Flame Fist!

Whoosh!

A flicker of crimson flame appeared at Tang Ping's raised fingertips.

"This..."

Minato Namikaze and Kakashi looked on in astonishment.

The two had seen plenty and naturally understood what this represented.

Chakra nature transformation!

This was a technique normally mastered only by jonin.

Yet with this glove-like ninja tool, that gap had been directly bridged.

"Huh!"

Tang Ping seemed to sense something and subconsciously looked toward the creator of the ninja tool.

"Hehe." Meeting his gaze, Kushina Uzumaki proudly introduced it, "That's right, this ninja tool has indeed achieved all the functions you mentioned, Little Candy!"

Fire Attribute Chakra nature transformation, gathering flame energy, and enhanced control!

Those were the three major functions Tang Ping had proposed back then.

Originally, he had planned to have Kushina Uzumaki focus on one of those functions and custom-make a ninja tool for him.

Who would have thought!

She had actually completed all three functions.

It was simply heaven-defying.

The queen of Sealing Technique really could do whatever she wanted.

A divine artifact!

At his current stage, this was an unmistakable divine artifact.

"Kushina really is amazing!" Tang Ping praised her sincerely, but then complained helplessly, "But how many times have I told you not to call me that?"

Who knew what she was thinking? She had actually given him a nickname like "Little Candy."

How could a fierce man who had fallen from the heavens have a nickname like that? It was simply a dark chapter in his life.

Tang Ping could already imagine it.

In the future, just as he punched the Sage of Six Paths and kicked Kaguya, someone suddenly calling him "Little Candy."

This ninja world might as well be destroyed.

"Hmph. When you needed me to make you a ninja tool, it was 'Kushina-neechan.' Now that you have it, it's just 'Kushina,' is that it?"

Kushina Uzumaki's resentful voice sent a chill through Tang Ping's body, leaving him no choice but to compromise.

"Kushina-neechan, call me whatever you want. But shouldn't we hurry to the arena? Otherwise, we'll be late."

After saying that, he quickened his pace.

She had put her heart and soul into helping him. He wasn't some Byakugan Wolf like Obito—how could he possibly be ungrateful? So she could call him whatever she wanted.

"By the way, Tang Ping, what should your ninja tool be called? How about Super Flame Lightning... Type Two?"

Minato Namikaze, who had caught up with them, made the tentative suggestion with sparkling eyes.

"..." ×3

The three of them were left speechless.

Minato Namikaze was excellent in every other respect, but he loved naming things, and every name was absurdly long and dripping with chuunibyou.

"No, it already has a name. It's called Flame Fist!"

Tang Ping declined Minato Namikaze's "kindness." He had no desire to add another dark chapter to his life.

Flame Fist!

At least it was better than those ninja tool names, right?

Names like Seven Star Sword and Crimson Gourd... really didn't fit the ninja world's style.

If names like those were fine, then his own name wouldn't arouse suspicion either.

Besides, the name was extremely fitting.

Flame described the ninja tool's characteristics, while fist represented where it was worn.

Perfect!

As Tang Ping walked, he controlled the flame at his fingertips, quickly familiarizing himself with every aspect of Flame Fist.

First was its defense!

Made primarily from Fusang Tree branches, volcanic cloth, and Chakra Metal threads, Flame Fist might look light and flexible, but its defense was truly outstanding. It could absolutely serve as protective gear at critical moments.

Then there was the boost to control.

If Tang Ping's control had previously been only a one, it was now at least above three.

The increase was so great not only because his control had not been particularly strong before, but also because of the power of Sealing Technique.

At the same time, the surrounding temperature continuously rose, while the consumption of Chakra kept decreasing.

That was because it constantly gathered the heat from its surroundings, allowing its user to conserve energy.

If not for the lack of time, Tang Ping would have desperately wanted to head to the Training Ground first and test it to his heart's content.

Like getting a new toy—who wouldn't want to play with it first?

Along the way!

Tang Ping also saw just how popular Kakashi was.

"Go, Kakashi!"

"Don't lose!"

"You're the strongest!"

A super genius!

That image had not been built for nothing. The villagers of Konoha were all cheering him on.

As expected of the future Lord Kakashi, the "Copy Ninja." His popularity truly was unrivaled; he had been admired since childhood.

By comparison, Tang Ping seemed utterly insignificant.

Even when walking beside him, in the villagers' eyes, he was no more than the heroine's foot-washing maid.

His strength might have been formidable, but his surname was Uchiha.

Bound to that surname, it was already good enough that the village higher-ups did not suppress him. How could they possibly build him up?

"Don't worry. Sooner or later, you'll be as popular with the villagers as Kakashi is!"

Perhaps Minato Namikaze felt the contrast was too obvious, so he offered Tang Ping a word of comfort.

Unfortunately, he did not know that Tang Ping did not care about such things at all.

It was merely the admiration of a "small" number of villagers.

Before transmigrating, which idols and celebrities had not had millions or tens of millions of fans?

This many "fans," who were not even particularly fervent and were more like casual passersby, was nothing worth caring about.

Before long, they arrived at the arena on the edge of the village.

It was an enormous structure.

It was only opened for celebrations, competitions, and similar occasions.

It could hold tens of thousands of spectators!

Only in a world with ninja could such a magnificent structure be built.

The arena was circular overall. One side was formed by a towering red palace-like structure serving as a wall, the viewing area prepared for those of distinguished status.

They could not possibly have the Celestial Dragons sit in the stands like ordinary people, could they?

At this time, a large number of spectators were lining up to enter.

Tang Ping and the others naturally did not need to queue. They took the backstage passage.

On both sides of the backstage entrance stood quite a few people from the Three Great Ninja Villages, specifically responsible for inspections.

What had happened in the Death Forest had reminded the Three Great Ninja Villages of their shortcomings in security, so they had invested more into safety this time.

Step, step!

After entering, Tang Ping and the others split up. He and Kakashi headed to the contestants' stands.

From here, they could look down on the arena below at close range.

A battlefield for ninja combat naturally could not be too small, so it was extremely vast.

After all, this was the Chunin Exams.

If it were a battle between Kage-level fighters, even expanding the area several times over would not necessarily be safe.

The place was already filled with contestants.

"Kakashi, we didn't determine a winner last time. This time, I'll defeat you in the arena and prove Sunagakure's strength!"

Baki approached with two teammates.

"Boring."

Kakashi looked away, showing no intention of competing with him at all.

Step, step!

Amid heavy footsteps, several figures approached.

A body brimming with intimidation, an honest-looking face, and an Iwagakure forehead protector.

It was Gang Tu!

However, after stopping several meters away, he did not speak. Only his powerful killing intent pressed down upon them without the slightest concealment.

So he wasn't even pretending anymore?

Tang Ping silently mocked him. The other man was no longer even pretending to be a genin, but he quietly stepped back.

Because he was not the target.

Kakashi, Baki, and Gang Tu!

They were also the geniuses heavily supported by the three great ninja villages behind them: Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure.

So it was not strange that they only had eyes for one another.

If Tang Ping had not been unable to withdraw, and if he did not also need to make some money on the side, he would have wanted to quit the competition.

Where else would Yamaa Koji's treatment fees come from?

Now, he had an opportunity.