third Kazekage and the impending war.
“I suggest gathering the soon-to-graduate fourth-year students for intensive summer training to enhance their abilities. Other students who perform well can join as well,” Mokutsuki proposed.
This way, Obito and the others could undergo more rigorous training, and Mokutsuki could continue to earn rewards from teaching.
(End of the chapter)
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