The Temptation of Ninjutsu

He probed with shuriken, misled with Shadow Clones, feinted with Lightning Style Ninjutsu, and finished with a Body Flicker combined with the Hatake Clan's inherited sword technique for a killing blow.

It could be said that Kakashi Hatake's tactics, strategy, and combat ability were all on full display in this match—and they far surpassed many chunin.

Take Eiji Momoshiro, who had just fallen to his hand, for example.

As the battle ended, Hiruzen Sarutobi rose from his seat and, as the Third Hokage, slowly walked to the front. Standing before Kakashi Hatake, who looked slightly tired after the fight, he smiled kindly and said, "Kakashi, your performance exceeded my expectations. Even your father would be proud of you."

"It is precisely because children with talent like yours appear that Konoha can continue to grow strong."

Then, Hiruzen Sarutobi addressed everyone present: "When we grow old, you will be the pillars of Konoha's future. I also hope you will remember the Will of Fire—wherever leaves dance, fire will burn. That fire will continue to light the village and let new leaves sprout."

With just a few words, Hiruzen Sarutobi stirred the emotions of nearly everyone there, including Kakashi Hatake and Eiji Momoshiro on the training ground.

Most of the students, praised and encouraged by Hiruzen Sarutobi like this, had flushed faces and were brimming with excitement.

Vega Koshima, standing below, listened. Even though he had little attachment to Konoha, he couldn't help recalling the people who had helped him during this time in his mind.

Admittedly, Hiruzen Sarutobi's ability to indoctrinate—cough!—to spread the Will of Fire was extremely powerful.

Confirmed, Hiruzen Sarutobi was running that indoctrination routine, cough cough.

The reactions of those around him satisfied Hiruzen Sarutobi as he swept his gaze across the crowd. Smiling continuously, he said to Kakashi Hatake, "Kakashi, I hope you will uphold the Will of Fire, become a ninja who can stand on your own, and be a pillar of Konoha's future."

Before Kakashi Hatake could react, Hiruzen Sarutobi announced, "I, as the Third Hokage, hereby permit Kakashi Hatake to officially graduate and become a genin."

Finally hearing the result he wanted, Kakashi Hatake quickly knelt on one knee before Hiruzen Sarutobi and replied, "Thank you, Lord Third Hokage."

Kakashi Hatake barely suppressed the excitement in his heart, but the student crowd erupted into an uproar.

"Wow, Kakashi is amazing! I want to graduate too!"

"Kakashi is so cool—I wish I could go on a date with him..."

"Kakashi Hatake, huh? I'll definitely surpass you."

There were little fans, fangirls, admirers, and those unwilling to concede to Kakashi Hatake. Though their attitudes differed, they all shared one thing: their attention was fixed entirely on Kakashi Hatake.

It was easy to imagine that from this moment on, the genius name of Kakashi Hatake—graduating from the Ninja Academy at age five—would spread across the entire ninja world in the coming days.

Konoha was about to be thrust into the spotlight, all because of Kakashi Hatake, this freshly graduated rookie genin.

In Kakashi Hatake's former elite class, the girl who had always watched him, Rin Nohara, saw him become a genin and offered her blessings with a charming smile in her heart.

"Congratulations on becoming a genin, Kakashi."

Obito Uchiha, who had always focused on Rin Nohara and saw Kakashi Hatake as a rival, noticed Rin's gaze fixed on Kakashi. His jealousy flared, and he deliberately shouted, "It's just early graduation! I'll definitely become a better ninja than Kakashi someday!"

However, Obito Uchiha's declaration didn't win him any approval. Instead, it drew mockery from many classmates, because he was the Dead Last of the class.

And yet, that very Dead Last would one day spark the Fourth Great Ninja War and indeed become a ninja stronger than Kakashi Hatake.

As for Kakashi Hatake's best friend—now only skilled in taijutsu, and forever only skilled in taijutsu—the future taijutsu master, Konoha's Azure Beast, Might Guy, set himself the goal of defeating Kakashi Hatake.

"To celebrate Kakashi's graduation, I've decided to run twenty laps around the entire village after school!"

"If I can't do that, I'll do thirty laps on my hands!"

The classmates standing beside Might Guy all thought he had gone mad.

It was another day at four in the morning.

Five days had passed since Kakashi Hatake's graduation exam. Vega Koshima, who kept a low profile and developed in the shadows, had already mastered the Body Replacement Technique.

Just as Vega spotted the slaughterhouse ahead in the distance, a figure suddenly appeared from the darkness and blocked his path.

"Hey, Vega Koshima."

Kakashi Hatake called out, emerging from the night.

Vega, who had been running, quickly stopped. Standing a short distance in front of Kakashi Hatake, he asked in confusion, "Good morning, Kakashi! Is something the matter?"

"Oh, and congratulations on your early graduation and becoming a genin."

Looking at Kakashi Hatake, Vega felt as if he had been waiting for him on purpose. Though puzzled, he still greeted him with a smile.

"I helped you once before. Now, let's have a match."

Kakashi Hatake stated his purpose calmly to Vega.

"Kakashi, I..."

Vega started to refuse, but Kakashi cut him off.

"Besides, I've been watching you for several days. You've mastered the Three Basic Ninjutsu Techniques by now, haven't you?"

As he spoke, Kakashi had already drawn the short sword strapped to his back. The cold blade glinted under the moonlight.

Hearing that Kakashi Hatake had been monitoring him for days, Vega's expression instantly changed, turning grim.

No one likes living under someone else's surveillance, and Vega was no exception.

Still, knowing he couldn't beat Kakashi Hatake yet, Vega shook his head and refused, "Kakashi, I can't fight you."

"Sorry, but I have work to do. I'm leaving now."

With that, Veigar prepared to walk around Kakashi Hatake and leave, but Kakashi reached into his ninja tool bag, pulled out something like a scroll, and tossed it toward Veigar.

Instinctively, Veigar caught it.

"What's written on it is a sensory-type ninjutsu. If you fight me, it's yours."

Kakashi Hatake had completely seized on Veigar's weakness—born a civilian, Veigar truly needed ninjutsu right now.

"Why me?"

Holding the ninjutsu scroll, Veigar's heart stirred, but he still cautiously voiced the doubt in his mind.