Kimoto Tōichi's cold voice startled both Yamada Jumoku and Motonoya Toko.
Yoruha looked at the two of them and shook his head. "Teacher, don't scare them like that."
Standing on the surface of the water, Kimoto Tōichi turned his gaze toward Yoruha and smiled faintly. "What's wrong? You're not going to give it a try?"
He wanted to see whether Yoruha had managed to grasp the technique.
Yamada Jumoku and Motonoya Toko also looked at Yoruha, both aware that he was stronger than they were. They were eager to see if he could actually pull it off.
Yoruha hesitated for a moment.
In truth, he had already understood the entire principle the moment Kimoto Tōichi had finished explaining it. He had even calculated the precise amount of chakra needed. Still, he wasn't sure if he could truly do it in practice. A flicker of curiosity crossed his mind — could he actually control it that well?
"Go on, give it a try," Kimoto Tōichi said.
Yoruha nodded.
He stepped to the water's edge and began channeling chakra through his body. In an instant, it surged through his meridians. His eyes focused — then he placed one foot on the water's surface.
Splash.
The once-still surface dented slightly under his foot. For a moment, it looked like he would fall in — but then the water rebounded, lifting him up as if pushing back against his weight.
In the next instant, both of his feet rested firmly on the water's surface. He wasn't sinking at all.
"What the— Yoruha, have you practiced this before?" Yamada Jumoku blurted out, stunned.
Yoruha had succeeded on his very first attempt, leaving Yamada wondering if he'd secretly trained before.
Motonoya Toko's eyes sparkled with amazement.
Kimoto Tōichi was momentarily speechless. "You—you actually learned it?!"
Yoruha himself was a little surprised.
He knew his body had become much stronger and his chakra reserves had grown significantly, but he hadn't expected to succeed on the first try.
At that moment, Yoruha finally understood just how terrifying the system's so-called 'Exceptional Learning Ability' really was.
Even a genius like Sasuke had needed an entire day—and countless bruises—to master the similar tree-climbing exercise.
Yoruha quickly regained his composure. "I don't really know how, but I just managed to do it."
Hearing his words and seeing his genuinely "innocent" expression, the three others twitched at the corners of their mouths. If it weren't inappropriate, they might have beaten him into a pulp right then.
But what they didn't know was that Yoruha was telling the truth.
The moment Kimoto Tōichi had explained the principle, Yoruha's mind had already deconstructed the entire technique — every detail, every variable, perfectly calculated. All he needed to do was channel chakra exactly as his mind had determined.
And his chakra control was already frighteningly precise.
That's why he had succeeded in one go.
Kimoto Tōichi finally snapped out of his daze. Though still shocked, he managed to calm himself down. He thought silently, "Geniuses are really beyond my understanding."
If Kakashi were there, he would have scoffed: "No, that's not a genius. That's a monster."
Back when Kakashi had trained to walk on water, it had taken him a full day — and that was at the age of six. Even then, he had been a prodigy of the Hatake Clan, trained from childhood in family techniques.
Yoruha, on the other hand, had just started training — and his only known ninjutsu until now was the basic Clone Technique.
His talent was incomprehensible.
No matter how gifted someone was, mastering a technique that required such delicate chakra control in a single try was supposed to be impossible.
Kimoto Tōichi's voice trembled slightly. "You really never practiced this before?"
Yoruha shook his head. "Before this, I only learned the Three Basic Techniques at the Academy. That's the only ninjutsu I can use."
"Then it seems your time at the Ninja Academy actually held you back."
Kimoto Tōichi spoke sincerely. He genuinely believed the Academy years had hindered Yoruha's development.
"But since you never showed your talent back then, no one could have discovered it," he added with a wry smile.
Yamada Jumoku and Motonoya Toko nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Yoruha, you were way too low-key back at school. If you'd shown your skills, even Sasuke might not be your match."
Yoruha waved a hand dismissively. "No thanks. I don't like trouble. Didn't you see how many people Sasuke has to deal with every day?"
Kimoto Tōichi raised a brow. "So that's why you hid your talent?"
Yoruha nodded. "Of course. Why bring trouble on myself? I had to spend six years at that Academy."
Of course, that wasn't the real reason. The truth was that his talent back then had been average at best.
But even if he had been a genius, he would have done exactly as he said — keeping a low profile to avoid unnecessary complications.
Not out of fear of Hiruzen or Danzō targeting him, but simply because he didn't want trouble following him around.
And because that was his genuine outlook, he sounded completely sincere. Kimoto Tōichi believed him entirely.
He never expected Yoruha's reason for hiding his abilities to be that simple.
Yamada Jumoku and Motonoya Toko thought he was unbelievable — if they had Yoruha's kind of talent, they would have been showing off all over the Academy.
After all, what kid could resist flaunting how special they were in front of classmates?
Kimoto Tōichi chuckled and shook his head. He'd imagined all kinds of complicated reasons for Yoruha's secrecy, but the truth turned out to be so plain.
And he believed it completely — Yoruha's sincerity was that convincing.
Having once worked in the Anbu's interrogation division, Kimoto Tōichi could tell Yoruha wasn't lying.
Now that he understood the boy's mindset, he finally relaxed and genuinely accepted Yoruha as his student.
"All right," he said. "Since you've got the basics down, try standing where the current is stronger. Let's see your limit."
He wanted to know just how far Yoruha could go.
Yamada Jumoku and Motonoya Toko both watched with eager anticipation. They hadn't mastered it themselves, but seeing Yoruha grow stronger meant they'd have a powerful ally on future missions.
Yoruha nodded and slowly walked toward the flowing section of the lake.
As he approached, his mind automatically began calculating — countless variables, flow rates, and counterbalances flashed through his thoughts in an instant.
His body responded at the same time, adjusting his chakra output precisely.
The three on shore stared in disbelief. Even when Yoruha reached the part where the current ran strongest, he still stood perfectly stable atop the water.
Their eyes went wide.
Even Kimoto Tōichi couldn't believe what he was seeing. "This guy… he's a monster."
Yamada Jumoku and Motonoya Toko didn't fully grasp how absurd Yoruha's feat was, but they could feel the sheer scale of it.
"Teacher," Motonoya Toko asked, "isn't it harder to stand on flowing water than on still water?"
Kimoto Tōichi twitched at the corner of his mouth. "Obviously. Think about it — when the water's moving, your chakra output has to be dynamic, constantly adjusting."
"To stand on moving water is at least ten times harder than on calm water."
"Even I needed about ten days before I could manage it."
He stared at Yoruha, voice heavy. "That kid… really is a monster."
Kimoto Tōichi's expression grew serious. He could already tell — before long, he'd have nothing left to teach Yoruha.
If the boy could master a technique this demanding in an instant, learning higher-level ninjutsu would only be easier.
After all, walking on water required an incredibly fine control over chakra — even harder than mastering many C-rank techniques.
It was proof enough of how terrifying Yoruha truly was.
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Currently at chapter 200 for advance chapters
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