A Little Test of My Skills!

The Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen smoked his pipe, gazing silently at the scroll in his hand.

He'd learned about the Rasengan last year. He'd also heard from Futaki Ryusei that Shita Genichi had a fine talent for Water Release.

But looking at the several jutsu listed on the scroll, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt he'd still underestimated Shita Genichi.

The simplified hand seals for those Water Release jutsu especially reminded him of his teacher, Senju Tobirama.

So alike!

So very alike!

If Genichi had looked a little more like him, Hiruzen might have thought he was one of Senju Tobirama's descendants.

He slowly looked up and asked, "Has Genichi submitted an application to graduate?"

Futaki Ryusei looked a little awkward. "Well... Genichi hasn't said anything about graduating early."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was surprised. Then he asked, "What jutsu does the boy want to trade for?"

Futaki Ryusei hurriedly replied, "The Four-Symbols Seal and Konoha-Style Kenjutsu. And, if possible, a Genjutsu as well. Genichi has a good talent for Genjutsu, too. I tested him with Demonic Illusion: Fox-Mind Technique, but it had no effect on him at all."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was surprised again. "The Four-Symbols Seal?"

Futaki Ryusei smiled wryly. "Genichi learned Sealing Jutsu from Lord Jiraiya. He said he's already mastered the Evil Sealing Method."

Sarutobi Hiruzen truly hadn't known that.

Although he kept an eye on Shita Genichi, he couldn't monitor him every moment.

And Jiraiya didn't need to report to him before teaching Shita Genichi Sealing Jutsu.

As for Shita Genichi's interactions with Uzumaki Kushina, Namikaze Minato was almost always there, and the Anbu assigned to protect her wouldn't eavesdrop on their conversations.

After thinking it over, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "The Sealing Jutsu and the kenjutsu are fine. As for Genjutsu, give him Demonic Illusion: Body Immobilization Technique. You can also teach him Demonic Illusion: Fox-Mind Technique."

Futaki Ryusei brightened. "Yes!"

"I'll thank you on Genichi's behalf, Lord Hokage."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Genichi is a sensible, disciplined boy. There's no need to rush him."

Futaki Ryusei understood what he meant and quickly nodded.

On the afternoon of the first day of school, Shita Genichi received several new jutsu from Futaki Ryusei.

He'd traded the Rasengan for the Four-Symbols Seal.

Last year, he'd planned to trade it for the Shadow Clone Technique and a Genjutsu. He hadn't actually offered it up then, but he had traded it in the future he'd already drawn upon.

He'd managed to get a little something for nothing.

This time, he really did hand it over in exchange for the Four-Symbols Seal.

As for Konoha-Style Kenjutsu and a C-rank Genjutsu, he traded the Water Release jutsu with simplified hand seals for those.

The Nine-Character Seal Hand Signs weren't easy to learn. Otherwise, no one would have failed to learn Senju Tobirama's version of Water Colliding Wave.

So even if he revealed them, Shita Genichi wasn't worried about losing his advantage.

"Genichi, if you have any questions about Konoha-Style Kenjutsu or Demonic Illusion: Fox-Mind Technique, you can always ask me."

Futaki Ryusei handed Shita Genichi the scrolls with a smile.

He had very, very high hopes for Genichi.

Once Genichi became an outstanding shinobi, Ryusei would benefit, too.

As for Kakashi... that had nothing to do with him.

"Yes, Teacher Ryusei. Sorry for the trouble."

Shita Genichi bowed.

Futaki Ryusei smiled and nodded, then said, "Class is about to start. Go get ready!"

Ten minutes later, the first afternoon class began.

It was a practical class, so the whole class gathered at the training ground.

Shita Genichi wasn't interested in the other students' matches. He kept whispering with Shizune, discussing medical knowledge.

Unfortunately, having drawn on the future again, he now knew more about the subject than Shizune did.

This left Shizune repeatedly amazed, gazing at Shita Genichi with admiration.

Genichi was simply incredible!

"Shita Genichi!"

Hearing his name, Shita Genichi quickly looked toward the field and saw someone already standing there.

Oh, it was Uchiha Obito!

Shita Genichi walked over and, following the usual procedure, exchanged the Seal of Confrontation with Uchiha Obito.

Uchiha Obito said, "Genichi, I'm going to beat you. Watch out!"

Ever since Kakashi graduated, Shita Genichi had been unquestionably the top student in the class. Naturally, he was the one Obito had to defeat.

Besides, he'd trained hard over the break. This time, he was sure he could beat Shita Genichi.

Shita Genichi raised an eyebrow slightly, then smiled. "I'm really looking forward to it."

They backed away, then sprang into action at Futaki Ryusei's signal.

Uchiha Obito charged forward, while Shita Genichi retreated a little farther and formed hand seals.

First came the "in" seal, followed by drawing his hands together and pressing his palms.

In the next moment, moisture gathered around Shita Genichi, forming a spiraling column of water.

"How amazing!"

Exclamations rang out. Sarutobi Asuma and the others stared wide-eyed.

Uchiha Obito was startled, too. He halted his charge, then retreated.

By then, the rising water had become like a river, surging toward Uchiha Obito.

Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!

Of course, the stream wasn't very large.

Uchiha Obito easily leaped over the rushing water.

But Shita Genichi immediately crossed his arms and swept them apart, sending the water surging back.

Uchiha Obito was startled, but he leaped aside to avoid it, then landed in the water.

Under a barrage of stares, Shita Genichi formed hand seals again.

Once more, he began with the distinctive "in" seal, then brought his hands together to form the "snake" seal, followed by the "tiger" seal.

Shita Genichi formed the seals at a leisurely pace, so everyone could see them clearly.

As soon as he completed the three seals, the water beneath Uchiha Obito surged upward.

"What's going on?"

Uchiha Obito panicked a little and quickly dodged to the side. Then he saw the water gather into a little water dragon that came roaring toward him.

Uchiha Obito hurriedly dodged, narrowly avoiding the dragon.

But in the next instant, the water dragon made a sharp turn and slammed into Uchiha Obito from behind, sending him flying face-down onto the ground.

Two Water Release jutsu, and the fight was over.

Futaki Ryusei was both shocked and delighted. "Genichi is definitely the most talented Water Release user the village has ever had!"

That Water Release had been astonishing. It hadn't been particularly imposing, and he could have dealt with the jutsu using Taijutsu.

But he knew Shita Genichi had clearly held back.

What amazed Futaki Ryusei was Genichi's hand seals and how deftly he controlled the jutsu itself. It was something he'd never seen before.

At the very least, it was something that shouldn't have been possible for a Ninja Academy student.

He'd already seen Shita Genichi perform impressively with Water Release last year, but now Genichi had clearly improved even further.

The Water Dragon Bullet Technique was B-rank, yet Shita Genichi had used it so effortlessly and fluidly.

At that moment, Futaki Ryusei had become Genichi's biggest fan.

Elsewhere, Sarutobi Asuma was stunned and incredulous. "How did that guy do that?"

Shita Genichi walked over to Uchiha Obito and held out his right hand, pulling the dazed Uchiha Obito to his feet.

"H-How did you do that?" Uchiha Obito couldn't help asking.

Shita Genichi smiled. "Hard work!"

Then he added in his heart: Cheating!

One percent hard work + ninety-nine percent cheating!