Spectacular Performance

Kakashi was fast. Although he hadn't mastered Lightning Flicker yet, Chidori itself was Lightning Release, which boosted his speed.

Genma didn't form any Hand Seals. He didn't need them to use Lightning Flicker.

He was even faster!

The two figures rapidly closed in under countless watchful eyes.

Boom!

The ground exploded.

Kakashi narrowly dodged Genma's punch, then continued his attack with Chidori.

Genma's formidable reflexes and speed let him evade Kakashi's attacks time and again, then seize the opportunity to counterattack.

Every exchange was a close call for Kakashi.

He seemed to be the one on the offensive, but in reality, he was the one constantly dodging.

"Looks like Genma was right to develop Lightning Flicker first!"

Kakashi pushed his speed and reflexes to the limit, but he was still flustered and off balance.

Thud!

A kick struck him squarely in the chest. Kakashi took the hit full force, his body tumbling through the air.

After steadying himself, he saw Genma charging at him again. Kakashi reached for his short blade. Chidori crackled once more, lightning coiling around the blade.

He leaped into the air and charged at Genma again.

Genma smiled faintly, drew his own blade, and blue lightning shimmered along its length.

In the next moment, the two clashed again.

Kakashi combined Lightning Release with swordsmanship.

Genma combined Lightning Release and swordsmanship with Strength of a Hundred!

He had not only his blade, but also his left fist and both feet.

Every strike that hit the ground made it erupt, leaving craters everywhere.

After only a dozen or so exchanges, Kakashi was at a disadvantage again.

They had learned from the same teacher, so Kakashi's moves weren't easy to counter. But Genma had the advantage of greater speed, and he kept Kakashi firmly under control.

By now, the many spectators watching the fight were dumbfounded.

The clash was truly astonishing.

"That level of skill puts them in a whole different league from us!"

Ebisu couldn't help wiping the sweat from his brow.

Shiranui Genma had a senbon between his teeth, his expression grave. "I had a feeling this was coming, but I have to say, these two are... like a pair of monsters."

Might Guy, on the other hand, was so excited he could barely contain himself. "That's Genma for you! And Kakashi!"

"They didn't hold back at all when they fought me. Clearly, I still haven't worked hard enough!"

"But this is the kind of strength my lifelong rival should have!"

Shiranui Genma couldn't help sighing. "You really are something else!"

"Being in the same year as geniuses like them is way too stressful."

Might Guy gave him a thumbs-up. "You've got that right."

"But that's what youth is all about!"

"Passionate youth needs the pressure of strong rivals."

In the monitoring room, Namikaze Minato couldn't help praising him. "Remarkable genjutsu, medical skills, and mastery of taijutsu, swordsmanship, and Lightning Release... He really is a perfect shinobi."

"Genma already has the combat ability expected of a Jonin."

Hatake Sakumo said, "They still have a lot to learn from experience. They've got a long way to go before they can become shinobi like you, Minato."

Minato smiled. "With you around, they'll be fine."

Sakumo smiled too. "You'll have to keep looking after that boy Kakashi for me, Minato!"

Minato nodded solemnly. "I'll do everything I can!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was pleased.

Konoha had produced two more prodigies. The generation after Minato's would be in good hands.

On the field, Kakashi changed tactics again.

He retreated, put away his blade, and formed Hand Seals. He pressed both palms to the ground, and a Stone Wall surged up between him and Genma.

Genma stopped in his tracks, then saw Kakashi dart out from the left.

He took a step back and shot out his right hand as fast as lightning, grabbing Kakashi by the neck and slamming him down.

Boom!

The ground caved in, and Kakashi burst into smoke.

The instant the dust rose, another Kakashi attacked from the right.

But Kakashi's strike hit empty air.

Genma appeared overhead, then crashed down like a cannonball.

Kakashi's expression changed, and he immediately retreated.

Crash!

Genma blasted a huge crater into the ground, sending rocks flying. One of them struck Kakashi as he retreated, and he burst into a shower of sparks.

At the same time, some distance away, at the very edge of the area affected by Genma's Strength of a Hundred, Kakashi scrambled out of the ground.

He'd been hiding underground the whole time. Genma's Strength of a Hundred had nearly killed him down there.

His plan had been to use two clones to hold Genma off, but Genma had seen through it.

Looking at the disheveled Kakashi, Genma smiled. "Kakashi, I know you too well."

"And I'm not going to fall for the same trap twice."

He'd already been caught off guard by his teacher Hatake Sakumo's Lightning Style Clone once. He'd learned his lesson.

Panting, Kakashi had no choice but to raise his hand and tell the examiner, "I give up!"

He was nearly out of stamina.

"That was quite a spectacular match."

Hisato Yuto marveled to himself, then announced, "Kazekaze Genma wins!"

He could tell that Kazekaze Genma could have won without fighting for so long. Clearly, he'd held back a little to let Hatake Kakashi show off the full extent of his ability.

But Kakashi must be feeling pretty miserable right about now.

Hisato Yuto smiled to himself. He looked away from the two of them and continued overseeing the exam.

Back in the stands, after chatting with Shizune and the others, Genma quietly assessed the fight.

Kakashi had basically reached the level of strength he'd had after becoming a Jonin in the original timeline, during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge. He might still have lacked some combat experience.

If Kakashi could master the Lightning Flicker Genma had taught him, his strength would undergo another astonishing transformation.

His speed would increase further, as would his reflexes, eliminating Chidori's weakness.

Compared to the Kakashi with the Sharingan, the Kakashi he was now was probably only less versatile.

Still, Genma reckoned it would take Kakashi at least three or four years to master his Lightning Flicker and reach his current level.

That was partly because Kakashi's chakra reserves were limited, so he couldn't use Shadow Clones to grind out experience.

Otherwise, he could build up experience with Lightning Flicker by using Shadow Clones.

After all, it didn't require conditioning his body.

Setting Kamui aside, along with the Susanoo trial he'd get later, Genma felt that Kakashi would be stronger without the Sharingan!

Three in the afternoon.

The third round of the exam came to an end.

Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared at the exam grounds and announced, "The candidates who passed this exam and are qualified to become Chunin are Kazekaze Genma, Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Enjin, Hyuga Sorai, and Shizune."

There were only five of them.

More than sixty people had taken part in the exam.

After announcing the results, Sarutobi Hiruzen offered a few words of encouragement to the others, continuing to spread the Will of Fire.

Genma wore a serious expression and listened attentively.

Wherever the leaves danced, the fire would burn on.

Protecting others and making sacrifices.

Genma agreed with the principle. The people to protect were friends and family, and, on a larger scale, one's village and country. And sacrifice meant sacrificing oneself.

What was wrong with fighting to the death for the people you loved?

But without the strength to put them into practice, slogans were just slogans. In the end, they would rot away.