Squad Leader Promotion Assessment

Police Force.

After the Police Force members finished their morning patrol, they were told to report to the training grounds inside the Police Force Building.

When Hayato entered with Shisui and Seiichi, Fugaku was already standing at the front.

It was quicker than expected.

Even the squad leaders, who were usually difficult to gather all in one place, were standing there now. They were all Uchiha Clan members who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Once everyone had quieted down, Fugaku slowly began, "I've called you here today to announce a personnel change in the Police Force."

Fugaku paused, his gaze sweeping over the squad leaders before him. "Recently, two members of the clan have stood out in training. Their character and abilities both meet the requirements for Police Force squad leaders, and I intend to promote them."

"They will help the Police Force coordinate security in the village and within the clan."

A couple of the squad leaders looked moved, but none spoke out of turn.

Seeing this, Fugaku continued, "Positions in the Police Force have never been determined by seniority. Ability is what matters. Of course, I can't make the decision to promote them on my own."

"So the squad leaders may discuss and choose candidates themselves, then give these two a comprehensive assessment—whether in ninjutsu, genjutsu, or their ability to respond under pressure. Only when you recognize their strength and believe they're capable of serving as deputy captains will the promotion become official."

One Uchiha standing near the center glanced around. When he saw that none of the squad leaders was willing to step forward and ask, he had no choice but to take a step forward himself.

"Clan head, may I ask who these two are?"

"Yakumi, the two I've nominated are Hayato and Shisui." Fugaku looked at Uchiha Yakumi, his tone serious.

"This..." Uchiha Yakumi froze. He knew about Shisui, but Hayato?

"Yakumi, I'll test them with you." Uchiha Tekka stepped forward and took charge of the assessment.

The other squad leaders had no objections. Fugaku nodded. Both men were jonin; if Hayato and Shisui could defeat them, that would be proof enough.

Fugaku then looked toward Hayato and Shisui in the crowd. "Come forward."

Hayato and Shisui stepped out. The Police Force members parted to let them through.

"Tekka, I'll take Shisui. You handle Hayato?" Yakumi asked, watching Shisui. Shisui's reputation as a genius was already known throughout the clan, and Yakumi was curious to see just how strong he was.

Hayato didn't care in the slightest that he had been chosen for the assessment.

He walked up to Uchiha Tekka. The man before him was one of the Uchiha Clan's hardliners, with considerable skill. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become a jonin at his age.

The Police Force training grounds were cleared, and all the clan members went upstairs to watch.

The first match was Hayato against Tekka.

"Hayato, this world respects strength. Are you... ready?"

Before Tekka had finished speaking, his eyes turned bloodred, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan spinning rapidly.

With a single step, Tekka closed in. He flicked his right hand, sending ten shuriken flying toward Hayato at great speed.

At the same time, his hands rose and flew through Hand Seals. "Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!"

Flames clung to the shuriken, surrounding Hayato and sealing off his position.

Hayato's gaze sharpened. His hands formed Hand Seals as swiftly as butterflies darting among flowers. "Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"

Boom!

A thick wall of water surged up from the ground, its powerful current stopping every flaming shuriken.

Hiss!

The flames collided with the water, releasing a violent burst of steam. Dense mist quickly spread, blocking Tekka's view.

The moment the mist erupted, Hayato had already leaped back to open some distance. His hands shifted through another set of Hand Seals, then came together sharply.

"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"

Chakra transformed into wind, and the instant Hayato clapped his hands together, a fierce gust swept toward the mist.

A piercing whistle rushed toward Tekka. He raised both arms to brace against the wind's force. In the next instant, his figure swayed, each step landing precisely in the gaps. He had clearly used his Sharingan to track the wind's path.

He formed Hand Seals again. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball shot toward the source of the wind, and Tekka vanished from his spot the next instant.

When he appeared again, he was already behind Hayato. The kunai in his hand came slashing down.

Hmm?

The impact felt wrong!

Hayato didn't dodge. Instead, he seemed not to have noticed Tekka at all and took the kunai strike head-on.

But the next moment, his body turned into a pile of dirt.

"Earth Clone!"

Tekka's pupils contracted sharply. He leaped backward, scanning his surroundings.

What alarmed him was that Hayato had used an Earth Clone right under his constant watch without him noticing.

And—how many nature transformations had Hayato used by now?

Water Release, Wind Release, Earth Release.

A Konoha jonin usually needed to master at least two chakra nature transformations. Hayato had already shown more than that.

As Tekka warily watched his surroundings, a massive shadow suddenly covered the ground before him. Darkness surrounded him, and only a pair of bloodred Three-Tomoe Sharingan stood out before his eyes.

"Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!"

Tekka suddenly found himself unable to move. Iron stakes had pierced through his body, pinning him in place. A genjutsu!

His Sharingan couldn't break it?

Yashiro, standing beside Fugaku, nodded in satisfaction. He was quite impressed by how Hayato had handled the situation.

Fugaku didn't respond, watching everything unfold in silence.

Hayato hadn't tried to reveal his Mangekyo, and he had already used three kinds of nature transformation. He probably had another plan in mind.

Hmph! Don't underestimate me!

Tekka felt humiliated. He had been captured by a clan member who had only just awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

He gathered his chakra, and several sparks of lightning coursed through his body. The next moment, he broke free of the genjutsu.

He landed, breathing slightly hard, sweat beading at his temple.

Clearly, breaking free of the genjutsu hadn't been easy for him.

He kept his gaze fixed on Hayato and smirked. Hayato was still too young. He hadn't even taken the chance to attack while Tekka was trapped.

He formed Hand Seals again in front of his chest: Rooster, Snake, Monkey, Goat!

"Lightning Release: Lightning Ball!"

His chakra transformed into several small balls of lightning, which streaked toward Hayato from all directions.

As the lightning balls closed in, Hayato threw three kunai with steel wire attached, each held between his fingertips. They landed in the puddles left behind by his Water Formation Wall.

Reflections of the lightning balls shone in his eyes. Just as they were about to hit him, he raised one hand and formed a simple seal. "Release!"

Crackle!

The small lightning balls shattered at once, streaking past both sides of Hayato's body and over his head.

Boom, boom!

The lightning balls exploded on the ground, leaving scorched craters. The force of the blast made Hayato's robe billow.

The next moment, he created a Shadow Clone. His chakra quickly gathered and transformed. He puffed out his cheeks. "Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!"

He spat out a stream of flame, which immediately took the form of a massive fire dragon. Beside him, the Shadow Clone released the wind-nature chakra it had transformed.

The wind fed the flames!

Boom!

The fire dragon doubled in size, and the temperature in the training grounds soared. Even the Police Force members watching from the second floor could feel their skin singeing.

Tekka's expression changed in alarm. He quickly formed Hand Seals. "Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

The two fire dragons filled the training grounds. Hayato impassively sent his dragon crashing into Tekka's Great Dragon Fire Technique.

Rumble!!!

A deafening explosion rang out. An invisible barrier stopped the flames from spreading beyond the training grounds.

Everyone turned to look at the arena. The ground had been scorched black, and a figure slowly landed in the center.

Hayato looked toward Tekka, who had fallen nearby, then turned his gaze to Fugaku on the second floor.

"Uchiha Hayato, successful challenge!"