Why did it turn out like this?
How was this fair?
Kakashi graduated early and got Minato as his supervising ninja.
And now here I am, stuck with Orochimaru?
I've shown such exceptional talent—am I still not as good as Kakashi?
Go ask Kakashi yourself who's really the top of our class!
Wakaho really couldn't understand what the Third Hokage was thinking.
Did he believe Orochimaru couldn't bring down Konoha, so he's having the Uchiha lend a hand?
"Chūnin Daiki told me your theoretical knowledge is solid, and you even scored full marks in the preliminary assessment."
"So I suggested we skip the theory test and move straight to the practical exam."
"Wakaho-kun, are you confident?"
Orochimaru stood in the training ground, hands behind his back.
Having only eaten a small rice ball for lunch, Fugaku was there as a spectator.
Wakaho pursed his lips.
Although he knew that Orochimaru hadn't yet "awakened" to his more sinister ambitions, he certainly wasn't as gentle as he appeared.
Orochimaru was a master of deception.
And right now, his main goal was to become the Fourth Hokage.
'Is he planning to use the Uchiha's power...'
'But getting too close to the Uchiha might actually harm his chances in the Hokage race, right?'
'Could this be the Third Hokage's idea?'
'Then what am I supposed to be? A pawn? A double... or even triple agent?'
Wakaho took a deep breath, pushing aside his distracting thoughts, and raised his two fingers to form the Seal of Confrontation.
"Very confident, Wakaho-kun." Orochimaru smiled, forming the same seal in response.
Just as Fugaku was wondering whether he should call out for the match to begin, Wakaho moved.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
A barrage of shuriken flew through the air, and at the same time, Wakaho's fingers danced rapidly as he formed a series of hand seals!
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Whoosh——!
High-temperature flames spewed from Wakaho's mouth, combining with the shuriken barrage to form a fierce offensive!
Orochimaru's eyes sparkled with interest.
Look at the scale of this attack.
Even his shuriken techniques are so refined—there's even one hidden in a blind spot.
You're holding back... aren't you, child?
With just a half-step backward, Orochimaru dodged the "hidden" shuriken. At the same time, his hands quickly formed seals.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
Whoosh——
A fierce wind howled!
Boom!
The flames collided with the violent wind!
Wakaho immediately felt the pressure. Even though this was a test he was destined to pass and Orochimaru certainly wasn't going all out, just the little bit he showed was already an unprecedented challenge!
You have to know, this is a guy who, when he gets serious, can scare Kakashi to the point of wetting his pants with just a glance...
But in this situation, Wakaho unexpectedly found himself grinning.
Because under the observation of his Sharingan, the system had given him another prompt...
[Ninjutsu Type: C-Rank Wind Style: Great Breakthrough.]
[Effect of "Child of Flames" triggered. You can learn any ninjutsu, but all ninjutsu will be replaced with fire techniques.]
[Successfully learned ninjutsu: Fire Style: Great Breakthrough.]
After upgrading from a Fire Style prodigy to the Child of Flames, it seemed like the learning conditions had been simplified, and even the system prompts had become more concise.
"If I didn't manage to get any benefits from the Third Hokage, then I'll just take advantage of his disciple."
Wakaho grinned, ceasing his use of the Dragon Fire Technique, and quickly repositioned himself while forming another set of hand seals!
"That seal formation?!" Fugaku was stunned; it was the same as the one Orochimaru had just used!
Did this kid learn it again?
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"