The preliminary assessment continued.
The remaining contestants looked at Lin Chen standing in the arena, their expressions wary.
No one dared treat him as a useless weakling they could push around anymore.
The sight of him defeating Morino Kenta with a single punch had burned itself deep into everyone's minds.
For the next match, opponents were paired by drawing lots.
When the results were announced, another uproar swept through the crowd.
Lin Chen's opponent was Inoue Yū, a genius ranked among the top ten in their class.
Inoue Yū specialized in high-speed Taijutsu, possessing incredible speed and explosive power.
In his previous matches, he had crushed every opponent with an overwhelming advantage.
"It's over. Lin Chen's going down this time!"
"Inoue Yū's Taijutsu speed is among the best in the entire school. Morino wasn't good at speed to begin with-that's why he went down instantly."
"Against Inoue Yū, Lin Chen doesn't stand a chance!"
Discussion broke out again. Everyone thought Lin Chen's luck had run out.
Inoue Yū walked slowly into the arena, staring coldly at Lin Chen.
"I have to admit, that sneak attack of yours was impressive."
"But against a real gap in strength, all your cheap tricks are useless."
His tone was arrogant, his face full of confidence. He did not take Lin Chen seriously at all.
In his eyes, Lin Chen had defeated Morino instantly through luck and a sneak attack, certainly not genuine strength.
Lin Chen raised his eyes calmly. "Whether they're cheap tricks or not, we'll know after we fight."
"Still talking tough." Inoue Yū sneered and shot forward.
He moved at incredible speed, afterimages flickering as he charged straight at Lin Chen's face!
High-Speed Taijutsu: Body Flicker Surprise Attack!
The spectators instantly held their breath. Such speed far surpassed that of Genin candidates his age!
"He's so fast! Inoue Yū is getting serious!"
"Lin Chen can't dodge that!"
It was the very moment everyone thought Lin Chen would surely be crushed.
His gaze calm, Lin Chen shifted his body slightly to the side.
The movement seemed slow, yet it precisely evaded the attack hurtling toward him.
Inoue Yū's attack missed completely!
"What?!" Inoue Yū's pupils contracted, his face filled with disbelief.
His high-speed surprise attack had actually been dodged with ease?
Before he could react, Lin Chen raised a hand, precisely locked his shoulder, and applied force in one fluid motion.
A clean shoulder throw followed in an instant!
Thud!
Inoue Yū slammed heavily into the ground, sending dust flying.
Pain wracked his entire body, leaving him instantly dazed where he lay.
The entire exchange took less than a second!
An instant defeat! Another instant defeat!
Dead silence fell over the crowd once more!
Lin Chen looked down at Inoue Yū on the ground, his tone flat.
"Now, do you still think I'm relying on cheap tricks?"
Inoue Yū's face was deathly pale, filled with shame and resentment, yet he could not utter a single word in rebuttal.
He had been crushed by genuine strength. His defeat was complete.
The examiner Watanabe's pupils trembled as he stared fixedly at Lin Chen, a storm raging within him.
He had dodged a high-speed surprise attack, then instantly defeated the genius Inoue Yū in return.
Even a Jōnin's disciple could not match that combat awareness and grounding in Taijutsu!
How was this a bottom-ranked failure? He was clearly an extraordinary genius who had kept his abilities hidden!
"Lin Chen wins this match!"
Watanabe announced loudly, unable to hide the shock in his voice.
The matches that followed became entirely Lin Chen's personal showcase.
Whether his opponents were geniuses specializing in speed, strength, or ninjutsu.
Lin Chen crushed them all in a single move, never taking more than three seconds!
Every victory shattered everyone's established perceptions.
Their initial doubt and disdain turned into shock and awe, then finally complete numbness.
Naruto watched with shining eyes, his face full of admiration.
"He's so strong! Lin Chen is way too amazing!"
Sasuke's expression grew colder and colder, the sense of crisis within him intensifying.
He could clearly sense that this boy who had suddenly risen to prominence was stealing all the glory that belonged to him.
The attention, the awe, the reputation as a genius that had originally belonged to him had all shifted to Lin Chen.
Match after match ended, and the preliminary assessment drew to a close.
Lin Chen had won every match! Not a single defeat!
Once the lowest-ranked student in the entire school, he had taken first place in this preliminary assessment!
He had completely overturned the standings of the entire assessment!
Watanabe strode up to Lin Chen, his attitude utterly transformed and his expression solemn.
"Lin Chen, you have exceptional talent and astonishing potential!"
"I'll report this to the Konoha High Command immediately and apply for you to receive personal instruction from a Jōnin!"
An exceptional promotion! Personal tutelage under a Jōnin!
With those words, Lin Chen's starting point was raised to the highest in the entire school!
The students erupted, looking at Lin Chen with boundless envy and awe.
No one had expected that today's greatest dark horse would be the failure everyone had once scorned!
Lin Chen nodded slightly, his expression calm, without the slightest display of smugness.
Only he knew that this was merely the beginning.
[Ding! Completed a milestone reversal and broken free of a bottom-rung fate!] [System experience greatly increased. One step closer to the LV2 precise plunder privilege!] [The sense of the Heavenly Dao's scrutiny has intensified. The Will of the World's correction mechanism has begun its initial activation!]
In the void, the sense of being watched by those countless gray-white pupils grew ever colder and more oppressive.
Lin Chen raised his eyes toward the sky and sneered inwardly.
The harder you try to lock my fate in place, the more I'll defy heaven and change it!
The halo of fate's chosen protagonist? Starting today, I'll take over!
Before you continue