"It seems we'll have another classmate."
Utatane Koharu looked at the boy on the stage, his body wrapped in white bandages.
Beneath his silver-white short hair, his face was resolute and handsome. His bandaged body and angular muscles clearly showed what he had been through over the years.
"Hmph, Koharu, don't be so sure. Whether he gets in or not is up to Hokage-sama."
Danzo Shimura was not optimistic; rather, he had an issue with Haruki being late in the first place.
"Are you ready?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was serious.
"Mm."
Haruki nodded a slight hop. He could feel his muscles screaming in that instant, as if breaking free from shackles and revealing their fundamental strength.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly formed hand signs, unleashing the Fire Release Ninjutsu.
It was clear he intended to be serious.
Or perhaps, in his eyes, Haruki was already a worthy opponent.
Boom!!
The massive flames were exceptionally fierce, incomparable to the fireball from earlier.
However, Haruki feeling as light as a feather, reached the edge of the arena with just a slight leap.
Haruki looked at the stage, about a third of which was covered in flames.
"Don't get distracted!!"
Swish, swish, swish!!
Several kunai pierced through the flames, arriving one after another.
Their angles were more deceptive than before; if he didn't dodge, he might be eliminated directly.
But unfortunately, Haruki already had a countermeasure for the same trick.
Boom!!
Haruki stomped hard on the ground, instantly shattering it and sending rubble flying.
Bang, bang, bang!!
A few precise flying kicks easily blocked the kunai in mid-air.
Not only that, but Haruki also used the flying rubble as cover to quickly approach Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Is that Taijutsu? It's certainly fast."
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't dodge. Instead, he began engaging Haruki in a Taijutsu exchange.
Bang, bang, bang!!
Blocking and countering, fist to flesh.
It was clear that Haruki proficient in Taijutsu, was starting to gain the upper hand against Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hiruzen, what are you doing? Get serious!!"
Just as the two were at a stalemate, Tobirama's sudden reprimand from below the stage made Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand,clutching a kunai tremble slightly.
It seemed he had been found out…
"Haruki, I'm sorry. That was my fault just now."
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew his actions had displeased Tobirama.
"Water Release: Water Pillar!"
"Lightning Release: Torrent!"
Pulling back, the sudden Ninjutsu attack made Haruki realize. He had been wondering why this Ninjutsu prodigy suddenly engaged in a Taijutsu exchange.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, you truly are a good person.
Swish!
Haruki instantly moved to the edge of the arena.
He thought he had dodged the attack, but the Water Pillar, as if locked on, slammed directly into Haruki's body under Hiruzen Sarutobi's precise Chakra control.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!!
The lightning erupting from the water instantly paralyzed Haruki, forcing him to take the full brunt of the Ninjutsu attack.
Though a good person, this guy's combat ability was undeniable.
This was already the development of combining two elemental Ninjutsu.
After the attack ended, Haruki was already kneeling on one knee.
He felt as if his internal organs had been impacted.
"It seems it's over."
"Right, after all, Hiruzen Sarutobi is serious now, isn't he?"
"Haha, to force Hiruzen to use a Ninjutsu combining elements, this kid didn't lose unfairly."
Danzo Shimura laughed.
If this kid really defeated Hiruzen Sarutobi, wouldn't he have yet another competitor?
"Haruki, do you surrender?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew his attack should have only incapacitated him.
By normal standards, he should have already lost the match.
Next, it would be time to form the Seal of Reconciliation.
"Surrender? Sorry, unless you knock me out, there's no way I'll surrender."
Haruki staggered to his feet. He still had a chance; at least he knew where his turning point was.
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could attack again, Tobirama immediately issued a cold reminder from above the stage, "Stop, Haruki, you've already lost."
"No, I haven't lost! I'm still on the stage!!"
Haruki turned, his eyes fixed silently on the expressionless Tobirama below the stage.
"Get down!!"
Tobirama's eyes held a chill, even a subtle pressure that surprised even Hashirama.
Was his younger brother really using oppressive aura on his own son?
"No… impossible!!!"
Haruki felt a hundred pounds of pressure on his body. If not for his long-term physical training, he would probably be sprawled on the ground now.
Even so, Haruki still stood steadily on the stage, his eyes hollow as he stared below. This sight surprised Tobirama.
Why did this kid suddenly change his temperament? This ferocity, could something unexpected have happened that he didn't know about?
Haruki knew that Tobirama didn't want him to join the Ninja Academy.
Rather, before he showed any Ninjutsu talent, Tobirama wanted him to remain idle and unproductive.
He wasn't a child, of course he knew this was Tobirama's unique way of protection.
If it were before, that would be fine.
But not now. That person had also come. Haruki absolutely would not allow anyone in this world to harm her.
If this world was wrong, then he would change it.
Thinking this, Haruki turned, looking at Uchiha Shizune, who was somewhat timidly staring at the stage from within the crowd in the distance.
Perhaps it was Haruki's disheveled hair, or perhaps his current fierce expression.
[Uchiha Shizune feels surprised, Emotion Points +100]
[Uchiha Shizune feels fear, Emotion Points +200]
[Congratulations to the host for the first collection of Emotion Points. Reward: Ten consecutive draws, guaranteed high-quality rewards.]
The system's prompt warmed Haruki's heart. Sure enough, at this moment, his girlfriend was the most reliable.
'Use Draw'
[Thank you for your patronage ×8]
[Congratulations to the host for learning Wind Breathing sword technique. Congratulations to the host for learning S-rank Space-Time Ninjutsu: Flying Thunder God Technique.]
Flying Thunder God Technique!!
The sudden memories of how to use those technique appeared in his mind, and instantly changed the aura around Haruki's body.
This sudden scene surprised Tobirama, and even his oppressive aura disappeared.
Does this kid still have a trump card?
"In that case, let Hiruzen make you realize reality, don't go easy on him."
Tobirama seriously reprimanded Hiruzen.
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen Sarutobi lowered his head, feeling somewhat ashamed and annoyed. He should have just sent this person flying earlier.
He hadn't expected Haruki to be so bold, daring to even defy Hokage-sama.
He decided he would quickly deal with Haruki this time.
Aiming to finish him within one hour (twenty seconds).
Meanwhile, Haruki had already walked to the other side of the arena. He looked at the Ninja Academy students staring at him from above, his expression blank.
Among them, some mocked him for asking for trouble, some watched the show, and some were angry that he dared to defy the Hokage.
"Kid, get down quickly! How dare you speak to Hokage-sama like that?"
"Just surrender, then you can still have a good reputation."
"Hey, don't surrender! You've lasted this long, why not hold on a little longer?"
Danzo Shimura crossed his arms, calling out to Haruki on the stage, the amusement in his eyes betraying his thoughts.
He wanted to see Hiruzen Sarutobi truly serious.
Or perhaps, he was anticipating how many seconds Haruki could last. If he was instantly sent flying, it would surely be very comical and interesting.
"Hey, you over there."
Haruki ignored the murmurs below and looked at a long-haired, black-haired girl in the crowd who seemed a bit scared of him.
"Are… are you calling me?"
Uchiha Shizune pointed to herself, looking a bit foolish, as if she hadn't processed it.
The people around her quickly dispersed. She could feel that they didn't want to be associated with Haruki.
Who would dare associate with someone who defied the Hokage?
"Of course, If not you, then who? The air? Lend me the long sword on your back."
Haruki chuckled softly, crouching at the edge of the arena, water droplets slowly dripping from his white hair.
This girl was still so slow-witted.
"Huh?"
Uchiha Shizune looked at Haruki's sincere smile, her expression freezing as something suddenly came back to her mind.
The first time she met Haruki in her past life, he also greeted her loudly, borrowing a pencil from her during an exam.
That time, it made her extremely embarrassed.
This current awkwardness seemed to be eerily overlapping.
"Won't you lend it? Then I'll have to take it."
"Eh?!!! Uh… I'll lend it to you."
Interrupted, Uchiha Shizune reacted, a faint smile on her lips, likely recalling some good memories.
(End of the chapter)
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