Watching the students who had started to make noise again, the Middle-aged Teacher clapped his hands, wanting to continue with the next examination, but was interrupted by a figure suddenly approaching him.
The Middle-aged Teacher looked closely, and what came into his sight was an Anbu wearing a mask. The two conversed in low voices for a while, and the Middle-aged Teacher nodded before the Anbu used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.
This scene was fully observed by Chishimo, and as expected, everything related to him was under the surveillance of the Third Hokage.
However, this was exactly what he wanted. Only by showing enough strength could he gain the Third Hokage's attention and continue with his plan.
The Middle-aged Teacher turned his head and said something to the teacher who was counting, then turned back to the students, clapping his hands again, "Everyone, I just received news that your final examination has changed."
Upon hearing this, although the students were puzzled, they were not too surprised, as the format of the Ninja Academy's graduation examination varied each year, and what kind of assessment they would face depended on luck.
But logically, the assessment content should have been decided days before the examination, and now it was to be changed temporarily, which left them a bit confused.
"The content of your assessment is that students will be randomly paired up for a battle, and only the winner can successfully graduate."
"What? Does that mean only half of the people can graduate?"
"Are you kidding me? This is not just about strength, but also about luck!"
...
As soon as the assessment content was announced, everyone began to complain again, one after another. It was clear that the graduating students had considerable objections to this assessment content.
Clapping his hands again to signal for quiet, the Middle-aged Teacher continued, "Don't be disheartened, everyone. Although the winner can graduate, it doesn't mean the loser cannot. As long as you meet the graduation standard, you can still graduate even if you lose."
Upon hearing this, those who had objections finally relaxed.
At this moment, the teacher who had been counting earlier came over with a box, walking alongside the Middle-aged Teacher with several other teachers.
The Middle-aged Teacher nodded slightly to the teachers, pointing at the box and saying, "Now we will begin random grouping. Everyone will draw a slip of paper from the box. Those with the same number on their slips will be in a group for a battle, supervised by one teacher."
The graduating students heard this and obediently walked to the box in order to draw their slips.
But when it was Chishimo's and Shisui's turn, the box was inconveniently empty, and the two cast confused glances at the Middle-aged Teacher.
"I forgot to tell you, since you two are two years younger than the other graduating students, to ensure fairness, you two will be directly grouped together," the Middle-aged Teacher explained.
Chishimo instantly understood. What fairness? It was clearly a calculation by the Third Hokage.
Anyone with a bit of discernment could see that although Chishimo and Shisui were two years younger, it was unlikely that anyone among these graduating students would be their match.
The Third Hokage, who had been observing the situation, could not have failed to notice this. In fact, in the Third Hokage's view, even the teachers present might not have a chance of winning.
That's why the rules were temporarily changed to pit Chishimo against Shisui. This way, others wouldn't humiliate themselves, and the strength of both of them could be observed to the greatest extent possible. It was a brilliant move, killing two birds with one stone.
After figuring things out, Chishimo cursed the Third Hokage for being cunning, but he did not voice his objection. After exchanging glances with Uchiha Shisui, he followed a teacher to an open space.
"Do you need to rest?" From the Middle-aged Teacher's words earlier, it was not difficult to understand the situation of Chishimo and Shisui. For talented students, this teacher naturally gave his utmost leniency.
Chishimo and Shisui both shook their heads.
The teacher said no more, standing between the two and extending his palm to block their view.
"In that case, both sides prepare!"
Chishimo and Shisui simultaneously raised their right hands, their fingers forming a hand seal at face height. This was a polite gesture before a Ninja battle, indicating that they were ready.
Chishimo and Shisui's eyes met, and they did not speak. But seeing the fighting spirit in Shisui's eyes, a flame seemed to ignite in Chishimo's heart without him realizing it. Although he had memories from his previous life, the Uchiha's innate love for battle was not diminished in the slightest.
"Then, Ninja battle, begin!"
As the hand was withdrawn, Chishimo and Shisui simultaneously pulled a Kunai from their Ninja pouches and charged towards each other.
The Kunai clashed, and a piercing metallic sound rang out.
Two figures overlapped and intersected, not using any Ninjutsu, but only pure Taijutsu collisions.
But the speed of their exchange was so fast that even the observing teacher could not see clearly, only hearing a series of clanging sounds.
Clang!
The Kunai in their hands clashed again. Chishimo, relying on his strength advantage, successfully deflected Shisui's Kunai. Under the powerful push, Shisui's body uncontrollably swayed backward.
Seeing Shisui's opening, Chishimo pushed off with his back leg and charged forward again, his left hand forming a fist and striking towards Shisui's chest.
"Eh?" Chishimo's fist successfully connected with Shisui, but there was no tactile sensation he expected.
The next second, Shisui's figure dissipated like a phantom in front of Chishimo, reappearing five meters away.
"Is that the Body Flicker Technique? You're good, Shisui!"
Over the past three years, Chishimo had not stopped his Taijutsu training at all. This punch from Chishimo held nothing back, pushing his speed and strength almost to their limits.
But Shisui was still able to use Body Flicker to escape from a disadvantageous position, which showed that Shisui's Body Flicker Technique had improved considerably during this time.
"Your Taijutsu is still terrifying. I almost couldn't dodge that one just now." Shisui showed a lingering fear expression, but his hands were not idle, swiftly performing several hand seals.
"Be careful, Chishimo, Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."
Flames surged, and a massive Great Fireball Technique rushed towards Chishimo.
"Bring it on!"
Chishimo did not panic and also began to form hand seals.
"Wind Release: Wind Blade."
Chishimo brought three fingers together and unleashed a semicircular Wind Blade with a diameter of nearly twenty centimeters.
Although in terms of Chakra nature, Wind Release is countered by Fire Release, there are exceptions to everything. Chishimo's Wind Blade was almost solidified to its extreme, and its sharpness and toughness were both extremely terrifying.
When the two collided, it was Shisui's Great Fireball Technique that was cut in half by Chishimo's Wind Blade. The flames uncontrollably scattered to both sides, burning many surrounding flowers, plants, and trees.
"Nani? Is this still a Genin-level battle? Even I would have trouble easily defending against an attack of this magnitude!" The invigilating teacher looked at the barren ground in front of him, feeling a bit conflicted.
He didn't know whether to stop them. If he stopped them, it seemed like no winner had been decided yet; if he didn't stop them, the other graduating students might not be able to determine a winner!
This was indeed the case. The commotion caused by Chishimo and Shisui was simply too great. If the training ground hadn't been large enough, the scattered flames alone would have been enough to accidentally injure others.
But even so, where had a group of Genin seen such a spectacle? They had all stopped what they were doing and were looking over with curious and envious eyes.
Although Uchiha Obito, Rin Nohara, and others had already noticed Chishimo's and Shisui's extraordinary strength during the throwing assessment, they hadn't expected the two of them to be able to use such high-intensity Ninjutsu, and they were all wide-eyed as well.
Only Asuma Sarutobi, in the corner, clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with intense disbelief and unwillingness.
At the focal point of everyone's gaze, the fighting spirit in Chishimo's and Shisui's hearts did not diminish in the slightest due to the attention of others; instead, it grew stronger and stronger with each increasing exchange of blows.