As he ran through the trees, Gen quickly disappeared into the dense forest, without needing to use the "Fire Lotus Step."
It wasn't long before the terrifying storm began to gradually dissipate. Then, from the enormous collapsed crater, Killer B emerged in a fury.
Four tails waved behind him as he propelled himself forward, landing in the spot where Gen had vanished.
"DAAAMN IIIIT!"
His completely white pupils scanned the area, but he found no trace of the Uchiha.
His brow immediately furrowed.
With uncontrollable rage, he swung his tails and struck the ground brutally. The earth cracked under the pressure, collapsing in a chaotic pattern as his frustration exploded unchecked.
In the future, he would come to understand Gyūki, the Eight-Tails. But that would only happen once it recognized him, just as it would later happen with Naruto Uzumaki.
For now, Killer B had only reached the Four-Tails limit. And although he wasn't completely overtaken by his Bijū's power, Gyūki's influence was already affecting his mood, making him more irritable and impulsive than usual.
But no matter how furious he got, it was useless.
Gen had left without hesitation.
All he could do now was vent his anger by destroying the surroundings… an act of rage without any real purpose.
As he rode and attacked, the scenes on either side blurred rapidly.
Gen could clearly hear the roar echoing behind him.
'Jinchūriki are a damn nuisance. If they can't win, they just unleash more tails. Even though I still have the Sharingan, in this case, it's not much use. Even if I used it, it would only help me withstand one more tail…'
As he continued to move away, he analyzed the situation calmly.
In terms of pure skill, if Killer B was a Jōnin, then he was beyond that level—enough to be considered an elite Jōnin and confident that he could defeat him with ease.
And that was without even counting the Sharingan or the "Fire Lotus Step."
But when a Bijū entered the equation, everything changed.
It was no coincidence that the Tailed Beasts were fundamental weapons of war for the Five Great Villages. Even if they couldn't always be fully controlled, their power was enough to make them an unconventional combat force.
With One Tail, Killer B's strength instantly rose to the level of an elite Jōnin.
With Two and Three Tails, his power became even more monstrous, forcing Gen to use the "Fire Lotus Step" just to keep up.
And in the Four-Tails state, his strength began to dangerously approach Kage level. At that point, the only logical option was to retreat.
Although he hadn't suffered any serious injuries, he still couldn't help but feel some frustration at being forced to flee.
Clenching his teeth, he made a decision.
In the future, he would find a way to reclaim his pride.
…
Shh…boom
A projectile of light tore through the sky and exploded in a dazzling red flash. Its intense glow lingered in the air for several seconds—long enough for everyone in the forest to see it clearly.
"It's finally over! I survived!"
"I thought my strength would make me stand out in this exam… but in the end, I barely managed to pass."
"It's over? What a shame… I thought I could kill more people."
The flare's detonation in the sky triggered various reactions among the candidates scattered throughout the forest.
Some, their faces covered in mud for better camouflage, celebrated with euphoria, as if they had been reborn.
Others, touching the three insignias on their chests—one their own, two taken—felt a deep dissatisfaction.
There were even those who showed expressions of regret, despite having five or six insignias hanging from their clothes.
'The second test is over. I wonder what will happen next…'
In front of him, the fire crackled as it roasted the meat of a giant boar.
Sitting on a rock, Gen watched the flare in the distant sky, then tore off a piece of meat and brought it to his mouth.
He chewed carefully, crushing the meat before swallowing it. Then, he slowly stood up.
Ignoring the rest of the roasted meat on the fire, he began walking toward the flare while finishing gnawing on the bone still in his hand.
According to the exam rules, the appearance of the flare marked the end of the test. From that moment on, fights and the theft of insignias were prohibited.
Of course, after ten days of intense competition, the remaining candidates in the forest were not the same as at the beginning.
Even Gen did not encounter anyone on his way to the flare.
The meeting point was the entrance gate—the same place where the exam had begun.
Upon arrival, he realized he was not the first.
Five or six people were already waiting at the entrance.
"That Gen Uchiha from Konoha… he really survived."
"Wait… did he actually get that many insignias?"
"Gen Uchiha… that bastard finally showed up."
His arrival did not go unnoticed. Those who had arrived first immediately turned, fixing their gazes on him.
Some reacted with astonishment, others with disbelief, and a few with pure frustration.
But what shocked everyone the most were the insignias hanging from his chest.
Lined up like soldiers in formation, arranged in several rows—almost twenty in total.
By comparison, the five or six candidates who had arrived earlier hadn't even managed to collect the required insignias. In fact, half of them didn't even have their own anymore.
Gen glanced at those who had arrived before him and noticed a comrade from Konoha among them.
And also Killer B.
B's eyes were locked onto him.
But Gen barely lingered on his gaze before completely ignoring him. His expression remained unchanged as he calmly walked toward the Konoha ninja.
Although the exam rules prohibited forming teams, once the test was over, participants from the same village tended to group together naturally.
There was no reason for Gen to remain alone.
Those who had reached this stage were not ordinary ninjas.
The first to arrive had been a ninja from the Akimichi clan, a boy around 14 or 15 years old, considerably older than Gen.
They had been selected by the same village, and after spending several days at the inn before the exam, though they were not close, they at least knew each other.
"Gen, you're still the best! You captured so many insignias!"
The ninja from the Akimichi clan, named Touwo Akimichi, greeted Gen enthusiastically upon seeing him, repeating his amazement over and over.
________
Time: If you're craving more (and I know you are!), I have just what you need. On my Patreon, you'll find exclusive chapters. Join our community and be the first to discover what happens next!
👉 [patreon.com/Athome790]
Your support fuels me. Thank you for the support! 💖