Bang bang bang...
As sounds akin to heavy objects being struck rang out continuously, a scene with immense visual impact entered the eyes of all the students and teachers, shocking them into speechlessness.
Namikaze Minato, who had been sent flying by Gojo Yoru's punch, was struck repeatedly by three Gojo Yorus like a ball before his body could even land.
If these three Gojo Yorus were his main body and Shadow Clones, it wouldn't be so shocking.
But as it happened, one Gojo Yoru knocked Namikaze Minato flying, and another Gojo Yoru rushed to where Namikaze Minato was flying towards at an even faster speed, knocking him away again.
Moreover, the way Gojo Yoru rushed over wasn't by using Body Flicker at a speed invisible to the naked eye, but by passing directly through Namikaze Minato's body at a speed just slightly faster than Minato's backward flight.
During the process of being kicked around like a ball, Namikaze Minato did try to counterattack.
However, the result of the counterattack was just like Gojo Yoru passing through him—all attacks passed through Gojo Yoru's body.
Every Gojo Yoru seemed like an intangible phantom clone, yet could become tangible at any moment in the next second.
Such a technique... let alone these inexperienced students, even Yuya, who was already a Chunin, and the medical ninja had never seen it before.
They were very certain that those two clones of Gojo Yoru were just the most basic phantom clones.
As for why the phantom clones didn't dissipate when attacked, and why they could become tangible?
They couldn't understand it, nor could they comprehend it.
However, seeing that Gojo Yoru wasn't giving Namikaze Minato a chance to land, and the latter was already wearing a mask of pain, plus one Gojo Yoru leaping into the air and posing for a downward axe kick, Yuya instantly snapped out of it. He hurriedly used Body Flicker to catch Namikaze Minato and shouted at Gojo Yoru, "The winner is decided. The battle is over."
Hearing this, the Gojo Yoru in the air and one on the ground immediately turned into clouds of white smoke and dissipated.
"Sorry, I got carried away just now. Are you okay?" Gojo Yoru's main body walked over, rarely apologizing for his actions.
"...I'm fine."
Namikaze Minato, helped upright by Yuya, endured the pain of feeling like he was falling apart and shook his head at Gojo Yoru, saying sincerely, "I lost. Yoru-san, that technique of yours is very powerful."
"Your Wind Release is also very strong. If I hadn't mastered Earth Release, I might have been instantly defeated by you." A smile that was hard for the classmates to imagine appeared on Gojo Yoru's face. He then raised his hand and extended two fingers towards Namikaze Minato, smiling, "Thanks for the match."
"Thanks for the match."
Namikaze Minato also extended his fingers, forming the Seal of Reconciliation with Gojo Yoru.
Was it an illusion...?
Namikaze Minato always felt that Gojo Yoru seemed to have changed slightly compared to before the battle started.
Was it because of the smile?
Namikaze Minato would never know that from this moment on, he was no longer Gojo Yoru's hypothetical enemy, nor the inner demon that had been suffocating Gojo Yoru for years.
They were both cheats, but Gojo Yoru would not give the person he defeated a chance to catch up and surpass him again.
Gojo Yoru's change was a transformation after exorcising his inner demon.
From now on, Gojo Yoru wouldn't overthink anymore, nor would he need to act every day.
He could put down all masks and start living for himself as he pleased.
His talent, his strength, his Cheat... would get him everything he wanted!
Naturally, Namikaze Minato didn't know any of this.
After forming the Seal of Reconciliation with Gojo Yoru, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Yoru-san, may I ask presumptuously, were those two clones Shadow Clones? How did you manage to switch them between tangible and intangible?"
Hearing this, the eyes of everyone present focused on Gojo Yoru.
Gojo Yoru just curled his lips slightly and said proudly, "Those weren't Shadow Clones, but something I developed myself... the Phantom Body Flicker Technique."
"Phantom Body Flicker Technique?"
Everyone memorized the name of this technique.
After pondering for a moment, Yuya and the medical ninja's expressions suddenly changed: "Body Flicker Technique... it was actually just the Body Flicker Technique?!"
Namikaze Minato also realized this and looked at Gojo Yoru with disbelief in his eyes: "But why didn't your phantom clones dissipate after being hit?"
Gojo Yoru smiled without answering, then turned and left the field.
Seeing this, Uzumaki Kushina, who had also finished her exam, hurriedly followed, leaving behind a group of teachers and students still in a state of confusion and shock.
On the way, Uzumaki Kushina asked with equal curiosity, "Yoru, was that technique just now really just ordinary Clone Technique and Body Flicker Technique?"
"If you want to know, work hard to become stronger." Gojo Yoru smiled slightly and encouraged, "When your strength reaches a certain level, you will naturally know the secret of this technique."
Uzumaki Kushina was stunned, staring blankly at Gojo Yoru.
The curiosity in her heart had been covered by Gojo Yoru's smile.
Did this guy always look this good when he smiled?
It wasn't that Uzumaki Kushina hadn't seen Gojo Yoru smile at her, but mostly they were mocking smiles, or cool faint smiles and sneers.
Such a pure, heartfelt smile was very rare.
And not knowing if it was an illusion, Uzumaki Kushina always felt that some kind of change seemed to have occurred in Gojo Yoru.
This change made him seem to radiate light all over, becoming even more handsome!
Recovering her senses, Uzumaki Kushina's small face felt a bit hot. She averted her gaze and turned her head away, feigning disdain: "Tch... if you won't tell, then don't. Anyway, that technique of yours can only bully that kind of sissy."
"Heh... you really dare to say that. Do you want to try it?"
"Try it then!"
"Sometimes I really admire you. If only your body's defense was as tough as your mouth."
"Just keep being arrogant while you can. Wait until I master that technique, you'll be crying later!"
"What technique?"
"Hehe... I won't tell you!"
As if winning a round, Uzumaki Kushina made a funny face at Gojo Yoru, then skipped ahead, not giving Gojo Yoru a chance to mock her back.
The corners of Gojo Yoru's mouth rose slightly, and he followed behind with his hands in his pockets.
"Being young is so nice..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had specially used the Telescope Technique to watch this final exam today, couldn't help but sigh with a smile.
Looking at Gojo Yoru in the crystal ball, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes were full of satisfaction.
He also couldn't see through the principle of the Phantom Body Flicker Technique and didn't know how Gojo Yoru managed to make phantom clones withstand attacks without dissipating.
Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't delve too deeply into it either.
Because Sarutobi Hiruzen, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, could tell at a glance that this technique was born from Gojo Yoru's unique Body Flicker talent.
If one's Body Flicker Technique couldn't reach Gojo Yoru's ghostly, soundless level, even knowing the principle of this technique, one simply couldn't learn it.
Moreover, this kind of weird transposition could only gain an advantage in Taijutsu of the same level.
Phantom clones were ultimately just phantom clones.
Without a physical body, they couldn't perform techniques like Shadow Clones.
As long as one mastered large-scale Ninjutsu, this technique could be easily countered; it wasn't worth dreading.
However, the talent displayed by Gojo Yoru still attracted Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention.
"Developing a Body Flicker Technique unique to himself that doesn't belong to the five elemental types at this age not only shows powerful Chakra control and reaction ability but also implies that his understanding of space is different from ordinary people. Perhaps... he has the potential to cultivate Tobirama-sensei's technique." Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly. He suddenly turned his head to look in a certain direction and whispered in a voice only he could hear, "Not intervening for so long... does this mean that you, Mito-sama, have also acknowledged them?"