"Orochimaru-sama, I didn't expect you to take interest in such a low-level exam. Quite surprising,"
Minato Namikaze spoke first. Because of Hokage succession rumors, the village often whispered about tensions between the two, and perhaps Orochimaru had his own thoughts about the position. Thus, he seemed somewhat indifferent to Minato.
"It's rare for a low-level exam to attract the current Hokage, the successor, and the elders all at once. Don't you agree, Ye-kun?"
Orochimaru replied calmly, first nodding slightly to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, then sizing up Ye Mizunotsuki.
"Ye-kun, I've said it before: your value is beyond imagination."
Nearby, Nakamura, noticing the legendary Sannin themselves attending the exam and immediately cozying up to Ye, felt invisible. His heart sank further.
He realized the truth—but he refused to accept it.
Fingers digging into his palms, a burning desire surged within him. He wanted to win! No, he had to win! He needed to prove something.
"Nice fighting spirit. Do your best."
Orochimaru suddenly patted him on the shoulder. Nakamura felt a warmth spreading through his chest.
Orochimaru-sama actually said "Do your best" to me!?
The fiery determination born from jealousy, frustration, and unwillingness surged even stronger.
"This way, I can see more of Ye-kun's value,"
Orochimaru thought, watching Nakamura's reaction. He had subtly suggested with his voice and shoulder tap. He quietly stepped aside to observe with Hiruzen and the others, leaving Nakamura to stand in the arena.
"Now for the third and final assessment. Ye, we will score you based on performance. The winner earns the opportunity to join the Anbu."
"Understood."
Ye Mizunotsuki looked at the overly excited boy across from him and sighed inwardly. Life isn't fair. That's why some become Jonin, some Chunin, some ordinary, and some legendary prodigies.
He had no capacity to pity others. He only had the ability to grasp his own destiny.
"Begin!"
At the signal, Nakamura charged, holding a kunai in each hand. Mid-to-low-level ninja battles were direct, simple, and brutal.
Ninjutsu sparring was limited for them due to chakra restrictions, making real jutsu combat rare for Chunin-level ninjas.
Ye stood still. The Enma Blade remained sheathed. Against a Chunin—elite or not—his blade had no reason to leave its scabbard.
Clang!
They crossed paths. Somehow, a kunai appeared in Ye's hand. Sparks flew as three kunai clashed.
He threw one kunai backhanded; Nakamura blocked it, but the sheer force carried by the weapon pushed him backward.
Ye was no ordinary seven-year-old. Attribute boosts from his cards made him extraordinarily strong!
"Such insane strength!"
Nakamura's wrists ached, staring at Ye's back as if he were seeing a ghost.
"Unbelievable! This is utterly unfair!"
Ye didn't move a step.
"Sometimes the world is unfair, but you must accept it."
Ye's voice resonated, and Hiruzen, Minato, and Danzo shivered. The air temperature suddenly dropped; even the warm sunlight couldn't be felt.
Especially Nakamura—he felt as if the wide training ground had become an ice cellar.
"Unfortunately, some things can't be made right, even by time. This battle was decided before it even began."
As Ye murmured, towering crystal-like mirrors materialized, enveloping both him and Nakamura. Frost quickly spread across the ground, chilling the air further.
"Mirror Ice Crystals!"
A type of Ice Release technique. Ye had recorded these techniques back in his clan, though he hadn't fully awakened them. With the boost from the Esdeath card's ice power, his Mirror Ice Crystals were stronger than normal, creating a field that slowed the opponent's actions.
"Legendary Ice Release? The Mizunotsuki clan's kekkei genkai?"
"What kind of technique is this? It even has barrier properties?"
"Changing the battlefield instantly… if many Mizunotsuki clan members joined, the scene—unbelievable!"
Hiruzen and the others gasped. Danzo's gaze was greedy, and Orochimaru's eyes flickered with interest.
"This… what is this!?"
Nakamura stared at the surrounding white crystalline mirrors, utterly bewildered. His infinite fighting spirit crumbled instantly.
He had never seen such a jutsu. Among the five elemental releases, was there Ice Release? And judging by the scene, this wasn't a mere B- or C-rank technique.
A-rank jutsu!?
Nakamura couldn't believe it. This was a technique reserved for Jonin.
And he? A mere Chunin, albeit recently promoted to elite Chunin.
He knew well that though elite Chunin were only one rank below Jonin, the gap was immense. Some elite Chunin would never become Jonin, no matter how hard they tried. At most, they could only reach special Chunin.
"Give up."
Ye stepped into the ice field, merging with the surrounding crystal mirrors. Instantly, dozens of reflections of him appeared, each with a white ice spike in front, radiating bone-chilling cold.
White Ice Spikes!
"Give up?"
Nakamura laughed bitterly. He had no choice but to surrender.
An elite Chunin, utterly powerless against a seven-year-old. Hiruzen and the others watching pitied him. Such a crushing defeat might halt the promising boy's path…
But the world was cruel.
"I declare Ye Mizunotsuki has passed the graduation exam, full marks!"
Hiruzen instantaneously teleported outside the Mirror Ice Crystal field and announced loudly. Ye's lips curled into a faint smile as he dispelled his jutsu.