Passed the Exam

Inside the Konoha Arena.

Senju Genma and a Jonin from the village entered the arena.

Since Senju Genma was to become a Jonin, he had to prove his strength, regardless of his abilities in other areas.

Senju Genma's examiner was Sarutobi Hiyo, a Jonin from the Sarutobi Clan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was in high spirits, chatting and laughing with Uzumaki Mito beside him.

Ever since he learned that Senju Genma possessed the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, he had kept a close eye on him. He even intended to train him as one of the candidates for Fourth Hokage.

However, the fact that Senju Genma had volunteered to fight made him like the boy even more.

Hadn't he himself come up the same way?

When he was young, he had joined the village's wars against other nations with nothing but youthful fervor. In the end, when he was protecting Senju Tobirama, he had chosen to stay behind and cover the retreat—and had been selected as Hokage instead.

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought that if Senju Genma had been on that battlefield, he would have made the same choice.

In a seat below Hiruzen Sarutobi, a black-haired man dressed in black was also watching Senju Genma intently.

He was the current head of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Yodo.

He wasn't there to blame Senju Genma for stealing a young girl from his clan.

Marriage outside the Uchiha Clan was very common. Their family records even contained many instances of men marrying into the clan.

The Senju Clan was quite popular in the village. Although the Uchiha Clan and Senju Clan had been enemies for a long time, Uchiha Yodo didn't care about that at all.

All he could think about now was how to ease the tension between his clan and the village, and get the village to accept his clan.

The clan elders all shared the same view.

If Uchiha Mikoto and Senju Genma got together, he'd be so happy he'd laugh in his sleep.

The only thing he was worried about was his son, Uchiha Fugaku.

Fugaku had liked Mikoto since childhood.

He turned to look at his son.

As head of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Yodo had no trouble bringing Fugaku to watch. Fugaku was a Chunin now, after all.

Seeing his son sitting there obediently, Uchiha Yodo nodded, feeling deeply pleased.

Putting the clan's interests first and not letting personal feelings sway him—that was what made a worthy heir.

In truth, Fugaku had simply been pressured by his father and the clan. He didn't dare resist, so he had chosen to go along with it.

"Begin!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice came from above.

Senju Genma and Sarutobi Hiyo both nodded toward Hiruzen Sarutobi's seat, then faced each other and formed the Seal of Confrontation.

"Begin the examination!" Sarutobi Isshin, the referee below, promptly gave the signal.

The moment the referee spoke, Senju Genma and Sarutobi Hiyo sprang into action.

Sarutobi Hiyo attacked first. In just two or three seconds, he fired more than a dozen Shuriken in quick succession.

Clang, clang, clang!

Senju Genma threw Shuriken to intercept them, then pulled out a three-pronged Kunai and knocked down the ones that got through.

Watching Sarutobi Hiyo's weapons technique, Senju Genma couldn't help but grow wary.

This was his first proper fight against a Jonin-level ninja. He had sparred with Tsunade before, but she always held back without thinking.

Sarutobi Hiyo was every bit the veteran Jonin who had been Hiruzen Sarutobi's contemporary. His weapons were thrown with perfect force and precision, each Shuriken seeming aimed straight at Senju Genma's life.

Of course, he was certain that if he couldn't block them, the Elite Jonin-level referee would step in and save him.

That greedy Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't let him die.

Senju Genma put aside his careless attitude. When he spotted an opening, he pulled Shuriken from his pouch and hurled them at Sarutobi Hiyo.

Sarutobi Hiyo threw Shuriken as well, intercepting them.

Clang, clang, clang!

The arena rang with the clashing of Shuriken.

"Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!"

While the Shuriken were being intercepted again, Sarutobi Hiyo chose to break the deadlock.

Sarutobi Hiyo quickly formed Hand Seals and spat out a cloud of scorching ash. In an instant, it covered a large area in front of Senju Genma and swept toward him.

Senju Genma hurled his Kunai at Sarutobi Hiyo. But instead of forming Hand Seals with his now-free hands, he simply brought them together in a light clap.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

Senju Genma spewed a torrent of water from his mouth, forming a wall that spun in a circle around him.

Sarutobi Hiyo's Ash Pile Burning landed. He made a biting motion with his mouth, igniting the ash. A chain of explosions soon followed.

Flames immediately filled the arena.

When the explosions ended, the spot where Senju Genma had been standing was covered in white steam.

Sarutobi Hiyo warily watched the area ahead. He didn't have a Kekkei Genkai like the Byakugan or Sharingan, nor was he a sensory ninja. In these conditions, all he could do was rely on his eyes and reflexes to defend himself.

"Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!" Sarutobi Hiyo spewed out a fierce blaze, sending the flames spreading into the steam.

"What happened? Was young master Genma's Water Formation Wall just for show? Did it fail to stop the Ash Pile Burning? Why hasn't he made a move?" Quite a few people stared curiously at the cloud of steam, wondering why Senju Genma hadn't responded.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd cried out, "Look! How did young master Genma get over there?"

"That's the Flying Thunder God Technique—Lord Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique! As expected of young master Genma. He's the first person besides the Second Hokage to master that technique!" another ninja exclaimed excitedly.

The crowd's repeated shouts at the edge of the arena didn't distract Senju Genma, who had already appeared near Sarutobi Hiyo.

He raised his right hand. A small blue sphere of chakra appeared in his palm, and he thrust it toward Sarutobi Hiyo's face.

Sarutobi Hiyo felt the tremendous destructive power contained in the Rasengan, but he had no time to react.

The chakra sphere stopped in front of Sarutobi Hiyo, then vanished in an instant.

It was only an examination. Senju Genma had never intended to kill him.

"I lost!" Sarutobi Hiyo let out a long breath and admitted defeat.

Senju Genma nodded and stepped back. The two formed the Seal of Reconciliation.

Although he was a little unsatisfied, Senju Genma knew that there was no way he could use all his abilities in a setting like this.

After the examination, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Senju Genma and Uzumaki Mito to stay behind.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, a pipe between his teeth, appraised the young man in front of him. Then he spoke sincerely. "Genma, I can't believe how much you've grown in the blink of an eye. You're an outstanding ninja now, and the future of Konoha. Congratulations on becoming a Jonin."

He paused to consider his words, then continued, "I hope you'll join the Anbu and protect the village."

Looking at Senju Genma, Hiruzen Sarutobi found himself liking the boy more and more.

He wanted Senju Genma to join the Anbu to protect him and help him grow.

The missions carried out by the Anbu were extremely dangerous, but what place on the battlefield wasn't dangerous?

The minimum requirement for joining the Anbu was to be a Special Jonin. When facing the same dangers, it was always better to be surrounded by strong people.