Chapter 21: The Hokage's Invitation
The air crackled with pent-up energy. Both combatants knew the next exchange would be the last. Their hands became blurs, weaving through a complex series of hand seals with practiced speed.
Uchiha Sasuke, drawing on the last of his chakra and the full power of his Sharingan, unleashed his most potent technique. "Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!" A roaring serpent of pure flame erupted from his lips, streaking across the field with devastating intent.
Kamikawa Hiraoka remained a picture of focused calm. Blue-white arcs of lightning snapped and hissed around his arm, coalescing into a brilliant, avian shape. "Lightning Release: Thunder Falcon Thrust!"
With a sound like tearing silk, the chakra construct took flight. It was no mere bolt of lightning; it was a falcon of pure energy, its wings spread wide, its form razor-sharp and screaming through the air. It met the fire dragon head-on.
The collision was not an explosion, but a violent, sizzling dissolution. The lightning falcon pierced through the heart of the fire dragon, its superior piercing power and elemental advantage shredding the flames into dissipating embers. The falcon continued its path, missing a stunned Sasuke by inches before dissipating against the protective barrier at the edge of the field, leaving the scent of ozone and ash in its wake.
In the stunned silence that followed, Hiraoka slowly lowered his hand. "It's over," he stated, his voice flat and final.
Sarutobi Hiruzen rose from his seat, his expression unreadable but his eyes alight with a complex mixture of awe and calculation. "The winner is Kamikawa Hiraoka."
The announcement broke the silence, and the field erupted into cheers and excited chatter. "He beat the Uchiha!" "That lightning jutsu was incredible!"
From the sidelines, Ino and Hinata watched, their hearts swelling with a mixture of pride and relief.
For Uchiha Sasuke, the cheers were a distant hum. He stood frozen, his Sharingan deactivating, leaving his eyes dark and hollow. He had thrown everything he had, his most powerful technique, his clan's legendary eyes, and it hadn't been enough. The gulf between him and his goal felt wider than ever. His fists clenched until his knuckles were white, a silent vow etching itself deeper into his soul. Hiraoka is the first. He is the benchmark. I will surpass him. Then, I will kill Itachi.
As Hiraoka accepted the Konoha forehead protector from a beaming Iruka, the rest of the assessments felt like an afterthought. The only notable performance came from Uzumaki Naruto, who, through sheer, stubborn endurance and his legion of shadow clones, managed to outlast his opponent in a chaotic and exhausting brawl.
By late afternoon, the exams were concluded. The image of Hiraoka's lightning falcon tearing through Sasuke's fire dragon was seared into the memory of every witness.
As Hiraoka navigated the bustling streets, two figures in animal masks materialized before him, blocking his path. Their posture was neutral, but their presence was imposing.
"Kamikawa Hiraoka," one said, his voice muffled by the porcelain. "The Hokage requests your presence. Please come with us."
Hiraoka's guard went up instantly. "The Hokage's office?" he confirmed, his eyes scanning them for any hint of malice.
"Yes."
ANBU, he deduced. Not Root. That's something. He relaxed marginally. "Lead the way."
As they moved, Hiraoka caught a faint, floral scent from the smaller, purple-haired ANBU. "A pleasant fragrance," he remarked casually, more to himself than to her.
The ANBU woman stiffened almost imperceptibly but gave no other reaction. They proceeded in silence until the towering Hokage Residence came into view.
Soon, he was seated across from Sarutobi Hiruzen himself. The old Hokage regarded him with a steady, appraising gaze.
"You performed exceptionally today, Hiraoka," Hiruzen began, skipping any pleasantries. "Such skill and control are rare. I am offering you a position within the ANBU. You would skip the standard genin corps entirely."
Hiraoka didn't need to think. "No, thank you," he refused, his tone polite but firm. He had anticipated this. Life as a masked operative held no appeal; it was a path of shadows and servitude, and his ambitions lay elsewhere.
Hiruzen was taken aback by the swiftness of the rejection. He leaned forward, his expression turning more serious. "I see. Then, tell me, Kamikawa Hiraoka... what is your understanding of the Will of Fire?"
Internally, Hiraoka scoffed. The old man moves straight to the ideological indoctrination. He kept his face a mask of thoughtful innocence. "The Will of Fire?" he echoed. "Is it not the powerful protecting the weak? The strong passing their strength to the next generation?"
Hiruzen studied him for a long moment, then slowly shook his head, a faint, knowing smile on his lips. "That is a part of it, a manifestation. But the Will of Fire itself is deeper. It is the bond between all who call Konoha home. It is the commitment to nurture and protect those bonds, above one's own life. Power is merely the tool to safeguard it."
The conversation was no longer about an invitation; it was a test. And Hiraoka knew he had to tread very carefully.
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Who do you think is the best Hokage? Personally i would have to go with Tobirama.
If you like it then STONESS