Chapter 138: Hard Work Is Also a Talent

"You didn't see it, but that girl's legs are really beautiful and felt amazing."

At the Shimura residence, Yami was massaging Izumi's thighs while rambling, "I seriously doubt Kurotsuchi is actually Ōnoki's granddaughter. With his short height, big nose, and wide face, how could he have such a good-looking descendant?"

"I heard her father, Kitsuchi, is also a fat guy. About the same as Monga."

"Hmph. If you like someone else's legs so much, then stop touching mine."

Izumi pretended to be angry and tried to pull her legs away.

Yami smiled and pulled them right back.

The two went back and forth like that, as if they were competing.

To the other Uchiha in the room, it looked a lot more like flirting.

No, not like flirting. It was flirting.

"Kurotsuchi is indeed quite strong."

Pakura, who had just finished her special training, walked up from the underground training room and agreed with Yami's evaluation.

Pakura had fought against Kitsuchi during the Third Shinobi World War, so she had the qualifications to comment.

"Why? Do you like that girl?"

"I do think she's good." Yami shamelessly admitted, and the women in the room didn't react much.

This was just how Yami was. He said what he wanted, did what he wanted.

No fake sweet talk or phony politeness.

It was this honesty that made the girls feel at ease.

Better that than some man who talked about loyalty but had a filthy mind.

"I'll help you make 8,000 of her."

Hikari perked up immediately. She put down the romance manga she was reading and got ready to act. Yami quickly stopped her.

"I don't want an inflatable doll. What's the point of you punching out a puppet?"

"That wouldn't be a doll," Hikari replied. "Have you forgotten that I can modify memories? I could set it up so she thinks she's your childhood friend."

"No." Izumi interrupted, not pleased. "Hikari-san, Yami's childhood sweetheart can only be me. You can set her up as someone he saved, or a female servant instead."

"A female servant would be better. Yami-sama saved me, and I swore to follow him as a reward." Karin ran out to join the fun.

Yami's face was full of black lines. He shut all of them down. "Why would I need to use such underhanded tricks? After the Konoha Crush, I'll just attack Iwagakure directly and make Ōnoki compensate me with his granddaughter."

The room went silent.

That method… might be even more shameless.

Especially Samui. She even felt a little sympathetic.

After all, she had been carried all the way back to Konoha by Yami like some kind of local delicacy. Compared to her, Kurotsuchi walking into the trap herself was even more absurd.

Soon, the day of the Chūnin Exam arrived.

A large group of Genin had gathered at the Academy, and the scene was lively.

The Genin from the three major nations looked relatively normal. But those from smaller villages were dressed like they were attending a comic convention. Their appearances were all over the place.

This was the current reality of the smaller villages. Outside of a few talented individuals, most ninjas relied on body modifications or special ninja tools to raise their combat power. So it wasn't strange for them to look odd.

In Yami's eyes, the future would inevitably involve the development of scientific ninja tools. For those without overwhelming natural ability, technological enhancements were more efficient and easier to replicate than hard work.

If Orochimaru had become Hokage, forget about high-level combatants—even Konoha's mid and low-tier ninja would crush other villages. The legendary Sage of Six Paths was proof enough of that.

In the monitoring room, a group of Jōnin instructors observed the Genin's behavior on-screen.

When they saw Uchiha Sasuke pierce through the illusion of the two gatekeepers at a glance, they all nodded slightly in approval.

"As expected of an Uchiha. His grasp of genjutsu is much better than average."

Asuma praised him while also glancing toward Yami with a subtle expression.

Because of Kurenai, he had never liked Yami. But he wasn't foolish enough to openly cause trouble.

Because he couldn't win.

Yami had beaten him barehanded, and even Hiruzen couldn't do anything about it.

So Asuma pinned his hopes on his students. As long as one of them could beat Yami's, it would ease some of his resentment.

Yami didn't care about Asuma's thoughts at all and just kept watching the screen.

Then, a bowl-cut Genin blocked Sasuke's path.

"Hahaha! Yami, Lee is my proudest student!"

Might Guy, who had been silent until now, suddenly became passionate. He clenched his fists and rushed over to Yami.

"He will prove to you that hard work can surpass geniuses!"

If it were anyone else, Yami would have seen it as provocation and struck back mercilessly.

But this was Might Guy. Not only was Yami not annoyed, he felt quite pleased.

Damn, how many years had it been?

This guy finally remembered his name.

"Guy, why do you think hard-working people aren't also geniuses?"

That question stunned Guy.

"What's the relationship between hard work and genius?"

Yami spread his hands. "Hard work isn't just about trying. It takes real blood and sweat.

Anyone can work hard for a day on a whim. But to keep it up for a year or ten years takes persistence and resilience.

You think ordinary people have that?"

Yami had never considered Lee, Guy, or even Dai to be mediocre. Their talent just wasn't in ninjutsu—it was in taijutsu and sheer determination.

What was a truly average person?

No talent. No drive. No intellect. No background.

That's a real ordinary person.

Lee had persistence far beyond normal, and he had an Elite Jōnin like Guy to train him. With proper physical conditioning and guidance, how could anyone call that "ordinary"?

No one would believe it.

After hearing Yami's logic, many of the Jōnin fell into deep thought. Guy, meanwhile, was completely stunned.

He had always believed he got where he was through effort alone, and that Lee would follow the same path.

But now Yami was saying effort itself was a form of talent?

It actually made sense, and Guy couldn't find a way to argue against it.

Is that true?

Guy stood there in a daze, his entire worldview shaken.

Yami pushed him aside so he wouldn't block the screen.

Exam Hall.

Lee introduced himself and said he was the strongest among Konoha's Genin. Sasuke couldn't take that.

His sensei wasn't here, and someone else dared show off?

He rushed forward to fight.

However, things didn't go as expected. Sasuke's body couldn't keep up with Lee's speed and he got beaten down.

The effects of Lightning Release in activating cells were significant, and Maruboshi Kosuke's training wasn't wasted.

Sasuke and Lee traded blows. Once Sasuke realized Lee was no pushover, he pushed his Lightning-style stimulation further.

His speed surged, surpassing even Lee with weights on. With a heavy kick, he sent Lee sliding back more than ten meters.

"As expected of an Uchiha genius."

Lee grew serious. He began unwrapping the bandages on his arms.

"Sorry, Guy-sensei, but I—"

"Stop right there, Lee!"

Guy, seeing Lee's actions through the monitors, burst into the room and punched him square on the head, leaving Sasuke frozen in place.

Wait, why did Big Watermelon hit Little Watermelon?

"Lee! You were going to use a Forbidden Technique on a fellow Konoha ninja?! Have you forgotten everything I taught you?!"

"I'm sorry, Sensei. I just wanted to prove that hard work could surpass a genius…"

"No, I was wrong! You are also a genius of hard work!"

The two hugged and cried. The watching Genin all got goosebumps.

What are these two weirdos? Does Konoha have a zoo?

"Excuse me, Hinata-sama."

Hyūga Neji appeared with Tenten, greeting Hinata politely. "Sensei and Lee are like that, but they're good people."

"Neji…, I told you, stop calling me that," Hinata said softly.

"Etiquette can't be ignored," Neji replied firmly. "Whether it's the clan head's care or Yami-sama's kindness, I can never repay it. How could I be disrespectful to you?"

Neji's fate had completely changed. Though the Caged Bird Seal remained, it only interfered with the Byakugan and nothing more.

All the elders of the main house had passed away, and the younger generation was suppressed by Hiashi. The Hyūga clan was essentially under his full control.

The previously forbidden techniques were now fully open to Neji, and he received treatment equal to the main branch.

Neji understood that all of this was thanks to Yami. His respect for Hinata came from the heart.

Hinata sighed helplessly. She had tried persuading Neji many times, but never succeeded.

After the episode, the examinees arrived at the real exam room.

In the monitoring room, Morino Ibiki, the chief examiner for the first test, stood up to preside over the exam.

"Ibiki."

Yami suddenly called out. Morino Ibiki stopped immediately, turned, and stood at attention.

"Nothing big," Yami said casually. "Just be strict with the proctoring. I know you always save a final question to test team cohesion, but you can't let that be the only filter. Otherwise, Anko will curse you out later."

"Understood, Yami-sama."

Ibiki nodded and left.

Although Ibiki wasn't a direct subordinate of Yami in Anbu and technically only answered to the Hokage, Yami's strength and status spoke for themselves.

More importantly, he'd heard rumors that the Third Battalion's captain had a bit of a petty streak.

With something this flexible, Ibiki felt it was best to go with the flow.

Soon, the first written exam began.

Ninjas from several villages used various methods to cheat, dazzling the instructors watching.

"Tch, that puppet is so fake, and nobody caught it?"

"For Genin, that's good enough."

Kakashi thought back to how absurd his own behavior was during his exam. He couldn't help but speak up on behalf of the rookies.

Then he lowered his voice. "You taught Sasuke Chidori?"

As his own prized jutsu, Kakashi could tell even from the monitor. Sasuke had already completed the cell activation process.

"Yeah."

Yami didn't hide it and nodded. "He has talent with Lightning Release. He learned it after the Wave mission, though he's not very proficient yet."

"Isn't that too early?" Kakashi frowned.

He wasn't trying to hoard his techniques, but felt that right now, mental stability was more important for Genin.

"You Third Generation faction types are so full of it. You don't train them properly, and when danger comes, all you do is preach the Will of Fire?"

Yami sneered.

That was Hiruzen for you. Kakashi too. And don't even mention Jiraiya.

All of them thought brainwashing was more important than strength.

After training with Jiraiya for two and a half years, Naruto had barely progressed. It was just physical growth.

If he'd faced Sasuke under Orochimaru, he would've died instantly.

Then, after Jiraiya died, Naruto's power skyrocketed. He'd been held back for two years for nothing.

"How I teach my students is my business. After your students get beaten, feel free to heal them with the Will of Fire."

Yami said coldly and lost interest in continuing the conversation with Kakashi.

He stretched and walked out of the monitoring room.

The first exam was almost over, and there was nothing left worth watching.

Just then, the familiar cold chakra entered the range of his Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

Yami figured it was time to let Orochimaru know which people could be touched… and which ones absolutely couldn't.

(To be continued.)

***

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