The Genin Yamanaka Tohru

At the Hokage Office, a graduation application lay on the Third Hokage's desk. The Third Hokage stood by the window, smoking, while Yamashiro Ginichi, who had brought in the application, waited nearby for his approval.

"Ginichi, do you think Yamanaka Tohru can graduate?"

"Lord Hokage, if it's an ordinary exam, Yamanaka Tohru will definitely pass." The Third Hokage wasn't surprised by Yamashiro Ginichi's answer. Yamanaka Tohru could already have become a Genin two years ago, let alone now, two years later.

From the Third Hokage's perspective, he didn't want Yamanaka Tohru to graduate early. Just as Yamanaka Tohru and Hatake Sakumo had thought, the doctor at Konoha Hospital and the Genin Yamanaka Tohru were worlds apart.

After much deliberation, the Third Hokage decided it would be better for Yamanaka Tohru to stay at the Ninja Academy a little longer. He had no reason to refuse Yamanaka Tohru's application to graduate early, and he wouldn't refuse it. The Third Hokage decided to teach Yamanaka Tohru a lesson at tomorrow's exam, make him give up on graduating early, and keep working at Konoha Hospital.

"Ginichi, I approve it. Tell Yamanaka Tohru to meet at the Third Training Ground at nine tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Yamashiro Ginichi informed Yamanaka Tohru of the exam time.

"I'm looking forward to it." Yamanaka Tohru knew he wouldn't have an easy time graduating tomorrow, but he had confidence in himself. He wouldn't fail.

The next day, Yamanaka Tohru arrived at the Third Training Ground right on time, at nine o'clock.

"Tohru, it's not very polite to keep an old man like me waiting!"

"Lord Hokage, it's exactly nine. I'm not late—you just got here early."

"Haha, looks like you're confident, Tohru!"

"Of course. I don't perform surgeries I'm not confident in, and I don't do things unless I'm sure I can manage them." Yamanaka Tohru looked utterly confident.

"Good! I won't make things difficult for you, Tohru. This is Uchiha Mitsuru, a Chunin from the Uchiha Clan. If you can hold out for ten minutes without losing, you pass." The Third Hokage had found a new low for shamelessness.

One was a student at the Ninja Academy, the other a Chunin from the Uchiha Clan. In the Shinobi World, even a one-on-one fight against an Uchiha of equal strength was cause to flee—let alone the obvious gap between Yamanaka Tohru and Uchiha Mitsuru.

"Lord Hokage, isn't this a little unfair?" Yamashiro Ginichi couldn't bear to see his student suffer.

"It's fine, Yamashiro-sensei."

"Heh, Tohru doesn't object, so don't say any more, Ginichi."

"Lord Hokage, let's begin!" Yamanaka Tohru had long wanted to see how far a member of the Uchiha Clan had developed his Sharingan.

Yamanaka Tohru's confidence made the Third Hokage uneasy. He glanced at the eager-looking boy, then at Uchiha Mitsuru, who had the strength of an elite Chunin.

"Then the exam begins!"

At the Third Training Ground, Yamanaka Tohru and Uchiha Mitsuru faced off. Mitsuru looked to be in his early twenties, and watched Yamanaka Tohru with a cold expression.

"Kid, being a ninja isn't child's play. I suggest you get off the field now, before you get hurt."

"I suggest you activate your Sharingan now, before you can't keep up with my speed and get taken out in one blow."

"You little brat, you're asking for it!"

Enraged by Yamanaka Tohru's taunts, Uchiha Mitsuru formed Hand Seals: Snake, Goat, Monkey, Pig, Horse, Tiger. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Though Yamanaka Tohru didn't have a Fire nature, he'd seen the seals for the Great Fireball Technique countless times. As soon as Uchiha Mitsuru began forming them, Yamanaka Tohru started first and unleashed Water Release: Water Ripple. Mitsuru's Great Fireball was extinguished the instant it emerged.

"How is that possible?!" Uchiha Mitsuru was shocked. Yamanaka Tohru had formed his Hand Seals faster. Mitsuru could form four seals per second, but Yamanaka Tohru had only started after seeing his seals—and still released his jutsu before the Great Fireball. That meant Yamanaka Tohru could form at least five seals per second.

Uchiha Mitsuru truly was an elite Chunin. After testing Yamanaka Tohru with one jutsu and realizing his Hand Seals were faster, he stopped using ninjutsu and attacked with Taijutsu.

"Still haven't activated your Sharingan? If you don't do it now, you might not get the chance."

After several exchanges, Uchiha Mitsuru still hadn't managed to take down Yamanaka Tohru with Taijutsu. More than half the ten minutes had passed. Mitsuru knew Yamanaka Tohru was right: if he didn't activate his Sharingan, he might lose!

Uchiha Mitsuru gave a cold snort and activated his Sharingan. Yamanaka Tohru was a little disappointed: Mitsuru had the same two-Tomoe Sharingan as him.

Yamanaka Tohru immediately lost interest and activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

"Is that Lightning Release Chakra Mode?" The Third Hokage stared at Yamanaka Tohru in disbelief. He hadn't expected his Lightning Release to be so impressive, on top of his skill as a Medical Ninja.

"Uchiha Mitsuru, it's over!" Yamanaka Tohru said, appearing behind Uchiha Mitsuru with Lightning Body Flicker. The two-Tomoe Sharingan could just barely catch sight of him, but Mitsuru's body couldn't react in time. Yamanaka Tohru drew his short blade and held it against the back of Mitsuru's neck.

"I lose!" Uchiha Mitsuru conceded without hesitation.

"Lord Hokage, can I graduate now?"

"Alas, Tohru, you've given this old man quite a surprise. You passed the exam. From now on, you're a Konoha Genin." With everyone watching, and with the strength Yamanaka Tohru had demonstrated, he was more than capable of protecting himself.

Yamanaka Tohru went to a photo studio to have his picture taken, filled out his ninja registration form, and officially became a Konoha Genin.

After becoming a Genin, Yamanaka Tohru didn't receive a Jonin instructor or any missions. As before, he spent every day traveling between Konoha Hospital and the forest.

A month later, Yamanaka Tohru could take it no longer and went to see the Third Hokage.

"Lord Hokage, why don't I have an instructor or any missions?"

"Well, Tohru... all the teams in Konoha are full right now, and there's no suitable team to assign you to. Why don't you wait a little longer? I'll think carefully about what to do."

Yamanaka Tohru knew exactly what the Third Hokage was thinking. He was at a loss for words at the old man's sheer shamelessness.

"Then, Lord Hokage, I'll stay home for a while. In the meantime, the work at Konoha Hospital—"

"Tohru, I just remembered. There's another Jonin without a student."

Yamanaka Tohru's threat had worked. The Third Hokage had remembered right away.

"Lord Hokage, don't just say that to fob me off."

"Of course not. This person is one of the very best among Konoha's Jonin."

With the Third Hokage's assurance, Yamanaka Tohru could only leave, half convinced.

One of the best among Konoha's Jonin? Yamanaka Tohru thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure out who it could be. Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato was at the Land of Earth border, and Hatake Sakumo had taken a mission and was about to leave. Yamanaka Tohru couldn't think of anyone among the Jonin who could be considered one of the best.

Yamanaka Tohru shook his head. Remembering how unreliable the Third Hokage was, he had even less faith in tomorrow's instructor.