The Uchiha Clan's genius

Looking at the two smiling guys in front of him, Kai might simply be there to invite Tōka to watch the genius boy advance to Chunin.

But Kakashi...

Tōka was 70% certain that this guy had received orders from the Third Hokage.

Pedestrians hurried past, discussing the news that the Uchiha Clan's genius was about to become Chunin at only ten years old.

It's definitely not a good time to leave the village.

"Let's go see that little Itachi." Tōka walked past the two and followed the direction of the crowd.

In the center of Training Ground No. 16 in Konoha, there is a large open space.

When Tōka, Kai, and Kakashi arrived, the outer perimeter of the open space was already crowded with people, including ninjas and civilians.

Everyone who came here had only one purpose: to witness whether the ten-year-old genius Genin Itachi Uchiha, could successfully advance to Chunin.

This is Chunin Ninja Exams held solely for Itachi!

A simple and straightforward exam!

Fight a Chunin and win to advance!

Fugaku Uchiha stood at the front of the crowd with his arms crossed, flanked by Mikoto Uchiha and five-year-old Sasuke Uchiha.

The time was almost up. The Third Hokage walked up to the platform and coughed twice.

"Today is the day of Konoha's genius Itachi Uchiha's, Chunin Ninja Exams. This Old Man will just say a few words..."

One hour later...

With the Hokage's constant winks, the Third Hokage finally noticed that a large portion of the audience had fallen asleep, and he awkwardly coughed twice.

"The exam will now begin!"

The simple four words instantly brought the lifeless training ground to life.

Tōka yawned silently, a sleepy tear squeezing out from the corner of his eye. Third Hokage of old guys, unchanged for a hundred years!

This "talk-no-jutsu/hypnosis technique" couldn't even withstand the Kekkei Mōra Six Harmonies Divine Technique!

I almost fell asleep...

Tōka rubbed her eyes, forcing herself to cheer up.

As the Third Hokage finished speaking, the proctor went up to the stage and briefly introduced Itachi's impressive ninja training record and subsequent mission records.

"Please welcome the examiner, Konoha Chunin Tōka to the stage!"

"Oh? The unlucky guy who fought Itachi is called Tōka!" Tōka didn't react for a moment, and looked around to find that no one was going up.

Kakashi nudged Tōka with his elbow, "Sorry, I forgot to tell you beforehand, you're the chief examiner for this Chunin Ninja Exams."

"Me?" Tōka suddenly woke up, all sleepiness gone, and stared at Kakashi in surprise.

No wonder the name Chunin sounded so familiar!

Damn it, it was me!!

"Tōka, to be able to personally examine Konoha's geniuses, waaaaah~~, my youth has been ignited!" Kai covered his eyes and burst into tears.

He looked like he wished he could take Tōka's place on stage, which made the faces of the acquaintances around him turn red.

They all moved aside, increasing the distance between themselves and Kai.

This small action instantly cleared the space around Tōka, Kakashi, and Guy, drawing the attention of the crowd around the arena.

Kakashi's silver hair and Guy's Green Skin are quite "famous" in Konoha.

Of the three, Tōka has kept a low profile in recent years, and Tōka has also grown taller and more "pretty".

A Pure White Diamond Mark between his eyebrows dramatically enhanced his overall aura.

Apart from a few people in the know, even those who graduated with him, such as Kurenai Asuma, didn't recognize him at first.

"Tōka, I can't believe it really is you!" Hong pushed through the crowd and ran over, shouting happily.

In recent years, Tōka has kept a low profile, and it's almost impossible for him to see his former classmates. Asuma followed behind reluctantly, keeping a wary eye on Tōka.

Kakashi pointed around, "Let's go up first, everyone's waiting!"

"Sorry, sorry! Let's have dinner together later, everyone!" Hong quickly took two steps back and invited with a smile.

Tōka shifted his gaze from Hong's face, and Asuma secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

A test? The puppets of the Tsuchi-e no Jutsu have been lying low in Konoha for so long, Third Hokage is still not at ease?!

Tōka faced forward, taking in the expressions of everyone in the entire venue.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by, and Tōka's figure appeared on the high platform. His clean and swift Body Flicker Technique surprised everyone present.

The crowd's initial surprise at Tōka's appearance quickly shifted to his strength.

It seems the higher-ups aren't planning to go easy on us in this Chunin Ninja Exams!

"Now, please welcome candidate Itachi Uchiha to the stage." The proctor glanced at Tōka and gestured for Itachi to step onto the platform.

Without any fancy moves, Itachi slowly walked out from the crowd, step by step, to the edge of the platform.

Then, with a graceful high jump, she landed on the platform like a swallow.

When Itachi heard that the examiner was Tōka, he was shocked, even though his small face still had a blank, expressionless look.

But it's easy to tell from Itachi's tightly clenched hands that he was extremely nervous.

If any Chunin, or even Elite Chunin, were to be the examiner, Itachi would be absolutely confident.

However, facing Tōka...

Itachi knew that the Nine-Tails Incident five years ago was related to Tōka, and his close friend Shisui Uchiha also spoke highly of Tōka's strength.

Putting everything else aside, the sheer ability to kill instantly upon injury sent chills down Itachi's spine.

Unlike Itachi's solemn expression, Tōka casually surveyed his surroundings. He was facing Itachi directly, yet his line of sight allowed him to easily see a 360-degree field of vision.

This is the advantage of the Tenseigan; even when Tōka's eyes are black, the Byakugan's abilities can be easily activated.

"Itachi's very popular!" Tōka glanced at the screaming girls around him. "Are they girls around Itachi's age...?"

That one, doesn't it look like Izumi Uchiha?

I'm so envious of you!

"Envious?" Itachi stared blankly around, then looked at Tōka with a dazed expression. "Tōka- senpai must be very popular, right?"

"No way..." Tōka scratched his cheek. He was so focused on skipping class to learn Kaguya's legacy that he didn't know many people at all.

After a brief exchange, the proctor looked at the two of them from both sides.

The proctor then walked straight to the center of the platform, raised his arm, and Tōka and Itachi's attention was immediately drawn to the figure that suddenly appeared in the middle.

"One person landing is a loss, one person being unconscious is a loss, and one person surrendering is a loss."

"No killing allowed! Stop immediately when I say 'stop'!"

Do you all understand?!

The proctor shouted sternly, his words not only directed at Tōka and Itachi, but also at everyone in the arena.

The Exam Rules are simple, and the requirements to become Chunin are straightforward.

Tōka glanced at the proctor indifferently... and remained silent.

Itachi nodded solemnly. Facing Tōka- senpai, he had to go all out from the start, or he wouldn't have a chance at all!

"Then, the exam begins!" The proctor waved his raised arm down and Body Flicker Technique disappeared from the platform.

A gust of wind swept by, stirring up a layer of dust on the high platform.

Leaves drifted down, swirling past the two of them.

Everyone held their breath and focused intently on the platform, with most eyes on Itachi, eagerly anticipating the moment when the genius would defeat the examiner.

The ninjas who truly recognized Tōka's identity silently mourned for the poor little Itachi.

I wonder if the Uchiha Clan offended the Third Hokage, which is why they sent such a jinx to be the examiner for the Uchiha Clan's genius youths.

Shisui stood with his arms crossed in the shade of a Big Tree, his scarlet eyes fixed on the high ground.

"If the opponent is Tōka..." Shisui sighed softly. Why would Tōka, who has been lying low for several years, appear at this time?

Itachi's Chunin Ninja Exams are probably going to be canceled!

On second thought, Shisui felt relieved. Chunin was just a title; Itachi already possessed the strength of Chunin, and that was enough!

"Brother, you must do your best!" Sasuke Uchiha clenched his little fists, his serious expression even more pronounced than Itachi's.

It was as if it wasn't Itachi who was actually in the exam hall, but him.

"Itachi, if it's you, you can definitely win." Izumi Uchiha thought silently to herself, her arms crossed as if praying for Itachi.

Tōka took in the expressions of everyone watching from the sidelines; without exception, they all looked forward to this kind of competition.

But the truly crucial person wasn't him, it was Itachi!

"Budong, Itachi?" Tōka tilted his head, put his hands in his pockets, and asked indifferently.

Itachi pursed his lips and remained silent, his scarlet eyes fixed on Tōka. The more relaxed Tōka appeared, the greater the pressure Itachi felt.

If it were a life-or-death battle, I would be no match for him. This was Shisui's assessment of Tōka, and it was from several years ago.

Itachi could clearly sense that Tōka in front of him was not a puppet, but the real Original Body!

That aura of reverence that emanates from the depths of one's soul, that noble air, is something that puppets cannot possess; only the true Tōka has such an aura!

Si-wei-shen-hai-wu-yin!

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

As the signature Ninjutsu of the Uchiha Clan, and also the first Ninjutsu that Itachi learned, he had mastered the hand seals by heart.

It can be easily released even without Hand Seals.

However, facing the person before him, Itachi dared not be careless in the slightest, knowing that he only had one chance to make a move!

Itachi's chakra transformed into flames, his chest visibly swelled, and then he suddenly opened his mouth, spewing out a huge fireball.

A wave of scorching heat rushed towards him, and even from a distance of more than ten steps away, Tōka could feel the intense heat emanating from his skin.

The attack range of the Great Fireball Technique changes depending on the amount of chakra. The flames engulf the opponent, and even the ground is almost burned to ashes!

Buzz!

An even more exaggerated burst of chakra erupted, forming an invisible wall, with Repulsive Force spreading outwards from Tōka in all directions.

The sturdy stone slabs that formed the high platform shattered upon impact.

The flying pebbles scattered in all directions, surging wildly forward.

The enormous fireball was as fragile as paper, instantly shattered by the terrifying force.

"As expected, Senior Tōka's strength..." Itachi's pupils suddenly contracted, a bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and the perfect Tomoe in his scarlet eyes began to spin rapidly.

Despite his inner alarm, Itachi's movements were swift; his five hand seals per second were a speed that even Tōka had to admit defeat.

Before the Great Fireball Technique had even dissipated, the next Jutsu Formula was already prepared.

Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!!

Like the Seed the Primordial Immortal Flower that would be launched into the air at the slightest touch, the flames spewed from the Itachi's mouth spread in all directions, rapidly attacking Tōka!

All the flames are controlled by chakra, so avoiding them all is not easy.

Besides being visually stunning, it is also incredibly powerful.

"It's useless, Itachi, this kind of attack..." Tōka stood still, his chakra surging like a hurricane.

The Repulsive Force shook the space, and the Phoenix Flower Jutsu that attacked from all directions collapsed instantly.

"I know that too, but the real attack is coming up!" Taking advantage of the moment when Tōka dispersed the Phoenix Flower Fire, Itachi lowered his body and then pushed off the ground to launch himself forward.

With the Sharingan's assistance, the extreme speed created a perfect sprint route.

The sharp Kunai gleamed with a blinding, cold light!

"Taijutsu?" Tōka raised an eyebrow slightly. Compared to Genjutsu and Ninjutsu, his Taijutsu were indeed the weakest.

However, being the weakest doesn't mean you're truly weak!

Bang!

A simple, straightforward kick. Itachi's Sharingan could detect Tōka's leg movement, but his body remained completely still.

A kick landed squarely on Itachi's abdomen, causing his body to arch backward violently. He spat out a mouthful of bile, and his two scarlet eyes bulged out!

Bang!

With another muffled thud, Itachi's body shot backward like an arrow, crashing into the stone slab at an even faster speed than when he charged towards Tōka.

Debris flew everywhere, and the entire ground trembled.

Hiss~~

The onlookers felt a sudden ache in their teeth; just seeing it made them feel like their bones were about to fall apart. They only felt better after taking a deep breath.

"Cough..." Itachi clutched his chest and got up. Is this the difference? I, who everyone calls a genius, am actually so weak.

Seeing the confusion in Itachi's eyes, Tōka One Flash and nimbly appeared behind Itachi.

The ghostly movements made everyone present realize that this Chunin Chief Prosecutor was not as simple as he seemed.

"Dad, my brother?!" Sasuke Uchiha shock at the scene. He thought he was seeing things and rubbed his eyes hard.

My brother is a genius! My brother is the strongest!

How is that possible?

That guy who's prettier than a woman... doesn't even look that old!

"Itachi still has a long way to go." Fugaku Uchiha uttered these words expressionlessly, his gaze sweeping over the area where Forest Hokage and other high-ranking officials were before quickly looking away.

A crimson glint One Flash his eyes; perhaps it was a good thing that Itachi's brilliance was being suppressed.

Tōka stood behind Itachi, seemingly with no intention of making a move.

In fact, Tōka hasn't made a move since he entered the arena, because his hands are still in his pockets.

"Itachi, are you still searching for the meaning of life?" A chilling voice slowly rang out.

Itachi was slightly taken aback, a deep shock appearing in his eyes.

How would Senior Tōka know this? Even his best friend Shisui Uchiha, hadn't noticed.

Tōka tilted her head and looked at the azure sky, a gentle breeze brushing her face, giving her a slightly cool feeling.

"The meaning of life lies neither in birth nor in death..."

"It's... the experience of living!"