One Move Instant Kill

The next day at noon, Konoha Ninja Academy, Examination Hall One.

The massive tiered classroom was packed with Genin from Konoha, Sunagakure, and a few other allied ninja villages, totaling over four hundred people.

The air was stifling, filled only with the rustling of pen tips against paper and the heavy, nervous breathing of the candidates.

The first round: a written exam.

The proctor was Morino Yuichi, a Special Jonin with a scar across his face and a grim, sinister aura.

He stood on the podium, his eyes scanning the room coldly, as if they could see straight into the hearts of everyone present.

"The rules of the exam are simple," Morino Yuichi's voice was raspy and frigid. "There are ten questions on the paper, with a one-hour time limit.

The total score is 100, with a passing grade of 60.

Each instance of cheating will result in a 2-point deduction.

If one member of a team is caught cheating, the entire team will be docked 5 points. After the exam, anyone scoring below 60, along with their teammates, will be directly eliminated."

"Furthermore..." He paused, his lips curling into a cruel arc. "The final question will be announced forty-five minutes after the start of the exam.

Those who choose not to answer will have their entire team disqualified with a score of zero.

Those who choose to answer but get it wrong... will have their entire team permanently stripped of the qualification to participate in the Chunin Exams."

"Now, the exam begins."

The papers were distributed.

Uchiha Ryūha took his paper and glanced at it.

The questions covered various aspects, including ninjutsu theory, tactical analysis, wilderness survival, and code-breaking.

The difficulty was indeed far beyond the level of a Genin; even many Chunin might not be able to answer them all.

The final few tactical deduction questions, in particular, required immense logical reasoning and practical combat experience.

To him, of course, it was all gibberish.

He couldn't even be bothered to pick up his pen.

Uchiha Ryūha adjusted his glasses, his gaze calm as he looked toward Morino Yuichi on the podium.

Kyōka Suigetsu, activated silently.

It wasn't a large-scale Complete Hypnosis, but an extremely precise, imperceptible sensory guidance.

It was like dropping a small pebble into a calm lake.

By the time the ripples reached the edge of Morino Yuichi's perception, they were so faint they practically didn't exist.

Yet, deep within Morino Yuichi's subconscious, a thought was quietly "implanted" and solidified:

"Uchiha Ryūha's test paper has all the correct answers.

The handwriting is neat, the logic is clear, there are no signs of cheating, full marks."

Having finished this, Uchiha Ryūha leaned back in his chair, looking perfectly at ease.

He crossed his hands on the table and began to observe the various faces in the exam hall with great interest.

Not far to his left, Namikaze Minato was answering questions at an astonishing speed, his pen barely stopping, a calm smile on his face.

Uzumaki Kushina, however, was scratching her head, gnashing her teeth at several of the theory questions.

But her eyes were cunning, as if she were calculating some "unconventional" methods.

To his front right, the Sunagakure quartet—who all appeared to be puppeteers—looked rather miserable.

Unlike the Jinchuriki Gaara from the future, these seemed to be from the internal puppeteer clans of their village.

Diagonally across, Yotsuki Kagura from Kumogakure sat in a wide, imposing stance, not even looking at his paper.

As an observer, he was only there today to help maintain order.

He swept a provocative gaze over the Konoha ninjas in the hall, especially the members of the Uchiha clan.

And when he saw Ryūha's leisurely appearance, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

On the Konoha side, Genin from the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans were each showing off their unique skills.

Byakugan for x-ray vision, ninja dogs passing information, bugs stealing answers... it was a motley collection of tricks, though most were being extremely cautious.

At the Team Seven desks, Haruno Kazuya's face was pale and his forehead was sweating; clearly, the questions were too difficult for him.

Fujiwara Itsuki was so anxious he was pulling at his hair, occasionally stealing glances at Uchiha Ryūha.

But seeing his "thigh" looking like he was daydreaming, he felt even more panicked.

Matsumoto Ryūichi, unable to enter as their instructor, could only pace anxiously in the corridor outside the hall.

He had pinned all his hopes on Ryūha.

Uchiha Ryūha took all of this in, as if he were enjoying an interesting play.

Forty-five minutes passed quickly.

"Time is up," Morino Yuichi's cold voice rang out. "Now, I will announce the tenth question."

He scanned the room, looking at faces that were nervous, fearful, or resolute.

"The tenth question: you may choose to answer, or not to answer.

If you choose not to answer, your entire team gets a zero and may leave now.

If you choose to answer but get it wrong, your entire team will be permanently disqualified from the Chunin Exams."

The classroom fell into a deathly silence.

Many turned pale, their bodies beginning to tremble.

"You have five minutes to decide. Now, make your choice."

The oppressive atmosphere was almost suffocating.

One by one, several teams, unable to withstand the pressure, chose to give up in tears and left in a sorry state.

On the Sunagakure side, the four puppeteers exchanged glances, all prepared to answer.

They had come to this exam primarily to scout the situation.

Passing would be ideal, but if not, it didn't matter.

Yotsuki Kagura, however, was staring fixedly at Uchiha Ryūha; he had been waiting for this duel for a long time, and he couldn't help but feel a bit restless.

Ryūha didn't even look at him.

Namikaze Minato and Kushina smiled at each other and raised their hands simultaneously to choose to answer; their composure and confidence infected many Konoha Genin.

In the end, more than half of the teams remained.

"Very good." A hint of imperceptible approval appeared on Morino Yuichi's face. "Then, I announce..."

He paused, his voice suddenly rising:

"The tenth question is—the determination you just showed by choosing to 'answer'!"

"As a ninja, you will often face dilemmas during missions, or even desperate situations with no clear answer.

At such times, what determines whether you can complete the mission or survive is not knowledge or Ninjutsu.

It is the courage and decisiveness to dare to take responsibility and move forward even when facing the unknown and fear!"

"Congratulations to all the teams present who chose to 'answer'; you have passed the first exam!"

The classroom was silent for a moment, then erupted into huge cheers and sighs of relief!

Many collapsed directly into their chairs, cold sweat already soaking their backs.

Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki hugged each other in excitement, nearly bursting into tears.

Ryūha just smiled slightly and stood up.

The first round, passed with ease.

The Genin left the exam hall one after another.

In the hallway, Ryūha encountered Yotsuki Kagura, who had been waiting there for a long time.

This Kumogakure Jonin was clearly growing impatient.

As soon as he saw Ryūha, he grinned, revealing his stark white teeth.

"Uchiha brat, the written test is over.

Now, is it time to fulfill our 'agreement'?"

The surrounding examinees who hadn't dispersed yet stopped in their tracks and gathered around.

Konoha vs. Kumogakure!

It was that same Uchiha Ryūha who had boasted he would trample Yotsuki Kagura under his feet during the first exam!

The atmosphere tightened instantly.

Ryūha adjusted his glasses and looked at him calmly: "Here? Now?"

"What, scared?" Yotsuki Kagura sneered.

"Don't worry, I'll suppress my Chakra to the Genin level, so no one says I'm bullying a child."

"Suppressing your Chakra?" Ryūha chuckled. "Do as you please."

He walked to the open space in the center of the hallway and stood opposite Yotsuki Kagura.

The surrounding crowd automatically cleared a circle.

"Come on." Ryūha placed one hand on the hilt of the ninja sword at his waist. "Let me see how much weight a Kumogakure genius really carries."

"You're courting death!"

Yotsuki Kagura let out a low growl, and his figure vanished in an instant!

So fast!

Even with his Chakra suppressed, his fundamental Taijutsu remained terrifying.

The pounce was like a tiger descending a mountain, accompanied by a sharp, whistling wind.

His right hand formed a claw, striking directly for Uchiha Ryūha's throat!

But--

Uchiha Ryūha merely tilted his body slightly.

Yotsuki Kagura's claw grazed past his collar, grasping at empty air.

"Too slow."

Uchiha Ryūha's voice rang out right beside his ear.

Yotsuki Kagura's pupils constricted sharply; without a second thought, he slammed his left elbow backward.

Snap.

His elbow strike was blocked with ease by a fair-skinned palm.

Uchiha Ryūha had moved to his side at some point, his left hand locking onto Yotsuki Kagura's elbow joint.

His right hand remained pressed against the hilt of his blade, not even having drawn it.

"Is this all you've got?"

Uchiha Ryūha's tone carried a hint of disappointment.

Yotsuki Kagura roared, his muscles bulging as his lightning-attribute Chakra erupted once more—this time, he no longer cared about holding back!

But it was already too late.

Uchiha Ryūha twisted his hand slightly while still gripping the elbow joint.

A surge of deft force followed, causing Yotsuki Kagura to lose his balance and lurch forward.

At the same time, Uchiha Ryūha's right hand finally moved.

Clang!

The ninja sword left its sheath by half an inch.

It was just an ordinary ninja sword.

A flash of steel.

Squelch—

A spray of blood erupted from Yotsuki Kagura's shoulder.

He let out a muffled groan and stumbled backward, clutching his wound as he stared at Uchiha Ryūha in disbelief.

"You..."

"I said, too slow."

Uchiha Ryūha sheathed his blade; the steel didn't even have a drop of blood on it.

"If this were a real battle, that strike would have severed your neck."

He turned around, no longer looking at the livid Yotsuki Kagura, and walked straight toward the exit of the corridor.

Wherever he passed, the crowd parted automatically.

Every gaze directed at him was filled with shock and awe.

One move.

He had wounded a Kumogakure Jonin who was suppressing his own strength with just a single move!

Is this the true power of Uchiha Ryūha?!

Yotsuki Kagura stood rooted to the spot, blood gushing from his shoulder, his face shifting between shades of pale and livid.

In the end, he gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

His retreating figure looked utterly wretched.