Most shinobi know that a Bloodline Limit—a Kekkei Genkai—is a powerful gift. Many also understand its fundamental nature.
There are two categories of Kekkei Genkai. The first is biological, like the Uchiha's Sharingan or the Hyuga's Byakugan. This power is hardcoded into the DNA, an inheritance that no outsider can touch. The second is elemental, created by mixing two different nature transformations to produce a new, unique property.
Magnet Release used by the Kazekage, the Boil and Lava Releases of the Stone's Jinchuriki, the Ice Release of the Yuki clan, and the legendary Wood Release of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju—all are Kekkei Genkai.
Even when using the same elemental components, the results vary wildly based on the individual's chakra ratios and personal aptitude. Beyond even the Kekkei Genkai lies the Kekkei Tōta—the Bloodline Selection—a tier of power requiring three simultaneous nature transformations, exemplified by the Dust Release of the Second and Third Tsuchikage.
Regardless of the type, these powers demand extreme proficiency. Unless born with them, a shinobi must push their nature transformations to the absolute limit to even attempt such a feat.
Then there is the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. He is a master who has pushed all five elemental natures to their peak, yet he possesses no Bloodline Limit. He never sought one. Instead, he walked a different path, one no less potent than a Kekkei Genkai: Composite Ninjutsu.
Unlike a Bloodline Limit, which fuses elements before casting, Composite Ninjutsu involves casting separate jutsu and combining them in the field. The principle relies on the interaction of elemental properties to create an effect greater than the sum of its parts.
At its simplest, mixing Wind and Fire is a trick many ninjas use to fan the flames. But that's just a basic concept. What Tatsuma and Minato had performed previously—their "Fire Style: Super Phoenix Sage Flower Light-Ring Fire-Dance Shuriken Falling-Strike, Form Two"—was a true Composite Ninjutsu. The coordination allowed a handful of projectiles to hit with the force of a dozen Phoenix Sage Fire attacks.
It was a work of tactical genius. The Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique works best with Flame Bullet or Great Flame Bullet because those jutsu expel chakra-infused oil rather than raw fire. The oil coats the shuriken, allowing the flames to burn the outer layer without incinerating the clones before impact. This "1+1 > 2" synergy is the soul of Composite Ninjutsu.
As a master of the craft, Hiruzen had shared some of his insights as a "gift" to Tatsuma and Minato. The moment he saw them weave the Shadow Clone seal, he knew exactly what was coming.
It was the most logical solution. Their individual jutsu lacked the raw power to clear the board, given their current chakra levels and technical mastery. Only a high-risk, high-reward composite attack would allow them to achieve total dominance.
Hiruzen stood up, ready to intervene. He knew that if these two were successful, the destructive output would be catastrophic for the arena.
On Minato's stage, the blonde boy and his shadow clone blurred into motion. They were being pursued by several Nara shadows while Minato kept one hand in the Seal of Confrontation to ward off the Genjutsu of several red-eyed Uchiha. He moved like a sheepdog, herding the remaining candidates toward the center of the ring.
Finally reaching the optimal coordinates, Minato and his clone stood on opposite sides of the gathered crowd. Simultaneously, they wove a blur of signs.
Minato took a deep breath and exhaled a high-pressure torrent—not of water, but of shimmering, translucent chakra-oil. Opposite him, his clone exhaled a massive blast of air. It wasn't a simple gust, but a horizontal vortex that acted like a turbine.
The oil slammed into the gale and was instantly atomized, turning into a fine, crystalline mist that blanketed every remaining opponent.
"Composite Ninjutsu! Phoenix Torch Gale Peony Fireworks Technique!"
Minato shouted the name with the flair of a wandering poet. His clone wove one last sign—the Tiger—releasing a tiny spark into the heart of the mist. That simple ignite consumed the clone's remaining chakra, and it vanished in a puff of smoke.
A single spark is all it takes to start a forest fire. In an instant, the aerosolized oil ignited.
A miniature sun erupted in the center of the arena. Minato, his face pale from chakra exhaustion, was slapped backward by the resulting shockwave. He tumbled through the air, adjusting his posture to land on the very edge of the smoking platform. He looked back with immediate worry; he hadn't intended to kill his comrades.
"Do not worry!"
Hiruzen's voice boomed through the roar of the flames, steady as a mountain. Minato sighed in relief and looked toward the adjacent stage. Hiruzen had appeared on what was left of Tatsuma's ring—a tiny patch of stone barely three square meters in size.
Tatsuma was already there, waving at him with a grin.
As the fire on Minato's side dissipated, the candidates were revealed. They were shaking and soot-stained, but alive. A shimmering layer of water had manifested beneath them at the last second, sinking the floor by two meters to create a protective buffer against the blast.
With a wave of Hiruzen's hand, the water collapsed, washing the residual oil off the candidates. Simultaneously, the surrounding Jonin used Wind Style to purge the acrid smoke from the hall.
"The victors: Sakamoto Tatsuma and Namikaze Minato! Congratulations on your promotion to Chunin. The rest of you... return home and wait for the official evaluation."
Hiruzen's announcement was met with silence. No one—candidate or Jonin—could find a reason to object.
"Minato, that was incredible!" Tatsuma called out. "The name 'Leaf's Little Sun' officially has my seal of approval! Though, I think I still won by a hair!"
The name "Little Sun" immediately caught on with the crowd. It suited the boy perfectly—bright, warm, and capable of a searing brilliance. Minato blushed and scratched his head, more curious about how Tatsuma had won his own fight.
He hadn't seen it, but the Jonin had.
Tatsuma had been swarmed the moment his clone appeared. The decrease in numbers had given the elites more room to move, but it had also increased Tatsuma's mobility. Using his raw physical power to supplement his speed, he had dodged the opening salvo easily.
Unlike Minato, Tatsuma stayed grouped with his clone. The clone brushed past him, taking a large scroll from his back while the original wove signs.
Tatsuma turned and slammed his palm onto the unfurled scroll. The dense sealing formulas on the paper began to peel off and dissipate.
CRAASH!
A literal ocean of water erupted from the high-capacity scroll. The sheer recoil sent Tatsuma's shadow clone flying fifteen meters.
Tatsuma's nature transformation wasn't yet efficient enough to manifest this much water from pure chakra, but thanks to Tobirama's notes, he had learned the "lazy" way: seal a natural lake and bring it with you.
The candidates stared, jaws dropping at the sheer, "pay-to-win" audacity of the move. Some looked toward the Hokage in silent protest, but Hiruzen ignored them. The rules forbade Summoning animals; they said nothing about Sealing scrolls.
I made the scroll myself, Tatsuma thought. I'll use it however I want!
Before the flood could spill off the arena, Tatsuma and his clone wove a final set of signs.
"Earth Style: Mudslide!"
Tatsuma slammed his hands into the stone. The arena floor vibrated and disintegrated into fine silt. Where it met the water, it turned into heavy, viscous sludge. His clone performed a palm strike, causing the water to spiral. The vortex accelerated the liquefaction, creating a rising pillar of mud.
The remaining candidates huddled together as the ground literally melted beneath their feet. They were forced onto a shrinking island of solid rock.
"Composite Ninjutsu! Mud Dragon Bursting Torrent!"
The clone vanished as its chakra hit zero. Tatsuma formed the Dog seal, struggling to guide the massive, heavy wave. He steered the wall of mud to crash directly into the last cluster of ninjas.
He felt a twinge of regret. His chakra control wasn't quite there yet—he couldn't mold a proper dragon head out of the muck. It was more of a "Mud Blob Torrent," but it did the job.
BOOM!
The heavy wave struck the corner of the arena. The masonry collapsed, and the candidates were swept toward the edge.
Hiruzen acted instantly, plucking the terrified Genin out of the air and tossing them to safety.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!"
With a single set of signs, Hiruzen turned the raging mud into a gentle, flat stream that settled harmlessly across the floor. He appeared next to Tatsuma and delivered a firm, fatherly pat on the head.
"Well done," Hiruzen said, smiling. "Keep developing that jutsu. It has great potential."
Tatsuma nodded, deftly ducking out from under the "head-pat of doom," and looked over at Minato.
He had won. Again.
[Ding! PHY +356, STR +302, SPD +373, ENG +229, INT +158, NIN +483. Pickup?]
[Ding! STR +5, ENG +10, NIN +8. Pickup?]
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