Off We Go!

"Pleasant Goat, Lazy Goat, Boiling Goat, Red Wolf, Grey Wolf..."

Stepping into the dense, primeval forest and listening to the chirping insects and birds put Ruohuo in a much better mood.

He was immediately reminded of several old friends from his childhood. They didn't live in the forest, but on Green Green Grassland, and were said to have lived for a hundred years.

It was only natural for a hundred-year-old goat to become a spirit.

They were all blessed with unparalleled wisdom, and Ruohuo had learned plenty from them about how to live.

Like Pretty Goat's Sheep Herding Technique, born of her cunning.

Or Grey Wolf's Spirit of Innovation, worthy of a real man.

Or Class Monitor Warm Goat's Management Policy.

As they grew older, looking back, they might find it all childish.

But those lessons had truly shaped Ruohuo.

"We're way too lucky. We actually ran into that Uchiha brat."

Three ninjas sprang out of the bushes. One of them was unmistakably the young man who had come looking for trouble before the exam.

All three were civilian-born ninjas, but they clearly didn't have Minato's talent.

Seeing Ruohuo alone, they all grinned with excitement, as if their Chunin vests were already within reach.

"Kid, don't say we're picking on you. Hand over the scrolls, and we'll make this quick!"

"Or don't blame us when we beat you up~"

Ruohuo said nothing. He simply raised two fingers.

The young men stared for a moment. Wasn't that the Seal of Confrontation schoolkids made before a fight at the Ninja Academy?

"Kid, didn't your parents tell you? This is the Chunin Exam. It's a battlefield!"

"No one's going to play along with that Ninja Academy routine!"

Not everyone was as tolerant as Orochimaru.

The young men rolled up their sleeves, ready to teach this "junior" a lesson.

"Tch..."

In front of the Crystal Ball, the Third shook his head.

"These kids are far too eager to get ahead."

It was an exam, but little Ruohuo was still their junior. They didn't have to help him, but going straight for his scrolls?

Danzo glanced at the Third.

Uncharacteristically, he didn't argue. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the small figure.

"Did you know I was class monitor of the first-year class at the Ninja Academy before I graduated?"

Ruohuo still held the Seal of Confrontation, but his chakra was already primed.

"Class monitor?" The young men laughed. What was with this kid? How had they never run into such a windfall in previous exams?

"I was the class duty monitor back in my day!"

They charged at Ruohuo.

But just then, something unexpected happened!

"Fire Style: Great Fireball!"

Fwoom—!

High-temperature flames burst from Ruohuo's mouth, but split toward both sides. They gathered into two fireballs, one on the left and one on the right, then took the shape of two Fire Fists!

And that wasn't all!

The Fire Fists spread out and transformed into Giant Flame Palms. Before the three Genin could react, the flaming palms were already slamming toward them!

"Scatter!!!!"

The squad leader shouted and hurriedly dodged, but his two teammates didn't react in time. The Giant Flame Palms engulfed them and smacked them down like a pair of flies!

BOOM!!!!

"Gah!!!!"

Their screams were as brief as they were sudden. By the time the Giant Flame Palms vanished, both men were charred black and unconscious.

"Didn't you know that only people brimming with the Will of Fire are worthy of being class monitor?"

"How can you protect your classmates if you don't have enough Will of Fire?"

Ruohuo gave them a disdainful look. "I have no idea how you even qualified for this exam... Grandpa Hokage really is getting old. He's as softhearted as my grandmother."

Did they think Green Green Grassland was an easy place to get by?

If Warm Goat hadn't been born with Innate Super Strength, strong enough to pull mountains aside, how could she have become class monitor?

How could she have managed all the other goats?

"..."

In front of the Crystal Ball, the Third had a mouthful of smoke stuck in his throat.

"This..."

"He's completely mastered the shape transformation of fire-nature chakra. He even streamlined the hand seals for the jutsu, and still has enough control to regulate its power."

Danzo's face was expressionless, his single eye cold. "It seems Orochimaru has developed his abilities well."

Where the Third couldn't see him, Danzo clenched his fist.

He'd been careless...

He'd spent this whole time rooting out enemy-village spies within the village and had overlooked the growth of this Uchiha prodigy.

Orochimaru wouldn't do anything without a reason. Now it seemed this Uchiha brat really could become a Chunin on his own.

An Uchiha Chunin who wasn't even seven, with talent like that...

Danzo forced himself not to look at the Third as he rapidly weighed a choice.

Could this Uchiha prodigy be allowed to live?

What would he grow into?

After passing through that uniquely significant stage for the Uchiha, could he become a second Uchiha Madara?

If he led the Uchiha in a revolt, could Konoha withstand the losses?

What if he joined forces with the other ninja villages?

"Danzo... don't overthink it."

The Third had sensed something off about him and issued a quiet warning.

This time, Danzo didn't respond.

Inside the Crystal Ball.

"Have you got the scroll? Hand it over. Or you can choose to disqualify yourselves. Either way, the scrolls will be mine."

Ruohuo still held up two fingers. At this range, he had at least fifteen Fire Style jutsu he could use to "snipe" the last enemy.

He didn't even need to form hand seals.

[Family Reward (E): Little Fire God. You can learn any nature transformation, but it will be replaced by flames. Power ↑100%, activation speed ↑200%, consumption ↓80% (minimum consumption: 10%).

You have gained 90% immunity to high temperatures.]

After learning so many jutsu, Child of Flame had upgraded.

Little Fire God had gained an activation-speed attribute, which meant shorter hand seals.

With his main skill slot, his various buffs were practically maxed out.

His consumption reduction was maxed out, letting him use one-tenth of the chakra for 300% power. He could freely alter the flames' shape, and, best of all, cast instantly!

Ruohuo had officially renamed Great Fireball: Hand of the Fire God. At close and medium range, it could pound anything into the ground.

Most importantly, Little Fire God also granted him a buff that made him immune to high temperatures...

Except for other people's Fire Style jutsu.

Grandmother wouldn't have to worry about him burning himself to death with his own Fire Style anymore~

"Damn it... you Uchiha brat, don't underestimate me!!!"

Who knew what kind of stubborn conviction drove him, but although the young ninja's face had gone white with fear, he still drew a kunai and charged bravely at Ruohuo!

But in the next instant, fwoom—!

Another high-temperature fireball swept toward him. The young ninja was about to dodge, only to find that he couldn't move!

"Genjutsu!?"

The young ninja finally realized, but it was too late.

Thud—!

Ruohuo knocked him out with a chop to the neck. There had been no fireball at all; it had just been Sharingan Genjutsu.

"Good courage, but your Will of Fire is a little weak."

"Go train for a few more years. You're not worthy of the Will of Fire required of a Chunin yet."

Ruohuo first delivered his cool victory speech.

Taking down the Crystal Ball without saying "GG" was like wearing fine clothes on a night walk.

Then he searched the young man and found some ninja tools, along with an Earth Scroll.

This scaled-down Chunin Exam had only Heaven and Earth Scrolls in the second round. There was no Man Scroll.

And the one he'd received was a Heaven Scroll.

"Looks like I'll save myself a rice ball."

Ruohuo raised his eyebrows, then made a token effort to form hand seals. Fwoom—!

A Fire Dragon appeared out of nowhere!

The Fire Dragon crouched at Ruohuo's feet. He took off his shoes and rolled up his pant legs before stepping aboard like a Fire King...

If Ruohuo had to rank all the jutsu he'd learned over the past two months,

Fire (Water) Dragon Bullet would definitely be his number one.

Never mind the power or anything else.

At least this jutsu could make him fly...

It was just too bad his clothes and shoes weren't immune to high temperatures.

Ruohuo rode the Fire Dragon into the sky and headed for the Central Tower!

Sparks trailed behind him, falling into the forest. Thin wisps of black smoke soon rose in their wake.

Ruohuo glanced down from above.

Overall, the Forest of Death was quite peaceful. Everyone was being cautious, and only a few small skirmishes had broken out.

"Then let's put an end to this boring exam..."

Ruohuo raised two fingers once more.

Plan B: Forced Promotion Plan, initiate!