The chubby boy saw Senju Tobirama looking his way and tensed up a little.
"I... I'm Torifu Akimichi. I'm twelve years old, a Genin of the Akimichi Clan, and I specialize in the clan's inherited Multi-Size Secret Technique and its accompanying Taijutsu. I like all kinds of delicious food. Our clan's secret technique lets us convert excess calories into fat and store them, then turn it all into chakra at once when needed. Oh, and I hate it when people call me a fatso."
Senju Tobirama nodded and said that was good. Finally, he turned his gaze to Hyuga Hoshishaku.
Unlike the first two, Hyuga Hoshishaku seemed much more relaxed.
He knew their current master-disciple relationship was a political arrangement.
The goal of the arrangement was to give him the title of Senju Tobirama's disciple.
After all, anyone could see that the one actually wielding power in Konoha right now was Lord Hokage's younger brother—Senju Tobirama.
Now that he'd achieved his goal, anything he learned was a bonus, so he wasn't nervous at all.
He straightened his posture a little and, with a touch of calculation, introduced himself seriously.
"I'm Hyuga Hoshishaku. I'm six and a half years old, a Genin of the Hyuga Clan, and I possess a Kekkei Genkai called the Byakugan. In battle, I can see my enemies in every direction, and I can also see through things from an extremely long distance."
"I also specialize in various inherited Taijutsu techniques that work well with the Byakugan. Oh, and on the day I learned the Sealing Technique, I caused a bit of a stir. The clan elders said I have a great talent for space-time, so my strongest offensive technique for now is actually the Basic Sealing Technique."
"I like trying all the delicious food in Konoha. There's nothing I dislike."
Senju Tobirama's gaze flickered as he looked at the boy before him, and he couldn't help wondering.
Did the boy think he'd hold back after taking him on as a disciple? What was the point of making a child say he had a talent for Space-Time Ninjutsu? If he wanted to learn the Flying Thunder God, he could just say so.
Of course, Tobirama figured that the boy's elders had put those words in his mouth.
So he didn't show his displeasure.
"All right, now that you've all met each other, it's time for the next step. If you want me to accept you, you'll have to pass my test."
Senju Tobirama spoke plainly.
"One at a time, attack me with everything you've got. You must be determined to kill me. If you don't perform well, I won't take you on as a disciple."
With that, he looked at Kagami Uchiha.
"Kagami Uchiha, you first."
The people around them stepped back, leaving the space to the two of them.
Kagami reached for his weapon pouch. "Lord Tobirama, here I come." Then he hurled six kunai at once with blinding speed, aiming for every vital point on Senju Tobirama's body.
Tobirama simply stood where he was, caught one of the incoming kunai, then used it to knock the other five off course in a single motion, moving so fast that almost no one could see him.
Kagami's next attack was already underway.
A huge fireball burst from his mouth and shot straight at Senju Tobirama!
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!
Senju Tobirama strolled a few steps to the left, easily evading the imposing Fire Style Ninjutsu.
"It's not over yet! Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
As Kagami unleashed another Fire Style Ninjutsu, clusters of fireballs resembling phoenix flowers flew at Senju Tobirama along irregular paths.
Tobirama seemed to see right through their trajectories. Still moving at his unhurried pace, he easily evaded the dozen or so flames.
At the same time, Kagami unleashed a third Fire Style Ninjutsu.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Technique!"
A straight pillar of flame shot from his mouth toward Senju Tobirama.
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After Tobirama dodged the pillar of flame, Kagami swept it sideways toward him.
But Senju Tobirama had vanished from where he'd been standing. Like a ghost, he appeared behind Kagami out of nowhere and asked in a quiet voice,
"Is that all? Do you have any other skills you haven't used yet?"
Kagami snapped out of it, quickly cut off the technique, then leaped away to put some distance between them.
A bead of cold sweat ran down his temple. He stood still with a kunai in hand, staring at the young man as if he'd forgotten what he was supposed to do.
Senju Tobirama shook his head and said with some disappointment,
"Alas, the Uchiha are several levels weaker than they were during the Warring States period. It seems they've grown lax since the village was founded. All right, Kagami, go rest over there."
Kagami lowered his head, dejected, and walked off to the side, breathing a little hard.
Then Senju Tobirama looked at Torifu Akimichi.
"Torifu, I hope you don't disappoint me. Attack me with everything you've got."
At once, the adorable chubby boy used his clan's secret technique, enlarging parts of his body to perform various Taijutsu moves.
He either enlarged his palm and swatted at his target or grew part of his body and tried to crush him.
No matter what he did, though, he couldn't even touch Senju Tobirama's clothes.
Apparently getting desperate, Torifu took a deep breath and performed a Taijutsu move that looked ferocious: Human Bullet Tank!
He curled himself into a ball and charged at Senju Tobirama!
This time, Tobirama didn't dodge. As the Human Bullet Tank drew near, he landed a precisely timed punch, breaking the technique and sending Torifu flying.
The chubby boy landed and panted heavily.
But he didn't give up. He got back to his feet and roared, "It's not over!"
Super Multi-Size Technique!
He transformed into a giant four or five meters tall and charged at Senju Tobirama.
His strength and speed had increased considerably in giant form, but he still couldn't hit Tobirama.
After less than a minute of attacking and dodging, Torifu ran out of strength and collapsed, returning to his original chubby form.
Hoshishaku noticed that he seemed a little thinner than when he'd arrived.
He marveled to himself. The Akimichi Clan's secret technique was like a severely watered-down version of Law of Heaven and Earth.
Then he heard Senju Tobirama say,
"Not bad, kid. Go rest over there."
As he spoke, Tobirama turned his gaze toward him.
"Get ready, Hoshishaku. Don't hold back. I can tell you're stronger than every other kid here."
Hyuga Hoshishaku raised an eyebrow, surprised that Senju Tobirama thought so highly of him.
After all, when he'd fought Sarutobi Hiruzen that day, he'd had the advantage of being underestimated.
If Hiruzen had fought seriously and summoned the Sarutobi Clan's exclusive Summoning Beast, Enma, Hoshishaku wouldn't have stood a chance.
Those thoughts flashed through Hoshishaku's mind and were gone.
He pushed the tie at the ends of his hair upward, rolled up both sleeves, then met Senju Tobirama's eyes and said seriously,
"Then, Teacher Tobirama, here I come."
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