Assessment Passed

Watching the dust rise ahead, Kizaru bent his knees and leaped into the air, unleashing another Flash Kick that sent forth a golden slash.

The slash cut the dust cloud in two and continued its flight, disappearing into the woods where the shuriken had just been launched.

Another explosion rang out, and smoke billowed once more, shrouding the trees and grass to Kizaru's right.

"Uncle! Are you still not coming out?" Kizaru landed on the ground and called out.

Whoosh!

The response to Kizaru was two Wind Style: Shuriken!

Bursting from the smoke, the Wind Style: Shuriken streaked toward Kizaru from two different directions.

Keeping his hands in his pockets, Kizaru raised his glowing right leg and kicked out once more.

A golden slash flew out, intercepting both Wind Style: Shuriken directly.

After delivering the slash, Kizaru looked at the smoke ahead, finding it an eyesore. He formed hand seals and unleashed the Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere.

A transparent sphere of wind, the size of a man, erupted from Kizaru's mouth and surged toward the smoke, scattering it while continuing its path.

Like a giant shredder, the transparent sphere tore into the woods, uprooting the surrounding trees and pulverizing them entirely.

Faced with such an area-of-effect attack, Danzo, who had been hiding in the woods, was forced to reveal himself.

His vision having recovered somewhat, Danzo used a Body Flicker to dodge the sphere, landing on the churned-up, muddy ground.

Breathing heavily, his arm injured, his eyes damaged, and his clothes tattered, Danzo looked incredibly disheveled.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Sannin, who were watching from the sidelines, were all stunned by Kizaru's performance.

That brat didn't even use his full strength last time!

Jiraiya, who had always believed his previous defeat was due to underestimating his opponent and holding back his signature jutsu to hide his identity, wore a bitter smile. He was shocked to discover that Kizaru hadn't gone all out last time either.

This junior of his was truly terrifyingly gifted!

For a moment, Jiraiya was filled with deep emotion.

Like Jiraiya, Orochimaru and Tsunade, standing beside him, were equally shocked by Kizaru's display.

Violent leg techniques, exceptional Wind Style ninjutsu, and that powerful Kekkei Genkai never before seen in the Shinobi World!

Was Kizaru, who had unleashed all these skills, really only six years old?

This question surfaced in everyone's minds once again.

Isn't this just too monstrous? He's practically a freak of nature!

Unlike his three students, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had seen much more, perceived even deeper implications.

By perfectly combining the Kekkei Genkai known as Light Style with taijutsu, this child possessed top-tier talent in both physical combat and ninjutsu. Such aptitude was worthy of the assessment of having the First Hokage's Potential!

Recalling the golden slash Kizaru had just kicked out, Hiruzen couldn't help but marvel at the child's talent once again.

As long as this child grew up smoothly and inherited the Will of Fire, the village would be secure for at least fifty years!

Thinking of this, Hiruzen felt filled with anticipation for Kizaru and the future of the village.

While delighted, Hiruzen also felt a heavy sense of pressure; such a rare talent, seen only once in a century, must not be allowed to go astray under his watch.

Just as Hiruzen was lost in thought, a disheveled Danzo spoke up to end the battle.

"That is enough."

Looking at Kizaru, who stood with his hands in his pockets and a smile on his face, Danzo had to admit to himself that the boy's performance tonight had truly startled him.

What a massive surprise!

With a cold face, Danzo walked back into the training ground and stopped in front of Kizaru.

Observing Kizaru's unserious and undignified smile, Danzo's tightly pursed lips curled slightly, and a rare hint of a smile appeared on his face.

"Shimura Kizaru!" Danzo emphasized the name "Shimura," mainly for the benefit of someone on the sidelines. "Your performance tonight was excellent. You have passed your assessment."

"Then thank you, Uncle!" Kizaru replied.

Danzo reached out, raised his hand, and patted Kizaru lightly on the shoulder.

"Your performance tonight truly startled me."

Seeing Danzo praise him so honestly for the first time, Kizaru was slightly taken aback.

He looked down at Danzo, noticing the bloodstains and injuries on his arm, as well as his reddened, tearing eyes, then turned his head toward the sidelines.

"Senior Sister Tsunade, please help Uncle treat his injuries."

Tsunade, who disliked Danzo, didn't want to agree, but faced with her little junior's first request, she hesitated before answering, "Tell him to come over."

"Thank you, Senior Sister!" Kizaru said with a smile.

After speaking, he looked at the somewhat reluctant Danzo. Without standing on ceremony, Kizaru reached out, grabbed Danzo's uninjured arm, and began walking toward the sidelines.

"Let go!" Being dragged by Kizaru, Danzo felt incredibly embarrassed and quickly shouted.

Kizaru rarely bothered with these prideful, tsundere types. Relying on his superior physical constitution, he dragged Danzo all the way to the sidelines before finally letting go.

"I'll leave it to you, Senior Sister!" Kizaru said, smiling at Tsunade.

"Got it!" Tsunade replied irritably, stepping forward to stand beside Danzo.

Looking at the blood-stained bandages wrapped around Danzo's right arm, Tsunade didn't stand on ceremony; she reached out and tore away the already tattered strips of cloth.

With the bandages gone, the full extent of the injury on his arm was laid bare.

"Tsk, tsk!" Tsunade let out a sigh as she surveyed the rather severe wound.

Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned in from the side, and as he looked at his old friend's injury, the corners of his mouth curled upward.

"What a dangerous ninjutsu!" Hiruzen remarked with a sigh, before twisting the knife further, "It must hurt quite a bit, right, Danzo?"

"Shut up!" Danzo snapped, glaring at Hiruzen with displeasure.

"I'm only looking out for you, old friend," Hiruzen offered in his own defense.

"Quiet! Both of you, shut your mouths!" Not wanting to listen to the bickering of two old foxes, Tsunade shouted as she began the treatment.

Tsunade's words commanded the room, and both Hiruzen and Danzo fell silent.

Withdrawing his gaze from Danzo's wound, Hiruzen turned his attention to Kizaru standing nearby.

"I hear you want to challenge a Jonin from the Uchiha Clan during your graduation exam?"

"They were being too noisy, and it was getting on my nerves. I had no choice but to make them shut up."

Nodding, Hiruzen didn't press the matter further and continued, "As Hokage, I approve your request. I will arrange for an Uchiha Clan ninja to be the Jonin for your graduation exam."

Kizaru was already his student, and he had seen his talent and strength firsthand. Those Uchiha fellows dared to question his student? What were they trying to pull? A bunch of people with no sense of the bigger picture!

"Then I truly thank you, Teacher," Kizaru replied with satisfaction.

"I will announce that I have taken you on as my student on the day of the graduation exam, for the whole village to hear." As he spoke, Hiruzen reached out and patted Kizaru on the shoulder.

Kizaru nodded, signaling his understanding.