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Apart from Genin and Chūnin, Ye Dou wasn't familiar with the specific power levels of higher-ranked shinobi. He had never interacted closely with any of them to make a proper assessment.
Especially when it came to the level above Jōnin—namely, the elite Jōnin and those approaching Kage-level—their combat abilities became even more unpredictable. Take his teacher Might Guy, for example. Under normal circumstances, Guy was an elite Jōnin of Konoha, known for his taijutsu prowess. But once he activated the forbidden technique—the Eight Gates Released Formation—his strength could temporarily surge to a level that allowed him to defeat even a member of the Akatsuki like Uchiha Madara in his Ten-Tails Jinchūriki form. That level of power couldn't be measured with common sense.
That was why Ye Dou remained uncertain about the true strength of the two greatest Uchiha geniuses since Uchiha Madara—Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui.
"For safety's sake, I need to check several other locations."
Backing away from the edge of the cliff, Ye Dou turned and ran ten miles through the woods.
He arrived at the location where Uchiha Shisui was rumored to have taken his own life. The next step was to identify a suitable ambush point.
...
As the white mist rolled in, Ye Dou left the Nanhe River, changed into civilian clothes, and returned to the Ninja Academy.
But today, his attention wasn't focused like before. His thoughts kept drifting back to whether his theory was correct.
"According to the textbooks and what the academy instructors explained, that terrain really is ideal for an ambush—high ground, natural concealment from weeds and foliage, and escape routes if things go wrong. With the right setup, a single strike could be fatal."
A gleam passed through Ye Dou's eyes, but quickly faded.
"But Uchiha Shisui isn't just any ninja—he's one of Konoha's most skilled Anbu operatives. He's spent more time on high-risk missions than I've spent training. It's unlikely he wouldn't notice danger. He must have anticipated a betrayal..."
In that moment, Ye Dou visualized several alternative spots where Shimura Danzō might have laid a trap for Shisui.
"Ye Dou!"
"Ye Dou!"
"Ye Dou!"
After being called three times, Ye Dou was pulled out of his thoughts.
He turned to see Hyuga Hanabi, looking worried. One hand covered her mouth while the other tugged gently at the hem of his sleeve under the desk. "The teacher's calling you!"
"What is it, Teacher Iruka?"
Ye Dou stood up calmly, eyes unreadable.
"Come up and demonstrate the Transformation Jutsu for the class," Iruka said, gritting his teeth slightly.
When Iruka first learned that both Uzumaki Naruto and Ye Dou would be in his class, he had wanted to request a reassignment from the Third Hokage. But the old man had personally persuaded him to stay.
Iruka knew, deep down, that the deaths of his parents weren't the fault of these children—they were victims too. But he couldn't help harboring resentment. It was his only outlet for the grief and anger he still carried.
On most days, Iruka found himself scolding Naruto constantly. Ye Dou, on the other hand, always behaved in class. That only frustrated Iruka more—it was easier to be angry when someone acted out. Today, however, he had found an opportunity.
He also knew this wasn't the right way to act. It wasn't what a teacher should do—but the pain wouldn't let him act otherwise.
Ye Dou's expression didn't change. Calmly, he stepped away from his desk and approached the podium.
Along the way, he could hear the murmurs and giggles of the other students—some mocking, others curious.
The Transformation Jutsu was one of the three fundamental ninjutsu taught at the academy. Though basic, it had a wide range of applications—from disguises in infiltration missions to tricking enemies in battle.
In data, Naruto had famously used this technique to turn into weapons like a giant shuriken or even into perverted forms to distract teachers. But in actual combat, its utility was immense—when mastered.
For most students, though, even this foundational jutsu was difficult to execute cleanly. Only a handful of students in the class could use it with any reliability. Those students were often labeled "geniuses."
"Begin," Iruka said, motioning with his hand.
Without a word, Ye Dou formed the hand seal—index and middle fingers pressed together—and activated the jutsu.
Poof!
A burst of smoke exploded from the platform.
ROOOOAR!
The classroom shook as a massive red-eyed fox head materialized in front of the students, its mouth opened wide in a savage roar.
It was the image of the Nine-Tails—the very beast recorded in the Book of Heaven and referenced in Konoha's history textbooks. It was a symbol of destruction, chaos, and death.
The illusion wasn't perfect. Due to chakra constraints and the lack of a shadow clone to share the load, Ye Dou couldn't maintain a full transformation. But the impact was still shocking.
Students shrank back in terror. Even Iruka, normally composed, broke into a cold sweat. His legs buckled as he collapsed to the ground.
The roar had awakened something terrible in his memory—flashes of fire, collapsing buildings, pools of blood, desperate cries... and the faces of his parents as they died.
Middle-school edgelord moment…?
With another puff of smoke, the illusion vanished, and Ye Dou stood in his normal form once again.
"My transformation technique still needs refining, Teacher Iruka. If you're looking for a demonstration next time… you should probably choose someone else."
He cast a brief glance at the stunned Iruka before returning to his seat.
But this time, the classroom was silent. No whispers. No mocking laughter. Only stunned faces.
Even the ever-proud Uchiha Sasuke found himself clenching his fists tightly under the table.
What kind of chakra was that...?
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