Viper Throw 2/2

The second test was kunai throwing.

Hayato took out a summoning scroll and spread it on the ground.

"Summoning Technique!"

Several gleaming shuriken appeared in a neat row, radiating pure extravagance and making those who had to pull out ninja tools by hand green with envy.

There were two types of summoning techniques. One was blood-contract summoning, which called forth summoned beasts to assist in battle. The other was non-blood-contract summoning, which could summon items stored elsewhere.

Hayato's summoning scroll clearly belonged to the latter.

The problem was that making summoning scrolls involved space-time ninjutsu and sealing techniques, something Hayato clearly could not produce at his current stage.

Even the most ordinary summoning scroll cost around three thousand ryō, roughly the price of three and a half explosive tags. Considering that a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen cost sixty ryō, summoning scrolls were truly extravagant.

—A genuine rich girl. No argument there!

The kunai throwing examination was divided into fixed targets, moving targets, and scattered targets.

Fixed and moving targets were the basics for a ninja. Passing both meant taking another step closer to earning ninja qualifications.

The scattered-target test had ten targets that appeared at random locations. Examinees had to throw all their kunai within five seconds. The less time they took and the more targets they hit, the higher their score. It was an advanced kunai throwing event.

In the past, scattered targets had been the Uchiha Clan's personal stage. The Uchiha had nearly been exterminated, and no Uchiha clansmen were taking this year's examination. There would not be many in the future, either. Everyone was eager to prove themselves, but they could not help feeling wistful.

"Tool Manipulation: Falling Stars."

For the scattered-target test, Hayato directly tossed out a summoning scroll while scanning the area and memorizing the targets' positions. Ten kunai shot out of the scroll, and under Hayato's control, every one of them struck a target.

"Amazing!"

"As expected of Hayato!"

"The best~~~"

Hayato's performance naturally earned thunderous applause. Before this, the highest score had been eight hits out of ten, achieved by Aburame Shishin and Nara Chinai.

Aburame Shishin released Kikaichū to cling to the targets, but throwing ten kunai in succession was a little much for him, and two lost their accuracy.

Nara Chinai appeared to casually fling out a large handful of kunai.

"Shadow Imitation Technique."

Though his initial aim was slightly off, every kunai struck its target after minute adjustments from his shadow.

The issue was that Nara Chinai had only thrown eight kunai, hence his score of eight hits out of "ten throws."

The Nara Clan truly was full of clever people. Their grasp of themselves and the surrounding situation was as precise as ever, and they also knew how to make trade-offs. No wonder members of this clan had served as advisors to successive Hokage and navigated Konoha's upper ranks with ease.

Soon, it was Hyuga Neji's turn.

Neji assumed the opening stance of Eight Trigrams Palm: Rotation. The moment the targets appeared, his body spun rapidly. Ten kunai flew out almost simultaneously, and all of them hit the bullseyes.

This was...

A kunai version of Rotation?

Sure enough, Neji had already comprehended Rotation on his own. Perhaps he could already use it in actual combat.

A genius!

"Wow!"

"So amazing! So cool!"

"..."

The girls let out all kinds of admiring cries, their eyes sparkling. By comparison, the boys' reactions were much more muted, probably because Hyuga Neji was usually so aloof.

Only Rock Lee jumped up and shouted, "Great job, Neji! As expected of my lifelong rival!"

Incidentally, Rock Lee's scattered-target score was seven hits out of ten, above average.

However, Rock Lee was outstanding in the fixed- and moving-target throwing tests. His incredibly powerful kunai pierced through several bullseyes and shattered several targets.

Hyuga Neji's expression remained unchanged in the face of everyone's cheers. That cool reaction triggered another wave of shrieks from the girls. He gave Hayato a faint glance, as if to say—do your best. Don't even think about muddling through this.

Hayato's response was: with a mission on the line, carelessness was impossible.

Soon, it was Hayato's turn.

Ten targets appeared at random locations at the same time.

With a single glance, Hayato froze, because two targets were on the same line.

Yamashiro Aoba merely smiled without saying anything. Did you think something random was truly random?

What would you do?

Yamashiro Aoba was looking forward to it.

Among the students who had already finished, only Hyuga Neji had relied solely on pure kunai throwing technique among those with the best scores. Aburame Shishin had used insects for assistance, while Nara Chinai had used other ninjutsu as support. Still, this was only a ninja academy graduation exam. How could one demand too much?

Would he coordinate with other ninjutsu?

For example, he could move aside the target blocking the one behind it. That would not violate the rules.

Putting himself in Hayato's shoes, Yamashiro Aoba realized that he could only summon crows to help.

As expected, Uchiha throwing techniques were still the strongest.

As a confidant of two generations of Hokage, Yamashiro Aoba did not have a favorable impression of the Uchiha Clan. Yet now that the Uchiha were gone, he could not help feeling wistful and nostalgic.

Swish! Swish! Swish...

Hayato threw all his kunai.

Two kunai flew one behind the other toward the overlapping targets.

Had he given up?

He had failed, right?

That was what everyone else thought, and Yamashiro Aoba thought so too.

No!

No way?

Thud!

The front kunai was about to hit the bullseye, but the kunai behind it actually curved through the air, passing around the target in front.

Thud!

As that dull sound rang out—

Yamashiro Aoba's eyes widened.

How had he done that?

The entire venue... fell silent.

Night fell.

The Hokage's office was brightly lit.

Sarutobi Hiruzen bent over his documents, yet the files on his desk were still piled as high as mountains.

After all, he was nearing seventy. His energy was far from what it had once been, and faced with the heavy burden of government affairs, Sarutobi Hiruzen had the will but not the strength.

If only Minato were still here. Sarutobi Hiruzen had thought that countless times, only to smile bitterly each time. I really am old, indulging in such unrealistic fantasies.

In truth, Sarutobi Hiruzen could not be blamed. Born a commoner, disciple of the Three Sannin, master of powerful ninjutsu, the "Yellow Flash" whose name shook the ninja world and could stop a child's nighttime crying—the key was that he was young and handsome, too. As Hokage, Minato Namikaze had been more than perfect.

Unfortunately, jars did not escape breaking by the well, and generals could not avoid dying before the battlefield.

Minato Namikaze had tragically died in battle. Meanwhile, the former Hokage candidate Orochimaru had defected, Tsunade had been devastated and left Konoha, while Jiraiya remained obsessed with his ties to the former two and the elusive "Child of Prophecy."

Among the younger generation of ninjas, only Hatake Kakashi caught Sarutobi Hiruzen's eye. Yet in Sarutobi Hiruzen's seasoned judgment, Hatake Kakashi was still too immature. Internally, he could not suppress the restless Danzo. Externally, he could not contend with figures like Onoki.

Just hold on for a few more years...

Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up his pipe and took a deep drag, hoping nicotine would disperse the exhaustion that had accumulated over the years.

Knock, knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Sarutobi Tanbashu entered. He was not wearing ANBU attire. He carried a food box in one hand and a document bag in the other.

"Father, eat first."

"Alright." Sarutobi Hiruzen paused his work and asked, "What are you holding?"

"It's a mission report submitted by Yamashiro Aoba, regarding today's graduation examination," Sarutobi Tanbashu answered.

Sarutobi Hiruzen took the document bag and opened it.

"Father!"

"Alright, alright. I'll eat first..." Sarutobi Hiruzen helplessly set the file down.

And so, Sarutobi Hiruzen ate while his son stood beside him, supervising him to make sure he focused on eating.

Sarutobi Tanbashu was Sarutobi Hiruzen's eldest son and also his right-hand man. Aside from Sarutobi Hiruzen's late wife, Sarutobi Biwako, no one understood Sarutobi Hiruzen better than he did. Therefore, Sarutobi Tanbashu scoffed at the claim that his father clung to the Hokage's power.

For Sarutobi Hiruzen, the title of Hokage was a crown of thorns and a heavy set of shackles, constantly draining away his life force.

Sarutobi Tanbashu did not try to persuade his father. Persuasion was useless. If it had worked, why would Sarutobi Hiruzen have spent so many years diligently serving as Hokage, walking on thin ice?

At that thought, this iron-blooded man nearly shed tears of sorrow.

Sarutobi Hiruzen noticed something strange about his eldest son and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Sarutobi Tanbashu said hurriedly. "I'm just a little tired."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "If you're tired, get more rest. Make more time to spend with Konohamaru."

At the mention of Sarutobi Konohamaru, smiles appeared on both their faces.

Sarutobi Tanbashu said, "Konohamaru keeps saying he'll defeat you and become Hokage."

Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed. "Konohamaru is a good child. I'm truly looking forward to it. What makes this old man happiest is seeing Konoha's new generation grow up and shoulder Konoha's future."

After chatting for a few moments, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression relaxed, making him look like an old grandfather delighting in his grandchildren.

P.S. Thanks to "Trench Coat Joke" for the recommendation votes, and to "KGHI" for yesterday's recommendation votes. Thank you for bookmarking.

The next chapter will be tomorrow at 9:00. Preparations for the graduation examination's practical combat test~~~