The Youngest Genin! Famous Overnight!

Lihuo's hand-sealing speed left everyone present stunned, especially Minato Namikaze.

The others had either seen Lihuo use ninjutsu or faced him in combat. They all knew his hand-sealing speed was on par with a Kage's.

Minato Namikaze alone had been caught off guard by the lack of intelligence.

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Lihuo's hands—which had been moving so fast they left afterimages—stopped on the final seal.

The dry ground beneath Lihuo's feet suddenly began to gush with springs of water.

The water rapidly accumulated, forming a pool beneath him in an instant.

"Take this!" Lihuo roared.

In the blink of an eye, the pool rose into the air, forming a ring of water behind Lihuo.

BOOM!

The roar of rushing water filled the air!

Then a tremendous torrent burst from the ring, pouring out like a cascading waterfall! (Like Kakashi's Great Waterfall Technique during his battle with Zabuza.)

Watching the scene unfold, Minato's pupils contracted, and he looked slightly surprised.

"When it came to Water Release, the Second Hokage was the best. He could use powerful Water Release Ninjutsu even where there was no water."

"Uchiha Lihuo is so young, yet he can already do something like this. 'Genius' hardly seems enough to describe him."

The Third Hokage remarked.

As the person present best qualified to speak about the Second Hokage, his assessment was certainly fair.

Oshima knew that if someone's Water Release could rival the Second Hokage's, then their skill was unquestionably formidable!

As the one facing the technique head-on, Minato Namikaze wasn't nearly as nervous as he appeared.

He knew Lihuo wasn't using the technique to attack. He was using it to sweep away the Flying Thunder God Kunai stuck in the ground.

With his combat instincts, Minato had figured out how to turn the tables in an instant.

But he didn't move. He knew this was just a Ninja Academy graduation exam, not a fight to the death between ninja.

Being too harsh would only undermine the boys' confidence.

With that in mind, he acted decisively, forming Hand Seals at speed. As the surging water rushed toward him, he slammed his palms together.

"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"

A thick, broad earthen wall surged up from the ground, completely shielding Minato.

To everyone's surprise, the wall wasn't flat. It formed a right angle!

Its point faced the roaring torrent.

Everyone present knew Minato was holding back, but they had no idea what solution he'd thought of in that instant.

They simply believed that Minato Namikaze—the man who had created miracles countless times—would never be helpless in a situation like this!

BAM!

The torrent struck the wall with tremendous force, yet the wall easily split it into two streams, dispersing it without effort!

"Tch, all defense and no offense. He's underestimating us," Lihuo muttered with a helpless pout.

But seeing the Flying Thunder God Kunai scattered by the Great Waterfall Technique, Lihuo knew he'd accomplished his goal!

He exchanged a glance with Kakashi.

"While he can't see, move!"

The two of them shot toward Minato like wraiths.

Behind the wall, Minato sensed their movements and reacted immediately. He planted his foot, then shot backward, just about to clear the wall.

But Lihuo and Kakashi were already there!

Kakashi immediately engaged Minato in close combat.

At that moment, Lihuo formed Hand Seals and shouted,

"Temple of Nirvana Technique!"

That's right. Ever since he'd gone to Lu Miao's home and obtained this genjutsu, Lihuo had spent the half month of preparation mastering it.

With the help of Genjutsu Talent Amplification, learning this A-rank genjutsu had only taken him a bit of effort.

"Haha, I'm the one who gave him that technique."

The Third Hokage glanced at Orochimaru and Oshima beside him and chuckled, as if showing off.

With enemies on both sides, Minato obviously had no time to wonder who had given Lihuo the technique.

He saw a feather drift lightly onto Kakashi, then was overcome by a powerful wave of drowsiness.

"Break!" Minato said quietly, and the boundless drowsiness vanished at once.

Lihuo had expected that. The Temple of Nirvana Technique was powerful because it covered a wide area, not because its hold was especially strong.

It was only natural that a ninja like Minato could dispel the genjutsu with ease.

But it still made him hesitate for a moment!

That moment was all Lihuo needed. He gathered every ounce of strength and reached for the bell like lightning.

But just as Lihuo was about to touch it, a flash of golden light passed by, and the bell that had been within arm's reach vanished.

In that instant, Lihuo's mind raced.

The tactical planning session

"Lihuo, why didn't you fight Minato during the plan?"

Kakashi asked, puzzled.

"A user of the Flying Thunder God Technique can secretly place a Flying Thunder God Mark on someone without them noticing. So we need to leave one person in reserve."

Lihuo thought.

"The other Flying Thunder God Kunai have been swept far away. That means there's only one place he can teleport to on this battlefield!"

"That living Flying Thunder God Mark!"

At that moment, Lihuo's reflexes were at their peak!

He opened his hand, and a pale blue Rasengan swiftly formed.

Without the slightest hesitation, he turned toward Kakashi and moved in one fluid motion.

Jingle!

As the bell rang out melodiously, Minato Namikaze's voice came from beside Kakashi.

"I give up. You two were incredible!"

Clap, clap, clap! The three examiners present burst into heartfelt applause as well.

"What a thrilling match!" the Third Hokage said first.

"Indeed. You've certainly opened our eyes." Orochimaru watched Lihuo with keen interest.

Teacher Oshima smiled sincerely, unable to hide how proud he was.

It's not like you taught him. What are you so proud of? Lihuo grumbled under his breath.

Then Teacher Oshima composed himself and said,

"Congratulations, Uchiha Lihuo and Hatake Kakashi. You've passed the early graduation exam and become official ninja of Konoha!"

"Now, the Third Hokage, Lord Sarutobi Hiruzen, will personally award you your Forehead Protectors!"

The kindly Third Hokage stepped forward with a smile and awarded Lihuo and Kakashi the Forehead Protectors that symbolized a Konoha Ninja.

The cool touch of the Forehead Protector against his skin made the moment feel unreal. I'm really a ninja of Konoha now?

"Lihuo, you haven't disappointed me. From now on, you'll be my student. You'll follow my training plan to the letter."

"And if I ever need you for anything... I'll contact you with a Ninja Snake."

Orochimaru said meaningfully, then used Body Flicker to leave, claiming he had too much work to do.

After giving a speech about the Will of Fire, the Third Hokage also departed.

Only Teacher Oshima remained.

Seeing the way Teacher Oshima seemed to want to say something but couldn't, Lihuo said glumly,

"Teacher, just say whatever it is. We're not too busy to give you a little time."

But the usually stern Oshima surprised them by walking straight up and embracing both Lihuo and Kakashi.

"I'm proud of you... Now that you're ninja... take good care of yourselves!"

Teacher Oshima left them with those words, then used Body Flicker to depart.

At that moment, Lihuo understood Teacher Oshima a little better.

Afterward, Lihuo and Kakashi headed back together to share the wonderful news with their friends and brothers.

Obito: "What? You really became a ninja? I knew you could do it! Even that stuck-up Kakashi became one, huh? I'll surpass him sooner or later!"

Guy: "That's awesome! Youth means striving endlessly and improving endlessly! I'm going to work twice as hard! I'll start with ten thousand push-ups! And if I can't do it..."

Lu Miao: "I never expected this, Uchiha Lihuo. You're really amazing."

Just as Lihuo was sharing his joy with his friends, the Third Hokage returned to the Hokage Office.

"Pass the order down. The personal abilities and growth records of Uchiha Lihuo and Hatake Kakashi are now top secret!"

"No one is to access them without my permission!"

"Also, spread the word and promote the two of them far and wide. Say that..."

One week later, at the elders' residence in Sunagakure

"The youngest Genin in Konoha?"

"A Uchiha prodigy and the successor of the Konoha White Fang?"

"I'm furious! White Fang killed my son and daughter-in-law, yet he gets to live carefree!"

"Carry out my order!" Chiyo roared.

"Big sister, calm down. We shouldn't make a major move right now."

"Ebizo! Then tell me what we should do! We absolutely cannot let Uchiha Lihuo and Hatake Kakashi live!"

Ebizo thought for a moment, then took his sister by the arm.

"Big sister, here's what we can do..."

What they didn't know was that Sasori of the Red Sands, Sunagakure's prodigious puppeteer, who was only two years older than Lihuo, had heard every word they said.

What Sasori didn't know was that, starting that very day, Sunagakure's intelligence department had established a special unit dedicated to targeting Konoha!