A Genin?

The Konoha 12 watched Senju Nawaki's defeat, their brows furrowing.

Senju Nawaki's identity was no simple matter. He was the First's grandson and should, by all rights, have exceptional talent. But he hadn't displayed anything to match his lineage.

On the contrary, he was so weak they could hardly believe it!

He was practically... just an ordinary ninja!

"Next up, Kurama Shimotsuki versus Inuzuka Mi!"

At the teacher's announcement, the two stepped into the center of the training ground. Once the match began, they instinctively tested each other's abilities.

But soon, Kurama Shimotsuki's lips curled into a slight smile.

She'd figured it out: Inuzuka Mi wasn't good at Taijutsu. She was only at the level of an ordinary child her age, which in an elite class like Class A made her one of the weakest!

Kurama Shimotsuki wasn't especially skilled in those areas either, but she was still better than Inuzuka Mi—and she had a more impressive ability of her own!

That was... genjutsu!

"Inuzuka Mi, I know how strong you are now! Next... get ready to admit defeat!"

Kurama Shimotsuki gave a soft laugh. A moment later,

she formed hand seals.

Her soft lips enunciated each word: "Genjutsu: Descending Hell!"

She was only seven, but the Kurama Clan was naturally gifted in genjutsu. It was hardly surprising that she could already use it.

"Using genjutsu at seven? Impressive talent."

Keigo Uchiha's eyes lit up, though his gaze lingered more on Inuzuka Mi's sweet, innocent face. Kurama Shimotsuki had put on the stronger showing, but Inuzuka Mi gave him the impression of being... exceptionally pure and clean!

It wasn't just because her delicate features were so stunning.

It was because her chakra felt so clean!

"Inuzuka Mi belongs to the Ninja Dog clan. Since she's still young, she hasn't formed a contract with a Ninja Dog yet. But she wouldn't be in the Konoha 12's class without some advantage!"

At that very moment,

Inuzuka Mi's body swayed, and her sapphire-blue eyes instantly cleared!

Keigo Uchiha's eyes lit up!

Inuzuka Mi had indeed fallen for the genjutsu, but she'd snapped out of it in less than a second!

"Clean, pure chakra—and a high resistance to genjutsu!"

Even a Chunin might not react that quickly.

Yet Inuzuka Mi had recovered in an instant!

"Damn it!"

Kurama Shimotsuki's pretty face darkened. "But I'll still win in the end. Genjutsu!"

A moment later, she cast it again, then suddenly charged forward with a Kunai in hand. She rushed in to attack before Inuzuka Mi could recover!

But what shocked her was—

This time, Inuzuka Mi woke up even faster!

Inuzuka Mi wasn't strong in Taijutsu, but the two were still evenly matched!

In the end, though, Inuzuka Mi lost because of her weaker Taijutsu.

"Is my genjutsu really that easy to break...? You've even shaken my confidence!"

Kurama Shimotsuki had a bead of cold sweat on her forehead. Looking at the shy girl before her, she smiled. "Still, having you as a teammate would be very reassuring."

There might not be many genjutsu users on the battlefield.

But any one of them could use their genjutsu to instantly put an opponent at a disadvantage.

So having someone on the team who could expertly control others with genjutsu—and quickly break it—would make them incredibly reliable!

"Th-thank you!"

Inuzuka Mi nodded shyly.

"You really are an easily embarrassed little girl. If you ever have a problem, come find me, okay? I'll help you."

Kurama Shimotsuki spoke with a smile, unable to resist teasing the pretty girl.

"Kurama Shimotsuki wins this match. Your Taijutsu and Kunai-throwing skills are about the same, but Kurama Shimotsuki is more at ease and attacks more fiercely. Inuzuka Mi, you need to... be braver."

Kamimura Yanoi gave his fair assessment.

"Next up..."

He looked toward Keigo Uchiha and Hyuga Ruri!

Both of them were prodigies from their respective clans!

The Hokage had already spoken to him about Keigo Uchiha, telling him to look after the boy. And Hyuga Ruri's talent was just as astonishing!

Although Hyuga Ruri bore the Hyuga name, she carried the blood of both the Hyuga Clan and the Senju Clan!

That was why Hyuga Ruri, despite being Hyuga Tenjin's granddaughter, wasn't the clan's heir.

The book's title didn't bring up any results. Maybe searching for the author would help—it could have been renamed!

Because she didn't have pure Hyuga blood.

Her mother was from the Senju Clan.

Back then, Senju Hashirama had advocated intermarriage between the Senju Clan and Konoha's other clans.

Hyuga Tenjin was relatively open-minded too. He single-handedly put down the objections of the clan's old guard and let his son marry a member of the Senju Clan. That was how Hyuga Ruri was born.

Because of that, Hyuga Tenjin had no choice but to pass the clan leadership to Hyuga Hiashi's father.

Hyuga Tenjin's decision back then had left many people baffled. No one could figure out what he was trying to accomplish.

"Keigo Uchiha and Hyuga Ruri!"

At the teacher's words, everyone's eyes turned to the pair. They stepped into the center of the training ground, and Keigo Uchiha studied Hyuga Ruri's pure white eyes.

They were utterly clear.

But she didn't look like Hyuga Hinata. Instead, she had an air of nobility and authority about her—a regal bearing!

Simply put, she was a rich, beautiful girl!

"Keigo Uchiha, I've heard about your talent. Although you rarely leave the Uchiha Clan, I've still heard people say you're a once-in-a-century genius of the Uchiha Clan."

Hyuga Ruri's voice was cool and proud. "But you'll still lose to me!"

"I, Hyuga Ruri, will never lose to anyone!"

Keigo Uchiha chuckled. "Hyuga Tenjin's granddaughter certainly has spirit. I just wonder whether your strength or your mouth is more impressive."

As he spoke, he gave Senju Nawaki a casual glance.

That guy had been just as confident a moment ago.

But Sarutobi Shinnosuke had defeated him with ease.

"Don't compare me to a loser like him. My strength is beyond anything you can imagine!"

Oh?

Keigo Uchiha raised an eyebrow. She was young, but she sure had a big mouth.

Keigo had also heard the Great Elder talk about Hyuga Ruri. He'd planned to get to know this girl, whose bloodline combined the Hyuga and Senju Clans, but he hadn't expected her to be so haughty.

Looks like he'd have to beat her up first!

At Kamimura Yanoi's announcement,

Hyuga Ruri assumed her stance, stunning everyone. She spoke each word clearly: "Eight Trigrams: One Hundred and Eight Palms!"

In an instant!

Veins bulged around her pale eyes!

She took in everything around her.

Then she shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow!

Keigo Uchiha's eyes widened. "One Hundred and Eight Palms! She's mastered it at seven?! Holy crap, that's ridiculous!"

A terrifying barrage of attacks came at him!

But Keigo Uchiha hadn't spent all that time training for nothing. He used Lightning Release to stimulate his legs and dodged at high speed.

The two moved at a ridiculous pace, like arrows loosed from their bows!

Their figures blurred, leaving afterimages!

The Konoha 12 stared, wide-eyed.

"Are... are they really new students at the Ninja Academy? They could take the Chunin Ninja Exams right now and probably do just fine!"

Akimichi Lie's eyes widened, and he even stopped reaching for his snacks.

"Their strength is already beyond that of Genin. Even a Chunin might not be able to beat them. Our talent is already impressive among ordinary ninja, but they're... monsters!"

Nara Kano couldn't help speaking, his throat bobbing.

The sight was too much for his mind to process.

No wonder his father had sent him to the Ninja Academy.

There really were monsters like this at the Ninja Academy!

This was freaking terrifying!

They were leaving the rest of them no chance at all!

"Do you know how to do anything besides dodge, coward?!"

Hyuga Ruri cried out, her cool voice carrying a trace of anger. "You're from the Uchiha Clan, yet all you do is dodge. You're bringing shame on your clan!"

Keigo Uchiha chuckled, unbothered. "If your attacks can't hit anyone, they're no different from a waste of effort."

"A ninja... fights to win."

He leaped back and shouted, "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

This attack came just as Hyuga Ruri finished her One Hundred and Eight Palms, with her old strength spent and her new strength not yet risen!

She had nowhere to dodge!