"Senpai, I heard the examinations will begin in three days, starting with the internal selection."
Izumi spoke softly, her voice tinged with nerves, fingers twisting the hem of her clothes.
"There are three parts: moral character, work ability, and… actual combat." She lifted her head, eyes firm once more, staring straight at Eiya. "I want… to pass this examination!"
Eiya's tone was calm as he countered, "Just pass?"
Izumi blinked. "…Huh?"
His voice remained flat, without ripples. "I think you can do more. You should aim to use this opportunity to advance—become an officer of the Police."
Izumi froze, then waved her hands frantically, cheeks burning red. "N-no way! I'm just a rookie. There are so many seniors—how could it possibly be me…"
Eiya ignored her panic, speaking as if laying out facts. "The first test, moral character, can't be changed in a few days. It's based on colleagues' and villagers' evaluations, with judges and overseers combining scores. As for work ability—you're inexperienced, you've handled too few cases. That's a weakness. But that's fine. In three days, I'll solve it for you."
"H-how?" Izumi couldn't stop herself from asking.
She knew too well: to outscore experienced seniors in ability, she'd have to crack major cases in just three days. But what were the chances of big cases falling in her lap now? And even if they did, why would they assign them to her?
Eiya's lips curved faintly.
With his Super Kagura's Mind Eye, hunting leads and clearing cases was effortless. Even if no new cases arose, the Police archives still held piles of unsolved files. Solving just two would make Izumi's name shine.
"Don't worry about that. Leave it to me."
She hesitated, then nodded obediently.
"That leaves only your personal strength," Eiya continued. "This is where you must give everything. Perform brilliantly, and not only will you pass—you'll have a solid shot at promotion."
"I can arrange special training. But know this—the intensity will far exceed anything you've faced before, maybe even past your limits." His eyes sharpened, quiet but cutting.
Izumi drew a deep breath, matching his gaze. Then, gathering courage, she declared, "I want to achieve excellent results this time, not let you down… and to better support you in the future! The time is short, but I'll give it everything!"
Eiya gave a small nod. "Before training, I need to gauge your current strength."
"I've awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan, and normally I can—"
He cut her off coldly. "Two tomoe already, and yet this weak. Izumi, have you not trained seriously at all?"
"I haven't—!" she stammered.
"Spare me. Show me." He turned on his heel and walked outside. On the broad courtyard ground, he stood and beckoned. "Come at me. Don't hold back."
"Yes!"
Izumi's answer was firm. Her eyes sharpened as the scarlet of the Sharingan flared, tomoe whirling fast. She drew a kunai, launched forward in a blur, blade flashing for his face.
But in an instant, Eiya caught the kunai between two fingers. No matter how she strained, the point would not advance.
Her eyes hardened. She dropped the weapon, dropped her stance, swept her leg toward his base.
He only stepped back once; her fierce kick sliced air, raising dust.
Her Sharingan tracked his every move—but her body could not keep pace with what she saw. Eiya seemed to anticipate every attack. No matter the angle, his sidesteps, parries, and turns were effortless, precise, and minimal.
She pressed the attack: kunai gleams, sharp kicks, even a sudden fire jutsu. But all of it melted away like frost under the sun.
And through it all, Eiya never stepped outside a single pace of ground.
Ten minutes later, Izumi's stamina broke. She dropped to one knee, panting hard, sweat dripping to the dirt.
Her wide eyes clung to him in disbelief.
Eiya stood as calm as ever, breathing even, clothes unruffled.
More crushing still—he had never once opened his Sharingan, never used jutsu, never even attacked. Pure taijutsu alone had undone everything she threw at him.
She had always heard her senpai was strong. But only now, tasting it herself, did she grasp the true meaning of despairing difference.
Her confidence collapsed. For the first time, she felt utterly useless.
Eiya watched her catch her breath, then spoke. "I've seen enough."
"Not only are your strength and speed lacking, your combat experience is poor. Even with two tomoe, your attacks are too monotonous. Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire is still your ace. Against a jonin, you'd be helpless."
Her heart squeezed; she dropped her gaze, silent and ashamed.
He pressed on, voice stern. "To honor those eyes—and the clan name—I'll put you through harsh training. In three days, you must master at least one or two new strong jutsu. You need a finisher."
His eyes narrowed. "Your chakra nature?"
Forcing herself steady, Izumi replied, "Fire, lightning, and water."
Eiya nodded. "Then I'll teach you Lightning Release."
He raised his hand. From his palm burst a pure, brilliant violet spark, humming with dangerous energy. It coiled like a living current, focused and potent.
"This is Shiden—Violet Lightning. Two forms." He twitched his wrist; the lightning elongated into a solid blade of crackling light. "First: condense it in your hand. Slice, pierce, overwhelming penetration."
The blade vanished. Instantly, a wide purple net of current radiated outward from him, flooding the courtyard in an instant.
"Second: release it. An expanding surge to paralyze and drive back enemies."
The glow faded, silence returning.
Izumi stared, awestruck, her eyes reflecting the last glimmers of violet.
Eiya spoke evenly. "Shiden's strengths: no hand seals, fast to cast, strong in attack and defense, adaptable."
"But the foundation is chakra nature change. Only then can you transform chakra into this lightning. Only then can you claim to have learned it."
"If you go further—chakra shape manipulation—you'll truly wield this power. Then, you can even create your own techniques."
He stepped aside, leaving her space. "Begin now. When you've mastered lightning nature change, you'll have taken the first step."
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