If You Can't Launch It, Can You Even Call It a Bomb?

The two clashed fiercely once more, deftly using the Flying Thunder God Technique as their figures flashed across the battlefield.

Kushina watched, dazzled. She couldn't keep up with their speed at all.

Just then, Minato seized a split-second opening and circled behind Hayato, putting what he'd learned into practice.

"Rasengan!"

Hayato reacted quickly, once again dodging the attack with the Flying Thunder God Technique.

The Rasengan struck the ground, blasting a huge crater into it as dust billowed through the air.

"Looks like we're evenly matched when it comes to the Flying Thunder God," Minato said with a smile.

But Hayato knew that wasn't true. Facing the same attack, Minato had time to use the Substitution Technique, while Hayato could only rely on the Flying Thunder God Technique to evade.

Minato was faster, but Hayato had activated his Sharingan early on.

Its powerful motion-tracking vision helped Hayato make up some of the difference and react ahead of time.

Hayato nodded slightly, thinking, I still need to work on my Flying Thunder God Technique.

Just then, Minato suddenly put some distance between them, pulled three shuriken from his ninja pouch, and flung them at Hayato. Then he swiftly formed Hand Seals. "It's about to get a little more complicated, Hayato. Watch closely! A technique taught by the Third."

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"

The three shuriken in flight instantly multiplied into tens of thousands, raining down on Hayato.

They blocked off every avenue for him to retreat and dodge.

Hayato's expression turned grave. He quickly formed Hand Seals and called out, "Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

In an instant, three five-meter-high earthen walls surged up from the ground, separating him from Minato.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

Hayato didn't relax. With the walls blocking his view, he'd lost track of Minato's position.

He leaped onto the highest point of the wall. His Sharingan darted in every direction as he stayed on high alert, scanning his surroundings.

Suddenly, Minato appeared behind Hayato.

"It's over! Rasengan!"

Poof! Hayato's figure vanished in a cloud of smoke.

A hint of surprise crossed Minato's face. "A Shadow Clone?"

Hayato appeared directly above him. "Hey, Minato, you know how everything in this world has two sides? I couldn't find you, but you couldn't figure out where I was, either."

A sphere of chakra formed in Hayato's hand.

"That's... the technique you used the other day!" Minato recognized the glowing chakra sphere in Hayato's hand.

Hayato formed a glowing chakra sphere in each hand. "Minato, remember how you asked why I gave this technique that name?"

Hayato moved his hands and launched the chakra spheres straight at Minato. Then, without pause, he formed more. The spheres were a little smaller now, but he'd make up for it with numbers.

"Spirit Bomb!"

Minato's face filled with astonishment. "You can actually launch that technique!"

When Hayato had shown it to him before, he'd only formed the sphere in his hand. Minato hadn't realized it could be thrown.

Wait, weren't Tailed Beast Bombs launchable too? Why did Hayato's technique seem even more like a Tailed Beast Bomb?

Hayato couldn't help grumbling inwardly, If you can't launch it, can you even call it a bomb?

Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions rang out without end.

Thick smoke billowed across the scene. The spot where Minato had been standing was blasted into a massive crater.

But Minato was nowhere to be seen.

Hayato's eyes shifted. He raised his right arm to block Minato, who had suddenly appeared beside him.

"Figured it wouldn't be that easy."

The two went back and forth, locked in an even fight. The Flying Thunder God Technique, Rasengan, Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, Earth Release, Lightning Style... They wielded every technique to its fullest. Watching from the sidelines, Kushina was thrilled. She'd never seen such an incredible sparring match.

At last, after another fierce exchange, they both stepped back at the same time, panting. They looked at each other, admiration and respect shining in their eyes.

"Hayato, you're really strong!" Minato said between breaths.

"Likewise, Minato!" Hayato replied with a slight smile.

Though their spar had ended in a draw, it had brought them even closer.

Time flew by. A week passed in the blink of an eye, and with Minato's careful coaching and help, Hayato grew ever more skilled and proficient with the Flying Thunder God Technique.

At last, the day of the Chunin Ninja Exams arrived.

Hayato went to the exam site alone. With no first-round genjutsu test to get in his way, he headed straight to the written exam hall.

Before long, a spirited figure in a green jumpsuit entered the room. It was Might Duy—Guy's father.

"Duy, I bet you'll strike out again this year. You still won't pass the Chunin exam," one ninja said, openly writing Might Duy off when he saw him.

But Might Duy didn't care what others thought or said. He raised his thumb, flashed his white teeth, and smiled. "Never give up! That's the spirit of youth!"

Hayato couldn't help feeling moved as he watched.

He hadn't expected to take the exam alongside Might Duy.

Though Duy would probably be there for the next exam, too.

But none of that mattered to Hayato. He just had to give it his all and do his best.

Before long, Yamanaka Feng Yuan, the examiner in charge, entered the hall.

He sternly announced the rules and requirements, then had his assistants hand out the test papers.

"Anyone caught cheating will be severely punished! If one person cheats, the whole team will be held responsible and thrown out of the exam hall." Yamanaka Feng Yuan's words carried an unquestionable authority.

The room fell into an eerie silence. Every candidate held their breath and focused completely on the exam.

Konoha's written exam had always tested candidates' ability to gather intelligence.

But for Hayato, it was no challenge. When he saw the questions, he couldn't help feeling pleased. Hey, I know all of these!

Besides, he was taking the exam alone, so he didn't have to worry about teamwork or sharing information.

All he had to do was answer the questions with his own skill and intelligence.

The exam hall was so quiet that the only sound was the soft scratching of pens.

But the Genin who knew what the exam was really about had already begun using their own tricks and showing off their skills.

Hayato, meanwhile, remained calm and unhurried. He finished answering every question in less than half the allotted time.

Then he began observing the other candidates in the room.

Relations between the various countries were poor at the time, so there were no international Chunin exams.

Every candidate in the hall was a Konoha Genin. Aside from Might Duy, no one particularly stood out to Hayato.

Looks like this year's Chunin exam should be a breeze, Hayato thought.

As the sand in the hourglass ran out, Yamanaka Feng Yuan announced the end of the written exam.