Since today was the Ninja Academy's examination day for all students, and the training ground was quite spacious, many civilian parents and ninjas had gathered around to watch.
When Matsushita led the students there, the examinations for the other classes had already ended.
Nawaki glanced around and spotted the Third Hokage, his grandmother, and the Sannin standing outside the examination grounds, surrounded by a crowd.
"Nawaki! Good luck!" Tsunade called, waving to him from afar.
It turned out that Konoha's higher-ups took a great deal of interest in Nawaki, the Wood Release kekkei genkai user. They had come together to watch the examination out of curiosity about his abilities and to prevent any accidents.
Far from feeling nervous under the attention of the higher-ups and the crowd, Nawaki was delighted. It looked like he could earn another large amount of reputation and Wish Power today.
The examination began soon after. As the protagonist, Nawaki was naturally the last to take the field.
"Next match: Senju Nawaki versus Uchiha Fuqiu," Matsushita announced.
The two of them had placed first and second, respectively, so they had been paired as opponents.
Once they entered the arena, Uchiha Fugaku spoke first. "You brat! Actual combat is completely different from the previous two standardized tests! You can use any means you want, but it's dangerous. I advise you to surrender while you still can."
Nawaki replied calmly, "Don't worry. I won't let you get hurt!"
"Damn brat! What a boast! Don't blame me if you die! Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" Knowing that Nawaki was better than him at both Taijutsu and Shurikenjutsu, Uchiha Fugaku chose neither close combat nor ranged attacks. Instead, he attacked directly with Fire Release Ninjutsu.
For a six-year-old, being able to use a C-rank jutsu was already an impressive achievement. Unfortunately, his Hand Seals were too slow. By the time he unleashed the jutsu, three seconds had passed.
Three seconds was enough time for Nawaki to do a lot.
Yet everyone saw Nawaki standing motionless, as if he'd been scared stiff, letting the fireball swallow him whole and leave nothing behind but a pile of ashes!
It all happened so suddenly that even Matsushita didn't have time to stop it. He hadn't expected Nawaki, who had spoken so confidently during theory lessons, to fare so poorly in actual combat.
"Ah!" the girls watching screamed.
"Murder! The Uchiha killed someone!"
"That's outrageous! It's only an exam, and he used such a deadly attack!"
"How tragic! That young master was burned to ashes!"
"This is going to be a disaster! He's the young head of the Senju Clan!"
The crowd cried out in alarm, and the entire examination ground grew noisy.
But the Third Hokage and the other higher-ups remained unmoved, watching calmly.
Hearing the crowd's comments, Uchiha Fugaku broke into a cold sweat. Putting on a brave front, he said, "Hmph! Some genius! He couldn't even take a single hit. I told him to surrender, so his death isn't my fault." Then he turned and glanced at his father. Seeing the stern, disappointed look on his face, he froze.
I defeated someone from the Senju Clan. Why is Father disappointed? Is it because I killed him?
Just then, gasps rose from the crowd, followed by Nawaki's calm voice. "Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
Uchiha Fugaku felt something clamp around his feet. Then, with tremendous force, he was dragged underground.
When he came to his senses, he found himself trapped up to his neck, unable to move. Nawaki stood unharmed in front of him, looking down at him. "It's over!"
That expression again, and that familiar position! Uchiha Fugaku remembered what had happened six months ago. "Impossible! Your jutsu hit you! How are you unharmed?"
"How embarrassing," Nawaki said, shaking his head at Fugaku's disbelieving expression. "As a ninja, you should pay attention to the details! Do you really think a C-rank jutsu like the Great Fireball Technique could turn someone to ash in an instant? At most, it would roast them."
Nawaki's reminder made Uchiha Fugaku finally understand. "Was it the Substitution Technique? No, there must have been a Clone Technique too. No wonder Father was disappointed. Is it because I failed to notice such an obvious flaw, just like those civilians? What a disgrace!"
Nawaki nodded. "You're smart. You knew you had no advantage in Taijutsu or Shurikenjutsu, so you chose to attack first with the Fire Release you're good at. Unfortunately, your Hand Seals were too slow—you took a full three seconds. During that time, I used the Clone Technique and the Substitution Technique, and hid the clone behind me, blocking your view with my real body. The instant your Great Fireball attacked, I switched places with the clone. At the same time, I used Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu to burrow underground. The ashes you saw were nothing but the remains of my clone. If you'd observed carefully and made the right judgment, you wouldn't have been caught so easily. You were far too careless, Fugaku."
Fugaku lowered his head. "You came up with a strategy and performed three jutsu in just three seconds? It looks like you beat me in brains as well as strength. But I won't give up. I'll definitely defeat you next time!"
Nawaki chuckled. "Then keep working hard! But I'm training with the goal of protecting the village. Have you found your own conviction? Without one, it'll be hard to surpass me!"
Nawaki never missed an opportunity to use his talk-no-jutsu.
Big Pillar wasn't so easily swayed. "Hmph! A conviction? The glory of the Uchiha Clan is mine!"
"The Uchiha Clan? It's a little narrow-minded, but it's still a decent conviction!"
"Tch! You don't get to judge!"
After receiving a notification that his reputation had risen to 50 points and that he had accumulated 20,000 Wish Power, Nawaki was in high spirits. He smiled unconcernedly. "I'll be looking forward to it, then! Teacher Matsushita, can you announce the result?"
Matsushita had finally recovered. He was embarrassed that he hadn't seen through Nawaki's strategy. This student always managed to surprise him; his intelligence and talent were truly impressive. "I declare Senju Nawaki the winner. With perfect scores in all three examinations, he is the top student in his year!"
The students and parents around them cheered and applauded.
"That was amazing! Nawaki really is the best!"
"Tch! Wasn't it you who was just screaming that Nawaki-kun was dead..."
"You were doing the same thing!"
"This young head of the Senju Clan really is an extraordinary genius! Even without that talent, he'd still become a great ninja!" said the Uchiha Clan head, Fugaku's father, with a smile.
The Third Hokage frowned at that. "Judging by this child's performance, he already has the abilities of a Genin, and his tactical acumen is even at Chunin level. But he's only two years old. He shouldn't graduate too early. That would attract too much attention and make him a target for other countries' investigations. Also, I hope no one brings up anything related to that matter in public from now on—not even indirectly."
"Understood, Lord Hokage. I was careless just now!" Faced with the suspicious looks of the other higher-ups, the Uchiha Clan head had no choice but to bow his head and apologize.
Before you continue