Taking Off!

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

Stepping into this primitive and dense forest, listening to the chirping of insects and birds, Ruohuo felt his mood improve significantly.

He was instantly reminded of several childhood friends; they didn't live in the forest, but on the Green Green Grassland, and it was said they had already lived for a hundred years.

For a goat to live a hundred years, it was only natural for it to become a spirit.

They all possessed unparalleled wisdom, and Ruohuo had learned many principles of conduct from them.

For instance, the Sheep Herding Technique of the scheming Pretty Goat.

Or the Spirit of Innovation of the tough guy Grey Wolf.

And perhaps the Management Policy of the class monitor, Warm Goat.

As one grows older, looking back, one might find these things childish.

But these principles of conduct had indeed influenced Ruohuo's growth.

"Our luck is just too good, to actually run into this Uchiha brat."

Three ninjas popped out from the bushes, one of whom was clearly the young man who had come to cause trouble before the exam.

All three were commoner ninjas, but they clearly lacked Minato's talent.

Seeing Ruohuo alone, their faces were filled with excited smiles, as if the Chunin vests were already beckoning to them.

"Kid, don't say your big brothers are bullying you, hurry up and hand over the scroll!"

"Otherwise, don't blame us for beating you up~"

Ruohuo said nothing, simply raising two fingers.

The youths were stunned for a moment; wasn't this the Seal of Confrontation used by elementary students at the Ninja Academy before a spar?

"Kid, didn't your parents tell you? This is the Chunin exam, this is a battlefield!"

"No one is going to play along with that Ninja Academy routine of yours!"

Not everyone possessed the tolerance of Orochimaru.

The youths rolled up their sleeves, preparing to teach this "junior" a lesson.

"Tsk..."

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

"These children are far too eager for quick success and instant benefits."

Although it was an exam, little Ruohuo was still their junior; if they weren't going to help a junior they found alone, that was one thing, but to immediately try to plunder his scroll?

Danzo glanced at the Third.

For once, he didn't retort, instead staring intently at that small figure.

"Do you know, before I graduated, I was the class monitor of the first-year class at the Ninja Academy."

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

"Class monitor?" The youths were amused; this brat... why hadn't they encountered such a good thing in previous exams?

"I was even a Duty Student back in the day!"

The group charged at Ruohuo immediately.

But at that very moment, a sudden change occurred!

"Fire Style: Great Fireball!"

Whoosh—!

High-temperature flames erupted from Ruohuo's mouth, but they split into two directions, converging left and right into two fireballs, which then transformed into the shape of two Fire Fists!

And it didn't end there!

The Fire Fists immediately spread out, turning into Giant Flame Palms. Before the three Genin could react, they saw the Giant Flame Palms slamming fiercely toward them!

"Scatter, quickly!!!!"

The squad leader shouted, hurriedly dodging, but his two teammates couldn't react in time. The blazing giant palms engulfed them, swatting them like flies!

BOOM!!!!

"Argh!!!!"

The two men's screams came and went just as quickly. When the Giant Flame Palms vanished, the two were charred all over, having already lost consciousness.

"Don't you know that only those with an abundant Will of Fire are qualified to be class monitors?"

"If you don't have enough Will of Fire, how can you protect your classmates?"

Ruohuo looked at them with disdain. "I really don't know how you qualified for the exam... Grandpa Hokage is truly getting old, as soft-hearted as my Grandmother."

Did you think the Green Green Grassland was easy to survive in?

If Warm Goat didn't have Innate Super Strength, with power capable of uprooting mountains and a spirit that could conquer the world, how else could she be the class monitor?

How else could she manage the other sheep?

"..."

Before the Crystal Ball, the Third choked on a mouthful of smoke, unable to swallow or exhale.

"This..."

"He has completely mastered the shape transformation of Fire Style chakra, streamlined the hand seals for this jutsu, and even has the capacity to control its destructive power."

Danzo remained expressionless, his single eye cold and sharp. "It seems Orochimaru has developed his abilities quite well."

In a place where the Third could not see, Danzo clenched his fists.

I was careless...

He had been so busy purging enemy spies from within the village that he had completely overlooked the growth of this Uchiha genius.

That Orochimaru fellow truly never did anything without purpose. Looking at it now, this Uchiha brat indeed possessed the capability to become a Chunin on his own.

An Uchiha Chunin under seven years old, possessing such talent...

Danzo restrained himself from looking at the Third, his mind rapidly weighing a decision.

Could this Uchiha genius... be allowed to live?

What would he grow into?

After passing through that stage which was so unique to the Uchiha, would he become a second Uchiha Madara!?

If he led the Uchiha in an uprising, could Konoha withstand the losses?

What if he joined forces with other ninja villages!?

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

The Third sensitively sensed Danzo's abnormality and spoke a faint warning.

This time, Danzo did not respond.

Inside the Crystal Ball.

"Is the scroll on you? Hand it over, or you can choose to eliminate yourselves. Either way, the scroll will be mine."

Ruohuo kept his two fingers held up. At this distance, he had at least fifteen Fire Style jutsus that could "snipe" the remaining enemies.

He didn't even need to form hand seals.

[Family Reward (E): Little Fire God. You may learn any elemental jutsu, but they will be replaced by scorching flames. Power ↑100%, Activation Speed ↑200%, Consumption ↓80% (Minimum consumption floor is 10%).

You have gained 90% High-Temperature Immunity.]

Having hoarded so many jutsus, Child of Flame had leveled up.

The "Little Fire God" attribute had gained an activation speed bonus, which meant streamlined hand seals.

Combined with his main skill slots, his various buffs were effectively maxed out.

Consumption exemptions were pushed to the limit; he could unleash 300% power with one-tenth of his chakra, freely change the form of his attacks, and most importantly, cast them instantly!

Ruohuo had officially renamed his Great Fireball to: Hand of the Fire God. He could pummel anyone at close-to-mid range with ease.

Most crucially, "Little Fire God" also provided a high-temperature immunity buff...

Except against the Fire Style of others.

Grandmother would never have to worry about him being burned to death by his own Fire Style again~

"Damn it... you stinking Uchiha brat, don't look down on me!!!"

It was unclear where his obsession came from, but even though the young ninja's face had turned pale with fear, he drew his Kunai and bravely charged at Ruohuo!

But the next second, Whoosh—!

Another high-temperature fireball swept toward him. The young ninja was just about to dodge when he realized his body could no longer move!

"Genjutsu!?"

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

Bang—!

Ruohuo delivered a hand chop to knock the man unconscious. There had been no fireball; it was merely a Sharingan genjutsu.

"Your courage is commendable, but your Will of Fire is a bit weak."

"Go back and train for a few more years. As you are now, you aren't worthy of the Chunin-level Will of Fire."

Ruohuo first coolly delivered his victor's declaration.

Not showing off after winning is like wearing fine silk in the dark.

He then searched the young man's body. Aside from some ninja tools, he also obtained an "Earth" scroll.

This scaled-down Chunin exam only featured "Heaven" and "Earth" scrolls in the second stage, with no "Human" scrolls.

And the one he had in his hand happened to be the "Heaven" scroll.

"Looks like I can save myself the price of a rice ball."

Ruohuo raised an eyebrow, formed hand seals symbolically, and Whoosh—!

A Fire Dragon appeared out of thin air!

The Fire Dragon crouched beneath Ruohuo's feet. Ruohuo took off his shoes and rolled up his pant legs before stepping onto it like a king of fire...

If Ruohuo were to rank all the ninjutsu he had learned over the past two months.

Then this Fire (Water) Dragon Bullet would undoubtedly be his number one.

Setting aside its power and such.

At the very least, this technique allowed Ruohuo to take flight...

It was just a pity that his clothes and shoes lacked high-temperature immunity.

Ruohuo rode the Fire Dragon as it soared into the sky, heading toward the Central Tower!

Wherever it passed, sparks fell into the forest, quickly sending up wisps of black smoke.

Ruohuo glanced down from his vantage point.

The entire Forest of Death was generally quite quiet; everyone was being very cautious, with only a few places seeing small-scale skirmishes.

"Then let's end this boring exam..."

Ruohuo raised two fingers once again.

Plan B: Forced Promotion Plan, initiate!