The waterfall roared, its curtain-like flow stirring up countless mists of water.
In this fog-shrouded place, Yahiko and Charizard stood quietly facing each other.
Within the cave behind the waterfall, the humid air mingled with the scent of burning flames.
Shiroishi stepped through the waterfall, his clothes dampened by the splashing water.
He adjusted his glasses, his gaze calm as he observed the two before him.
Yahiko first revealed a bright smile, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the waterfall to illuminate his young yet determined face.
"Shiroishi, during this period of training... Charizard and I have overcome many difficulties together."
As he spoke, Charizard stood behind him, wings slightly spread, its tail flame burning intensely in the damp air.
The fire wasn't extinguished by the moisture; instead, it burned with an even brighter golden-orange hue amidst the mist.
Charizard's eyes were gentle yet powerful, completely different from its irritable demeanor during its Charmeleon days.
"You two are becoming more and more in sync."
"Yeah." Yahiko nodded.
"I can sense... there's a new energy within its flames."
Shiroishi looked up at Charizard.
The massive beast's eyes were clear and bright, its chest flames flickering with what seemed to be strands of peculiar light.
Just then, Eevee let out a soft cry, jumping down from Shiroishi's shoulder and darting nimbly toward Charizard.
It circled Charizard's tail flame a few times before reaching out a paw to pat its leg.
Charizard lowered its head, emitting a gentle roar.
Their Chakra lightly collided in the air, sparking a momentary gleam.
Meanwhile, Poipole hovered in the air, curiously spinning around.
Its round body flickered in and out of view within the water mist, like a floating silver bubble.
Its eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Watching the Ninja Beasts interact, Shiroishi pondered for a moment: "It seems Charizard has indeed awakened new potential through you."
"Charizard understands me well because it also wants to disperse the rain of the Land of Rain. That's why Charizard, striving in this direction, can sometimes absorb a certain light from the thick clouds of the Land of Rain."
So that's it... it's absorbing solar energy...
It appears to be awakening the Sun Power ability.
This energy resonates with Natural Energy through your emotional intent.
Yahiko nodded.
"In that moment, our Chakra was connected. I wished for clear skies, and it responded to that desire."
Currently, none of the three teammates' Ninja Beasts had awakened abilities; the only one with an ability was Tsunade's Miltank.
Shiroishi stepped forward, and the moment he touched Charizard, he could feel the Sun Power ability gradually taking form.
Sun Power isn't ordinary Fire Release Chakra, but rather a fusion of Natural Energy and Yang Release Chakra.
Once fully awakened, it can maintain flames unextinguished even in heavy rain, even capable of converting the rainwater itself into energy, creating reverse combustion.
In fact, Sun Power should serve as the foundation for Charizard's subsequent, stronger stage abilities.
After all, among Charizard's various ability series, it still possesses the powerful Drought ability.
The endpoint of the Forest of Death.
On the high rocky platform, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stood clad in his Hokage cloak, a thin wisp of smoke rising from the pipe between his fingers.
His gaze was profound as he stared toward the dense forest.
Behind him, Shimura Danzo and Akimichi Torifu stood side by side, the three of them silent.
After a moment, several agile figures leaped out from among the trees.
The first group to reach the finish line appeared before the Third Hokage.
Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and Mikoto Uchiha!
All three breathed steadily, each holding a Ninja Beast Egg that had already developed pattern resonance.
"Lord Third Hokage!" Minato stepped forward first, bowing respectfully.
Hiruzen's gaze fell upon Mikoto Uchiha.
He had expected the first to arrive would be the young clan heirs from the Hyuga or Uchiha clans,
but surprisingly, the leader turned out to be this gentle, quiet girl from their year.
"I didn't expect your team to be the first to arrive."
Kushina placed her hands on her hips, laughing boldly: "Of course! We're the strongest team!"
Akimichi Torifu nodded with a chuckle beside them: "Indeed, for the first group to reach the finish line ahead of schedule shows excellent coordination."
However, the Third Hokage's eyes swept back and forth between Minato and Mikoto.
Minato Namikaze spoke modestly, "If we hadn't been fortunate enough to complete the assessment, we probably wouldn't have obtained these Ninja Beast Eggs."
Mentioning this, Mikoto Uchiha's voice softened slightly: "It was mainly thanks to Brother Fugaku and the other Uchiha clansmen who underwent Lord Hokage's test first."
Her words carried a hidden edge, subtly implying that the Third Hokage had sent people to target the Uchiha.
Lord Hokage's test?
The Third Hokage revealed a slightly awkward smile.
Seeing the Hokage's reaction, Minato Namikaze didn't continue speaking, merely glancing briefly at Danzo behind him.
At this glance, Hiruzen turned around.
Danzo glared back at Hiruzen.
In this moment, Danzo understood why he was always taking the blame.
Clearly, it was Hiruzen's doing - preventing the Uchiha from obtaining more Ninja Beast Eggs.
And now he's pretending ignorance before Mikoto Uchiha?
The Hokage and Danzo's eyes briefly met, countless unspoken words passing between them before both pretended nothing had happened.
Akimichi Torifu dryly chuckled and lightly coughed twice, breaking the silence.
"It seems... the first group's results are quite excellent. Congratulations to all of you."
Before their gazes could shift away, a second group emerged from the depths of the forest.
Ino-Shika-Cho!
Nara Shikaku lazily scratched his head, Yamanaka Inoichi maintained a calm expression, while Akimichi Choza panted as he hugged his round Ninja Beast Egg.
Though they looked somewhat disheveled, their steady gait showed remarkable coordination.
Akimichi Torifu finally showed a genuine smile upon seeing his clansman.
Soon after, the third team arrived.
Aburame Shibi, Inuzuka Atsushi, and an ordinary student.
They brought two Ninja Beast Eggs that had both achieved resonance, while the unfortunate ordinary student hadn't obtained one.
"Good." Hiruzen nodded. "It seems this assessment's results have exceeded expectations."
But before everyone could relax, a fourth group appeared.
The Hyuga brothers Hiashi and Hizashi, each holding a Ninja Beast Egg.
At this moment, the only ones yet to arrive were the main branch Uchiha heirs.
A wind swept through the forest.
The familiar figure of Uchiha Fugaku slowly emerged from the shadows of the trees.
His shoulders were covered in dust, his sleeves torn, with several gashes on his cheeks burned by toxic fumes.
Yet his back remained ramrod straight, his hands clutching tightly the Ninja Beast Egg that belonged to him.
"Sorry to have kept everyone waiting."
The Third Hokage nodded. "It seems you've been through quite a battle as well."
Fugaku replied calmly, "Indeed... The Forest of Death examination was more realistic than anticipated. You've worked hard, Lord Hokage and Lord Danzo."
A simple acknowledgment of their efforts served as greeting to the two great figures.
The Third Hokage took a casual drag from his pipe and glanced sideways at Danzo.
Danzo simply turned his head away.
At that moment, the final participant was about to enter the finish line.
Looking over, a strangely dressed student in green clothes slowly walked in.
The eleven students who had already obtained Ninja Beast Eggs stared at this green-clad youth, momentarily unable to recall who he was.
It was only then that Minato Namikaze remembered his name.
"Might Duy?"
Definitely possesses strange strength.
Might Duy...
The future father of Might Guy.
In the original story, the eternal genin who trained hard for twenty years in the Eight Gates Formation.