"Ninja!"
The second pillar, Uchiha Sasuke, was walking along a small path in Konoha.
Today's graduation exam felt like a complete waste of time for someone like him.
He had already learned countless theories in school—the basic Three Body Techniques of ninjutsu, taijutsu fundamentals, and even kunai throwing.
And in the end? The only test was a simple Clone Technique.
What a joke.
Sasuke was annoyed. The exam wasn't difficult at all.
Still, there was one good thing: he no longer had to attend that boring academy.
Now, he was finally a real ninja.
Itachi… I'll kill you soon.
Since the exam had ended early, he had the rest of the day to himself.
And Sasuke, whose heart burned with revenge, had no intention of wasting it. Free time was for training.
When he reached his secret training ground, however, something unexpected happened.
Not long after, he heard a strange sound coming from deeper in the forest.
At first, he thought it was just the rush of water. But the sound grew louder… and sharper.
Boom… Boom… Boom…
The strange explosions kept coming, closer and closer together.
Sasuke frowned and glanced in that direction.
"Is someone there?"
Curiosity gnawed at him. Was someone training?
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, Sasuke vanished into the trees.
On the other side of the forest, by the river—
Yuichi stood with both hands forming rapid seals, his chakra surging.
For the past three hours, he had been refining his Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique, pushing it to the intermediate level.
His hand seal speed had nearly doubled.
Now, instead of just pulling water from the surroundings, he could gather chakra in his throat and spit compressed water spheres forward as attacks.
Without external water, the jutsu weakened… but with a river nearby, its power became overwhelming.
Using the surrounding water, Yuichi unleashed torrents nearly ten meters wide, crashing with immense force.
[Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique – Proficiency +1]
[Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique (Intermediate) 618/2000]
After advancing to intermediate, the experience required for growth had doubled.
But with his faster hand seals and plentiful chakra, Yuichi could now grind proficiency at an astonishing pace.
Two and a half hours had been enough to go from beginner to intermediate. In just the next thirty minutes, he had already gained a quarter more progress.
At this rate, he would reach advanced level within the hour.
"Puff! Puff! Puff!"
One water sphere after another blasted from his mouth, hammering into the ground.
The impact wasn't devastating yet, but the constant bombardment left the terrain battered and uneven.
Yuichi showed no signs of stopping. He was relentless, like a machine—casting, grinding, leveling.
Every three seconds, the ding of increased proficiency echoed in his mind. Far from boring, the rhythm only motivated him further.
Boom!
A water sphere crashed hard, spraying droplets high into the air.
Not far away, Sasuke crouched behind a tree, silently watching.
At first, he thought little of it. But after three minutes, his eyes widened.
His gaze locked onto Yuichi, sharp with disbelief.
This guy… his chakra reserves are insane!
That Water Style jutsu… it's clearly advanced. And he can finish the complex seals in just three seconds?
Even more shocking—he keeps casting it, over and over, without losing any power…
In those three minutes, Sasuke had counted sixty uses of the Water Style.
Sixty!
Sasuke's fists clenched.
I'd be drained after just a few Great Fireballs…
He prided himself on being one of the strongest graduates in terms of chakra. But compared to Yuichi, he suddenly felt… small.
His eyes shifted to the brand-new forehead protector on Yuichi's brow. The boy's face and height were about the same as his own.
So he just graduated too… then how the hell does he have chakra this deep?!
Yuichi finally stopped his practice, though Sasuke didn't know why.
Maybe he was tired. But Sasuke's pride burned.
He had always believed he would be the strongest among this year's graduates. Yet here, in front of him, stood a monster in human form.
His fists trembled.
If I can't even surpass someone my own age… how will I ever kill that man?
The sun shone warmly overhead as Sasuke stepped out from behind the tree, his shadow stretching toward Yuichi.
His voice was low and heavy.
"What's your name?"