No one was surprised that Hatake Kakashi had won.
Yamashiro Aoba might have been a genius, but even among geniuses, there were differences.
Hatake Kakashi was a genius among geniuses.
The matches continued.
Many Genin were competing in the first round.
Natsuki did not recognize quite a few of them.
Naturally, their abilities were nothing remarkable.
To Natsuki, every first-round match after the opening one was rather dull.
So he amused himself by teasing Uchiha Mikoto.
He did not start paying attention again until the second round began.
Uchiha Mikoto finally got a break and wiped the sweat from her brow.
She felt unlike herself, as though she had fallen into an abyss.
"First match of the second round: Might Guy versus Genma Shiranui!"
Namikaze Minato called out.
"Waaah!"
Might Duy sprang to his feet in the stands and cried, "Guy, make sure your youth shines!"
"I will!"
Might Guy looked toward Might Duy, gave him a thumbs-up, and said, "Witness my youth!"
Uchiha Fugaku and the others exchanged bewildered looks.
Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly felt fortunate.
Good thing he had retired early.
Otherwise, who knew how much trouble this father and son would have caused him?
Hatake Kakashi discreetly put some distance between himself and Might Guy.
Might Guy stepped into the arena.
His opponent, Genma Shiranui, stood across from him with a senbon between his teeth.
He looked completely relaxed.
And he had every reason to be.
Might Guy had little reputation to speak of.
Genma Shiranui was also two years older, and he was no slouch himself.
In the original story, he had even become a guard to the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and mastered the Flying Thunder Formation Technique.
But he was about to change his mind.
"Begin!"
Namikaze Minato called out and retreated to the edge