Team Entry Assessment! A Six-Year-Old Genin Beats Up Danzo!

After leaving the Hokage Tower, Shimura Danzo said nothing and led Uchiha Linhai directly to Training Ground No. 4.

Danzo took a signal flare from his ninja tool pouch and fired it into the sky with a whoosh.

"A ninja signal flare is used to assemble people or call for help. At critical moments, it can also draw enemy fire and cover your teammates." Danzo looked at Linhai expressionlessly. "My team members will be here soon. But before that, I'll personally test your capabilities. We've just accepted an A-rank mission, and I absolutely will not allow dead weight on my team."

Danzo's words were harsh and blunt.

The corners of Linhai's lips lifted slightly, and his gaze instantly sharpened. "I'd also like to see what you ninjas who've spent too long in a greenhouse are really capable of."

Danzo snorted and assumed a stance. "Arrogant! Come at me, with the resolve to kill me!"

Before his words had faded, Linhai's eyes changed abruptly. Two tomoe slowly rotated within his crimson eyes.

His hands formed seals so quickly they left afterimages: Snake—Dragon—Rabbit—Tiger!

"Fire Release: Flame Dragon Bullet!"

Three blazing fire dragons shot from Linhai's mouth like cannonballs, bombarding Danzo in a triangular formation.

He opened with a high-level ninjutsu!

The fire dragons were incredibly fast, coming from tricky angles.

Yet under the gaze of his two-tomoe Sharingan, Linhai clearly caught the motion of Danzo's muscles.

This was only a feint to force him to move!

Sure enough, Danzo instantly used the Body Flicker Technique, dodging into Linhai's right-side blind spot.

However, this was exactly where Linhai had been waiting for him to land!

Bang! Linhai used the Body Flicker Technique as well, appearing directly in front of Danzo. The two stood less than three meters apart.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

Boom!

Several high-density fireballs exploded point-blank, instantly swallowing Danzo in a sea of flames.

Linhai did not relax in the slightest. His Sharingan rapidly scanned the surroundings. Just before the fireballs struck, Danzo had escaped into the nearby woods with a Substitution Technique.

"Using wide-area Fire Release to force movement, then using the Sharingan's perception to predict the landing point before releasing a high-burst ninjutsu at close range. Your tactics are quite mature. You truly possess the strength of a genin."

Danzo's gloomy voice came from all directions. "Now, let me see whether you have what it takes to be a chunin!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Several sharp wind blades howled out from the depths of the forest, sealing off every route of escape.

Linhai leaped into the air. Something was wrong! Those wind blades were far too inaccurate—they were nothing more than a feint!

Damn it! Linhai's pupils contracted sharply as his hands flew through seals.

Bang!

Danzo appeared behind the airborne Linhai like a ghost and sent a heavy spinning kick crashing toward his waist.

At the last possible moment, a wooden log was kicked to splinters.

Using the Substitution Technique, Linhai flashed to the ground. Clutching his faintly aching abdomen, he looked up at Danzo, who still hung in midair.

You're in the air with nowhere to push off. Let's see how you dodge this!

"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Dance Technique!"

The self-created ninjutsu improved by Hashirama Senju showed its might once more!

A savage fire dragon charged toward the airborne Danzo with an eerie S-shaped trajectory, roaring as the scorching heat wave instantly dried the surrounding leaves.

Danzo's expression changed drastically, and he finally put away his contempt. This brat had actually forced out his trump card!

"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"

Danzo clapped his hands together sharply, and a massive high-pressure wind sphere collided head-on with the fire dragon.

Amid a thunderous roar, flames and gale-force winds annihilated each other.

The instant he landed, Linhai had already drawn his short blade and flickered close, slashing at Danzo's throat.

Danzo pulled out a kunai to block it, sneering inwardly. His chakra is almost depleted, isn't it?

So he can only rely on taijutsu?

You're just a six-year-old brat. Your strength and physique are your greatest weaknesses!

Clang! Sparks scattered.

Linhai was sent flying by the immense force, but he blocked the shuriken Danzo threw at him while still in midair.

My physique is too much of a disadvantage. I can only use that move!

Linhai decisively discarded his blade, reached into his ninja tool pouch with both hands, and threw more than a dozen shuriken at Danzo like scattering blossoms.

Danzo's face was full of disdain. "You're at the end of your rope! Your aim is ridiculously poor. You think an attack like this can—"

Before Danzo could finish, he suddenly sensed something strange.

The shuriken that had missed their target curved around the trees and came whistling back at him from behind!

Looking closely, he saw that thin steel wires were attached to the ends of the shuriken!

"The Uchiha Clan's Shuriken Manipulation Technique!" Danzo cried out in shock.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Fire Technique!"

With a low shout, Linhai spat out clusters of tiny flames, instantly igniting the steel wires. A massive net woven from burning wires descended from all directions, engulfing Danzo.

"You have nowhere to run." Linhai yanked the wires tight.

Just as Danzo was about to be cut into pieces, a loud shout rang out from above.

"Partial Multi-Size Technique!"

A gigantic palm descended from the sky and slammed down hard on the flaming net.

Danzo took the opportunity to use the Body Flicker Technique and escaped the encirclement in a sorry state.

The giant hand withdrew. A tree so thick it would take three people to encircle it was instantly sliced into several sections by the scorching wires and crashed to the ground.

Danzo looked at the fallen tree, cold sweat breaking out all over him.

If Torifu had not arrived in time, even if he hadn't died, he would have been flayed alive! This kid's destructive power was simply monstrous!

As the smoke and dust cleared, a chubby ninja appeared beside Danzo.

"Danzo, what urgent mission is this? Why are you fighting a little kid? Judging by that commotion, you nearly got killed just now!"

Danzo's old face reddened. Pointing at Linhai while forcing himself to remain composed, he said, "This is the newcomer the Second Hokage stuffed into our team, Uchiha Linhai. I was only testing his strength. Akimichi Torifu is our team's taijutsu specialist."

Torifu grinned and waved at Linhai, who nodded in greeting.

Danzo looked at Linhai, his tone considerably gentler. "You pass. That final Shuriken Manipulation Technique of yours was excellent. You won't hold us back."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure abruptly appeared before Linhai, dropped to one knee, and spoke with utmost respect.

"Uchiha branch family member, Uchiha Kagami, greets the young master!"

Linhai froze. His father seemed to have mentioned that, in order to protect the heirs of each generation, the clan would select elites to serve as followers sworn to die for them, then plant curse marks on them.

"Get up." Linhai helped Uchiha Kagami to his feet. "This is a Konoha squad. There's no distinction of status based on family here. Just call me Linhai."

Danzo interrupted with a frown. "Enough. Save the family reunion act for later. I'm announcing the mission now!"

"This is an A-rank escort mission that may be upgraded to S-rank at any time! Takigakure Village is buying up military ration pills in large quantities to prepare for war. The Second Hokage has decided to secretly sell them a large supply at a high price, both to make money and probe their true intentions."

Danzo's gaze swept across the three of them. "The forces of Iwagakure and Takigakure are both gathered at the border, and the situation is extremely tense. We will escort a merchant and the supplies to the Land of Waterfalls to complete the transaction. Under no circumstances can our identities as Konoha ninja be exposed along the way. There will be a reception team for the return trip."

"Linhai, you will pose as the merchant's nephew and provide close protection. Torifu will guard the goods. Kagami, you and I will take the front and rear, responsible for scouting and cleanup. Understood?"

"Understood!" the three answered in unison.

"Gather at the village entrance at five tomorrow morning. Dismissed!" Danzo tossed out those words and left with the Body Flicker Technique.

Muttering about going to eat barbecue, Torifu turned and left as well.

Only Linhai and Uchiha Kagami remained at the training ground.

Linhai looked at Kagami. "How many followers do I have in total? How strong are they?"

"Young Master, besides me, there are Uchiha Mine, Uchiha Ame, and Uchiha Chiyo. Mine and I are jonin, while Ame and Chiyo are chunin. All of us have awakened the Sharingan."

Linhai nodded and looked directly into Uchiha Kagami's eyes.

"I know the clan used curse marks to force you into loyalty.

"That method is despicable, and I know you must harbor resentment.

"I'm not strong enough yet to remove the curse marks.

"But one day, I will personally free you from those restraints. Until then, just treat me as an ordinary teammate."

With that, Linhai strode away.

Uchiha Kagami stood frozen in place, watching Linhai's small yet resolute back as stormy waves surged through his heart.

Perhaps following a young master like this is the Uchiha Clan's true path forward. But the young master doesn't know that the one who planted those curse marks on us was that lord from back then, a man like an Asura...