In the end, Akado Yoroi was not burned to ashes.
It was not because he had dodged, nor because he had gotten lucky and Sasuke had missed, and certainly not because Sasuke had taken pity on him at the last moment and stopped his jutsu. It was because Gekko Hayate had intervened.
He suddenly appeared in front of Akado Yoroi. Unlike before, he now held a long sword resembling a Tang-style blade. The light of the approaching Great Fireball illuminated his face, but his expression remained as calm as ever. He raised his sword and casually slashed downward, cleaving the Great Fireball in two. The severed flames lost their momentum and dissipated on either side of him.
Throughout it all, Gekko Hayate looked as relaxed as if he had merely sliced a watermelon, displaying the full extent of a Jonin's strength.
Sasuke's eyes widened a little at the sight. He was not surprised that someone could dodge a Great Fireball, but this was his first time seeing someone destroy one with nothing but a sword, and he was certain that it was only an ordinary sword.
No, this was not the first time. The first time had been when Kakashi-sensei fought Su Yu. With just a wave of his hand, Su Yu had dispersed Kakashi-sensei's nearly ten-meter Great Fireball.
Still, Gekko Hayate's move was enough to astonish Sasuke.
Sasuke was not the only one surprised. The other examinees were astonished too. After all, this teacher had looked sickly the entire time, as though he might cough until he suffocated at any moment. Now, however, every trace of disdain in their hearts vanished. Sure enough, not a single person who made Jonin was a pushover...
Hiding behind Gekko Hayate and still shaken, Akado Yoroi could not help breathing a sigh of