I, Mikami Yu, Fire Style Prodigy!

[Under the sunlight on the training ground, a red-clad girl as lively and bouncing as a phoenix flower curiously sized you up, several nimble little flames dancing at her fingertips.]

[Phoenix Flower Jutsu: Yo! So you're the guy Sister mentioned? You look pretty handsome! Want to play with me? I can fly really fast!]

A pink option box popped up—

[A: Yes, yes! It is my honor to meet someone as beautiful as a phoenix flower.]

[B: I'm here to learn. What are you trying to do?!]

[C: Van? What's Van? Is it some exciting new game?]

Hmm... it looked like this time, the target was a quirky, mischievous girl.

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Mikami Yu thought for a moment and decided to try something different.

"C."

[Phoenix Flower Jutsu: (Her lips curled up, her eyes crinkling with laughter) Hehe, I didn't expect you to be such an interesting guy. Then shall we give it a try? If you can spit out a fireball that satisfies me, I'll take you somewhere fun~]

At once.

Mikami Yu returned his attention to reality. Under Hiruzen Sarutobi's encouraging gaze, he formed a hand seal and recalled the latter's explanation. His hands flew through the signs as he attempted the technique.

"Fire Style... Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

Whoosh!

Several orange-red fireballs the size of basketballs shot from Mikami Yu's mouth. They flew steadily six or seven meters before thudding into several other targets, leaving charred black marks behind. Their power was nowhere near that of Hiruzen Sarutobi's earlier attack, but it was still fairly decent.

—Theoretically, Mikami Yu now counted as half a Fire Style prodigy. After all, the "increased Fire-attribute chakra affinity" trait of [Spirit of Fire] was universal. Whether he used Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu or Phoenix Flower Jutsu, it worked the same.

[Phoenix Flower Jutsu: (She spun lightly through the air, her flame-made hair streaming behind her) Yay! Success! It was a little crooked, but it's only your first time~ Passed!]

[Phoenix Flower Jutsu Favorability +3. Added to the conquest list! Current Favorability: 3/100 (Strangers)]

Beside him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly and said encouragingly, "For a first attempt, successfully drawing out chakra and forming the beginnings of fireballs is already quite good. The key is stabilizing your chakra output. Try again, and focus."

"Okay."

Mikami Yu nodded, took a deep breath, and tried again.

This time, more than a dozen fireballs came shooting from his mouth, each significantly larger. Yet almost the instant he cast the technique, Mikami Yu sensed that something was off—

"Hm?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi froze slightly.

The cluster of fireballs launched from Mikami Yu's mouth seemed to be pulled by an invisible thread. They lined up neatly in midair to form a huge Chinese character for "person." Two seconds later, the shape broke apart, and the fireballs snapped into a perfectly straight line—the character for "one"!

Then, "one" turned into an "O" shape.

Finally, like flowers scattered by a heavenly maiden, they spread in every direction. Seven or eight fireballs flew wildly up, down, left, and right, circling and colliding before bursting into tiny sparks that drifted down like golden raindrops. It was quite a sight.

"Hey, what are you doing...?"

Mikami Yu was having a hard time keeping it together.

[Phoenix Flower Jutsu: (She giggled as she chased after the wildly flying fireballs) Fun, fun! Flying freely is the best! Little Mikami, look! Isn't it beautiful?]

This time, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood stunned for a full two or three seconds before looking at Mikami Yu in amazement. "How did you do that?"

"I-I just wanted to try it..."

Mikami Yu coughed lightly.

He had indeed launched those fireballs. As things stood, aside from his sudden whim to add some flair, there was no reasonable explanation. He could only say that Phoenix Flower was having fun, but at least she had not arranged the fireballs into "idiot" or a heart shape. Otherwise, the image would have been unbearable to imagine...

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not doubt him and showed his appreciation. "Excellent! You only just learned Phoenix Flower Jutsu, yet you can already control chakra so exquisitely, changing the fireballs' trajectories at will and... It seems your talent in Fire Style Ninjutsu far exceeds this old man's expectations."

"You flatter me, Lord Hokage..."

"Since you have such talent in Fire Style,"

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused and pulled two scrolls from the wide sleeve of his Hokage robe. The scrolls were made from slightly worn yellowish-brown parchment and tied with thin dark-green cords.

"These two scrolls contain Phoenix Flower Jutsu and Great Fire Wall Technique, respectively."

"Fire Style: Great Fire Wall is C-Rank Ninjutsu and leans toward defense. It creates a blazing wall of fire that can block physical attacks and burn enemies attempting to pass through it. I have written the specific points on the scroll. Take it back and study it. If there is anything you do not understand, ask your Jonin instructor.

"But remember: on the path of training, do not greedily seek too much too quickly. It would be best to first master Phoenix Flower Jutsu thoroughly and make it entirely your own. Only then should you study Great Fire Wall Technique."

"!"

There was an unexpected bonus?

Mikami Yu froze for a moment, then was hit by a surge of unexpected delight. He had gotten a new skin!

He quickly raised both hands and respectfully accepted the scrolls. "Thank you, Lord Hokage! I will remember your teachings. I'll proceed steadily and master Phoenix Flower Jutsu first!"

"Very good."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction and patted Mikami Yu on the shoulder. There was more expectation in his tone as he said, "Go. Your Jonin instructor should have arrived by now. Join your teammates and welcome this new beginning together. Konoha's future will rest upon you 'new sprouts.'"

With that, his figure flickered. Accompanied by a faint puff of smoke, he used the Body Flicker Technique and left the training ground.

After watching the Third Hokage depart,

Mikami Yu carefully put away the two scrolls and let out a long breath.

There was no need to rush about the gift. Waiting a little longer would not hurt.

The most important thing right now was confirming one matter—

Who exactly was his Jonin instructor??

Soon.

Mikami Yu returned to the Ninja Academy's grand hall. It was already completely deserted. Only rows of tables and chairs stood alone where they were, dust drifting above them and taking on the Daliyuan Effect under the sunlight streaming through the windows.

"Yu, you're back?"

Nohara Rin was still there, reviewing her medical notes. Hearing his footsteps, she looked up and gave him a gentle smile. "Did Lord Hokage's instruction go well?"

"Mm, it was fine. I learned two new Ninjutsu..."

Mikami Yu looked around. "Where is everyone else? Have all the classes been assigned and left?"

"Yeah."

Nohara Rin closed her scroll and thought for a moment. "Guy, Genma, and Ebisu were assigned to one team. Asuma, Kurenai, and Namiashi were assigned to another. Then there's Mawashi and Kaimon... Teacher Oki told me to wait for you here. I thought you might know something."

"...?"