Naruto entry.

Chapter 42 focuses on Uchiha Kiyoshi.

"The moment I started, I unleashed 'Lightning Release: Blazing Flash.' In daylight, this technique is very difficult to detect. Your attempt to preemptively use a genjutsu on my eyes has backfired."

The light emanating from Kiyoshi's fingertips gradually intensified, like a magnifying glass focusing the sun's rays.

As Kiyoshi's hand shimmered with light, Sarutobi Asuma felt a slight dizziness.

He quickly shook his head and came to his senses.

"Sarutobi Asuma, you are very strong, but unfortunately I am an Uchiha."

Kiyoshi stopped casting illusions with his fingertips and said to Sarutobi Asuma.

"Asuma, how could you lose so easily?"

Obito shouted from behind.

Sarutobi Asuma's already flushed face turned even redder, and he stammered:

"Do I... do you call this a loss? If it were any other competition, I definitely wouldn't have lost like this."

Sarutobi Asuma was filled with regret at that moment.

In a moment of impulsiveness, in order to show off his prowess in front of Kurenai Yuhi, he challenged the strengths of the Uchiha clan.

If it were a fire-style attack, he wouldn't have been instantly killed upon meeting the enemy.

Now that the illusion magic competition is underway, his performance is even more dismal.

Kiyoshi is already this powerful without the Sharingan; what will his genjutsu abilities be like once he uses the Sharingan?

"The Sarutobi clan is a major clan, just like the Uchiha clan. Sarutobi Asuma, it's just that the Uchiha clan is more skilled in genjutsu."

Kiyoshi patted Sarutobi Asuma on the shoulder, giving him a way out.

"...No, that's right."

Sarutobi Asuma nodded.

It's not that he's incompetent; it's that even without the Sharingan, Uchiha Kiyoshi's genjutsu is undeniably powerful.

"Asuma, don't be discouraged."

Kurenai Yuhi gently comforted her.

She understood Sarutobi Asuma's feelings; she herself had been defeated by Kiyoshi in a single round.

Fortunately, she was smart and paid Kiyoshi to tutor her.

This significantly improved his illusion skills.

"……good."

Faced with Kurenai's words of comfort, Sarutobi Asuma could only nod silently.

What else would I say? Wouldn't that make me seem petty?

In the end, he bore it all alone.

Sarutobi Asuma stood up as if nothing was wrong and then returned to the crowd.

"Do you have any potato chips? I'd like some."

Sarutobi Asuma's tone was tinged with sadness.

Akimichi-do-maru took a packet out of his pocket and gave it to Sarutobi Asuma.

"Uchiha Kiyoshi, this is interesting."

Genma Shiranui said, a toothpick dangling from his mouth.

Ebisu nodded in agreement, adjusting his black round glasses as he said:

"I wonder if Uchiha Kiyoshi will graduate early. His progress is quite different from us commoners."

"I guess so."

Genma Shiranui glanced at Obito.

A ninja clan as large as the Uchiha would not lack ninjutsu and early education.

It is estimated that Kiyoshi received a considerable amount of education within the Uchiha clan in private.

"Alright, everyone gather around."

Chunin instructor Umino Roku blew his whistle, summoning all the students to assemble.

He had been watching the entire battle between Kiyoshi and Sarutobi Asuma.

"That's amazing."

Umino Roku's secret passage.

After just over half a month of intensive training, Sarutobi Asuma's genjutsu skills have improved considerably.

As expected of the son of three generations of officials.

"But the most surprising thing is Uchiha Kiyoshi, who was able to suppress Sarutobi Asuma even before he activated his Sharingan."

This was the most unexpected thing for Umino Roku.

The Sharingan's fame is known to everyone in the ninja world.

If you say that Kiyoji won because of his Sharingan, everyone would think it's only natural.

Just as the rumor that the Uchiha clan is an elite clan has become deeply ingrained, some mission orders even specifically request Uchiha ninjas to accept the task.

However, Kiyoshi did not rely on the Sharingan, but on his personal genjutsu abilities.

This demonstrates Kiyoshi's exceptional learning ability.

He is a genius in both physical skills and illusion techniques.

"If this child can learn the Three Body Techniques in a short period of time, he will be a true all-around genius."

Umino Roku was secretly alarmed.

Even Kakashi Hatake, the son of the White Fang, who just graduated.

He may not even be considered comprehensive.

At the very least, his genjutsu could not compare to Kiyoshi, who was from the Uchiha clan.

After all the students had gathered, Umino gave a brief speech and then told everyone to disperse and return to their classrooms for other classes.

He then took out a regular performance evaluation form that already had some markings filled in, and drew a "○" on the illusion column.

"Uchiha Kiyoshi: Ninjutsu △, Taijutsu ○, Genjutsu ○, Attitude in class ○, Enthusiasm △, Sociability △"

The "○" above represents excellent, the "△" represents average, and the worst is represented by "×".

Unno Ryu didn't know how good Kiyoshi's ninjutsu was right now, so he marked it with a "△" symbol based on Kiyoshi's performance in learning the Shadow Clone Technique last month.

He also filled in a lot of notes under the Qing Si form, writing down the process of the illusion test.

After marking Kiyoshi with symbols, Umino Roku continued to mark symbols for all the other students in the class.

Final exams are coming up soon, and this is a necessary assessment of my coursework.

It also involves controlling the growth of ninjas; all information is classified and eventually sealed in the Hokage Building's archives.

Upon graduation, a comprehensive examination will be conducted, and the final ninja graduation file will be compiled from the graduation exam results and the student's regular academic performance records over the past few years at the ninja academy.

These records are all for life and cannot be changed.

……

Hokage Building.

After finishing a batch of documents, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the stack of documents wrapped in yellow paper handed to him by an Anbu ninja.

"Lord Hokage, please take a look."

The ANBU ninja said respectfully, then disappeared from the Hokage's office to secretly protect Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi replaced the burnt-out cigarette burner with a fine one, took a puff, and then slowly opened the document.

"Uchiha... Kiyoshi."

Hiruzen Sarutobi found Kiyoshi's regular performance evaluation form.

"Did they defeat Asuma?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe, flicking out a few plumes of smoke.

No wonder this kid has been pestering some of the senior ninjas in the clan to practice genjutsu lately.

Hiruzen Sarutobi then pulled out the next sheet of his usual performance evaluation form and began to examine it.

He possesses the "Ninja Art: Telescope Technique," which allows him to monitor specific individuals remotely via a crystal ball.

However, there are many limitations, requiring mastery of the character's chakra characteristics.

This condition is rather complicated, and it's impossible for him to monitor the vast Konoha all by himself indefinitely.

Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi rarely used this technique on ordinary days.

"A storm is brewing."

After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

Uchiha Kiyoshi had a clean background and had not learned any ninjutsu after testing.

After finding Kiyoshi, he kept sending people to gather information in the Land of Lightning.

To date, there has been no second case like the Qing Dynasty.

Given the nature of the Land of Lightning, they certainly wouldn't do something as foolish as sending the Uchiha as spies.

What worried Hiruzen Sarutobi the most was something else entirely.

The ninja world is not peaceful these days.