Water Style Ninja Ruohuo

Konoha Cemetery.

The Third Shinobi World War had only just erupted, yet the list of Konoha's heroes had already grown significantly.

Among them were the subordinates Orochimaru had led on his latest mission.

Six in total, all killed in action.

Although this S-rank mission was successfully completed, the price paid was incredibly heavy.

Orochimaru had returned.

But he was the only one who had.

"Life is fragile, Ruohuo."

Before the gravestones, Orochimaru spoke in a soft voice.

He was not the only one there to mourn; the Third and the families of the fallen were also present.

The atmosphere was somewhat sorrowful.

Yet, Ruohuo had reason to suspect that Orochimaru's presence at the funeral was merely a performance for the Third.

"I can feel their Will of Fire, Teacher."

After all, as Orochimaru's disciple, Ruohuo had mastered the essence of such things.

"They sacrificed themselves for the future of Konoha."

"I will carry the Will of Fire of our seniors and become a qualified Chunin!"

Orochimaru smiled and reached out to place a hand on Ruohuo's shoulder.

The reason he didn't pat his head was that Ruohuo would have dodged it one hundred percent of the time...

At noon, the final round of the Chunin exams began.

Every exam has its dark secrets, and the Chunin exams were no exception.

Looking at those "familiar" faces and recalling the funeral from that morning, Ruohuo suddenly understood the Third a little better.

The war on the front lines was becoming increasingly tense.

Although Konoha's war reserves were still sufficient for the time being, they had to consider the near future.

Among these Genin candidates, there were indeed some who possessed the strength of a Chunin.

Even though they should have been eliminated according to the rules, the person who set those rules clearly needed more Chunin to emerge.

"So, how exactly did Might Duy offend the Third?"

Scanning the area and failing to see any sign of Might Duy, Ruohuo couldn't help but grumble.

Could someone who would eventually kick the Seven Ninja Swordsmen into the Lucky Trio really lack the qualifications for a Chunin rank, even without opening the Eight Gates?

Let it be...

"First match! Uchiha Ruohuo, versus, Hyuga Seikawa!"

"Candidates, take your positions!"

Ruohuo walked into the arena; his opponent was a Hyuga clansman of about twelve or thirteen years old.

This guy's name didn't appear in the original story, so he was likely just a minor character.

But having made it this far, Ruohuo decided to hold back just a little to ensure his Chunin qualification was foolproof.

Hmm.

He would demonstrate more of his combat intelligence and the Konoha Style Will of Fire to put the Third at ease.

Ruohuo performed the Seal of Confrontation.

Hyuga Seikawa also performed the Seal of Confrontation, his tone cold as he spat out a threat, "I've finally waited for this moment..."

"Although the Clan Head has repeatedly ordered that I am not allowed to fight you in private, this is, after all, the Chunin exam."

"So, no matter what I do from here on out, the Clan Head won't be able to stop me, Uchiha Ruohuo!"

"..." Ruohuo frowned. "Are you serious?"

Did that fire in the Forest of Death ignite your Hyuga Style Will of Fire, too?

Do you really have to fight an Uchiha to the death?

However, Ruohuo soon understood the reason for Hyuga Seikawa's hostility.

"My poor younger brother still can't get out of bed, and as his older brother, I can't do anything about it. You have no idea how I feel!"

"..." Ruohuo shrugged.

"You could actually... spend more time with him."

"Begin!" The proctor's command cut off the trash talk, and he retreated from the combat zone.

"Byakugan!" Hyuga Seikawa immediately entered combat mode, veins bulging around his eyes as he lunged toward Ruohuo!

Ruohuo was not careless.

He was well aware that this assessment was entirely orchestrated, including the results and the opponents.

In other words, Hyuga Seikawa had been specifically arranged for him by the Third.

With twice the age gap, a formidable Kekkei Genkai, and the powerful Gentle Fist Art.

So, in Ruohuo's eyes...

This guy should be able to take a beating.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Fist of the Fire God!

Ruohuo exhaled a torrent of flames that took the shape of a fist, smashing toward Hyuga Seikawa!

"This kid's Fire Style... it's gotten stronger again." In the stands, Fugaku, his fingers interlaced with his wife's, remarked in admiration.

Fugaku had never seen anyone alter the form of a Great Fireball like this before.

"But it suits Ruohuo-kun's age quite well, dear." Mikoto, already showing, smiled gently. "Don't you think this technique is cute?"

"Haha." Fugaku chuckled. "Cute? His opponent certainly won't think so."

On the high platform in the distance, the Third offered a similar assessment.

"Still just a child... but such control over the form of a ninjutsu is truly astonishing. He is worthy of being called a genius of the Uchiha Clan."

"Ruohuo-kun's talent for Fire Style ninjutsu might exceed our understanding, Teacher."

Standing behind the Third, Orochimaru spoke in a raspy voice. "After discovering his special abilities, I have repeatedly overestimated his talent."

"But facts prove that the current Ruohuo-kun is still far from fully developing his potential..."

Glancing out of the corner of his eye at his teacher's thoughtful expression, Orochimaru smiled faintly.

He wasn't the only one who had underestimated Ruohuo-kun's talent; wasn't the teacher doing the same?

Otherwise, he wouldn't have tried to have this child of the Hyuga Clan use Gentle Fist to defeat Ruohuo-kun...

Admittedly, given the age restrictions, physical prowess and chakra volume might be Ruohuo's only current shortcomings.

But how could the light radiating from this child, as scorching as a raging flame, be obscured by mere age?

BOOM!!!

The giant flaming fist slammed into the ground, while Hyuga Seikawa had already retreated to the edge of the arena.

"This must be the maximum range of your technique, right?"

Hyuga Seikawa's expression was grave; if he couldn't get close to Uchiha Ruohuo, he couldn't utilize the full extent of his strength.

But Hyuga Seikawa was clearly overthinking it.

"As long as my performance is reasonable, it should be fine, right?"

Ruohuo raised an eyebrow.

Although the final assessment was an elimination round, victory or defeat was not the sole key to becoming a Chunin.

But winning was certainly better than losing... though it had to be done brilliantly and honorably.

"Then let the show begin..."

Ruohuo raised two fingers. "Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet Technique!"

A flaming dragon head coalesced beside Ruohuo, opening its bloodthirsty maw before firing a barrage of fire bullets toward Hyuga Seikawa!

Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!

"Not good!" Hyuga Seikawa's expression tightened. He took a deep breath, his hands coated in chakra.

"Gentle Fist Art! Eight Trigrams Eight-Hit Palm!"

Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!

The first wave of fire bullets was struck down by Hyuga Seikawa in succession!

But it wasn't over; the second wave of attacks had arrived, and this time they were even denser, twice the number of the previous volley!

"Eight Trigrams Sixteen Palms!"

Hyuga Seikawa's movements were standard and his chakra flowed smoothly as he used his Gentle Fist to strike them down once more!

"This Hyuga has already lost." In the stands, Fugaku shook his head.

Although he didn't know why Ruohuo was being so "cautious" this time, in Fugaku's eyes, Hyuga Seikawa had already lost the moment he was forced back by the Great Fireball at the start.

Of course, even if Hyuga Seikawa could close the distance, Fugaku didn't believe Ruohuo would lose.

This kid's Fire Style possessed a temperature that had cost the Uchiha Clan nearly a million ryo in damages; how could a mere Hyuga withstand it?

"Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!"

Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!

Hyuga Seikawa continued to strike; the fireballs he swatted away this time numbered exactly thirty-two!

"Haa..." Hyuga Seikawa panted heavily.

The Gentle Fist Art was meant to strike an enemy's acupoints to seal their chakra. He had yet to master the more powerful Sixty-Four Palms, and the Thirty-Two Palms was already his limit.

But Uchiha Ruohuo's chakra should be just about exhausted by now, right?

"Hm?"

Hyuga Seikawa frowned. "Where is he?"

Aside from the proctor and a pair of shoes, how could the entire exam arena be empty?

Behind me!?

Hyuga Seikawa was startled and whipped his head around, only to find nothing but a wall.

Looking back again, he noticed the proctor staring upward with an expression of shock, and the spectator stands had fallen into a deathly silence.

"What happened..."

Hyuga Seikawa looked up, his expression gradually turning vacant.

It was a Fire Dragon, burning with raging flames, circling in the air. It was so dazzling, so scorching, and its massive dragon head stared down at him coldly—the mere sight of it was enough to make one's heart tremble!

And atop the head of that Fire Dragon, the barefoot youth stood with two fingers held upright, his face devoid of any expression...

"Sigh..."

Ruohuo stood upon the Fire Dragon, looking toward the Third in the distance with a helpless expression.

Who said I only know Fire Style? I've already held back this much...

That Chunin vest should be mine now, right?