After Obito shouted 'start,' neither Teacher Chen nor Mokgetsu made any immediate moves, instead standing still and watching each other.
Mokgetsu assessed Teacher Chen, and Teacher Chen's status panel appeared in his mind.
[Name: Chen Long]
[Chakra: 48000]
[Skills: Konoha Style Taijutsu (Master: 7000/15000), Konoha Dragon God (Master), Fire Attribute Chakra Nature Changes (Proficient: 2800/3000)...]
Mokgetsu had anticipated that Teacher Chen possessed a high level of proficiency in various taijutsu, but he was slightly surprised to see two nature transformations nearing master level, indicating that Teacher Chen's ninjutsu was on par with that of a typical Jonin. He even noticed genjutsu among Teacher Chen's skills.
"Although his skill set is quite comprehensive, when facing a true strong opponent, it'll still rely on taijutsu," Mokgetsu thought to himself.
Given that Teacher Chen had the title of the strongest in Konoha Taijutsu, he couldn't be compared to an ordinary Jonin.
"As expected of a duel between Jonin, both sides exude such a powerful aura," Shiranui Genma remarked upon witnessing the scene.
In a Ninja Academy practical exam, one typically attacks immediately to seize the initiative.
"Since neither knows the other's information, they're likely contemplating ways to probe for more intel," Ebisu speculated, pushing up his sunglasses with his middle finger.
Obito scratched his head and quipped, "They've just been standing there for half a minute, how do you see all that?"
He figured that both were trying to make the other move first, hence the stalemate.
Obito was right; Teacher Chen indeed wanted Mokgetsu to make the first move, given his seniority.
Seeing Mokgetsu remain still, he thought Mokgetsu might have a special strategy, so Teacher Chen took action.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
Teacher Chen quickly formed hand seals, gathering chakra in his throat and transforming it into Fire Attribute to spew out a straight flame.
Dragon Fire Jutsu is a rather unique ninjutsu among Fire Release techniques. Most Fire Releases create wide-ranging flames to attack enemies, whereas Dragon Fire Jutsu emits an arm-thick, straight-line flame.
This ninjutsu can be further enhanced with wire to hit targets more precisely, but the fight had just begun, and such conditions were not present. Teacher Chen's main objective was to test Mokgetsu's capabilities.
"Wow, it's actually Fire Release Ninjutsu. Isn't he supposed to be the strongest in Taijutsu?" Obito was dumbfounded seeing Teacher Chen start the attack with ninjutsu.
Obito expected Teacher Chen to use Instant Body Jutsu to rush over and unleash a devastating wave that could topple trees.
"While Teacher Chen's taijutsu is formidable, it doesn't mean his ninjutsu is lacking. Jonin from Konoha generally don't have weak points in ninjutsu, taijutsu, or genjutsu; it's just that one might be stronger. In situations where information is unknown, long-range ninjutsu is evidently more prudent," Ebisu analyzed.
Ebisu's reasoned and thorough analysis convinced Obito, who couldn't help but sigh:
"I didn't know you had such insight into combat, Ebisu. How come we rarely meet you in practical exams?"
Ebisu: ...
It's because he's usually eliminated in the first round. With sixteen contestants, it's not easy to run into him, and there are only two exams per semester.
"Haha, Ebisu's like that, full of talk but lacking in real combat," Shiranui Genma laughed heartily, patting Ebisu on the shoulder.
"Isn't it possible that it's not that I'm bad at combat but that you guys are just too strong?" Ebisu retorted, wrapping an arm around Shiranui Genma's neck.
Making it to the grade level practical exams already indicated that his strength was among the best in the grade. After all, each class could send only two participants; those who made it were at least in the top two of their classes.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
Seeing Teacher Chen use ninjutsu, Mokgetsu immediately formed the same hand seals and released a straight flame identical to Teacher Chen's.
Mokgetsu's proficiency in Dragon Fire Jutsu wasn't high, having only practiced it once in class, but with the boost from perfect-level Fire Attribute Chakra Nature Changes, the flame he spewed was twice as thick as Teacher Chen's.
The two flames clashed, with Mokgetsu's thicker flame undoubtedly overpowering, pushing back against Teacher Chen's flame.
Teacher Chen unhesitatingly ceased supplying chakra to the Dragon Fire Jutsu and then, with a burst of chakra at his feet, flashed away.
Boom!!
The thick flame left a blackened pit at the spot where Teacher Chen had just stood.
Teacher Chen was not too surprised internally; as a ninja who could hold his own in battles involving Jinchuriki, being skilled was only natural.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Orb!"
Teacher Chen leapt onto a tree, and from his elevated position, he fired one transparent Qi force after another at Mokgetsu like a machine gun.
As luck would have it, Mokgetsu not only knew Vacuum Orb, but it was also an advanced Wind Release he could freely use in public.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Orb!"
Mokgetsu and Teacher Chen formed identical hand seals, gathering a significant amount of chakra in their mouths, and then released transparent Qi forces.
Mokgetsu's proficiency in Vacuum Orb was also average, but he had recently unlocked a master-level nature transformation for Wind Release, providing a substantial boost.
Not all of their transparent Qi forces collided due to their sheer number, but in every collision that occurred, Mokgetsu's side emerged victorious.
Boom boom!!
The ground beside Mokgetsu was pitted with small craters from the transparent Qi forces, while Teacher Chen's side was more disastrous, with many trees shattered and the ground riddled with cracks. The wood splinters and dust from the attack left Teacher Chen looking inevitably battered.