Jōnin Exam: Battle Against Kakashi

Fortunately, Sarutobi Hiruzen was an old fox himself. Without betraying anything on his face, he turned to the next page and glanced at Uchiha Genya.

Three Tomoe at such a young age... Another genius like Shisui?

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze fall on him, three Tomoe gradually appeared in Genya's eyes.

A kindly smile immediately appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face. He nodded at Genya and said,

"Since that's the case... very well. Tomorrow, I'll make a special exception and arrange your jōnin exam."

Genya did not dare be careless and said to Sarutobi Hiruzen,

"Thank you, Third Hokage."

Seeing how polite Genya was, some of the wariness in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes faded, though he still said instinctively,

"It is because Konoha has ninja like you and Shisui that it can continue growing stronger."

"Where the leaves of Konoha dance, fire burns on without end. The shadow of the fire will shine upon the village and make new leaves sprout."

The same old Will of Fire rhetoric. Yet some people truly believed in that nonsense.

When Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand, Yashiro tactfully led Genya out of the Hokage Office.

On their way back to the clan grounds, Yashiro looked at the silent Genya and raised another question.

"What did you think of what just happened?"

The Third Hokage, who had theoretically stepped down, had bypassed Namikaze Minato and directly arranged Genya's jōnin exam.

Moreover, from beginning to end, Uchiha Yashiro had not asked for the opinion of Namikaze Minato, who had been present.

Clearly, the fact that the newly appointed Fourth Hokage was merely a puppet had practically become common knowledge among Konoha's upper ranks.

After activating his Sharingan and confirming that no Hokage Anbu were following him, Genya thought for a moment before summing it up in one sentence.

"This relationship is highly abnormal, but considering that the Fourth Hokage has only just taken office, perhaps it is normal for now?"

Yashiro nodded approvingly and did not press him further.

For someone so young, having such insight was already far from easy.

"Once you become a jōnin, I'll support you during the clan assembly. But if you want a greater say within the Uchiha Police Force, you'll have to rely on your own efforts."

Yashiro did not even ask whether Genya was confident he could pass the jōnin exam.

Any Uchiha who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan stood among the finest of ninja.

If he could not even pass the jōnin exam, it would be far too disgraceful for the Uchiha.

This was the pride of the Uchiha. Among those of the same rank, no one could defeat an Uchiha who had awakened his eyes.

The next day, the jōnin exam arrived as scheduled.

Genya put on his equipment and headed to one of Konoha's training grounds.

He also saw his opponent: white hair, a forehead protector covering his left eye, a black mask, and an overall lazy, trouble-averse air.

It was Hatake Kakashi, the man who possessed one Sharingan, had copied over a thousand ninjutsu, and was known throughout the Ninja World as the "Copy Ninja."

Kakashi looked just as he did in Genya's memories. This genius, who had become a jōnin at the age of twelve, had lost two close friends in the Battle of Kannabi Bridge and had since become dispirited.

The moment Genya saw that Sarutobi Hiruzen had sent Kakashi to serve as the examiner for this jōnin exam, he understood his intentions.

Does he want Kakashi to defeat me, a legitimate Uchiha clansman, and use that to build his reputation?

Then today, I'll show you what a real Sharingan is.

Not just anyone could transplant a Sharingan and use it well.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood in the spectator stands nearby. Seeing that both men were ready, he raised a hand.

"The jōnin exam for Uchiha Genya will now... begin."

Almost the instant Sarutobi Hiruzen brought his hand down, Uchiha Genya and Hatake Kakashi vanished from the field at the same time!

Accompanied by the clang of metal striking metal, Kakashi retreated the moment they made contact.

Using the Body Flicker Technique to evade Genya's attack, Kakashi threw several shuriken to disrupt Uchiha Genya's movements while rapidly forming hand seals.

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

Seemingly aware that Genya's talent for ninjutsu was rather average, Kakashi appeared to be planning to wear him down from range.

Genya threw several shuriken, precisely knocking Kakashi's shuriken out of the air. As he closed in with the Body Flicker Technique, he rapidly formed hand seals, opened his mouth, and spat out a stream of blazing flames.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Genya's lack of proficiency in Fire Release was only relative to Uchiha of the same rank. Ever since his stats had risen to the level of a jōnin, the intelligence from before no longer applied to him.

Although the Great Fireball Technique was merely a C-rank Fire Release, when Genya used it, it exceeded the power expected of a technique at that rank.

A ninjutsu's rank represented only the difficulty of learning it, not its power.

In the spectator stands, Sarutobi Hiruzen could not help narrowing his eyes as he watched Uchiha Genya trade blows evenly with Kakashi and even gain the upper hand.

Another genius... If only he were an Uchiha like Shisui, one who carried the village in his heart.

Why did the Uchiha clan produce geniuses so easily?

Facing the wall of fire rushing toward him, Kakashi slammed his palm against the ground.

"Earth Release: Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

An Earth Wall carved with dog heads surged from the ground and blocked the Great Fireball Technique.

Genya had never understood why Kakashi cared so much about ceremony. His chakra reserves were already limited, and he had to endure the Sharingan constantly draining his chakra.

Yet he insisted on turning an Earth Wall into this kind of performance art.

Genya was not surprised when the Great Fireball Technique was blocked and continued rapidly closing in on Kakashi.

Just as he was about to reach him, a pair of hands suddenly burst out from the ground and seized Genya's legs.

"Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!"

Genya was immediately dragged underground, leaving only his head exposed.

Kakashi appeared immediately afterward.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, watching this scene, revealed a gratified smile.

As expected of Kakashi, the White Fang's son. He truly had not disappointed him.

Looking at the unchanging expression on Genya's face, Kakashi said, "The victor has been decided."

Yet Genya, pinned underground, revealed a strange smile.

"What made you think the one you caught was my real body?"

"Genya" suddenly turned into a puff of smoke.

The pupil in Kakashi's exposed eye suddenly contracted.

Not good, it's a Shadow Clone!

But when? I never saw Genya form hand seals!

The Shadow Clone Technique was a Clone Technique created by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, specifically to counter the Sharingan. It was so advanced that even the Sharingan could not see through it.

Kakashi no longer had time to consider when Genya had used the Shadow Clone Technique.

His exposed eye continuously scanned the area. Relying on his powerful battle instincts, Kakashi immediately angled his ninja blade behind him in defense.

Just as expected, Genya's figure appeared in an instant, and the short blade in his hand collided with Kakashi's ninja blade once more.

The moment Kakashi turned his head, he saw the three scarlet Tomoe in Uchiha Genya's eyes.

Not good!

As the Copy Ninja who possessed one Sharingan, he understood the Sharingan all too well. He also knew that when fighting an Uchiha with awakened eyes, one must never meet the opponent's gaze.