Graduation Examination

Watching the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, walk farther and farther away, Yin Jie stood where he was and watched him go. He pursed his slightly chapped lips, and an imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

But that smile quickly faded.

It seemed his performance had been highly successful. Not only had the other man harbored no suspicion whatsoever, he had even regarded him as a "bridge."

Then again, who would believe that a seven-year-old child could harbor so many thoughts?

Even in the ninja world, where everyone matured early.

This...

was very good...

Three days later.

Yin Jie faced the combat test required for his application to graduate early.

The location was Training Ground No. 1, situated in the northern part of the Hidden Leaf Village.

The noon sunlight was dazzlingly white, pouring down freely like molten gold and coating Training Ground No. 1—and indeed the entire Hidden Leaf Village—in a scorching sheen.

Though it was the end of the year, the Land of Fire's favorable geography meant that winter was not particularly cold.

"Then..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke calmly, wearing the Hokage's conical hat and a white Hokage robe.

Beside him stood Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, the Hidden Leaf Village's senior advisors, as well as Danzo Shimura, whose face was dark and cold!

The Hidden Leaf F4 had assembled!

Originally, only the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had been meant to attend this combat test.

After all, Yin Jie's early graduation would break a record that had stood since the founding of the Hidden Leaf Village. As Hokage, he needed to witness it personally.

However, when Danzo Shimura, who was equally eager to claim Yin Jie, learned of this matter, he had also requested to come and observe.

Thus, seeing Danzo Shimura leave the Root base for something other than his usual business was a rare sight, so Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane had followed along as well.

Uchiha Yasashiro and Uchiha Fugaku had also come. Nearby were the clan heads and high-ranking members of other ninja clans, who had likewise come to gather intelligence after learning that the Uchiha Clan's gifted child was about to graduate early and break the record.

As for Yin Jie's opponent, he was a Chunin from ANBU.

Of course, he did not need to defeat his opponent. This was only the Ninja Academy's graduation examination. He merely had to last five minutes against him—whether he fought or evaded, the process did not matter, only the result. As long as he was not defeated by the end, he would pass.

Still, under the watchful eyes of so many "important figures," Yin Jie could not possibly keep dodging the entire time. In the end, he would have to face his opponent head-on and truly fight.

But he still needed to hide his strength.

After all, with his current ability, taking down a Chunin was no problem. Even if the man came from ANBU and was considered highly capable among Chunin.

However, there was no need to unleash all his strength merely to make himself look better and breeze through a simple graduation examination.

Especially with Danzo Shimura—the "Darkness of the Shinobi," a man who meddled in every evil deed throughout the story—present at the scene. He could not reveal any important information.

"Begin!"

Once both sides had finished preparing and formed the Seal of Confrontation, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the order.

The instant his words fell, Yin Jie moved first.

With a light sweep of both hands past his thighs, a sharp whistling sound tore through the air and reached everyone's ears the next second.

Three kunai shot toward the ANBU Chunin in a triangular formation. With a hint of prediction behind them, they vaguely sealed off his routes of escape to either side.

So fast!

The ANBU Chunin was startled.

He had already evaluated Yin Jie's strength as highly as possible. After all, the boy was a Uchiha genius who had applied for early graduation and was likely to set the Ninja Academy's record for the youngest and fastest graduate.

But when an expert made a move, the truth became clear.

Even many seasoned Genin might not have been able to throw kunai at such a level.

"As expected of a genius from that clan! At such a young age, he already possesses this kind of strength. Perhaps even his Sharingan..."

The ANBU Chunin's expression instantly grew solemn, his eyes filled with seriousness and the utmost regard for Yin Jie.

He had already treated Yin Jie as an opponent on the same level!

The ANBU Chunin rapidly gathered chakra beneath his feet, then stomped forcefully against the ground. His body shot into the air, narrowly evading the incoming kunai as he lunged down at Yin Jie from above.

But this, too, was within Yin Jie's predictions.

Thus, at the instant the ANBU Chunin leaped into the air and had nowhere to gain leverage, Yin Jie flung out a second wave of shuriken straight at him.

The ANBU Chunin's expression changed slightly. It seemed that in this first exchange, he had fallen completely into a disadvantage.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

A burst of white smoke appeared, followed by the dull sounds of shuriken striking a wooden post. The ANBU Chunin had used the Substitution Jutsu at the very last instant before being hit, avoiding the attack.

After landing and regaining his balance, the ANBU Chunin did not pause for even a moment. At an extremely fast speed, he charged fiercely toward Yin Jie.

He threw a punch, the force of it whipping up gusts of wind as it drove straight for Yin Jie's face!

Yet Yin Jie's expression did not change in the face of the ANBU Chunin's fierce attack. He merely shifted his feet slightly, perfectly evading the powerful blow before calmly twisting his body and throwing a punch of his own.

At the same time, his eyes quietly turned crimson.

The gap in age was simply too great. It left Yin Jie at a complete disadvantage in taijutsu exchanges, especially when it came to strength.

After all, he did not possess Tsunade's monstrous strength.

Therefore, he could only rely on the Sharingan's perception and use skill to compensate for his lack of power.

Besides, he could not hide information about his Sharingan anyway.

The one tomoe in his left eye and two tomoe in his right were no secret among the Hidden Leaf Village's upper ranks, though his left eye had quietly caught up in recent days and reached the same two-tomoe state as his right.

Then he might as well reveal it!

A seven-year-old with a two-tomoe Sharingan might give Danzo Shimura more ideas about him, but whether it was the Uchiha Clan or the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, they would only think even more highly of his future!

Bang!

Yin Jie's fist struck the ANBU Chunin's arm as he raised it to defend, producing a dull impact.

However, due to his lack of strength, the blow did not achieve much. It only barely forced the ANBU Chunin back two steps.

But one had to know that Yin Jie had copied no small number of taijutsu techniques from Uchiha Fugaku.

How could his attack possibly consist of just that simple punch?