The Assessment Begins!

Konoha Martial Arts Hall.

This venue is typically only opened for the finals of the Chunin Exams or for critical village-wide martial demonstrations. It usually sits empty, but today is different; many jonin without active missions have come to see for themselves.

They want to see exactly what kind of brat could take down a squad of Cloud Ninja!

That was a Cloud Ninja squad led by a jonin!

Their gazes are all focused on the three slightly slender figures in the center of the arena.

"We're making such a big scene just for these three brats?"

"I heard that one called Sawada Hiroki took down a Cloud Village squad all by himself. I wonder if it's true or false."

"It has to be fake! I even heard a jonin died. How could that be possible?"

"Hmph, it's likely an exaggeration. How much skill can a kid who hasn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy have? The Third Hokage is really making a mountain out of a molehill this time."

Murmurs of doubt, scrutiny, and curiosity buzz through the hall, hanging over Hiroki and his two companions like an invisible pressure.

On the highest viewing platform, Sarutobi Hiruzen puffs on his pipe, his expression calm.

In the shadows beside him, Shimura Danzō narrows his eyes and looks at Sarutobi Hiruzen:

"Hiruzen, you've made the scene too grand. It's just a simple test; there was no need to let everyone come and watch."

"Danzō, he is a hero who saved his comrades. A hero should stand in the sunlight, Danzō," Sarutobi Hiruzen exhales a ring of smoke, "Konoha needs new hope, and it needs the villagers to see that hope."

Is that really the case? Danzō stares into Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes and sneers.

How could it possibly be that?

Putting them on display for so many to watch is nothing more than another probe against him!

With so many people watching, more ninja will naturally learn of their information, and if that happens, even he won't be able to recruit them into the Root so easily.

It adds quite a bit of resistance to what he wants to do!

"Hope?" Danzō snorts coldly, "I only see three unstable factors. Especially that Sawada Hiroki; his abilities must be strictly controlled."

Sarutobi Hiruzen does not argue with him further, simply casting his gaze toward another corner.

There, another figure is equally eye-catching.

"What a farce!" Tsunade crosses her arms, muttering to herself with an impatient look, though her voice is very low, "The teacher is just being soft-hearted! To push the future Nine-Tails vessel into such a spotlight just for a kid whose background is unknown!"

She was one of the first to know that Kushina would become the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. The reason, naturally, is because Uzumaki Mito is her grandmother.

Because of this, Tsunade holds complex feelings toward Kushina, even harboring a faint trace of hostility—once the other party inherits the Nine-Tails, her grandmother will pass away as a result.

And as for Sawada Hiroki, she thinks it's even more of a joke.

A ten-year-old child—even if he is strong, how strong can he be? To insist on such a time-consuming and laborious public assessment; she has no idea what they could possibly be testing.

Thinking of this, she recalls that unreliable fellow, Jiraiya.

That guy is said to have already scouted his three disciples at the Ninja Academy in advance. It's simply absurd.

Tsunade glances at the blond-haired child in the arena and huffs in her heart: "That idiot Jiraiya."

But regardless, she wants to see exactly what kind of skills these three children chosen by Teacher Sarutobi actually possess.

Suddenly, the murmurs throughout the martial arts hall cease abruptly.

With a loud "bang" and a puff of white smoke, a figure appears in the center of the arena in a bold pose, standing opposite the three of them.

"Yo! Brats, are you ready to receive personal guidance from the legendary Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, one of the Sannin, Jiraiya-sama!"

The newcomer has long white hair, a forehead protector inscribed with the character for "Oil," and two red markings under his eyes. He is grinning, showing a mouthful of white teeth. His smile looks somewhat unprofessional, but his eyes carry a sharp, scrutinizing edge.

Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya?!" Tsunade's expression sinks instantly, "That idiot didn't come over, and he's actually acting as an examiner? What on earth is the teacher thinking!"

Even if his disciples are down there, isn't it going too far to take the field himself!

And even if they win against Jiraiya, it will surely be assumed that he went easy on them due to their connections!

This is simply ridiculous!

Tsunade furrows her brows, looking at the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wanting to know why the teacher would do such a thing!

Jiraiya puts his hands on his hips, takes out two bells, and shakes them between his fingers, producing a crisp sound. His voice is loud and full of vigor.

"For a normal assessment, you might have heard of this bell-snatching test. Only two out of three can pass, and one will return to the Ninja Academy for further study."

He doesn't lecture like other examiners, simply sweeping his sharp eyes over the three of them, finally letting his gaze linger on Minato for a moment longer.

"However, for you, you are students personally selected by Teacher Sarutobi to graduate from the Ninja Academy, so even if you fail, no one will return to the academy. That's the good news." His mouth curls into a hearty arc, "So, you only need to work together to take any one of the bells from my hands, and your assessment will be a success."

"Even if you fail, it doesn't matter; this is just a test, no need to worry too much. But, if you perform too poorly and disappoint me, there will be a penalty game, you know." Jiraiya's smile becomes meaningful.

Hiroki subconsciously feels a shiver run through his entire body, as if he were being stared at by a giant toad.

Damn it...

This penalty game doesn't sound like anything good!

Given the personality of this pervy sage in the original story, I'm afraid it's going to be some kind of "slimy operation" where we get swallowed by a toad!

Jiraiya hopped around like a clown, but suddenly, his gaze sharpened.

"Then, let's begin!"

There was no countdown, nor any warning.

The moment his voice fell, a massive, overwhelming pressure—like a collapsing mountain—erupted from his body, sweeping across the entire training ground like a physical tsunami!

Heavy!

Kushina's face turned deathly pale in an instant, her legs went weak, and she was nearly forced to her knees by the sheer weight of his aura.

Minato didn't fare any better; his entire body tensed up, cold sweat instantly soaking his back, and even the simple act of drawing a kunai became incredibly difficult.

This was no longer an assessment.

This was killing intent!

Hiroki watched this scene in shock. Is this a physical attack made of killing intent? How is he doing this!? The air, heavy as a mountain, pressed down on him, leaving him unable to breathe, let alone observe the movements of his teammates.

Facing this terrifying pressure, Hiroki immediately entered his mental space, and the [Task Manager] popped up instantly.

|---|---|---|---|

|Fear.exe | 75%|2048MB |Running|

|Killing_Intent_Genjutsu_Error_Report.log | 15%| 512MB |Running|

|...|...|...|...|

So he had hidden a genjutsu within his killing intent!?

End Process: |Fear.exe| |Killing_Intent_Genjutsu_Error_Report.log|

Hiroki quickly selected the two programs and terminated them in an instant.

His eyes immediately returned to a state of absolute calm.

He looked at the playful figure standing there like a mountain and spoke calmly to the two people beside him who were barely able to move:

"Minato, Kushina."

"Do whatever it takes to let me... touch him just once."