"Obito, it's your turn," Rin reminded.
Obito nodded and quickly stepped onto the stage.
"Obito, do your best," Rin clenched her fists, cheering for Obito.
"Obito, this time it's your turn to fight Kakashi. Show all your hard work and efforts," Might Guy also cheered for Obito.
They had trained together with Mutsuki, and Guy had witnessed Obito's efforts.
"Don't lose to someone else before it's even my turn," Kakashi said lightly, encouraging Obito in his own way.
Kakashi's encouragement had a significant effect. Obito turned back and said, "Impossible! Just wait and see."
"Another Uchiha youth, quite rare. I wonder what kind of excellent performance he'll bring us," the host exclaimed, adding that money truly makes a difference, attracting even two Uchiha.
"So Obito is participating too, huh? That's a bit unfortunate for him. There was just an Uchiha who performed so well before him. It's going to be awkward with the comparison," Asuma was already feeling embarrassed for Obito.
He had known Obito for over three years, and he was well aware of Obito's skill level. Although Obito had learned the Great Fireball, his proficiency was just average.
"He's also participating." Uchiha Tekka frowned upon seeing Obito stepping onto the stage, feeling that the bet of eight thousand ryo might not be secure.
"However, those judges have average skills. Maybe they won't recognize the greatness of the Great Dragon Fire Jutsu," Uchiha Tekka considered another perspective.
Even though the Great Dragon Fire Jutsu was a B-rank Fire Release Ninjutsu, with a higher learning difficulty than the Great Fireball, in terms of visual impact, it wasn't as impressive as the Great Fireball.
"Contestant Uchiha Obito, may I ask what Ninjutsu you will be performing?" the host asked as a routine.
"I will use Fire Release · Great Fireball Jutsu," Obito confidently replied.
"Another Great Fireball Jutsu? Have all the young Uchiha mastered this Ninjutsu? Truly a prestigious clan! Let's look forward to the performance of contestant Uchiha Obito," the host said while stepping back.
For a wide-range destructive Ninjutsu like the Great Fireball, it's essential to maintain a safe distance.
"Could it be that he has high proficiency in both Great Dragon Fire and Great Fireball? It feels a bit unrealistic," Uchiha Tekka thought.
He was one hundred percent confident in Shisui being capable of this, but when it came to Obito, he had been considered a bit of a straggler among the Uchiha.
Obito stood on the stage, looking down at the audience not far below. From here, he could clearly see everyone.
Rin was smiling, cheering him on.
Guy gave him a thumbs up and showed his sparkling white teeth.
Kakashi kept his gaze fixed on the stage.
Shisui seemed to be encouraging him.
Asuma had a somewhat regretful expression.
Mutsuki...
"Hey, Yumi-sensei!" Obito saw Mutsuki and instantly showed a surprised expression. His only regret today was that Mutsuki had to work as a tutor and couldn't come to watch his match.
Obito is deeply grateful to Mutsuki. Mutsuki helped him shake off the label of being an Uchiha straggler, enabled him to surpass Uchiha Tekka and become second in the class, and even helped him pass the theoretical exams, which he had never passed before.
His ability to stand here confidently is closely linked to Mutsuki. In the twenty days of special training, it wasn't just Obito putting in effort. Mutsuki went all out to enhance Obito's strength, even modifying Ninjutsu.
If Mutsuki couldn't witness his outstanding performance when he achieved first place, Obito would consider it a great regret.
Noticing Obito's gaze, Mutsuki smiled and greeted him.
"I can't disappoint those who are cheering for me," Obito took a deep breath, entering an unprecedented state of seriousness.
He couldn't forget the failure of that year until now. This time, he wanted to win it all.
"Fire Release · Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Obito skillfully formed hand seals, accumulating a large amount of chakra in his throat. He transformed all the gathered chakra through Nature Transformation and then instantly expelled it.
Huff, huff, huff!!
Intense flames spewed forth from Obito's mouth, swiftly forming a bright orange fireball that rapidly expanded. In the end, it reached a height of four meters, nearly three times Obito's current height.
"How could a Fire Release Ninjutsu of this magnitude be executed by a ninja school student!" One judge, witnessing this spectacular massive fireball, looked as if he had seen a ghost.
Another judge rubbed his eyes, wearing an expression of disbelief.
"Contestant Uchiha Obito's Great Fireball exhibits a level beyond ordinary individuals, even surprising the judges!" The host, astonished, didn't forget to provide commentary.
After five years of commentary, this level of Great Fireball was a first for him, especially when performed by a ninja school student.
"How is it possible for a Great Fireball of this level!" Uchiha Tekka felt like he might be under a Genjutsu.
He would rather believe he was under a Genjutsu than accept that Obito, with mastery over the Great Dragon Fire, could wield the Great Fireball with such prowess.
With such a powerful Great Fireball, Obito didn't need any tricks that day. Directly facing him, he was undoubtedly no match.
"Is this Obito's Great Fireball?" Asuma rubbed his eyes, feeling somewhat unreal.
"Sensei hit me, I think I'm under a Genjutsu." Asuma said to Mutsuki.
Mutsuki fulfilled Asuma's request, bringing two fingers together to tap Asuma's head.
"Ouch." Asuma looked at Obito still on the stage, and the enormous fireball in front of him. His mouth hung open, shocked beyond words.
Defeated by Uchiha Shisui, he accepted that Shisui might be a genius possibly even more extraordinary than Kakashi. However, Obito was his old friend. He thought he knew Obito's strength.
This Great Fireball approaching the height of a house was something else. Was Obito secretly hiding this level of power and not showing it before?
"Even Obito has this kind of strength. Could it be that I'm really just not good enough?" Asuma began to doubt his life choices.
He felt the need to step up his efforts; otherwise, forget surpassing Lord Third, he'd be considered below average among friends.
"With this level of Great Fireball, no wonder he was so confident before," Kakashi looked at Obito's Great Fireball and felt that Obito had made tremendous progress.
It was so significant that Kakashi was somewhat puzzled; Obito hadn't even graduated yet, so why such a substantial improvement? Typically, the period of rapid growth in strength occurred after graduation.
"Ten points, ten points, ten points! Contestant Uchiha Obito's total score is thirty points! He has achieved a perfect score, securing the first place in advance!" The excited host shouted.
All the judges gave Obito a perfect score, a very uncommon situation.
"Did he use some kind of trick..." Hyuga Kamon, with the Byakugan activated, saw through the details of Obito's Great Fireball. It looked impressive, but in reality, it wasn't as exaggerated.
He had come along with a friend, and now it seemed like Obito was likely to take the first place.
However, Hyuga Kamon didn't think Obito could defeat him in the next final exam because he would make sure Obito couldn't release any Ninjutsu.
"The host already said it's secured the first place in advance, Obito, you're really amazing," Rin praised Obito as he stepped down from the stage.
"Hehe." Obito couldn't help but reveal a silly grin.
"Don't be too happy too soon. Wait until my turn; they might give even higher scores out of the norm," Kakashi cautioned Obito not to get too excited.
"Now, let's invite the fifth contestant, Hatake Kakashi, to the stage for the performance."
As Kakashi finished speaking, the host coincidentally called Kakashi's name.
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