"Roar!"
The colossal azure dragon roared as it charged towards Rikuto. To prevent Rikuto from using a Substitution Jutsu to evade the Ninjutsu, Yuta included both Shadow Clones in the attack range of his Ninjutsu.
"Although I've seen it once, it's truly astonishing that a Genin can master a technique of this difficulty," Rikuto formed hand seals, and two Chakra chains flew out from behind him, shattering the water dragon.
"As expected, a Jonin of the Uzumaki Clan can use the Adamantine Sealing Chains." Yuta gritted his teeth, continuously unleashing Ninjutsu, his Chakra now nearly depleted.
"A Jonin is indeed a realm I cannot touch at my current stage." Yuta let out a long breath. Since victory was impossible now, he could shed all burdens and unleash one final move.
"Clatter clatter clatter..."
"What! He has two as well!" Rikuto watched in shock as the chains emerged from behind Yuta. According to his information, Yuta at this time should only be able to use one chain simply. When did this happen... Adamantine Sealing Chains, a unique Sealing Technique of the Uzumaki Clan, but very few people can awaken this ability. Being able to use two chains means Yuta has taken another big step in mastering the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
"Clatter clatter... Clang!"
Taking advantage of Rikuto's shock at the number of chains, Yuta manipulated his two chains to tightly lock onto Rikuto's chains, then pulled with a sudden force.
"Whoosh."
Pulled by the two chains, Yuta and Rikuto rapidly closed the distance.
"Based on his Chakra reserves, after barely using the Adamantine Sealing Chains, Yuta's Chakra should be almost depleted. In this situation, to rashly approach a Jonin whose combat strength is still intact, Yuta, what are you thinking?"
Such a reckless move didn't seem like something the highly intelligent Yuta would do in battle, but whatever his objective, there was still time to unleash Ninjutsu at this distance.
"Heh, you fell for it!" Yuta's lips curved slightly as he watched Rikuto's movements.
"Bang."
"What!" Rikuto's pupils slightly dilated. One of Yuta's Shadow Clones had transformed into a chain, attaching itself to the real Adamantine Sealing Chains.
"Thud!"
The Shadow Clone punched Rikuto in the face, interrupting his hand seals before disappearing. Immediately following was a right leg imbued with dense Chakra.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
"Thump!"
A powerful blow landed squarely on Rikuto's chest. Bound by the chains, Rikuto didn't fly backward from the force. Yuta seized the opportunity, wrapped both hands around Rikuto's head, and with Chakra imbued in his knee, slammed it hard: "This is the last of it!"
"Crack!"
The chains, no longer supported by Chakra, quickly snapped. Yuta fell weakly from the sky.
"Thud!"
"Ha... huff... huff..."
Lying on the ground, Yuta gasped for air. From the day he learned to control Chakra, his Chakra reserves had never been so severely depleted. Weakness, dizziness—if not for the Nine-Tailed's power, any Genin could easily kill the current Yuta.
"Yuta!" Nao and the other person, who had already broken the Sealing Technique, quickly ran over.
Nao helped Yuta up and took a military ration pill from her pocket: "Here, open your mouth."
"Gulp."
After taking the military ration pill, Yuta felt a little better. He struggled to his feet and said to Rikuto, who was still lying on the ground: "Teacher Rikuto, what are you still doing lying there? That last move shouldn't have hurt you."
"Ha, these kids nowadays really are..." Rikuto sat up from the ground, his eyes full of helplessness as he looked at Yuta.
He had truly lost face this time.
Rikuto was certain that Hiruzen Sarutobi would be watching the Team 11 test remotely. Furthermore, when he activated his Kagura Shingan earlier, Rikuto sensed four familiar Chakra signatures.
Kakashi, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma.
Having been thoroughly beaten by a Genin fresh out of the academy, Rikuto now wished he could crawl into a hole.
Meanwhile, Kakashi and the others, who had witnessed the entire battle, gathered to talk.
Yuhi, recalling the Ninjutsu Yuta used during the fight, said in shock: "His Chakra reserves are a bit too high for a Genin, aren't they?"
"Hmm," Kakashi said. "It's not just the Chakra reserves, but also the Ninjutsu sequencing and the flexible use of basic Ninjutsu like the Transformation Jutsu. This shouldn't be something a Genin can perfectly achieve, especially when facing a Jonin. However, according to the data, apart from a brief period of training with Might Guy, Yuta shouldn't have much combat experience. Is it talent?"
At this, the three turned to look at Might Guy.
"I only taught him two or three simple moves; it wasn't really training. He must have completely memorized my movements and trained on his own. That's what a genius is, I suppose." Might Guy shook his head. Although he admired the child who frequently appeared at the training ground, Might Guy hadn't given him much special attention.
"Let's not talk about that for now, Kakashi. One of your three students, I believe, is Yuta's older brother. How is he? And the Uchiha orphan?" Asuma asked.
"Completely useless. His Taijutsu is subpar, and as for Ninjutsu, he knows nothing beyond the basic Three-Body Jutsu and Shadow Clone. His Genjutsu experience is zero. As for Uchiha Sasuke, his level is above the average Genin of this class, but he's still far from being a qualified Ninja," Kakashi said, shaking his head with drooping eyelids.
"That's quite a merciless evaluation. But those three passed your test, which no one has ever passed. You're such a dishonest man, you must be very satisfied with them," Yuhi teased.
Who are you trying to fool?
If he were truly useless, would you have let him pass the test?
A Jonin who hadn't seen battle might have allowed Naruto to pass out of deference to the Third's request, but Kakashi, who had fought his way through a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood on the battlefield, would never have let a student pass his test if they truly weren't up to par.
"Let's not dwell on this." Kakashi put away his Icha Icha Paradise and looked up at the newcomer, asking, "Your evaluation?"
"Ah, I accidentally got thoroughly thrashed." Rikuto sat down casually next to the four. Apart from Asuma, who had only recently returned, Rikuto and Kakashi had long been familiar with the other three.
"His battle intelligence is very high. Although his Chakra reserves aren't as vast as those of a pure-blooded Uzumaki, they far exceed those of other Ninja his age. His Ninjutsu and Taijutsu are beyond reproach. He can already control two chains of the Adamantine Sealing Chains, and Yuta also seems to be able to control the Nine-Tailed's power within him. His strength already surpasses that of an average Chunin." Rikuto leaned his head against a pillar, his heart filled with bitterness.
When he was twelve, he was just an ordinary Genin, yet Yuta could already contend with Chunin. Thinking of this, Rikuto looked at Kakashi next to him and felt an even greater urge to die. This great figure seemed to have already been a Jonin at twelve... Sensing Rikuto's indignant gaze, Kakashi turned his head and asked, "Since Uzumaki Yuta has such combat power, and Hyuga Nao and Sakurai Haruo are not weak either, will you recommend your students for this Chunin Exams?"
Rikuto said, "Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I will recommend them. Might Guy's three students will also participate in this Chunin Exams, as they are students who graduated from the Ninja Academy last year."
Might Guy, full of fighting spirit, declared: "My three also fully possess the qualifications! Kakashi, my lifelong rival, will your students participate in this Chunin Exams? I'll say this upfront: if we encounter your students, we absolutely will not lose!"
Kakashi looked up at the swaying leaves on the tree and murmured, "Who knows."