Graduating without a hitch

Shinku Yuhi shifted his feet slightly and dodged with ease.

Too slow.

An attack at that level could not even touch the hem of his clothes.

But Uchiha Makoto did not stop.

He kept forming hand seals and breathing fire.

He unleashed one Great Fireball Technique after another as though they cost nothing.

Flames instantly erupted across the Training Ground.

Shinku Yuhi frowned. What is this kid doing? Wasting chakra? Or... stalling for time?

He glanced at the timer beside the field.

Only thirty seconds had passed. Two and a half minutes remained.

"Boring," Shinku Yuhi muttered, ready to end this farce.

But just then, Uchiha Makoto suddenly vanished.

It was not the Body Flicker Technique, but sheer speed.

He moved so fast that the chunin teachers present saw only an afterimage.

"Shave: Flash Step!"

Uchiha Makoto appeared to Shinku Yuhi's left, his right hand flattened into a blade as he chopped at the side of his neck.

Without even turning his head, Shinku Yuhi reached back with his left hand.

But he caught nothing.

Uchiha Makoto vanished again, appearing on his right and sweeping a kick at Shinku Yuhi's knee.

Shinku Yuhi stepped back half a pace and dodged.

But Uchiha Makoto followed like a shadow, closing in again.

Fists, feet, elbows, knees.

An unbroken barrage of taijutsu attacks poured down like a torrential rain.

Shinku Yuhi finally began taking him seriously.

He stopped merely dodging and began blocking and counterattacking.

The two raced across the Training Ground, their fists and feet colliding in a rapid patter like rain striking sheet metal.

At the edge of the field, Teacher Nakamura watched, dumbfounded.

The other chunin teachers gaped as well.

Was... was this really the level of taijutsu a seven-year-old could possess?

That speed, that strength, those reflexes...

He had already surpassed plenty of chunin!

Shinku Yuhi was astonished too. He knew Uchiha Makoto was talented, but he had never expected this much.

This taijutsu, this chakra control, this combat awareness...

"Genius" was no longer enough to describe him.

He was a monster.

But astonished as he was, he did not let up in the slightest.

Talent alone could not bridge the gap in a jonin's strength.

A minute passed.

Uchiha Makoto's attacks began slowing down.

It was not exhaustion. He was adjusting his rhythm.

Shinku Yuhi keenly noticed the change, but paid it little mind.

He was a child, after all. His stamina was limited. Lasting this long was already impressive.

He prepared to end the fight.

He formed hand seals with both hands.

"Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique."

It was the most basic C-rank genjutsu.

But in his hands, its effect was entirely different.

Uchiha Makoto's vision blurred.

The next second, he saw it.

Fire.

Towering flames.

Konoha was burning. People screamed and wept, and bodies littered the ground.

This is... genjutsu!

Uchiha Makoto realized it instantly. Although genjutsu was not currently his main focus, his two-tomoe Sharingan made it easy to see through.

The scene before him began shattering.

At the edge of the field, Teacher Nakamura's expression changed.

"Oh no..."

The other chunin teachers grew tense as well.

Shinku Yuhi's genjutsu ranked among the best in all of Konoha.

Watching Uchiha Makoto stand motionless with vacant eyes, Shinku Yuhi breathed an inward sigh of relief.

Finally got him under control.

Using genjutsu against a child was a little dishonorable, but... this was an assessment.

Besides, I didn't use anything too powerful. Just the simplest Hell Viewing Technique, enough to give him a scare.

Once time is up, I'll release the genjutsu and announce that he passed.

That way, I'll save face and finish the assessment.

Perfect.

With that thought, Shinku Yuhi manipulated the genjutsu, intending to make Uchiha Makoto walk beyond the field's boundary "of his own accord."

But just as he was about to control Uchiha Makoto's body...

Something unexpected happened.

Uchiha Makoto did not move.

Not only did he remain still, he seemed rooted to the spot.

Shinku Yuhi froze.

Just then, Uchiha Makoto blinked.

Then a smile curved his lips.

It was a faint smile.

But Shinku Yuhi saw it perfectly clearly.

That was not the expression of someone trapped in genjutsu.

It was... a lucid smile, even carrying a hint of mockery.

He... isn't caught in the genjutsu?

Shinku Yuhi's mind reeled.

Impossible!

The Hell Viewing Technique clearly took effect. I clearly saw Uchiha Makoto's eyes go vacant...

Wait.

Shinku Yuhi suddenly understood.

He was pretending.

This kid had been pretending from the start!

He was never caught in the genjutsu-or he broke out almost immediately, then deliberately acted as though it had worked.

"This kid..."

Shinku Yuhi was shocked and angry, yet also felt like laughing.

He was shocked that Uchiha Makoto's skill in genjutsu was so great that he could fool even him.

He was angry that a seven-year-old had played him.

And he wanted to laugh because... this kid was one hell of a talent.

Only three seconds remained.

Shinku Yuhi looked at Uchiha Makoto, and Uchiha Makoto looked back.

Neither moved.

At the edge of the field, Teacher Nakamura was so nervous that his palms were slick with sweat.

He had no idea what had happened.

All he had seen was Shinku Yuhi casting a genjutsu, followed by Uchiha Makoto freezing.

Then the two had stood facing each other, utterly motionless.

Is Lord Shinku Yuhi going easy on him? Teacher Nakamura was not sure, but he hoped so.

Because he truly wanted Uchiha Makoto to pass the assessment.

Becoming a ninja was dangerous, but with Uchiha Makoto's talent, keeping him at the Ninja Academy would be a waste. Graduating early and becoming a powerful ninja's disciple sooner would actually be safer.

"Time's up!"

The voice echoed across the Training Ground.

Shinku Yuhi and Uchiha Makoto moved at the same time.

Shinku Yuhi wore a complicated expression.

There was surprise, irritation, appreciation, and a touch of... resignation.

Uchiha Makoto's expression was calm.

So calm it was as though nothing had happened.

"The assessment is over."

Shinku Yuhi spoke, his voice slightly hoarse.

"Uchiha Makoto did not leave the field during the three-minute period."

He paused, seemingly weighing his words.

"Therefore, my verdict is-"

Shinku Yuhi took a deep breath and looked at Teacher Nakamura.

"He passes."

The words rang out firmly.

Teacher Nakamura froze for a moment, then snapped back to his senses.

"H-he passed! Uchiha Makoto has passed the early graduation assessment!"

His voice trembled with excitement.

The other chunin teachers breathed sighs of relief, then began applauding.

They had not entirely understood what had just happened, but if Shinku Yuhi said he had passed, then he certainly had.

Uchiha Makoto stood where he was, listening to the applause and watching Shinku Yuhi's complicated expression, yet felt little stirring within him.

"Thank you, Jonin Shinku."

Uchiha Makoto bowed to Shinku Yuhi respectfully.

Shinku Yuhi watched him for several seconds, then sighed.

"You're impressive, kid."

"But remember, the ninja world is far more dangerous than you think."

"Look after yourself!"

With that, he turned and left the Training Ground, his departing figure looking somewhat forlorn.

Uchiha Makoto watched him leave, then turned to Teacher Nakamura.

"Congratulations, Cheng."

Teacher Nakamura walked over and gave his shoulder a firm pat.

"Starting today, you're a genin of Konoha."