Chapter 85: Successfully Acquiring Kakashi’s Mask!

I have to say, Kazuyama's smile is really… treacherous.

It's no wonder Obito said that if he, the sole examiner for this assessment, smiles like that, who wouldn't be unnerved? Feeling the stares and laughter from the crowd, Kazuyama immediately became embarrassed and hid his smile. He had forgotten there were so many people watching, and for a moment, he lost his composure.

But embarrassed? Ridiculous. Kazuyama Gekkō had thrown away his pride a long time ago. To be invincible, you had to be shameless! And don't forget who his master is. That's Orochimaru! He can change his face whenever he wants.

"Ahem… Obito, come on!"

"Listen, kid, I'm warning you—if you don't step up your game, you'll be the next target of the One Thousand Years of Death!"

Kazuyama struck the Tiger Seal, but Obito Uchiha didn't flinch.

"Impossible! After a year of special training, I've already transformed! I've experienced the One Thousand Years of Death once, but never again!"

Hearing this, Kazuyama couldn't help but feel a little pleased.

Kid, you're setting your sights high, huh? Fine. I'll make your wish come true.

The battle began. This time, Obito didn't charge forward. Instead, he sharply retreated, forming hand seals with impressive speed. He took a deep breath.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball erupted, whistling toward Kazuyama with incredible force. It was an impressive display, and the crowd murmured in awe.

"Oh? Not bad. This Great Fireball Technique is finally starting to look like something," Kazuyama remarked, nodding slightly. Obito had indeed improved. His year of intense training wasn't a bluff.

Faced with the massive fireball, no one in their right mind would take it head-on—not even Kazuyama. The platform was large enough, so he swiftly dodged to the side, letting the fireball sail past him and off the platform. As the fireball streaked out of bounds, a figure appeared in its path.

With a simple motion, the figure raised his hand, releasing a burst of energy that instantly shattered the fireball into harmless embers.

"Thank you, Hizashi," Sakumo said with a smile to the man who had stepped in.

"Lord Sakumo is just joking. I'm glad I could help."

This was Hizashi Hyūga, a Jōnin tasked with maintaining security. His brother, Hiashi Hyūga, was stationed on the opposite side of the testing grounds.

The performance ended, and the test continued.

"It's not over yet! Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

Obito didn't hesitate. The Great Fireball hadn't done the job, but he wasn't shaken. Moving swiftly, he formed another set of hand seals and unleashed a flurry of smaller fireballs in rapid succession. They darted unpredictably through the air, resembling scattered clusters of falling blossoms. This was the Uchiha Clan's Phoenix Flower Jutsu, a staple technique of their Fire Release arsenal.

"Not bad, Obito, the power of these two Fire Release techniques is quite good."

"You have passed this assessment."

Kazuyama covered his palms with chakra, shattering the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique while acknowledging Obito's strength.

Just as Obito was starting to feel proud, Kazuyama moved. He appeared behind him like a ghost and activated One Thousand Years of Death.

"Ouch!"

Obito shot forward, clutching his hips, his scream music to Kazuyama's ears.

"Kid, let me teach you a lesson—don't talk nonsense in the future." Kazuyama's tone was full of mockery as he eyed Obito, who had landed miserably on the ground. "Otherwise, you'll face consequences like this."

If it weren't for the mission being activated, Kazuyama might have let it slide. But now that it had begun, there was no way he'd let his prey escape.

"Next, Genma Shiranui."

Genma, chewing on a toothpick, sauntered onto the platform with an unsteady gait.

"Don't worry, I won't use One Thousand Years of Death recklessly. I'm just teaching him a lesson," Kazuyama reassured his opponent, whose face betrayed a mix of worry and apprehension.

At that moment, Sakumo Hatake intervened.

"Kazuyama, you are absolutely forbidden from using One Thousand Years of Death again! Be serious," he said sternly, though his face showed clear exasperation. He deeply regretted ever inventing that technique—it had turned into a curse.

Who could bear someone constantly using One Thousand Years of Death?

Kazuyama, however, was unfazed. He glanced at the audience below, their faces collectively marked with disbelief and dismay. According to Sakumo's own words, wasn't the technique invented to be used?

[Ding! The host has been detected using One Thousand Years of Death five times in a row. Special reward: the power of One Thousand Years of Death has increased by 1%. Note: Upon reaching 10% power, a new feature will be unlocked!]

Wow, the power had increased!

Although it was only by 1%, every little bit counted. If he managed to use One Thousand Years of Death to take out 100 people in a row, he would become invincible in the future.

Kazuyama already had a plan in mind: sneak up invisibly and strike with One Thousand Years of Death! Kill one, then kill them all—perfect!

With Sakumo in the way, however, Kazuyama refrained from using One Thousand Years of Death on the next candidate. The group of trainees collectively sighed in relief. Only Obito and Asuma wailed in frustration, "Why are we the only ones getting hurt?"

In the end, the assessment concluded successfully. Many students passed, including Guy, Obito, and Rin, for a total of more than 20 people.

Finally, Sakumo stepped onto the platform, looking at the newly certified ninjas with a faint smile.

"Very good. Starting today, you are ninjas," he said calmly. "Three days from now, report to the Academy, where you'll be assigned a Jōnin to lead your team."

"Now, go and collect your forehead protectors."

After finishing his mission, Kazuyama went straight home. Though the battles hadn't been intense, assessing so many people had left him exhausted. On top of that, he had the Chūnin Exam tomorrow and needed to rest.

Unfortunately, his rest was cut short.

ANBU Zou, an elder who had served as the Hokage's bodyguard since the Third Hokage's rise to power, appeared at his door. Zou, a key figure in the ANBU, carried an air of authority that made Kazuyama immediately sense the arrival of a mission.

"Kazuyama Gekkō, by order of Lord Hokage, here is your mask," Zō stated, handing him the item.

"For your next mission, you will head to the Land of Rivers with Haru and Rinkaku. According to intelligence, a group of Sunagakure ninja has entered the Land of Rivers and is advancing toward the Land of Fire. Lord Hokage's orders are to eliminate them and gather as much intelligence as possible."

Kazuyama took the mask and examined it.

It felt as if fate was playing a joke on him. The mask was one he recognized—it was the same design the future Kakashi would wear.

It resembled a cat's face, with two pointed ears, red markings on the sides, and red patterns around the eyes. The eyes of the mask were black, and the mouth was curved downward in a subtle frown.

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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