"It's your turn, Obito," Nohara Rin reminded.
Obito nodded and quickly walked onto the stage.
"Obito, go for it," Nohara Rin encouraged, clenching her fists.
"Obito, this time it's your chance to face Kakashi. Show all your hard work," Might Guy also cheered for Obito.
They had been training together with Teacher Mokgetsu, and he had witnessed Obito's efforts.
"Don't lose to others before I even get to face you," Kakashi said casually, encouraging Obito in his own way.
Kakashi's encouragement was very effective, and Obito immediately turned back and said, "Impossible! Just wait and see."
"Another young Uchiha, quite rare. I wonder what remarkable performance he'll bring us," the host remarked, amazed that the entrance fee had brought even members of the Uchiha.
"Obito's participating too, how unlucky for him. Just before his performance, another Uchiha did so well. This comparison could be embarrassing," Asuma already felt embarrassed for Obito.
He had known Obito for over three years and was well aware of his level. Although he had learned the Great Fireball Jutsu, his skills were quite average.
"So he's participating too," Uchiha Tekka frowned as he watched Obito walk onto the stage, feeling uncertain about the odds.
"Though the judges have average skills, maybe they won't see the brilliance of the Mighty Dragon Fire Jutsu," Uchiha Tekka considered another angle.
Though the Mighty Dragon Fire Jutsu is a B-level Fire Release Ninjutsu, its learning difficulty is a level higher than the Great Fireball Jutsu, but in terms of visual impact, it's not as impressive as the Great Fireball.
"Contestant Uchiha Obito, what Ninjutsu will you be performing?" the host routinely asked.
"I'll use Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu," Obito confidently responded.
"Another Great Fireball Jutsu? Do all the young Uchiha master this Ninjutsu? Truly a noble clan. Let's look forward to contestant Uchiha Obito's performance," the host said while stepping back.
A wide-range destructive Ninjutsu like the Great Fireball requires maintaining a safe distance.
"Has he mastered both the Mighty Dragon Fire and the Great Fireball with high proficiency?" Uchiha Tekka found it hard to believe.
He was 100% sure Shisui could do that, but Obito had previously been considered an Uchiha dropout.
Obito stood on the stage, looking at the audience below, clearly seeing everyone.
Nohara Rin smiled and rooted for him.
Might Guy gave him a thumbs up with a bright smile.
Kakashi kept his eyes on the stage.
Shisui seemed to silently say, "Go for it."
Asuma looked on with a pitying expression.
Mokgetsu...
"Hey, Teacher Mokgetsu!" Obito's face lit up with excitement when he saw Mokgetsu; his only regret today was that Mokgetsu, being a tutor, couldn't come to watch his performance.
Obito was very grateful to Mokgetsu, who freed him from the title of Uchiha dropout, enabled him to beat Uchiha Tekka and become second in his class, and finally pass theory he had never succeeded in before.
Standing there confidently was deeply related to Mokgetsu.
In the 20 days of special training, it wasn't just him who worked hard. Mokgetsu went to great lengths to enhance his abilities, even improving Ninjutsu.
If Mokgetsu couldn't see his spectacular performance when he wins first place, Obito would find it a pity.
Noticing Obito's gaze, Mokgetsu smiled and waved at him.
"I can't let down those cheering for me," Obito took a deep breath, entering an unprecedented state of focus.
That year's failure still haunted him, and this time he wanted to win everything.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Obito skillfully made the hand signs, gathering a massive amount of Chakra in his throat, transforming it, and then spewing it out instantly.
Whoosh!!!
A series of fierce flames erupted from Obito's mouth, quickly forming an orange-red fireball that rapidly expanded, reaching a height of four meters, nearly three times Obito's height.
"How can this be a Fire Release Ninjutsu performed by a Ninja School student!" a judge gasped, looking as if they'd seen a ghost at the sight of the spectacular giant fireball.
Another judge rubbed his eyes, also full of disbelief.
"Contestant Uchiha Obito's Great Fireball is beyond ordinary; even the judges are surprised!" Amidst his astonishment, the host didn't forget to provide commentary.
In five years of commentary, this was the first time he'd seen such a level of a Great Fireball, especially from a Ninja School student.
"A Great Fireball of this level, how could it be!" Uchiha Tekka felt he might be caught in a Genjutsu.
He'd rather believe he'd been caught in a Genjutsu than accept that Obito could manage such a powerful Great Fireball along with the Mighty Dragon Fire.
With a Great Fireball this powerful, Obito wouldn't need any tricks, a direct clash with it would make him no match.
"Is this Obito's Great Fireball?" Asuma rubbed his eyes, feeling it was unreal.
"Teacher, hit me. I think I'm caught in a Genjutsu," Asuma said to Mokgetsu.
Mokgetsu obliged, tapping Asuma's head with two fingers.
"Ouch." Asuma looked at Obito on stage, and the giant fireball in front of him, mouth agape, utterly shocked.
Being defeated by Uchiha Shisui was something he'd accepted; he might be more talented than Kakashi.
But Obito was his old friend; he knew what level he was at.
This gigantic fireball nearing the height of a house, what kind of trick is this? Had he been hiding his strength the whole time?
"Even Obito has such ability; could I really be that lacking?" Asuma started doubting himself.
He felt he needed to step up his game otherwise he wouldn't just fail to surpass the Third Hokage, he'd be the weakest among his friends.
"A Great Fireball at this level, no wonder he was so confident earlier," Kakashi thought, seeing Obito's Great Fireball, and realized how much Obito had improved.
So much that Kakashi was puzzled; Obito hadn't graduated yet, so why such a significant improvement?
Usually, skill rapidly increases after graduation.
"Ten, ten, ten, contestant Uchiha Obito's total score is thirty! He achieved a perfect score, securing first place in advance!" the host exclaimed excitedly.
All the judges gave Obito perfect scores, a very rare occurrence.
"Did he use some trickery?" Hyuga Kamon, who had activated his Byakugan, saw through Obito's Great Fireball, finding it impressive but not exaggerated.
He was accompanying a friend, and now it seemed first place was Obito's.
However, Hyuga Kamon didn't think Obito could beat him in the next final exam since he would prevent him from using any Ninjutsu.
"The host even announced securing first in advance; Obito, you're really something," Nohara Rin complimented Obito after he got off the stage.
"Hehe," Obito couldn't help grinning foolishly.
"Don't be too pleased too soon; when it's my turn, they might give an unprecedented higher score," Kakashi warned Obito not to celebrate too early.
"Now, let's welcome the fifth contestant, Hatake Kakashi, to the stage,"
Kakashi finished speaking as the host called out his name.