Watching the Battle

On the training ground of the Ninja Academy, where the entire school's students and teachers had gathered, the most eye-catching figure was undoubtedly Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in a white robe and red shirt, with a hat bearing the character "Fire" on his head.

"Lord Hokage, it's time."

The teacher standing beside Hiruzen Sarutobi saw that the scheduled time was approaching and spoke to him somewhat nervously.

"Then let's prepare to begin the assessment!"

After saying that, he added with a sigh,

"Sakumo's child has even greater talent than Sakumo did!"

"What a pity. If Sakumo hadn't left the village on a mission, I'm sure he would have come to watch today's assessment."

Veigar had only seen Hiruzen Sarutobi for the second time. The last time he had seen him was at the opening ceremony of the Ninja Academy.

At that moment, Veigar watched Hiruzen Sarutobi and silently complained inwardly.

Needless to say, Hiruzen Sarutobi had certainly not come today merely to watch Kakashi Hatake's Early Graduation assessment.

More likely, he was here mainly for indoctrination—no, for spreading the Will of Fire to all the students and teachers.

In the original story, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi could be considered a permanent fixture in the Hokage's seat.

Having taken up the position of Hokage twice, Hiruzen Sarutobi had indeed exerted a profound influence on the next generation.

Whether it was the future Kakashi Hatake, the yet-unborn protagonist Naruto Uzumaki, or Umino Iruka, Naruto Uzumaki's teacher at the Ninja Academy, it seemed that Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared in almost everyone's memories.

"Now, please enter the arena."

At Hiruzen Sarutobi's signal, the Chief Examiner responsible for overseeing the examination stood in the center of the Training Ground and spoke slowly.

Kakashi Hatake and his opponent today, Eiji Momoshiro, an ordinary Chunin from the village, soon stood in the center of the arena.

"Kakashi Hatake's graduation assessment is about to begin. His opponent is Chunin Eiji Momoshiro."

"The rules are as follows: the battle ends when either side loses the ability to fight or admits defeat, or when I determine that one side can no longer continue fighting and stop the battle."

"Alternatively, if Kakashi Hatake can last three minutes against Eiji Momoshiro, the battle will also end."

"Do either of you have any objections?"

After explaining the rules, the Chief Examiner asked Kakashi Hatake and Eiji Momoshiro.

The two shook their heads at the same time. Kakashi Hatake, however, kept his eyes fixed on the Chunin Eiji Momoshiro opposite him, watching him warily.

"Then, please form the Opposing Seal."

Kakashi Hatake and Eiji Momoshiro formed the Opposing Seal as instructed by the Chief Examiner.

At that very moment, the Chief Examiner announced, "Then, begin!"

The instant the Chief Examiner's voice fell, Kakashi Hatake struck first. He drew three Shuriken from his Ninja Tool Bag and hurled them at Eiji Momoshiro, aiming respectively at his head, heart, and left thigh.

At the same time, Kakashi Hatake quickly retreated. In choosing how to fight, he first used the three Shuriken to conduct a small test of Eiji Momoshiro.

Of course, Eiji Momoshiro, who had become a Chunin, would not be so easily struck by Shuriken thrown by Kakashi Hatake.

He reached into his Ninja Tool Bag and drew a Kunai, easily knocking the three Shuriken aside. He then threw the Kunai at Kakashi Hatake's position in a counterattack.

Kakashi Hatake reacted swiftly and dodged. The Kunai flew past, almost grazing his small face.

"Earth Style: Rock Fist Technique."

The instant Kakashi Hatake dodged the Kunai, Eiji Momoshiro had already completed his Hand Seals and used his strongest Earth Style Ninjutsu, Earth Style: Rock Fist Technique.

Moreover, Eiji Momoshiro had already closed in on Kakashi Hatake. He raised his rock fist and punched straight at Kakashi Hatake's head.

"I win."

"A genius or whatever—he's still just an ungraduated brat."

Seeing that Kakashi Hatake could no longer dodge, a smile appeared on Eiji Momoshiro's face.

"Ahhh..."

"Kakashi..."

At that moment, most of the students watching from below felt that Kakashi Hatake was about to lose, and they cried out in alarm.

They were already imagining the miserable sight of Kakashi Hatake being struck.

Among all the students, Might Guy reacted the most intensely. He shouted Kakashi Hatake's name in great concern.

"Bang."

Reality would not change because of any outside factor, just as Kakashi Hatake could not avoid Eiji Momoshiro's punch now.

Kakashi Hatake's small head had been severely deformed by Eiji Momoshiro's punch, and he crashed heavily onto the ground.

Just as Eiji Momoshiro thought the battle was over, he suddenly heard Kakashi Hatake's voice.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Tiger Kill."

In a flash, Kakashi Hatake appeared behind Eiji Momoshiro and used Lightning Style Ninjutsu to attack him.

Eiji Momoshiro's eyes widened in terror. Only then did he realize that the Kakashi Hatake he had just knocked down was merely a Shadow Clone.

However, Eiji Momoshiro had rich combat experience from becoming a Chunin, so he would not be defeated by Kakashi Hatake so easily. The instant the Shadow Clone of Kakashi Hatake on the ground disappeared, he regained his senses. While rapidly forming Hand Seals, he hurriedly turned around and slammed both hands against the ground.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall."

An earthen wall rose from the ground, separating him from Kakashi Hatake and blocking the Lightning Style: Lightning Tiger Kill Technique.

Watching the lightning flicker across the Earth Flow Wall, Eiji Momoshiro quickly calmed down. He was glad that he had learned the B-Rank Ninjutsu Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall not long ago. If he had used his other defensive Earth Style Ninjutsu—Earth Style: Earth Land Return—he would probably already have lost to Kakashi Hatake.

However, what Eiji Momoshiro never expected was that, as he crouched halfway on the ground, he suddenly felt a chill at his neck. A sharp, cold short blade had been pressed against his throat.

"You lost."

At the same time, Kakashi Hatake's cold yet childish voice reached his ears.

"The battle is over. The winner is Kakashi Hatake."

After seeing Eiji Momoshiro subdued by Kakashi Hatake, the Chief Examiner on the Training Ground announced Kakashi Hatake's victory.

Kakashi Hatake slid the short blade back into the sheath on his back. Eiji Momoshiro stood up, still unable to accept that he had actually lost to an ungraduated brat.

Nor could he understand how Kakashi Hatake had appeared behind him.

Yet the Chief Examiner, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the surrounding Ninja Academy teachers, and the Anbu shinobi hidden in the shadows had all been stunned by Kakashi Hatake's performance.