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It seemed as if the battle had come to an end.
But was Shali really willing to stop? Did he not realize that he was at an absolute disadvantage in every aspect? Wouldn't getting closer only hasten his defeat?
If the goal were merely to stall, keeping distance and engaging with throwing techniques would indeed be the best strategy. Yet Shali's aim was not to buy time—he was thinking about how he could actually win.
Victory depended on the hidden cards up his sleeve. If those cards were revealed too early, a prepared Iruka would surely switch to defense, making victory far more difficult. Even in this passive situation, there was no rush to act.
"It's over, Shali. You're undoubtedly a genius, but your potential for growth is still limited," Iruka said. Despite being in the midst of the fight and under considerable pressure, he showed no sign of worry. With his full strength, he could still make such an observation.
The next moment, Iruka gripped his kunai tightly, ready to deliver the final strike—the move that would decide the outcome of the battle.
And this was exactly the moment Shali had been waiting for.
Electric arcs surged along his legs. Shali felt a new sensation, a sudden increase in both strength and speed.
Yes, after a semester of training, Shali had barely learned how to temporarily enhance his physical abilities using Lightning Release. It wasn't highly developed, and it was different from the full Lightning Release Chakra Mode, but through long-term conditioning, he had discovered a method perfectly suited to his body.
This method was essentially customized to his physique. Even if he shared it with others, they couldn't replicate it exactly—they would have to experiment in the dark to find what worked for them.
Previously, Shali had not used Lightning-Enhanced Evasion because the gap between him and Iruka was too large. Even with Lightning Release, it wouldn't have compensated enough; it would only waste chakra.
Now, Shali wasn't strengthening his legs for raw power—he was doing it to increase speed!
This sudden boost caught Iruka completely off guard. He watched helplessly as his final strike missed. Yet he immediately realized something was wrong—he might have even been grazed by Shali's attack.
Indeed, after dodging the "final strike," Shali used the silver kunai he had personally given Iruka to wound him.
Iruka had no time to consider why Shali's speed had suddenly surged. His own posture was already slightly off from the previous attack, making even a seemingly simple strike difficult to evade.
However, a Chunin is still a Chunin. At the last moment, Iruka managed to dodge the blow, albeit in a slightly clumsy manner. As he retreated, he began forming hand seals.
The instant Shali thrust his kunai, he pursued it. This was his prepared final strike. Failure wasn't an option; if the opponent recognized his burst speed, he would have been doomed.
Shali's original speed wasn't much lower than Iruka's, but now, with Lightning-Enhanced Evasion, he was undeniably faster.
Iruka had intended to perform a sudden high-speed technique, but Shali gave him no time for hand seals. While his speed wasn't enough to disrupt Iruka entirely, it forced a reaction.
Electric arcs flickered along Shali's right arm as stones shot from his hand—faster and more accurate than any he had ever thrown.
Shali had studied Iruka's seal formation speed and knew that even if Iruka's sealing was faster, the stones would hit his arms, disrupting the seals. This was already a victory for Shali. Moreover, with a kunai in hand, Iruka's sealing speed would naturally slow further.
Iruka understood this immediately. Seeing the stones, he reluctantly stopped forming hand seals, tightening his grip on the kunai to block them.
He realized that Shali would continue to pursue him. Though he missed an opportunity, the enhancement was mostly speed-based, and Shali's raw strength was still inferior—so he still had a chance.
Yet time felt unusually short. Given Shali's speed, he should have reached his target by now. When Iruka glanced up after deflecting the stones, he saw Shali forming his final seal. A gust of wind enveloped him…
Wind Escape—Gale Palm? Something felt off.
Soon, Iruka realized the truth: Shali had vanished from sight without using teleportation, suddenly appearing above him. All Iruka could do was raise his arms in defense.
Using a kunai would have been ideal, but rational thought prevented it. A standard kunai under Wind Release would barely harm anyone. Shali was in a risky position, yet he seemed fearless. Iruka chose to block with his arms.
At this moment, the technique formerly called Gale Palm transformed. Shali had unleashed—Wind Release: Gale Kick!
To maximize effectiveness, Shali's legs—enhanced with Lightning Release—were ideal for the strike.
Lightning-Enhanced Evasion boosted Shali's physical capabilities, while Gale Kick amplified them further. With this combination, Iruka could not dodge; he had to endure Shali's full-force strike.
"Boom!!"
Though only a first-grade ninja, Shali's extensive training and Lightning Release enhancement allowed him to unleash a C-rank technique—Gale Kick—pushing beyond limits.
Iruka didn't even have time to resist before being knocked back.
If Shali had faced an enemy, he would have followed up with Wind Release: Wind Slash. But Iruka was not an enemy. Shali instead used the remaining power of Gale Kick to pursue him.
Seeing Shali and the kunai in his hands, Iruka realized he had likely lost. Even knowing Shali's power, he never imagined defeat here.
How long had it taken? Could Shali truly pull this off?
Recalling Shali's prior speed surge, it was undoubtedly Lightning Release. The arcs of electricity on his body explained everything. Iruka also did not expect Shali to have mastered the C-rank Gale Kick, transferring its power to his legs while maintaining Lightning Release reinforcement.
This was no simple addition of effects; the combined power exceeded Iruka's capacity to counter.
"Iruka-sensei, I win," Shali said with a relieved smile.
"You… you win," Iruka said, a mix of complex emotions on his face. He had been defeated by a first-grade student.
"Yes, I had to hold back a lot to barely win. If we fought again, I wouldn't succeed," Shali said, comforting Iruka.
Shali was right—if they fought again, Iruka would know all Shali's tricks and wouldn't fall for them again. The gap between them was still large.
Though Shali's chakra had increased, it was still small, and Lightning Release's enhancement was short-lived. Gale Kick's duration was even shorter, and practice was limited. Full seals were necessary; Iruka knew this couldn't be relied on as a trump card.
Even so, this victory was no easy feat. Shali had used almost all his chakra in the final stage, only enough to barely maintain it, and could at most execute a Wind Cut.
Iruka was a Chunin—a teacher-type, not a battle specialist. If he were a combat-focused ninja, Shali's victory would be far less certain.
"Don't worry. Winning is winning. There's no time to analyze opponents in battle. A teacher isn't that fragile," Iruka chuckled and sighed. "Come with me."
"All right," Shali breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want to hurt anyone—this was merely to test his current combat ability.
Iruka handed him a scroll.
"This is…" Shali's eyes lit up, reminiscent of when he obtained the Three-Body Technique.
"Instant Body Technique. Consider it a reward for defeating me," Iruka said. He had initially thought it wouldn't be taught until second grade, but apparently, Shali could handle it now.
Shali was amazed. It was a form of teleportation—basic, but more proactive than replacement techniques. Most importantly, it was essential for Shali's plan.
Neither Shali nor the still-sighing Iruka realized that their battle had been watched by someone possessing a crystal ball.
Chapter 40 – Progress and Observations
It was the last day of the semester. Sandai sat at his desk, reviewing the grade reports from various teachers.
As expected, academically, the best were second-grade Neji Hyuga and first-grade Shali.
Even compared to higher-grade students, their scores were remarkable.
"Hyuga…" the Third Hokage muttered, recalling Neji's father with a sigh.
He then looked at Shali's name, pondering. He had reviewed the records of Shali's father, whose childhood to adulthood was pure and ordinary.
Of course, the father had talent too. Overall, he had aimed for Chunin rank before his passing, but from the Third Hokage's perspective, the child might well become a Special Jonin, or at best a regular Jonin through achievements.
He didn't expect the child to be so gifted. In theory, willpower, and technique aptitude, Shali was exceptional.
The past Third Hokages had nurtured such talent, eventually producing the Fourth Hokage. Even Kakashi, despite his genius, had his abilities suppressed by past events. Yet Kakashi remained an elite Jonin.
Looking at Shali's achievements, the Third Hokage smiled. Perhaps this child could become another pillar of the village.
Even without the Sharingan, if Shali reached Kakashi's "combat power," the investment would not be wasted.
After reviewing all results and arranging the graduates' curriculum, the Third Hokage turned to the crystal ball, observing the ninja school—finally landing on Naruto.
After Naruto left, the Third Hokage's attention shifted to Shali. He often monitored Naruto and naturally knew that Shali usually left the classroom first.
Today, he had sent Naruto off, staying behind for a purpose. What was it?
After a careful observation, he continued watching the ninja school.
"So, you're fighting Iruka?" The Third Hokage felt an unexpected thrill.
Soon, he watched the full battle between Shali and Iruka.
Though both were limited by age, even from the Third Hokage's perspective, Shali had defeated Iruka, a teacher with undeniable talent and ability.
He could use C-rank techniques, control them fully, simplify Replacement Technique to just three seals, and combine Lightning Release with Wind Release for enhanced attacks. And Shali was only six years old.
Kakashi had similar early achievements but began training later, and Shali's diligence was unmatched.
Even with Shali's exceptional talent, the Third Hokage had no doubts about his identity. Sending such a gifted child as a spy would be unimaginable—any village would recognize the folly.
After a long inhale, a plan began forming in the Third Hokage's mind. Iruka would soon report on Shali's abilities, so calling now was timely.
Shali walked toward the training ground, reflecting on the battle.
Overall, he was satisfied. He had gathered more information than expected, thanks to Iruka's oversight, learning the differences in their physical abilities and seal formation speed. Iruka's strength was slightly weaker than Shali had imagined.
This intelligence proved crucial, allowing him to plan subsequent moves and secure victory.
Indeed, tactical battles differ from brute-force fights. Facing Iruka again, Shali might win, but only as his abilities grow.
Regarding throwing techniques, Shali knew his current skill guaranteed accuracy, but not versatility. This was partly due to his previous stones and partly because he didn't yet know how to improve.
The Uchiha clan excelled at adapting throwing techniques, while others didn't. Iruka likely didn't know either, so Shali maintained his approach—precise and fast.
However, a lack of variation allowed some quick-reacting ninjas to evade.
Shali wasn't underestimating himself. Even against a Chunin, he wasn't completely helpless. Ignorance of each other's techniques and a likely lack of throwing skill from the opponent meant Shali could still escape using Lightning and Wind-enhanced kicks.
Shali's speed, combined with these enhancements, allowed him to evade most ninjas who didn't prioritize speed.
Yet complacency was not an option. While strong in one area, his overall fundamentals were below most Genin. He still needed improvement.
Shali arrived at the training ground. After the Iruka fight, his energy remained high, so he didn't rush home. Shinai hadn't taken leave, so he planned to finish training before returning.
As expected, Shali saw Shouri at the training ground, training even harder than before, seemingly venting something.
Shali guessed the reason—final exam results. Second-grade standards differed from first-grade. In the ninjutsu course, technique was critical, so it weighed heavily.
For Rock Lee, his grades in this course could only be zero. His theoretical knowledge was lacking, so even with the top physical score, he barely avoided last place.
Thus, Shouri's current drive was fueled by his academic results.