Fiery Wind Style

Why did it have to be like this?

On what grounds?

Kakashi graduated early, and his instructor was Minato.

Why did it have to be Orochimaru for him?

He had displayed such high talent; was he really not even comparable to Kakashi?

He should ask Kakashi himself who the real number one of the first year was!

Ruohuo truly could not understand what the Third was thinking.

Did he think Orochimaru couldn't destroy Konoha on his own, so he needed the Uchiha to lend a hand?

"Chunin Oki told me that your theoretical knowledge is very solid, and you even achieved a perfect score on the diagnostic exam."

"That is why I suggested skipping the theoretical assessment and proceeding directly to the practical combat exam."

"Ruohuo-kun, do you have confidence?"

Orochimaru stood in the training ground, his hands behind his back.

Fugaku, who had only eaten a small rice ball for lunch, acted as the spectator.

Ruohuo pursed his lips.

Although he knew that the current Orochimaru had not yet "awakened," he was definitely not as gentle as he appeared.

Orochimaru was skilled at disguise.

And right now, his greatest goal was to become the Fourth Hokage.

Is he planning to leverage the power of the Uchiha...

But wouldn't getting too close to the Uchiha actually be detrimental to his campaign for Hokage?

Could this be the Third's intention?

Then what am I? A tool? A double... triple agent?

Ruohuo took a breath, temporarily casting aside his distracting thoughts, raised two fingers, and formed the Seal of Confrontation.

"You are very confident, Ruohuo-kun." Orochimaru smiled and cooperated by forming the Seal of Confrontation as well.

Just as Fugaku was wondering whether he should help by calling out the start, Ruohuo moved.

Swish, swish, swish!

First, a few shuriken were fired in a volley, while at the same time, his fingers danced to form seals rapidly!

"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"

Whoosh—!

High-temperature flames erupted from Ruohuo's mouth, coordinating with the shuriken formation in a fierce assault!

Orochimaru's eyes were filled with intense interest.

Look at the scale of this attack.

Even his shuriken technique was excellent, with one hidden in a visual blind spot.

You... seem to be holding back today, child.

Orochimaru took half a step back, dodging the "hidden" shuriken while simultaneously forming seals with his hands.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Whoosh—

A gale howled!

Boom!

Fire and wind collided!

Ruohuo immediately felt the pressure. This was an exam he was destined to pass, so Orochimaru certainly wouldn't be serious, but even this tip of the iceberg was an unprecedented challenge for him!

One had to remember, this was the man who, when he got ruthless, could scare Kakashi into wetting himself with just a glance...

Yet, in such a situation, Ruohuo suddenly felt amused.

Because under the capture of his Sharingan, the system provided a prompt again...

[Ninjutsu Type: C-rank Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.]
[Triggered "Child of Flame" effect: You can learn any elemental jutsu, but all jutsu performed will be replaced by flames.]
[Successfully learned ninjutsu: Fire Style: Great Breakthrough.]

After upgrading from Fire Style Little Genius to Child of Flame, the learning requirements seemed to have been cleared entirely, and even the system prompts had been significantly streamlined.

"Since I couldn't fleece the Third, I'll fleece his disciple instead."

Ruohuo grinned, voluntarily stopped the release of his Dragon Fire Jutsu, and while rapidly changing his position, he formed seals with his hands once more!

"This seal is...?!" Fugaku was shocked again; this was the exact seal Orochimaru had just used!

Had this kid learned it already?

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Ruohuo performed the jutsu with perfect form, but instead of a gale, a torrent of flames erupted from his mouth!

"????" Fugaku was stunned once more. How could a Wind Release be so fiery?

Was he shouting the wrong name on purpose? A tactic?

But the seals were correct!

"Interesting." The interest in Orochimaru's eyes grew even more intense.

He saw it clearly.

Relying on those eyes, the child had successfully "copied" his technique after seeing it only once.

Yet, using the same seals, it had transformed into a Fire Style jutsu!

Whoosh!

This time, Orochimaru didn't counter; he chose to dodge.

He wanted to observe this technique closely, and even more so, observe this child.

"The temperature, the form... this is indeed a Fire Style, yet it retains the speed and impact of a Wind Release..."

"Little one, you've actually managed to startle me a bit..."

With Orochimaru's discerning eye, the "Wind Release" Ruohuo had just unleashed was absolutely on par with a combination jutsu!

If the child had truly performed a combination jutsu, Orochimaru would have been pleasantly surprised.

What kind of monstrous talent would it take to possess such high-level chakra control at this age?

But the reality was even more terrifying!

This child... had used the seals for a Wind Release to unleash a Fire Style jutsu, all while retaining most of the original's properties!

This was a blind spot in Orochimaru's knowledge.

And exploring the unknown was the most brilliant mark on Orochimaru's soul.

Orochimaru looked at Ruohuo again, only to see the child looking just as puzzled.

He glanced at Fugaku's reaction, which was a mix of shock and suspicion.

"So, this is a first for everyone."

Orochimaru pursed his lips.

It seemed he would have to change locations...

Whoosh!

Orochimaru vanished, reappearing right beside Ruohuo.

"Could you use that technique again, Ruo... hmm?"

Ruohuo spun and delivered a whip kick—Konoha Great Whirlwind!

Bang!

Orochimaru blocked it with one hand, his eyes slightly puzzled.

He watched as Ruohuo retreated immediately after the failed strike, landing and catching his breath with a serious expression.

Orochimaru understood instantly.

What a persistent little fellow...

"Congratulations, you have passed the assessment, Ruohuo-kun."

"I don't believe you." Ruohuo remained unmoved.

"Becoming a ninja isn't that simple. You must be trying to make me lower my guard!"

"Lord Orochimaru, I'm not a three-year-old anymore. That tactic won't work on me!"

"..." The smile on Orochimaru's face stiffened.

But soon, he thought of something, shook his head with a smile, and took off his Headband, raising two fingers to form the Seal of Reconciliation.

"It was my oversight, Ruohuo-kun."

"This is your Headband. Put it on, and you are a ninja of Konoha."

Watching the expression on Ruohuo's face finally relax, Orochimaru suddenly felt that he had gradually mastered the correct way to communicate with this little genius.

But what Orochimaru didn't know was...

[Ding--]

[Clan Mission (C): In the name of the Uchiha, become the top student of the Konoha Ninja Academy and break the record for early graduation (six months). √]

[Obtained C-rank Clan Mission reward: C-rank Main Skill Slot *1.]

[Main Skill Slot (C-rank): Select a C-rank skill and bind it to the core skill slot. This skill will receive a significant enhancement and gain an exclusive trait. (Preview available)]

[Each time a Clan Mission is completed, a corresponding rank of Main Skill Slot can be unlocked.]

[Personal Skill Template unlocked; click to view.]

[Your Sharingan has upgraded to: Two-Tomoe Sharingan.]