The final combat assessment

Konoha

Ninja Academy

Today was the Ninja Academy's final combat assessment of the semester, as well as its ranking tournament. Students from the entire year would draw lots to face one another until the rankings were decided. The Third Hokage would even attend the finals.

That meant any ninja who stood out in the arena would catch the attention of the Konoha High Command, which would greatly benefit their team assignments upon graduation and even their future ninja careers.

Every student in the year had their eyes on this assessment, hoping to claim the honor of second place. After all, first place had already been all but reserved for Makoto Uchiha, the Uchiha Clan's famous prodigy. But the current Chihane had never considered settling for second.

With so many participants, each class would first select its top two students. Once Lord Hokage arrived, they would compete in the year's finals to determine the overall champion.

The year was divided into four classes competing in four arenas. Each class was further divided into two groups, each with one spot in the finals.

At that moment, Chihane's class stood in formation on the field, watching the open space ahead of them.

Two students were fighting fiercely in that open space.

Clink, clink! Clang, clang!

Their kunai collided and crossed, sending sparks flying with every crisp clash.

"Aah! Hyaa!"

Ibiki Morino shouted with all his might and brought his kunai down hard, forcing his opponent back through sheer strength. He immediately threw the kunai in his hand at his opponent, driving him back another step.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Ibiki Morino rapidly formed hand seals, sending wind blades flying from his mouth toward the other student.

The student's face filled with horror. It looked as though he would not be able to dodge.

Whoosh!

Fortunately, the Chunin instructor appeared at the critical moment, his hands flashing through hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

Splash!

Water surged up, forming a wall in front of him that blocked Ibiki Morino's wind blades.

Once the wind blades dissipated, the Chunin instructor exhaled, straightened up, and announced, "Ibiki Morino wins."

Immediately afterward, the Chunin instructor announced the next match. "Next up, Chihane Hatake versus Jiro Ibe."

At that announcement, the students in the class all turned their attention to Chihane and Jiro Ibe.

Jiro Ibe had always ranked among the top five in their class. Although Chihane had defeated Hyuga Namikaze, everyone still favored Jiro Ibe. After all, long-standing impressions were not so easily changed.

"Chihane, you can do it!"

Kurenai Yuhi, however, certainly believed in Chihane. She had seen his strength firsthand.

Chihane stepped into the arena, looked at Jiro Ibe, and said, "Go ahead. You might die if I swing this sword!"

Anger flared in Jiro Ibe's heart at Chihane's words. He grabbed his kunai and charged at Chihane, determined to teach him a lesson he would never forget!

As the furious Jiro Ibe rushed toward him with his kunai, Chihane drew his wooden sword and thrust it forward. Its tip struck precisely at the web between the thumb and forefinger of Jiro Ibe's weapon hand, and the kunai fell to the ground. Chihane immediately thrust his wooden sword out again, placing its tip against Jiro Ibe's throat.

"You lost. Take another step, and you'll die."

Looking at the powerful Chihane before him, Jiro Ibe felt the breath of death. With the wooden sword pressed against his throat, he stumbled two steps backward and sank to the ground. His legs had already gone weak.

"Chihane Hatake wins!"

The Chunin instructor looked at the two in the arena and promptly announced the result.

Chihane went on to win several more matches in succession. In the end, he and Makoto Uchiha advanced from their class.

The winners made their way to the main arena, where Hiruzen Sarutobi was already waiting. This alone showed how much importance he placed on this ranking assessment-

just how seriously he took it.

Seeing that all eight winners were in place, Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in his Hokage robes and surrounded by ninja,

walked leisurely onto the platform. As they watched Hiruzen Sarutobi make his way up, all the students below erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

In Konoha, the Hokage undoubtedly held the highest status and commanded the greatest respect. Hiruzen Sarutobi in particular was known as the strongest Hokage, as well as the Shinobi World Professor and the Shinobi Hero.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi was not tall, not a single person looked at him with even a trace of contempt. Almost every gaze held respect.

As he looked at the Ninja Academy children before him, their faces filled with admiration, awe, and excitement, a warm smile spread across Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.

He waved his hand, and the entire arena instantly fell silent. He began speaking about Konoha's Will of Fire.

"Where leaves dance, fire burns without end. Its light will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."

"The village's future is in your hands!"

"You fresh green leaves will inherit the Will of Fire. So work hard, children! For the village's prosperity, and to carry on the Will of Fire!"

With just a few simple sentences, Hiruzen Sarutobi brought the atmosphere in the arena to a new peak.

Almost every student in the crowd was swept up in hot-blooded excitement.

Chihane stood among them as well, watching Hiruzen Sarutobi's impassioned speech with a hint of ruefulness in his eyes.

The Will of Fire, huh? It was just like the brainwashing used in pyramid schemes. How many people had lost their lives for it? And behind the Will of Fire lurked Root in the darkness, draining Konoha's lifeblood.

After Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's rousing speech, the combat ranking assessment began.

The students drew lots to determine the order of their matches. Eight would become four, four would become two, and then came the final.

Chihane's first opponent was a student from the neighboring class whose name he could not recall.

When that student saw he had drawn Chihane, his face immediately fell.

If there were opponents no one wanted to face, they were undoubtedly Makoto Uchiha and Chihane.

Although each class had selected only two students, everyone had been keeping an eye on the competitors from the other classes.

In his group, Chihane had defeated almost every opponent in a single move, displaying terrifying strength that left countless students afraid of him.

"I... I surrender!"

The student facing Chihane had originally wanted to give the fight a try. But when Chihane took out three wooden swords right away, his eyes burning with eagerness as though he intended to hack him to death, the student shrank back and surrendered on the spot.

The thought of how badly Chihane had battered the students in his group sent a chill down his spine. Besides, Lord Hokage was watching the matches from above. Losing in a single move would certainly make the Hokage remember him, but that was not how he wanted to be remembered.

The presiding examiner looked slightly surprised, then shook his head helplessly and declared Chihane the winner of his first match.

Even Chihane had not expected his opponent to surrender without daring to fight. Still, it made sense when he thought about it. This was the Ninja Academy, after all, and everyone here was only a child.

The second round was about to begin: Chihane versus Okita Kibe, and Makoto Uchiha versus Izuna Hyuga.