Battle (Part 1)

Seeing Senju Tobirama's gaze land on him, the chubby boy said nervously:

"I... I am Torifu Akimichi, 12 years old, a genin of the Akimichi Clan. I specialize in my family's inherited Multi-Size Secret Technique and its accompanying taijutsu. I love eating all kinds of delicious food because our family's secret technique allows us to convert excess calories into fat for storage, which can then be converted into chakra all at once when needed. Oh, right, I hate it when people call me a fatso."

Senju Tobirama nodded, remarked that it was not bad, and finally turned his gaze toward Hyuga Hoshishaku.

Compared to the nervousness of the previous two, Hyuga Hoshishaku was much more relaxed.

He knew that the current master-disciple relationship was a political transaction.

The purpose of the deal was simply to grant him the status of being a student of Senju Tobirama.

After all, anyone could see that the person who actually held the power in Konoha was the younger brother of the Hokage—Senju Tobirama.

Now that the goal had been achieved, any knowledge gained was just an extra bonus, so he felt no tension at all.

He straightened his posture slightly, added a touch of calculated intent, and introduced himself earnestly:

"I am Hyuga Hoshishaku, six and a half years old, a genin of the Hyuga Clan. I possess the Kekkei Genkai known as the Byakugan, which allows me to observe enemies in a 360-degree radius during combat and even see through objects at extreme distances."

"I am also proficient in various family-inherited taijutsu that complement the Byakugan. Oh, right, the day I learned the Basic Sealing Technique, I caused quite a stir. The clan elders said my talent for space-time ninjutsu is very high, so my strongest means of attack is actually the Basic Sealing Technique."

"I like eating all the delicacies in Konoha, and there is nothing I dislike."

Senju Tobirama's eyes flickered as he looked at the brat before him, and he felt a bit of suspicion in his heart.

Could it be that he's holding back even after becoming my student? Is it necessary for a child to specifically mention that he has a high talent for space-time ninjutsu? If he wants to learn the Flying Thunder God, he should just say so.

Of course, in his view, these words from Hyuga Hoshishaku must have been taught by his elders.

Therefore, he did not show the dissatisfaction he felt inside.

"Alright, now that everyone has introduced themselves, knowing each other is one thing, but if you want me to acknowledge you, you must pass my test."

Senju Tobirama said.

"Next, you will take turns attacking me with all your might. You must have the resolve to kill me, understood? If your performance is poor, I will not accept you as my students."

After he finished speaking, he turned his gaze toward Kagami Uchiha.

"Kagami Uchiha, you go first."

As he spoke, the people around them consciously stepped back, leaving the space to the two of them.

Kagami Uchiha reached for his ninja tool pouch, said "Lord Tobirama, here I come," and then, with lightning speed, threw six kunai at once, aiming for every vital point on Senju Tobirama's body.

The latter simply stood where he was, reached out to catch one of the incoming kunai directly, and then used that same kunai to deflect the other five simultaneously—all so fast that almost no one could see it.

At this moment, Kagami Uchiha's next wave of attacks had already arrived.

A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, heading straight for Senju Tobirama!

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!

Senju Tobirama, however, walked a few steps to the left as if he were taking a leisurely stroll, easily avoiding the aggressive fire ninjutsu.

"It's not over yet! Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

As Kagami Uchiha's new fire ninjutsu appeared, clusters of fireballs resembling phoenix flowers flew in irregular trajectories toward Senju Tobirama.

The latter, as if he had seen through the trajectory of the Phoenix Sage Fire, continued to walk at a steady, unhurried pace, easily and comfortably dodging the dozen or so flames.

At the same time, Kagami Uchiha unleashed his third fire ninjutsu.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Technique!"

Immediately following this, a straight pillar of fire erupted from his mouth, shooting directly at Senju Tobirama.

The latter dodged the pillar of fire, but Kagami Uchiha then manipulated the flames to sweep across horizontally.

However, Senju Tobirama, who had been in place just a moment ago, had already vanished. Like a ghost, he appeared out of thin air behind Kagami Uchiha and asked softly:

"Is that all? Do you have any other skills you haven't shown yet?"

Having realized what happened, Kagami Uchiha quickly cut off his ninjutsu and flashed away to put some distance between himself and Senju Tobirama.

A bead of cold sweat slid down his temple. He held his kunai and stood there, staring at the young man, seemingly having forgotten his own mission.

Senju Tobirama shook his head and said with some disappointment:

"Sigh, the strength of the Uchiha today is several grades lower than it was during the Warring States period. It seems the Uchiha have grown lax since the village was founded. Alright, Kagami, go to the side and rest."

Upon hearing this, Kagami Uchiha lowered his head in dejection, panting slightly, and walked to the side.

Afterward, Senju Tobirama turned his gaze toward Torifu Akimichi.

"Torifu, I hope you won't disappoint me. Now, attack me with all your might."

The cute chubby boy immediately activated his family's secret technique upon hearing this, using the Multi-Size Technique to perform various taijutsu.

Whether it was enlarging his palms to slap at the target or enlarging parts of his body to crush them, he could not touch even a corner of Senju Tobirama's clothes no matter what he did.

Seeming to grow anxious, Torifu Akimichi took a deep breath and then unleashed a taijutsu that looked incredibly fierce: Human Bullet Tank!

He curled himself into a ball and rapidly crashed toward Senju Tobirama!

The latter did not choose to dodge this time; instead, as the Human Bullet Tank drew near, he threw a precise punch that shattered the taijutsu technique, sending Torifu Akimichi flying.

The little fatty landed on the ground, gasping for breath incessantly.

Yet he did not give up; he climbed back to his feet and let out a roar: "It's not over yet!"

Super Multi-Size Technique!

He then transformed into a giant four or five meters tall and charged toward Senju Tobirama.

After turning into a giant, although his strength and speed had increased significantly, he still could not land a hit on Senju Tobirama.

Just like that, one attacking and one dodging, in less than a minute, Torifu Akimichi collapsed from exhaustion, reverting back into the little fatty he was before.

However, Hyuga Hoshishaku observed that he seemed a size thinner than when he had arrived.

He clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking that this secret technique of the Akimichi Clan was like a super-weakened version of the Law of Heaven and Earth.

Then, he heard the words of Senju Tobirama:

"Not bad, kid. Go rest on the side."

As he spoke, he cast his gaze over.

"Hoshishaku, kid, get ready and come up. Don't hold anything back; I can tell you're more capable than all the other boys present."

Hyuga Hoshishaku raised an eyebrow, feeling that Senju Tobirama's assessment of him was unexpectedly high.

One had to know, the day he fought Sarutobi Hiruzen, he had taken advantage of the fact that his opponent had underestimated him.

If things had gotten serious and Sarutobi Hiruzen had summoned the Sarutobi Clan's exclusive summon—Enma—he wouldn't have stood a chance.

These thoughts merely flickered through Hoshishaku's mind before vanishing.

He pushed the hair tie at the end of his ponytail up, rolled up his sleeves, and then looked into Senju Tobirama's eyes, saying earnestly:

"In that case, Teacher Tobirama, I'm coming."