On the training ground, the students formed a semicircle nearly a hundred meters in diameter, centered around a large tree. Their eyes were fixed intently on the two small bells tied to its trunk.
That's right, this was a group combat assessment involving the entire class.
Unlike one-on-one battles, group combat tested the students' ability to work as a team. At this stage, where no single student's individual strength was completely overwhelming, teamwork was especially crucial.
The ice clone and Jiraiya stood at the base of the tree. "You have five minutes for a free discussion," the ice clone called out. "When the time is up, line up in your current positions. Understood?"
"Yes!"
"Alright, your discussion time starts now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the students swarmed together, clearly dividing themselves into seven distinct groups.
The largest group, led by a tall girl and Konan, consisted of almost all the female students. The second-largest faction was the band of brothers led by Yahiko and Nagato, most of them drawn in by the pair's strength and Yahiko's charisma. The other small groups were simply composed of kids who got along well with each other.
Apart from them, a few solitary figures remained scattered about, including Nono.
It wasn't long, however, before these lonely individuals were invited to join the various groups. Even as children, they understood the principle of "strength in numbers."
When the tall girl invited Nono, she accepted without hesitation. For her, joining an all-girls group was the least conspicuous choice.
Beneath the tree, the ice clone leaned against the trunk and asked, "Jiraiya, which student do you think will be the final winner?"
"Hmm." Jiraiya stroked his chin, lost in thought. After a moment, he said, "It should be Yahiko. In terms of individual strength, he and Nagato are the most outstanding, but Nagato will definitely defer to Yahiko. Their group is also the strongest."
"Is that so? It seems you really think highly of them."
"Of course. When you start teaching them, you'll see just how talented they are. Though, they're still a step below me. I graduated from the Ninja Academy at six, after all," Jiraiya said proudly.
As a child, Jiraiya had also been exceptionally gifted; otherwise, the Third Hokage would never have taken him on as a disciple. He was only called a "dunce" because he was constantly compared to Tsunade and Orochimaru.
"Oh? Well then, I'll look forward to their performance." The ice clone smiled. "However, I'm betting on Konan to be the final winner."
"Konan? Why?" Jiraiya asked, puzzled. "Konan's skills aren't bad, but there's still a gap between her and Yahiko and Nagato."
"Heh, this is a group battle. Don't underestimate the power people can unleash when they band together."
"That's why I mentioned that Yahiko's companions aren't weak either..." As Jiraiya spoke, a realization seemed to dawn on him. "Are you saying..."
"Yes. Precisely because they're so strong and are considered the most likely to win, they're bound to become a thorn in the side of the other groups—a common enemy for everyone else."
The ice clone sighed. "Once they're swamped by the sheer numbers of the other students, even the gifted Yahiko and Nagato won't be able to succeed. The only way they could win is to pretend to be defeated while climbing the tree, feign a retreat, and then ambush the victors on their way back to snatch the bells directly from them."
"Haha, impossible. Knowing Yahiko's personality, he'll just charge forward recklessly," Jiraiya laughed heartily.
"I wouldn't be so sure," the ice clone murmured, his gaze falling on the confident, smiling Yahiko.
...
"Discussion time is over! Everyone, to your positions!"
The ice clone announced loudly, "The winner of this assessment will receive a prize personally awarded by me. I hope you all take this seriously."
"A prize? Alright, we'll definitely get our hands on it!" Yahiko declared, full of ambition.
On the other side, Konan also clenched her fists, clearly interested in the prize.
"Okay, everyone on your marks! Get ready! Start!"
At the command, all the students charged toward the great tree.
Due to the age differences, the younger Yahiko was not the fastest runner. Currently in the lead was the tall girl. At nearly 1.6 meters, she stood out like a crane among chickens. Each of her strides was equivalent to two or three of the others', and she held her lead firmly. She was only eleven years old.
The second wave of runners was the boys' group, led by Yahiko. He used bursts of chakra to compensate for his physical shortcomings, and his speed was nothing to scoff at.
As for Nagato, Konan, and the others, they belonged to the third and largest wave of students.
Nono maintained a steady, unremarkable pace within this third group, blending into the crowd as she silently observed the students ahead of her. Her primary target of observation was, naturally, Yahiko.
The situation unfolded exactly as the ice clone had predicted. The other small groups dispatched members to intercept Yahiko, while completely ignoring the tall girl in first place.
Just as it seemed Yahiko was about to be tied down, Nagato, who had been conserving his strength behind him, began forming hand seals. In an instant, he unleashed a jutsu. "Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
A wall of earth shot up from the ground, extending rapidly forward and lifting the surrounded Yahiko onto its crest, freeing him from the encirclement.
"Nice!" Yahiko shouted, sprinting forcefully along the top of the wall as it carried him toward the tree. In a flash, he surpassed the tall girl and took the lead.
To be able to control such a large-scale jutsu with such precision... that's not something a five or six-year-old should be able to do, Nono thought in astonishment. Nagato's name shot to the top of her mental watchlist.
"That was a nice Earth Style from Nagato. He even added his own shape transformation to it. He's worthy of my high hopes," Jiraiya praised with a grin.
"They're almost there. I should go find a spot to wait for them to bring me the bells. I'll leave you to watch over things here, Jiraiya," the ice clone said.
"Go on, go on."
The ice clone waved and set off. A few seconds later, he passed by Yahiko, giving him a thumbs-up.
Encouraged, Yahiko yelled, "Those bells are mine!"
"In your dreams!"
The tall girl caught up, now running shoulder-to-shoulder with Yahiko. The two pulled out wooden kunai and began to clash at the base of the tree, neither willing to let the other climb it.
"This spot should do," the ice clone said, having walked a straight line a hundred meters away from the tree. He snapped his fingers.
A towering spire of ice crystals erupted from the ground, lifting him more than ten meters into the air. He turned, took a seat on a throne at the top of the tower, crossed his legs, and leisurely watched the students' exciting performance.
"So cool!"
Many students couldn't help but exclaim in awe at the sight.
A few clever ones had other ideas. They stopped, turned back, and stood before the ice tower, deciding to wait with ease for the bells to be brought to them.