After securing his victory, Morkel was in no hurry to leave. Instead, he stayed to observe the remaining matches, studying his future opponents and preparing for the finals in a month.
"Know yourself and your enemy, and you will fight a hundred battles without danger."
The next match featured Aburame Shino against a ninja from the Rain Village. Shino, known for his insect-based techniques, barely needed to move—his opponents often surrendered out of sheer fear of his bugs. Morkel once again witnessed the diversity of ninjutsu, from puppet manipulation to insect control. There were also shinobi like Inuzuka Kiba, who fought in tandem with their animal partners.
The most anticipated battle followed: Rock Lee versus Gaara.
Though Lee's taijutsu was not on par with Morkel's, it was among the best for Genin. Opening the Fifth Gate granted him extraordinary strength and speed, capable of overwhelming most Genin with ease. However, Gaara was no ordinary opponent.
Gaara's sand armor and absolute defense made him impervious to attacks from all directions. Even though Lee managed to breach this defense, Gaara's counterattack was brutal. Refusing to admit defeat, Lee suffered a devastating injury when Gaara crushed his left leg with sand, resulting in a comminuted fracture.
Ultimately, Guy-sensei intervened, carrying his unconscious student away.
"With such an injury, Lee might never become a ninja again..." Naruto murmured, filled with regret.
Despite his previous rivalry with Lee, Naruto couldn't help but admire his perseverance and unyielding spirit. His burning passion for youth, as Guy often preached, moved everyone present.
"Who knows? Let's visit him after the match," Morkel suggested.
Several matches followed, including Sasuke's battle against a ninja from Kabuto's team. Thanks to Morkel's sealing technique, Sasuke's curse mark had little effect on him, allowing him to fight at full strength. Activating his Sharingan, he secured an easy victory.
The other battles saw Neji triumph over Hinata, Chōji face off against another Rain ninja, and Shikamaru demonstrating his intellect in a well-calculated victory.
Then came Naruto versus Kiba.
Kiba initially felt confident—Naruto had a reputation for being the class underdog. To Kiba, this match was like getting a free ticket to the finals. However, Naruto quickly proved him wrong, displaying newfound strength and determination. After a fierce battle, Naruto emerged victorious.
"Naruto, you've improved so much!" Kiba admitted, shaking hands with him after the match.
Bruised but standing tall, Naruto responded with a grin, "I'm working hard to become Hokage!"
With all ten matches concluded, the finalists were revealed:
Morkel, Gaara, Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Neji, Temari, Shino, Tenten, and a Rain Village ninja.
Notably, all but one finalist hailed from Konoha.
Moonlight Gai nodded approvingly. "The finals will take place in a month. Train well, and don't disappoint me."
With a month to prepare, Morkel and his teammates sought Kakashi's guidance.
Upon seeing them, Kakashi sighed. "So troublesome... My ninjutsu suits Sasuke, but for Naruto, I've arranged a different teacher."
After settling Sasuke's training, Morkel pointed to himself. "And me, Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi hesitated. Morkel's strength already surpassed many Jonin. Not only did he possess remarkable ninjutsu and taijutsu, but he also wielded Wood Style, having previously covered an entire section of the village in greenery. Finding him a teacher was no simple task.
"You have a sharp mind," Kakashi said after some thought. "You should study genjutsu."
"Genjutsu?" Morkel blinked.
Though proficient in ninjutsu and taijutsu, he had never explored illusion techniques. Perhaps it was time to start.
"Thank you for your guidance!" Morkel bowed before realizing something was off. "Wait… does this mean I don't have a teacher?"
Kakashi rubbed his head. "If you need help, ask Yuhi Kurenai. She's a genjutsu specialist."
And just like that, Kakashi sent him away.
Determined, Morkel began studying genjutsu. Meanwhile, Naruto trained under Ebisu, Konohamaru's tutor. But after a few days, Naruto wanted a change.
"Kakashi-sensei, I want a different teacher!" Naruto demanded.
Kakashi sighed. "Naruto, you can't just switch teachers. Ebisu is an elite Jonin."
"But he's not as good as Morkel! Even Konohamaru learned the Rasengan. If I can't, it'll be embarrassing!"
Kakashi saw through Naruto's intentions immediately. "You want to train with Morkel, don't you?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah!"
Kakashi shook his head. "Morkel is busy with his own training. Learning genjutsu is difficult. Don't disturb him."
"Busy?" Naruto looked puzzled. "He's been staring into space lately..."
"That's concentration! Genjutsu requires focus and mental discipline. He'll need time to comprehend it."
Meanwhile, Morkel headed to Kurenai's training ground, where Kiba, Shino, and Hinata were practicing. Approaching Kurenai, he bowed politely.
"Sensei, I've been studying genjutsu and was told to seek your guidance."
Kurenai smiled. "Kakashi mentioned this. What do you need help with?"
"Nothing specific," Morkel admitted. "Last night, I had an epiphany about an illusion technique. I'd like your feedback."
Kurenai raised an eyebrow. "You developed a genjutsu after just two days?"
Skeptical but intrigued, she agreed to test it. "Alright, show me, and I'll evaluate it."
Morkel's eyes gleamed as he activated his newfound technique. Immediately, Kurenai felt herself being drawn into an illusionary realm. The world turned blood-red. Hideous, fanged demons surrounded her, wielding weapons of torture.
Suddenly, an enormous blade slashed toward her.
Pain seared through her body, and she let out a scream. As the demons advanced, her vision blurred.
Sensing danger, Morkel quickly dispelled the illusion.
Kurenai collapsed into his arms, unconscious.
"Sensei?" Morkel called, shaking her gently. "Kurenai-sensei!"
The situation was dire.
Nearby, Kiba and the others rushed over. "What happened to Kurenai-sensei?!"
"Maybe heatstroke," Morkel said hastily. "I'll take her to the hospital!"
Activating the Flying Thunder God, he teleported to the hospital entrance and rushed her inside.
After an examination, the medical-nin reassured him. "You brought her in just in time. Ten minutes later, and it could have been critical."
Morkel sighed in relief.
"What happened to her?" he asked.
"A severe mental shock," the doctor replied. "She needs rest and should avoid stress."
A day later, Kurenai woke up, but Morkel was no longer there. Kakashi and Asuma had taken him back the previous night, scolding him for overdoing his illusion.
Despite his guilt, Morkel had inadvertently proven something—his genjutsu talent was terrifyingly potent.
Kakashi sighed. "This boy… he might just surpass us all."
Morkel's journey was only beginning, and the true extent of his power had yet to be revealed.
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