Practical Combat Assessment

After seeing Hiwa Hyuga off, Ryōken walked alone down the street.

It was already night. A cool breeze blew by, making the air quite pleasant.

After wandering around for a while, he suddenly saw a thick-browed man in a green vest running toward him, sporting a bowl cut.

"If I don't run twenty laps around Konoha today, then I'll do 2,000 push-ups!"

"Youth is in full bloom!"

With such a distinctive appearance and such familiar lines, Ryōken recognized him instantly. At this time, though, it should have been Might Guy's father, Might Duy.

Ryōken greatly admired the father and son.

In a world where people competed in backgrounds and bloodlines, hardworking geniuses like them were all the more admirable.

Ryōken now counted as one of that kind as well.

Besides, before obtaining the system, all Ryōken had wanted was to learn the Eight Gates Formation so he could survive more easily.

"Emperor Guy..."

Filled with emotion for a moment, Ryōken returned home and could not help considering his future training plans.

Ryōken's current strength had reached a bottleneck. It would be difficult for him to achieve any qualitative improvement in a short time.

Once the Great Ninja War began two years later, even Chunin and Jonin could only be swept along by the tide.

Combat. What Ryōken needed most right now was combat experience, not blind, painstaking training.

Besides, the first inheritance Ryōken had drawn was a swordsmanship inheritance.

A sword was, without question, a weapon for killing.

Thus, while pure training might allow him to progress faster than others, it still could not satisfy Ryōken.

Only through battle, through fighting stronger opponents, could he master swordsmanship faster and better.

What was more, during the practical combat assessment, top experts such as the Hokage and ANBU captains would appear.

If Ryōken displayed exceptional talent then, he would naturally gain more attention and receive better training.

No form of cultivation could be separated from resources.

In the Naruto World, resources were mainly reflected in ninjutsu. Konoha possessed the greatest and richest collection of secret techniques and ninjutsu of every rank.

Besides, if Ryōken remembered correctly, the current ANBU captain should have been Kakashi's father, Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha.

He was an existence with extremely high attainment in blade techniques in the Naruto World. If Ryōken could become his disciple, his strength would surely improve even faster.

Of course, graduating early and becoming a Genin, then going out early to kill stronger ninja and obtain lottery chances, was also the fastest way to increase his strength.

But that was far too dangerous. A Genin's strength offered virtually no ability to protect oneself. He might run into any random ninja and be unable to defeat them.

Ryōken had benefited tremendously from the previous inheritance. That energy had directly pushed his chakra past a breakthrough, allowing him to reach Genin level.

The corresponding skill lottery had also been conducted, resulting in a rather awkward skill.

The next day.

Fully prepared, Ryōken arrived at the Ninja Academy with a sword at his waist.

Since there were no classes, the academy was exceptionally lively.

Crowds bustled everywhere, though most of them were just children.

"It's Ryōken. I wonder if he's extracted chakra yet."

"So what if he has? He's still dead last."

"Is he planning to take the assessment? Wouldn't that mean anyone who faces him gets a free win?"

Many people began whispering among themselves. They were all children and did not know how to restrain themselves, openly discussing him right in front of him. But then again, Ryōken was an orphan from another village and a useless ninja.

Ryōken was used to it. Curse all you want. The harder they cursed now, the harder they would be slapped in the face later. Expressionless, he slowly walked into the academy.

At that moment, an adorable Byakugan girl happily approached from afar.

Though the girl was still somewhat petite, one could already see hints of the captivating beauty she would possess in the future.

Before she even came close, Hiwa Hyuga's voice carried over. "Ryōken, why did you get here so early?"

Ryōken smiled lightly. Once she reached him, the two chatted and laughed as they entered the competition grounds together.

The nearby students who saw this were immediately shocked. Since when had Ryōken become so familiar with Hiwa Hyuga?

Just as Ryōken was about to enter the competition grounds, a blond youth with a sunny smile walked in, accompanied by a red-haired girl. They were Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.

Minato's treatment was completely different from Ryōken's. Not only was he outstandingly strong, but he was also exceptionally gentle and immensely popular among the students. He was the undisputed most popular person at the Ninja Academy.

Everyone respectfully greeted Minato, and Minato answered each of them with a smile, showing no impatience whatsoever. Surrounded by admirers, he entered the arena.

"Minato Namikaze is just as he's always been. Even though he's so strong, he's still so gentle."

"Of course. Minato is a powerhouse who can defeat even Genin head-on. His future is limitless."

"Yeah. Unlike Ryōken, that dead-last loser. It would be one thing if he were just weak, but he always has that icy expression on his face. They really can't be compared!"

In their eyes, Ryōken was not even qualified to be compared with Minato Namikaze. One was a bright moon in the heavens, while the other was inferior even to a Fire Fly on the ground. He could not contend with Minato and could only look up at him.

The competition grounds consisted of four broad, square training fields. The participating students were divided into four groups and fought one-on-one. Winners advanced, while losers were eliminated.

Each group had two qualifying spots. The victors would proceed to a special main arena, where the champion would be decided.

At that time, the Hokage and other high-ranking figures would all attend to watch.

Though they were merely children who had yet to graduate, they were Konoha's hope. No amount of importance placed on them would be excessive.

The matches had not yet begun, but more and more students gathered beneath the podium, eagerly discussing the upcoming practical combat assessment.

"I wonder who will take first place in today's practical combat assessment?"

"Obviously Minato Namikaze."

"Minato will definitely be first!"

The boys and girls all wore expressions as if it were only natural.

"Hyuga Chizoku is also very strong, and Kouichi Uchiha is pretty good too!"

"Even so, the two of them still can't compare to Minato!"

The crowd chattered endlessly, and the atmosphere was incomparably lively.

The Ninja Academy's system was not yet fully developed at this time, so there was no division into grades by age.

That was why there were practical ranking assessments like this. As long as one obtained a high rank in the assessment, one could apply to graduate early. Kakashi had done exactly that.

Naturally, the opening ceremony for the practical ranking assessment was hosted by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Under the respectful, even slightly fanatical gazes of all the ninja, Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped onto the podium.

The instant they saw Hiruzen Sarutobi take the stage, all the students cheered loudly. The atmosphere became incredibly fervent, and every face showed admiration and reverence.

In Konoha, the Hokage was undoubtedly the person of highest status and greatest strength, the village's guardian deity.

At this time, Hiruzen Sarutobi truly deserved that title and was also the person most respected by all the villagers.

In this era, everyone's first dream was to become Hokage. Whether it was Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, Naruto, or any Konoha ninja who grew up normally, they were all the same.

Feeling the fervent atmosphere and the excited expressions of the children below, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled sincerely and waved his hand. The venue immediately fell silent, every face flushed red with excitement.

"Wherever leaves dance, fire lives on."

"The firelight will continue to illuminate the village and cause new leaves to sprout."

"And you are those new green leaves. So strive on! Konoha's future lies in your hands. Everything for Konoha!"

With just a few words, the atmosphere throughout the venue immediately surged to a new peak and boiled over.

Ryōken looked at the Third Hokage delivering his impassioned speech on the stage, and a trace of emotion appeared in his eyes.

If he were not a transmigrator who knew the plot so well, he might have striven toward becoming Hokage as well.

But in Ryōken's heart, there were even more powerful existences above the Hokage.

Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, the Sage of Six Paths, Kaguya Otsutsuki.

They were Ryōken's ultimate goals.

Of course, he was still far too weak right now.

But he would never give up. No matter how difficult the road became, no matter how powerful they were, he would grow stronger and trample every one of them beneath his feet.

Ryōken clenched his fist, determination flashing in his eyes.

It would begin with this assessment!

He would make the name Ryōken known throughout Konoha!

After Hiruzen Sarutobi's passionate speech, the practical rankings commenced with even greater enthusiasm. Every child could hardly wait to display all their strength before everyone present.

The students were taken to four separate arenas. Each arena was supervised by two Chunin. Since this was practical combat, casualties were naturally unavoidable, and these Chunin referees were responsible for saving students at critical moments.

Third Arena.

After all the students had drawn lots, they stood below the stage, eagerly awaiting the matches.

"I wonder who will be lucky enough to draw Ryōken?"

"Yeah, that would mean advancing once without any trouble."

When the students below saw that Ryōken was in their group, they immediately began discussing it excitedly.

Ryōken's face darkened as he listened, leaving him somewhat speechless.

A moment later.

Looking at the match list in his hand, the Chunin referee said expressionlessly, "The first round begins. Ryōken receives a bye!"

The crowd's gazes froze at once. They all looked at Ryōken as though he had stepped in dog shit, their expressions mixed with envy and jealousy.

There were ninety-one students assigned to the third arena, so someone was bound to receive a bye. Ryōken was that person.

Drawing a bye meant advancing directly to the next round.

Since all the participants were students who had yet to graduate and had limited strength, the battles ended quickly. About half an hour later, the first round concluded.

Incidentally, Hyuga Chizoku, the strongest disciple of the Hyuga Clan of this generation, had also been assigned to the third group. With his skilled Gentle Fist taijutsu, his strength and speed far surpassed those of his peers. He defeated his opponent in just a few moves and advanced without suspense.

"Hyuga Chizoku is as strong as ever!"

"Hyuga Chizoku is stronger than last year. He might even compete for second place this time."

"Yeah, but Ryōken is really lucky. He actually got a bye!"

The crowd discussed it animatedly. Most of them were unhappy that Ryōken had advanced without fighting.

The Chunin referee still wore a dead-fish expression. Looking at the list in his hand, he said directly, "First match of the second round: Hyuga Chizoku versus Ryōken!"