"Because you focused too much on my eyes, you ignored my hand."
Having acquired a good Trait, Kiyoshi had the patience to explain to Asuma Sarutobi, his ATM.
He raised his hand, and light appeared at his fingertips.
[Lightning Release: Flashbang]!
He received the Trait panel notification in his mind after retracting the kunai:
[You have comprehended the Trait [Chakra Flow: Fire Release (White)].
Trait: [Chakra Flow: Fire Release (White)]
Requirement: Defeat a young Asuma Sarutobi.
Progress: (Completed).
Effect: Your "Chakra Flow" can now imbue Fire Release onto weapons.
Note: Can be further advanced later.
Kiyoshi narrowed his eyes slightly.
The effect of this white Trait seemed even better than a green Trait in his opinion!
"The moment we started, I released [Lightning Release: Flashbang]. In broad daylight, this technique is hard to spot. Your eagerness to seize the advantage and use Genjutsu on my eyes caused you to fall into a trap instead."
The light on Kiyoshi's fingertip gradually intensified, like a magnifying glass focusing sunlight.
Watching the light flicker in Kiyoshi's hand, Asuma Sarutobi felt a faint dizziness.
He quickly shook his head, regaining his senses.
"Asuma-kun, you are strong, but unfortunately, I am an Uchiha."
Kiyoshi stopped releasing the Genjutsu at his fingertip and spoke to Asuma Sarutobi.
"Asuma, how did you lose just like that?" Obito shouted from behind.
Asuma Sarutobi's already flushed face grew even redder. He stammered:
"Was... was this really a loss for me? If we compared other things, I definitely wouldn't have lost so easily."
Asuma Sarutobi was filled with regret.
His mind had overheated, leading him to challenge the Uchiha's specialty just to show off in front of Kurenai Yūhi.
If they had sparred with Fire Release, there was no way he would have been defeated in an instant upon meeting.
But having sparred with Genjutsu, his performance was as pathetic as could be.
If Kiyoshi was this powerful without the Sharingan, what would his Genjutsu ability be like once he used it?
"Both the Sarutobi clan and the Uchiha clan are great clans, Asuma Sarutobi-kun. It's just that the Uchiha are more proficient in Genjutsu." Kiyoshi patted Asuma Sarutobi's shoulder, giving him a way out.
"...Y-yes, that's right." Asuma Sarutobi nodded.
It wasn't that he was incompetent; it was that Kiyoshi Uchiha was incredibly strong at Genjutsu even without the Sharingan.
"Asuma, don't be discouraged," Kurenai Yūhi comforted him softly.
She understood Asuma Sarutobi's feelings. She, too, had been defeated by Kiyoshi in a single exchange.
Luckily, she was smart enough to pay Kiyoshi for tutoring.
This had significantly improved her Genjutsu level.
"...Okay." Facing Kurenai's comfort, Asuma Sarutobi could only nod silently.
Saying anything more would only make him look petty.
In the end, he had to bear it all himself.
Asuma Sarutobi pretended everything was fine, stood up, and returned to the crowd.
"Got any chips? Pass me some." Asuma Sarutobi's voice carried a hint of sadness.
Chōmaru Akimichi took a bag out of his pocket and handed it to Asuma Sarutobi.
"Kiyoshi Uchiha, he's interesting." Genma Shiranui said, toothpick dangling from his mouth.
Ebisu nodded in agreement, pushing up his black circular glasses.
"I wonder if this Kiyoshi Uchiha will graduate early. His progress is clearly different from us commoners."
"He probably will." Genma Shiranui glanced at Obito.
A great ninja clan like the Uchiha would not lack Ninjutsu or early education.
Kiyoshi probably received a lot of private training within the Uchiha clan.
"Alright, everyone gather up." Chūnin Instructor blew his whistle, signaling all students to gather.
He had watched the entire spar between Kiyoshi and Asuma Sarutobi.
"Truly remarkable," Instructor thought to himself.
In just over half a month of special training, Asuma Sarutobi's Genjutsu level had increased considerably.
Should he be called worthy of being the Third Hokage's son?
"But the most surprising one is Kiyoshi Uchiha, who was able to suppress Asuma Sarutobi without activating the Sharingan."
This surprised instructor the most.
The fame of the Sharingan was well-known throughout the ninja world.
If Kiyoshi had won by relying on the Sharingan, everyone would have considered it a matter of course.
Just like the rumor that the Uchiha clan is an elite clan is deeply rooted, and some mission requests specifically ask for Uchiha ninjas.
But Kiyoshi won without relying on the Sharingan, but on his personal Genjutsu ability.
This showed that Kiyoshi possessed an extremely strong learning capability.
He was a genius in both Taijutsu and Genjutsu.
"If he manages to learn the [Three-Body Technique] in a short time as well, this child is practically a well-rounded genius." Instructor was secretly shocked.
Even the recently graduated son of the White Fang, Kakashi Hatake.
He might not be considered well-rounded.
At the very least, his Genjutsu could not possibly surpass Kiyoshi, who was from the Uchiha clan.
After the students had all gathered, Instructor spoke a few simple words and then dismissed everyone to return to their classrooms for other lessons.
He took out a partially filled periodic performance review form and marked an "Excellent" in the Genjutsu column.
Kiyoshi Uchiha: Ninjutsu (Average), Taijutsu (Excellent), Genjutsu (Excellent), Class Conduct (Excellent), Initiative (Average), Sociability (Average).
Instructor was unsure of Kiyoshi's current Ninjutsu level, so he marked a "Average" based on his performance in learning the [Clone Technique] last month.
He then filled in several remarks beneath Kiyoshi's form, documenting the details of the Genjutsu test.
After grading Kiyoshi, Instructor continued to grade all the students in the class.
The final exams were approaching, this is a necessary periodic performance assessment.
It is also a way to monitor the growth of the ninja students. All the information is confidential and will finally be sealed in the archives of the Hokage Tower.
When they graduate, another comprehensive assessment will be conducted. The final graduation score, combined with these years of periodic performance reviews, will be sealed as the final Ninja Graduation Dossier.
These dossiers are permanent and cannot be altered.
...
Hokage Tower.
Hiruzen Sarutobi finished processing a batch of documents and looked at a stack of files wrapped in yellow paper handed to him by an Anbu ninja.
"Hokage-sama, please review these." The Anbu ninja said respectfully, then disappeared from the Hokage's office, guarding Hiruzen Sarutobi from the shadows.
Hiruzen Sarutobi replaced a spent tobacco core with a fresh, high-quality one, took a puff, and then slowly opened the files.
"Uchiha... Kiyoshi." Hiruzen Sarutobi found Kiyoshi's periodic performance review form.
"He defeated Asuma, did he?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe, knocking out some ash.
No wonder that boy had been pestering some of the clan's veteran ninjas recently to practice Genjutsu.
Hiruzen Sarutobi then pulled out the next periodic performance review form for viewing.
He himself possesses [Ninja Art: Distant Mirror Technique], which allows him to remotely monitor specific individuals using a crystal ball.
However, it has many limitations, requiring mastery of the target person's chakra characteristics.
This condition is quite bothersome, and he couldn't possibly monitor the vast Hidden Leaf alone all the time.
Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi rarely uses this technique in his daily life.
"The winds of change are coming," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed after a moment.
Kiyoshi Uchiha's background is clean, tests showed he hadn't learned any Ninjutsu before arriving.
After retrieving Kiyoshi, he has continuously sent people to the Land of Lightning to gather intelligence.
To date, there has been no second instance of a case like Kiyoshi's.
And given the nature of the Land of Lightning, they would certainly not commit the foolish act of sending an Uchiha as a spy.
What concerned Hiruzen Sarutobi the most was another matter.
The ninja world is currently quite unstable.
***
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