Boom!
The terrifying blast echoed through the hall. Everyone instinctively covered their ears, even the examiner.
You've got to be kidding...
Could two Genin really cause this kind of destruction?
Staring at the enormous crater, a good seven or eight meters wide, that had appeared in the arena, the examiner swallowed hard and stood there stunned for a long time.
Were kids these days really this incredible?
"If I'd been the one up there just now, I'd probably be dead by now," the examiner thought to himself.
"Phew..."
On the arena, Genye let out a long breath. His arm was in agony, and he had no idea how much muscle tissue he'd torn.
"Cough, cough. Asuma, you really are terrifyingly strong. I accept my defeat completely."
Kai lay in the crater at the center of the arena. He struggled to raise an arm and gave Genye a thumbs-up.
Though he looked completely at ease, Kai couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
I used my strongest Taijutsu, and still couldn't win.
I really am as talentless as the Ninja Academy teachers said...
Kai remembered the day the Ninja Academy had cruelly rejected him, and how he'd clung to his father in the street as they both cried.
He felt even more dejected, unable to pick himself back up as he normally would.
"Even if you can't remember my name..."
Genye had no idea what Kai was thinking.
He walked over to the edge of the crater, bent down, and held out his other hand to Kai.
"I recognize you, Kai. Your youth really does burn bright!"
Genye said it partly to win Kai's favor, but he also meant it.
Kai's last move had been absurdly powerful. Even an ordinary jonin might not have been able to withstand that kick.
Unfortunately for Kai, he'd run into Genye—a cheat even more overpowered than the Guy he knew.
"Y-you really mean that?" Kai grasped Genye's hand, his voice trembling.
"Yeah." Genye nodded without hesitation.
Kai's eyes reddened. He might not have been the sharpest, but his instincts were keen.
He could tell Genye wasn't lying. Genye truly recognized him!
"Thank you for recognizing me!"
Once Genye pulled him up, Kai immediately threw his arms around him and burst into tears.
Snot and tears smeared all over Genye's clothes.
At this point in time, Genye was the first person besides his father to recognize his youth.
That meant a great deal to him!
"Hey, what the hell are you doing?!"
Genye had meant to push Kai away.
But realizing that Kai might topple over if he did, he hesitated and decided against it.
Only then did the examiner finally descend from the stands.
He'd seen the two boys' friendly interaction and deliberately given them plenty of time.
"I hereby declare the winner of this match to be—Hyuga Genya!"
"But win or lose, I hope you'll all give both of them a round of applause, and thank them for treating us to such a spectacular Taijutsu match."
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
Thunderous applause erupted from the stands. Obito even whistled to cheer the two of them on.
"Tell me your name one more time. This time, I'll make sure to remember it."
On the arena, Kai let go of Genye and spoke with a solemn expression.
"Eh?"
Genye paused, then smiled. "Sure. My name is Hyuga Genya. Make sure you don't get it wrong again."
"Yeah. I definitely won't." Kai nodded emphatically.
"Hiss..."
Seeing how much Kai's opinion of him had improved, Genye felt a little itchy with anticipation.
Should I try one draw? Should I?
He hadn't copied Asuma or Kurenai because their fighting styles were different from his, and he might get a dud from the draw.
But Kai was different. That kid was completely his kind of guy!
After a few seconds of hesitation, Genye opened the system interface. "System, copy him for me!"
"May good fortune come your way, may good fortune come your way~"
After an exhilarating sound effect, the system displayed a string of notifications.
[ Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained the skill "Dynamic Prelude"! ] [ As a reward for a ten-pull, the system has automatically integrated the Taijutsu moves it has recorded and devised a new skill for the host: "Ye Kai"! ] (Why is it called Ye Kai? Because it couldn't very well be called Night Ye.)
"Holy crap, Ye Kai? It sounds insanely powerful!"
Genye's eyes lit up as he opened the description of his new skill.
[ Ye Kai: A Taijutsu technique that channels the body's full power through a charge, combining all moves into one to unleash devastating damage in an instant. Its power depends on the host's physique and Taijutsu mastery. In theory, it has no limit. ]
This is incredible!
That was the only thought Genye had after reading the description.
He hadn't managed to copy the Eight Inner Gates, but getting a move like "Ye Kai" was more than worth it!
Once I run into Lord Madara, I'll kick him in the head with this move, Genye thought to himself.
Which head he'd kick... Well, he'd decide when the time came.
Genye walked off the arena on his own. The medical team carried Kai away and rushed him straight to the hospital for emergency treatment.
(ÒωÓױ)!
Obito was stunned to see Genye moving around freely as if nothing had happened.
"You two were fighting like crazy just now. They had to carry Beast Face away, but you're completely fine?"
Genye rolled his eyes at Obito and said crossly:
"Who told you I'm fine? I've never been this badly injured in my life!"
"Probably... at least two days to heal?"
Genye tilted his head and considered it, sounding uncertain.
After the system had modified his body, it had become exceptionally good at adapting to overexertion. Injuries from a burst of effort usually healed by the next day.
But this time, he really had been hurt badly. He probably wouldn't recover in a day, which was why he'd said two.
Obito: "..."
What kind of monster was this? How had he ended up on the same team as him?
A few moments later...
After several Earth Release ninja repaired the arena, it was restored to normal, and the exam continued.
But as the saying went, when a gem came first, the stones that followed could only pale in comparison.
After Kai and Genye's dazzling match, the remaining candidates' performances could only be called mediocre—so-so at best.
The Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen put down his pipe and stopped watching the crystal ball on his desk. Turning to the blond man beside him, he asked,
"Minato, what do you think of this year's candidates?"
Namikaze Minato pondered for a moment, then replied with some resignation,
"To be honest, aside from Might Guy and Hyuga Genya, the other kids still seem to need more training."
"You're right." Hiruzen rubbed his brow and sighed. "It's just a shame that such a promising talent comes from the Hyuga Branch Family."
"I agree," Minato said with a nod.
If the boy hadn't come from the Hyuga Branch Family, he would surely have had a bright future.
But the world was full of what-ifs.
Hiruzen got to his feet, patted Minato on the shoulder, and sighed.
"The fighting at the front is growing more intense. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you for a while, Minato."
"It's no trouble." Minato shook his head, then continued with a grave expression,
"It's just that Iwagakure has been restless lately, repeatedly crossing the border. It seems they intend to join forces with Kumogakure and attack Konoha from both sides."
Hiruzen snorted. "Ōnoki is an opportunist. He'd never openly support either side. Most likely, he's planning to let the snipe and the clam fight while the fisherman profits."
"I'll send someone to negotiate with him and make it clear that Iwagakure won't get the slightest advantage from us here in Konoha!"
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