The Tallest Tree in the Forest

The Third Hokage suddenly entered the arena and called Yinsen away, making several of the jonin present realize one thing: they had not been mistaken just now!

"Kakashi..."

"What?"

"If that really was... then Konoha may have produced an incredible genius."

"Yeah!"

When Kakashi had first met Yinsen, he had thought that Yinsen might become another Fourth Hokage in the future. After all, Yinsen resembled the Fourth Hokage in many ways.

But now, it seemed Yinsen was not content with merely that.

As he watched the Third Hokage and Yinsen leave the arena, Kakashi withdrew his gaze. All that remained by his ears was Naruto Uzumaki's incessant questioning.

"Huh? Huh? Why did Grandpa Hokage call Yinsen out?"

All the genin shared that confusion. Only Shikamaru vaguely guessed that it had something to do with the unknown ninjutsu Yinsen had used to defeat Rock Lee. He had not clearly seen what had happened beneath the water, but he could tell that Rock Lee had failed to dodge because some ninjutsu had delayed him for a moment.

If he had not been certain that his clan's secret technique could not possibly have leaked, he would have suspected that Yinsen had used the Shadow Imitation Technique in that instant.

"What kind of ninjutsu was that? Even the Third Hokage was alarmed?"

While everyone speculated, Gekko Hayate continued carrying out his duties as referee, allowing the Preliminary Round to proceed.

However, he exchanged glances with several colleagues. They would have to arrange a few unimportant matches next to kill some time...

"Yinsen."

Not everyone in the Hidden Leaf Village had a surname. Even among shinobi, many had no family name, so Hiruzen Sarutobi did not find Yinsen's situation unusual.

"The ninjutsu you used to trap Rock Lee just now, if I was not mistaken..."