[On the screen,]
"Is it over?"
Torune Aburame and Fū Yamanaka let out a sigh of relief. Torune stepped forward and recalled his nano-sized poison insects.
At that moment, a voice rang out from outside the field:
"Hey! Wataru—what have you been doing since earlier?!"
Torune froze, completely confused. Fū also felt that something was off.
Then Owl, who had been standing behind them, walked closer and spoke:
"Your coordination just now was excellent. Those nano-sized poison insects are quite impressive."
"No, Owl—you were strong too…?"
Owl's figure gradually blurred, then shifted—revealing Nagi's original appearance.
The two were stunned and hurriedly looked at Nagi in Torune's arms—only to see that "Nagi" dissipate and transform into Owl instead.
In the next instant, Nagi appeared behind them, his sword resting lightly against their necks.
"Checkmate."
Fū and Torune exchanged a glance and gave bitter smiles.
"We lost."
"Woooah!!!" xn
The arena instantly erupted into cheers and applause.
Though Fū and Torune were filled with doubts, they understood what could be asked—and what could not.
Seeing their expressions, Nagi could guess what was running through their minds.
As he turned to leave, he said calmly:
"When did you start thinking I wasn't using genjutsu?"
He walked away, leaving the two staring at each other in shock.
Outside the screen, everyone was dumbfounded.
[Ōnoki: Th-This really was genjutsu?!]
[Rasa: What happened? When was it activated?]
[Shino Aburame: What exactly is going on?!]
The Aburame clan members were especially shocked.
If they were caught in genjutsu, the kikaichū inhabiting their bodies would normally sense the abnormality and actively disrupt their host's chakra flow, freeing them from the illusion.
To completely trap them in genjutsu, one would have to cast it on every insect in their bodies. Given their sheer numbers, that was practically impossible. Aside from large-scale illusions, they were generally considered resistant to genjutsu.
Unless…
It was an extremely high-level technique—something like Shisui Uchiha's Kotoamatsukami, the Infinite Tsukuyomi, or other overwhelming illusions that left the victim unaware they had been ensnared.
[Jiraiya: It must've been some advanced genjutsu.]
[Mei Terumī: But when was it activated?]
[Inoichi Yamanaka: No—that's not right! If Fū's Mind Transfer Jutsu had successfully connected, he should've sensed something abnormal. With his chakra sensory ability, he should have realized that wasn't Nagi at all.]
Inside the classroom, the Rookie Nine crowded around Nagi, chattering excitedly.
Kiba Inuzuka asked directly,
"That was amazing, Nagi! What was that just now?"
Naruto Uzumaki burst out laughing.
"Of course! How could a friend of Naruto Uzumaki possibly lose?!"
Shikamaru Nara mercilessly exposed him.
"Hey, you were the most nervous one when Nagi went down."
The girls in class had practically turned into Nagi's fangirls.
Ino glanced at Nagi, then at Sasuke, then at Sai… and decided Nagi was clearly the best choice.
Sakura Haruno and Karin remained absolutely loyal to Sasuke, while Hinata Hyūga shyly continued sneaking glances at Naruto.
Nagi, meanwhile, recalled the scene on the screen and felt fairly satisfied.
The genjutsu he had used was developed from the formula of Kotoamatsukami in Danzō Shimura's right eye, combined and modified with the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.
This version could dominate all five senses of the target, causing them to completely believe whatever appearance, form, weight, texture—even scent—he wished them to perceive.
He had adapted the concept from a manga called Bleach, naming the technique "Kyōka Suigetsu ( Nagi's original genjutsu)."
There was also an inverse variation—built primarily upon the latter technique and refined with the former.
[Ōnoki: Judging by Nagi's final expression, he was still holding back.]
[Rasa: He's that strong?]
[Mei Terumī: Ara ara… handsome and powerful. How charming.]
[Tsunade: Hmph! You're already at that age and still trying to flirt with our Konoha child? Have some shame.]
[Mei Terumī: Ara? If we're talking about age, Lady Tsunade seems older than I am.]
[Tsunade: What did you say?!]
[Jiraiya: Ahem… Tsunade, you'll always be twenty-five in my heart.]
Tsunade completely ignored him.
At an inn somewhere in the Land of Fire—
"Bang!"
Tsunade smashed the table in front of her with a single punch.
"That Mei Terumī—what did she mean?! I'm only slightly older than her, and she calls me old?!"
Shizune cried from the side,
"Lady Tsunade, she didn't call you old… And we're basically out of money. Now that you've broken the table and floor, we'll have to pay compensation."
The moment she heard "pay," Tsunade instinctively began packing.
She peeked out the window, glanced left and right, and after confirming no one was watching, whispered:
"Shizune. Now's our chance. Let's run."
Without waiting for a reply, Tsunade grabbed her luggage and expertly leapt out the window.
"Ah—wait! Lady Tsunade, wait for me!"
Shizune hurried after her, clutching Tonton.
[Over the following months, Nagi continued training relentlessly.
During his free time at night, he carefully organized and transcribed several books, adding his own annotations and insights.
Among them were works written by Tobirama Senju himself:
On the Evolution of the Sharingan
On Special Emotional Chakra Properties
On the Governance of the Soul
Nagi sealed these into scrolls. He also compiled books such as:
Cell Biology
On Biological Evolution
Scientific Explosions
Electromagnetism, and more.
"The bait is ready. Now we wait for the fish to bite."]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Bait? What bait? Aren't those just books?]
[Sakura Haruno: Idiot Naruto, it's a metaphor.]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Ohhh, I see.]
[Ōnoki: Is he trying to lure someone with those books?]
[Fourth Raikage (A): Ahem… Nagi, have you considered selling those books?]
Moments earlier, Kumogakure's scientists had urgently contacted him, insisting that he purchase those books at any cost—they considered them priceless treasures.
If they could obtain them, they claimed Kumogakure's overall strength could rise to an entirely new level.
Seeing their rare excitement, even the Fourth Raikage realized the books were no ordinary materials.
[Nagi: There's no need for concern, Lord Fourth Raikage. The books will reach the right hands—just give it a little time.]
Silently, Nagi added in his heart:
"And who knows where those people will belong by then?"
Shikaku Nara stopped the Third Hokage from intervening. He sensed deeper meaning behind Nagi's words.
Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly calmed down as well, realizing Nagi must already have a plan.
[Fourth Raikage (A): Ahem… then I shall thank you in advance, Nagi.]