Clang!
Facing three incoming kunai, Tatsuma casually flicked a single shuriken. When his projectile collided with the first kunai, both changed trajectory mid-air. Those altered paths then sent them careening into the remaining two kunai.
Unlike the tense three-man team opposite him, Tatsuma remained perfectly still, a youthful, innocent smile still playing on his lips. His display of Shurikenjutsu left the Genin—and even the proctor—completely stunned. It was... bordering on art.
The proctor was only a Chunin, and Tatsuma's projectile manipulation was at a level most Jonin couldn't reach. Combined with his study of the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, his enhanced analysis of trajectories, and the processing power of [Divine Intellect], calculating such a "playful" deflection was trivial.
After their initial shock, the leader of the Genin team made a quick hand signal. In an instant, his two teammates lunged at Tatsuma from the flanks while he began weaving signs in the center.
The two charging Genin drew their own kunai, thrusting forward. To Tatsuma, who was used to training with Minato and fighting the elite of other villages, their movements looked like they were stuck in slow motion.
He seized the wrist of the ninja on his left, unleashed a burst of Monstrous Strength, and simply flung him into the one on the right.
Oof!
The two collided with a dull thud. Meanwhile, the third ninja finished his signs. He took a deep breath, ready to unleash a jutsu, only to realize his target was gone.
"Good teamwork, but you're still a bit too slow."
The voice behind him sent a jolt of terror through the boy. Before he could react, a sharp pain blossomed in his lower back, followed by a smash to his face as he was sent tumbling into his groaning teammates.
In a split second, the three of them were a tangled heap on the floor. Tatsuma hooked a fallen kunai with his foot, flicking it into his hand. He deftly tied a specialized Explosive Tag to it with a strand of wire.
Whoosh—!
The tag landed right in the center of the trio. The proctor's brow jumped, and he moved to intervene, but Tatsuma flashed him a smile and made a subtle "stay back" gesture.
BOOM!
A shockwave erupted. The blast was far weaker than a standard tag, producing a thick cloud of smoke and a gust of wind but no actual fire. The force was just enough to shove all three boys clean off the platform. The proctor realized it was a custom non-lethal device and let out a sigh of relief.
"Congratulations. You pass the second round. The third round will be held in three days; ensure you are present."
The proctor stamped Tatsuma's permit, jotted a few notes in his logbook, and handed the document back.
"Thank you."
Tatsuma retrieved his shuriken, took his permit, and hopped off the stage. He gave a polite nod to the three Genin, who were currently staring at him with soulful, resentful eyes. Since his interaction with them didn't qualify as a "sincere compliment," the system didn't offer any attribute pickups.
Tatsuma didn't mind. Given their performance, "your teamwork was okay" was the highest praise he could muster without lying through his teeth.
He wandered over to Minato's ring, where the blonde was just stepping onto the platform. Minato spotted him and offered a small grin, but the gesture immediately annoyed his opponents.
"Hmph! So there's another brat trying to get attention by entering solo?" the leader of the opposing team scoffed. "Don't worry, kid. Your little friend probably lost already."
"Hahaha!"
His teammates joined in with raucous, mocking laughter. Tatsuma rubbed his chin, watching Minato's smile fade as he sized them up. I guess Minato really is the protagonist, Tatsuma mused. Why does no one ever mock me like that?
Minato's eyes scanned the three older Genin. Sensing the potential for entertainment, Tatsuma called out from the sidelines, "Hey Minato, how long until you win?"
The laughter stopped abruptly. Before a new insult could fly, Minato replied calmly, "Twenty seconds."
"Since when are you so slow?" Tatsuma goaded with a mischievous grin.
Seeing Tatsuma's "I'm just here for the popcorn" face, Minato dropped the modesty. "Fine. Ten seconds."
He turned to the proctor. "Sir, can we begin?"
The proctor had already verified the participants; they were only waiting for Tatsuma to stop being a distraction. He nodded.
"Begin!"
The older Genin didn't recognize the boys, but the Chunin proctors certainly did. These were the prodigies who had survived dozens of front-line missions at nine years old.
The proctor backed away with a look of pity. The three Genin prepared to lunge at Minato, but he vanished—exactly as Tatsuma's opponent had earlier.
Except Minato was even faster.
A golden blur flickered across the ring. Two ninjas were sent flying out of bounds instantly. The leader felt a sharp kick to the back of his knees, forcing him to his face.
Minato wasn't being cruel; he was being efficient. At his height, the only way to comfortably put a kunai to an adult's throat from behind was to make them kneel first.
"You lose," Minato said.
The proctor made the call immediately. The Genin leader started sputtering, claiming he wasn't ready and that Minato had cheated with a "dishonorable" sneak attack.
His whining changed nothing. After a quick briefing on the next steps, the proctor handed Minato his stamped permit. As Minato hopped off the stage, Tatsuma smirked. "Still too conservative. You should have said 'instantly.'"
"I thought they'd have better reflexes," Minato admitted, scratching his head sheepishly. He'd planned for three seconds per opponent, but his opening gambit had already been too much for them to handle.
"With your current speed at that range? I might struggle to defend against that, let alone them," Tatsuma said.
Minato nodded but didn't look boastful. He knew Tatsuma meant he couldn't "defend"—because defense is reactive and naturally slower. But Tatsuma could choose to attack instead. With Tatsuma's superior strength and Taijutsu, a head-on collision usually ended with Minato being peeled off a wall. They'd sparred once after Iron where Tatsuma used his full strength, and Minato had quite literally been embedded in the masonry.
"Let's head to my teacher's place," Tatsuma suggested. "Nawaki's exam is coming up, and Kushina signed up for early graduation too. Want to see how they're doing?"
Minato froze. "Kushina signed up?"
"Yeah. She snuck her application in right before the deadline."
Minato didn't even stop to change his clothes. He turned toward the Senju compound but paused, looking at Tatsuma with a challenge in his eyes.
"Tatsuma, want to race? See who gets there first?"
Tatsuma's face went flat. When did Minato pick up this bad habit? He'd explicitly said he was slower than Minato now, and the blonde was already rubbing it in? You golden-haired traitor...
"Fine!"
Tatsuma took a pebble, tossed it into the air, and the moment it hit the ground, they bolted.
Minato took to the rooftops, a blur of acrobatic efficiency. Tatsuma stayed on the streets.
BOOM! BOOM!
Tatsuma used raw Monstrous Strength to kick off the pavement, leaving head-sized craters in his wake. The recoil-force propelled him forward at explosive speeds. It was the only way he could even hope to stay close to Minato, though it was hell on the infrastructure.
By the time Tatsuma reached the Senju gates, Minato was already standing there, breathing hard but clearly the winner. He had proven he was the faster man... well, boy.
Seeing the uncharacteristically smug look on Minato's face, Tatsuma grinned. "Impressive progress, Minato. I bet your combat skills have improved just as much, right? Why don't you show me?"
"Okay!"
The word left Minato's mouth as a reflex. The second it did, he regretted it. He wanted to slap himself. Why can't I control my competitive instincts around him?!
Three days later, the duo stood at the site of the third round. The crowd of candidates had thinned significantly. This round wasn't a team duel; it was a Battle Royale.
Candidates could form temporary alliances, stick with their original teams, or go solo. It was a test of survival, politics, and raw power.
A large number of Jonin were in the stands, and even the Third Hokage had made an appearance. This was a comprehensive evaluation; the Jonin would provide feedback on who deserved promotion regardless of the final "winner." Though, being the last person standing was a guaranteed promotion.
Because of the scale of the jutsu expected, the arena was split into two simultaneous blocks. Tatsuma and Minato were, once again, separated.
As candidates huddled in the waiting area, many were whispering and forming groups. Tatsuma and Minato stood apart, discussing which threats in their respective blocks were worth noting.
"Minato," Tatsuma said, raising his voice just a fraction. "Do you think you can make it to the end?"
Minato glanced at the other candidates. There were several clan heirs, but he gave a firm nod. "I shouldn't have a problem staying until the finish."
Tatsuma grinned and slapped a hand on Minato's shoulder. "As expected of you, Minato! Just like me, you're confident you can eliminate every single person in your block!"
Minato's brain screamed that he was being set up. He had said "make it to the end," which implied survival; Tatsuma had reframed it as "eliminate everyone," which was a declaration of war.
But the words "As expected of you" and the challenge of a "contest" bypassed his logic centers. His body reacted before his mind could catch up.
"You're on!"
The moment the words left his lips, Minato felt the weight of dozens of murderous glares. A chill ran down his spine, and his scalp felt prickly. His hair, usually spiky, seemed to stand even straighter under the pressure of the sudden collective animosity.
Minato swallowed hard. He opened his mouth to explain, but Hiruzen Sarutobi chose that exact moment to stand up on the high dais.
"It seems our youth are full of spirit! The village needs that kind of fire! Since you're all eager to begin... candidates, take your positions!"
Before heading to his ring, Minato shot Tatsuma a look of pure, unadulterated betrayal. But his current glare lacked the lethal intensity of the future "Yellow Flash," and Tatsuma remained completely unfazed.
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