The day passed more slowly than expected. Jugo took advantage of this time to ask Dosu for instructions, finally learning some jutsu.
He only knew Shunshin, which is basically chakra acceleration.
Ironically, he also knew how to walk on trees and water, having been taught by Kimimaro.
But Kimimaro himself relies on the clan's jutsu and knows nothing more.
Even if he does, he doesn't care enough about it to feel he should teach Jugo.
In the end, Jugo discovered that in his tranquil state, his chakra is very easy to control.
He learned the three basic jutsus in a short time.
Clone is an ability that creates a purely spiritual copy. It cannot attack, but can still simulate the smallest aesthetic details, as long as its user is experienced enough.
Transformation, basically a chakra cloak around the body, not only changes your appearance but can even distort your visible image. Even if you're taller, you can look like a child using the light refraction effect.
It's like those mirrors that distort images, making you shorter, fatter, or taller and thinner. The effect is similar, but above all, it's purely aesthetic.
When Naruto transformed into a kunai in the fight against Zabuza, there was a 99,99...% chance it was a clone. A clone already made of chakra doesn't have to follow the same laws as the physical body, and can grow or shrink freely, as long as there's enough chakra and control.
The last one, substitution, is an interesting jutsu. It involves a bit of the principle of summoning. You first need to apply seals to an object and mark it, usually a tree trunk. It can also be just a piece of paper with a seal injected with your chakra beforehand. Then, stick it on the desired item, preferably one with a body weight similar to yours.
When using the jutsu, you and the sealed item switch places, just like a summon and reverse summon used simultaneously.
Of course, the target you want to switch can't be too far away, so the substitution jutsu can't serve as a long-distance teleport.
All three jutsus are useful in their own way, It's no wonder they use them as the most basic ones taught in the ninja academy.
After that, Jugo learned a little genjutsu from Kin, who was very happy to teach him. She would touch him from time to time, sometimes brushing his arms, sometimes helping him show him how to form the seals correctly.
Yes, Jugo knew very little about seals.
Kin was having fun teaching and Jugo was content learning.
In the end, Dosu simply went to sleep while Karin watched curiously.
They only stopped at night, when everyone went to eat and sleep.
During the night, Jugo felt something. Lying in his small, single room, he opened his eyes and looked at the window. There, a white man with a ponytail and wearing the Otogakure jonin outfit looked at him, smiling.
His features were basically the same as Orochimaru's, even his pupils were sharp, only changing color.
Jugo sat up, rubbing his tired eyes and waved to the man, saying. -Orochimaru-sama.
-Jugo-kun, I really liked your work with Sasuke... - Orochimaru smiled at Jugo. - The boy seems even more power-crazed after that.
-It's nothing, Orochimaru-sama, I just wanted to help Kimimaro. - Jugo bowed slightly.
Orochimaru licked his lips lightly with his long tongue as he spoke. -Ah, you helped him a lot by helping me, he'll be very happy when he finds out.
Jugo looked relieved and relaxed at this.
-The little girl with you, Kabuto told me about her, an Uzumaki? - Orochimaru asked with interest.
-Yes, I thought she could help me calm down if she learned sealing. Maybe she could learn a seal that would let me live in peace. - Jugo looked weary for a moment.
Orochimaru nodded. -It was a good idea, don't worry, I'll let her learn it well when she goes to Otogakure.
-Thank you, Orochimaru-sama. - Jugo agreed.
-Alright, rest up. Tomorrow, see if you can pass the exam without showing the power of the curse. If you can't, don't force it. I don't want you to be associated with me yet. - Orochimaru said, turning to leave.
-Yes, Orochimaru-sama. - Jugo agreed.
Orochimaru smiled before jumping out the window and disappearing into the darkness of the night.
Jugo watched the window for a while before returning to bed, ready to sleep again.
In the corner of the room, a small snake sniffed lightly with its tongue, watching Jugo sleep.
It stayed there for a long time, leaving only in the morning, disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
At two-thirty in the afternoon of the fifth day, the exam ended, not long after, everyone was gathered in front of the Hokage, instructors and a group of Konoha ninjas assisting them. Team 7 managed to pass with Kabuto's help. Jugo looked at Kabuto curiously, wondering if Orochimaru had sent him there to ensure Sasuke could pass.
Jugo didn't think much of it, looking around to see the differences, he noticed that... there weren't any, every team lined up there was the same.
Except for himself, everything else was exactly the same.
But that makes sense, he wiped out most of the teams single-handedly. There would most likely have been a few more teams if he hadn't interfered.
Jugo stopped watching as the situation unfolded and Anko soon began speaking. -Very well, pay attention, Hokage-sama will explain the third test to you.
Hiruzen quickly approached, clearing his throat. -First, before I talk about the third test, I want to explain something about the test itself...
The following dialogue was completely ignored by Jugo. Hiruzen basically explained why countries held chunin tests. They were small-scale wars to test the individual power of the younger generation against each other, as well as to show employers who had the best ninjas.
Basically a show for nobles and merchants, whoever looked the best on stage got hired.
Jugo understood that this world is based on feudal Japan, but the system of Daimyo and Kages still confuses him. In most worlds, the powerful would never accept being dictated to by the weak.
Not that he doesn't understand that Hashirama helped maintain this behavior, but his question is... how were the Daimyos still alive today?
I mean, a thousand years with beings so powerful they can destroy mountains, reincarnations of Asura and Indra appearing repeatedly, yet no one thought of getting rid of these weaklings and taking all the power?
Maybe it was just because the ninjas despised these guys and were preoccupied with fighting other clans, but even that confuses him. You can improve your own clan's living conditions with money. Aren't weak nobles walking ATMs?
Even if you wanted someone to manage the territory while you worry about the military, isn't it better to have an employee than a boss?
So, Jugo never really understood this behavior, maybe the culture was too ingrained, who knows.
Finally, after some small talk, they finally got to the details of the third exam.
But before he could speak, a ninja appeared in front of him, kneeling. - Hokage-sama, allow me to continue from here. I'm Gekko Hayate, examiner of the third test.
-I'm counting on you. - Hiruzen said lightly.
The man stood up as he spoke. - Nice to meet you.
-There's something I want you to... Cough Cough ...do before the test. - the man began.
Jugo looked at him blankly. Seriously, they'd put a guy who can't even stop coughing to explain. Besides, this guy can keep from coughing when he's acting like a ninja hiding, so why does he start coughing right after?
This only left him speechless about Konoha's ideas. Why didn't they just find someone with a stutter to explain?
To summarize, there would be a preliminary round to narrow down the field because the time of businessmen and nobles is more important than their lives.
-...If any of you feel like you can't continue, this is your chance to give up here... Cough Cough. - Hayate continued.
Jugo watched as Naruto and Sakura seemed to want to convince Sasuke to give up, just as Anko did, but in the end, it was Kabuto who gave up first.
Before leaving, he gave him a soft look, then calmly walked away after explaining himself.
Yoroi from his team didn't look happy, they whisper a bit before he leaves.
Jugo just watched calmly. Sakura seemed to want to make Sasuke give up, but he stopped her.
Then there was a discussion there too. Honestly, Jugo was getting tired of this, but Orochimaru was right in front of him, and he knew his previous personality. Jugo was a calm and gentle man when he wasn't mad, so unless he wanted to demonstrate his curse, which he couldn't on Orochimaru's orders, he had to hold back.
Finally, the charade ended, and Hayate began speaking again. - This round will consist of one-on-one combat.
-It's not an exercise. There are 20 of you, which means there will be ten fights. - The man continued. - The survivors of these ten fights will advance to the third test.
-As for the rules? There are none. - he said without changing his expression. - You fight until your opponent surrenders, dies or is declared physically incapable of continuing the test.
-Naturally, whoever loses can accept defeat to avoid a fatal blow. Besides, as referee, I have the right to judge the fights. Cough Cough. I could intervene if I deem the fight can no longer continue to save as many lives as possible.
He looked away and looked at Anko. - Now it's time to reveal what fate has in store for you.
She nodded and spoke into the microphone fixed to her face. -Open this.
A stone tablet in the upper left corner slowly opened, revealing a large monitor. Hayate glanced at it before turning to them and speaking. -The names of each pair of fighters will be chosen randomly. Before each match, the names will appear on the screen behind me.
Jugo wanted to mock, really? He didn't believe it.
If it weren't too obvious, he'd even bet they'd pit ninjas from other villages against each other.
But in any case, Jugo didn't care. Without using his mark, the only one who could defeat him here was Gaara. Shikamaru, perhaps, if he planned comprehensively, but in such a short time? Difficult.
A confined space, with a vastly different strength level and no preparation? Even Shikamaru can't perform miracles.
Of course, he doesn't doubt that Shikamaru could still subdue him with his jutsu with great effort if he went easy on him, but Jugo wouldn't do that.
He's never been the type to let his enemies talk, his policy is, strike first, talk later, preferably after the enemy is dead.
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+10 chapters of Jugo - Father of Devils on P_treon.
+21 chapters of The Legendary Mechanic - Triple Six on P_treon.
P_treon: March_Rain