As he hurried toward the training ground, Genichi reviewed what he knew about himself and prepared his tactics in advance.
The sword in Genichi's hand was the same Kusanagi Sword Sasuke used in the original story. It had no handguard, and its white hilt and scabbard contrasted with its black blade. It could cut through iron without a sound, and was sharp enough to shave hair.
It perfectly met Genichi's standards for both appearance and strength.
His swordsmanship combined various techniques from Konoha-Style Kenjutsu and Uchiha-Style Kenjutsu, with a focus on speed. Paired with the exceptionally sharp Kusanagi Sword, it made him a dangerous opponent in close combat.
In recent years, Genichi had focused on studying Senju Tobirama's notes on [Lightning Release, from Beginner to Buried]. He could now refine his Lightning Release chakra during daily training, channeling it along his meridians to stimulate his muscles and gradually increase his strength and speed.
Although he couldn't form [Lightning Release Armor] or [Lightning Release Chakra Mode] in battle, Genichi had used this method of stimulating his body with Lightning Release, combined with his own combat style, to recreate [Lightning Release: Chidori], [Chidori Blade], and [Chidori Current] from the original story.
The ninjutsu he had learned included:
Wind Release: [Wind Release: Great Breakthrough], [Wind Release: Vacuum Blade], [Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique].
Lightning Release: [Lightning Release: Lightning Clone], [Lightning Release: Lightning Arrow], [Lightning Release: Chidori], [Chidori Blade], [Chidori Current].
Genjutsu: [Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change], [Haze Clone Technique] (D-rank, short-range support), [Fox-Head-Hunting Technique] (C-rank, medium- to long-range support), [Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique] (C-rank, short-, medium-, and long-range support), [Demonic Illusion: Tree Bind Death] (B-rank, close-range support).
Sealing Jutsu: [Contract Seal], [Four-Symbols Seal], [Five Elements Seal], [Evil Sealing Method].
Besides those, he also knew the classic "Three Basic Techniques," Body Flicker Technique, Body Freeze Technique, [Rasengan], and Shadow Clone Technique.
When he arrived outside the training ground, Genichi saw that the Third Hokage had already been waiting for a while. He didn't rush over.
Nawaki's failure was still fresh in his mind. Preparing the battlefield in advance was part of a ninja's combat strategy, so Genichi carefully studied the surroundings inside the training ground.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, a veteran with plenty of experience, watched Genichi inspecting the grounds from outside and sighed helplessly. "Good. It's wise to be cautious, but today's about testing your strength. Come in. There are no traps."
"Don't worry about this old man. Show me your full strength," Sarutobi Hiruzen added.
The two formed the Seal of Confrontation.
Genichi flicked his right hand, scattering most of the shuriken in his ninja pouch into the air. He immediately formed hand seals with both hands—Dog, Horse, Rooster. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" A gale swept the razor-sharp shuriken straight toward the Third Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained unhurried. "Good," he said mildly as he formed hand seals. A wall of earth rose between them, casually blocking Genichi's attack.
Without the slightest pause, a [Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique] shot over the earthen wall and slammed toward Genichi's position.
Genichi had kept his eyes on the battlefield as he launched his probing attack. The instant he saw the Water Dragon Bullet, he dodged with the Body Flicker Technique. At the same time, he formed hand seals and used the harder-to-read [Shadow Clone Technique], creating a shadow clone. The two of them circled around the earthen wall from opposite sides.
Watching Genichi approach from two directions, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't hurry. He waited until both were nearly upon him before using [Earth Release: Earth Flow River]. The solid ground turned to mud, forcing Genichi to retreat.
Suddenly, the Sarutobi Hiruzen in front of him vanished in a puff of smoke. A hand seized Genichi's left foot and yanked him down.
"Looks like I picked the shadow clone," Sarutobi Hiruzen remarked casually as he returned to the surface.
As a technique with controllable lethality that could incapacitate its target on a direct hit, [Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu] was well suited for a training match. Genichi had been on guard against attacks from beneath his feet the whole time.
Taking advantage of the moment, Genichi steadied himself and abandoned the hand seals for [Chidori Current], switching to [Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique].
Seeing the wind blade streak toward him, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly formed hand seals and breathed a burst of flame from his mouth. The two techniques collided in midair and vanished, leaving the air still once more. It was [Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet Technique].
"That should be enough." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction. "Your ninjutsu and ability to adapt on the battlefield are both excellent. Next, let's test your taijutsu—close-quarters combat, to be precise. Show me everything you've got."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen used [Summoning Technique] to summon Enma, who transformed into the Adamantine Staff in his hands.
At that, Chiba Genichi slowly drew the long sword at his waist and used Lightning Release to stimulate his entire body.
Enma was a monkey with an indestructible body. In the original story, even more than ten years later, the Third Hokage had been able to use the Adamantine Staff to push the Nine-Tails out of the village center.
Genichi had no chance of winning in a head-on clash. His only hope was to use his speed to find an opening.
As he used [Chidori Blade], pale purple lightning coiled around the sword. [Wind Release: Vacuum Blade] wasn't enough to break through Enma's defenses; the paralyzing effect of lightning would clearly be more useful in this fight.
Genichi's tentative slashes and thrusts were easily deflected by the Third Hokage. Lightning Release had no effect either. It seemed the Third Hokage had coated the staff with a layer of Earth Release chakra.
At last, in another clash, a tremendous force traveled from the blade into Genichi's grip. His entire arm went numb, and the Kusanagi Sword flew from his hand. At that same instant, Genichi seized his chance and pressed the [Contract Seal] he'd formed in his left hand against the Adamantine Staff that Enma had transformed into.
"Now neither of us has a weapon," Genichi said. If he couldn't cut through his target outright, a katana was at too great a disadvantage against a heavy staff.
In the rapidly changing melee, most ninjutsu were hard to use because there was no time to form hand seals, which greatly limited their effectiveness.
But that didn't apply to the seal-less, A-rank [Rasengan].
"Take this! This is my real approach!"
The Third Hokage, struck by the Rasengan, turned into a cloud of smoke.
Genichi's pupils contracted. "A shadow clone? When?"
The Third Hokage suddenly appeared at his side and gently rested a kunai on Genichi's shoulder. Smiling, he said, "You did very well, Genichi. Do you have anything else?"
Feeling the little chakra he had left and the way his strength was steadily fading, Genichi knew he couldn't sustain another high-intensity fight. He suddenly said gravely, "A ninja's battle is a battle of information. If you can figure out your opponent's weakness, it's possible to win even against someone stronger.
Lord Hokage, is anyone else around us?"
"You have another trump card?" Sarutobi Hiruzen grew serious as well. He crouched and touched the ground with two fingers, using the chakra-sensing technique of the Second Hokage.
"Don't worry. This training ground is quite remote. There's no one nearby but us. Do you still have enough strength?" Sarutobi Hiruzen could tell that Genichi was nearly out of chakra, and asked in puzzlement.
"This S-rank forbidden technique must never be seen by anyone else. Don't blame me for being underhanded. A ninja's battle has no rules."
Thinking of how the Child of Destiny understood the Transformation Technique, Genichi slowly formed hand seals: Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake.
He had passed the exam.
In today's battle, Sarutobi Hiruzen was the one who lost.
Before you continue