Kakashi's early graduation had greatly stimulated everyone's enthusiasm for learning. Since that day, Taiichi noticed that everyone was training significantly harder. Even Obito rarely showed up late.
But enthusiasm always fades; laziness is human nature. Unlike Taiichi, who had a panel to track his progress and provide constant motivation, others didn't. After working hard for a little over a week, everyone gradually returned to their old routines. The late were late, the sleepers slept, and the snackers snacked.
Taiichi continued his training as usual, exhausting his energy almost every day before resting. These dull, repetitive days continued until the end of the second year.
On this day, Taiichi submitted his application for early graduation to the school. This caused another sensation. The application quickly landed on the Hokage's desk. Looking at the application, Hiruzen Sarutobi merely sighed, "They are all saplings of Konoha," before signing it decisively.
Hiruzen knew Taiichi's strength. Over the past year, Tsunade had helped Taiichi apply for hospital internship permits every vacation. After his internships, Taiichi occasionally trained with Tsunade or Jiraiya.
Moreover, Hiruzen, who frequently used his Telescope Technique, naturally saw the spars between Taiichi and Kakashi. Since Kakashi had graduated early, Taiichi, who was on par with him, certainly qualified.
After receiving approval, the school quickly arranged Taiichi's graduation exam, aiming for him to graduate alongside the current graduating class of sixth-year students. This way, he wouldn't have to wait a month for a suitable team assignment like Kakashi did.
Receiving the exam notification, Taiichi breathed a sigh of relief. once he graduated, his Ninja Class could finally advance. Being stuck at the cap every day was wasting a lot of Class Experience.
Over a year of training had improved Taiichi's strength significantly. It was no exaggeration to say that the current Taiichi could handle an average Chunin effortlessly.
> Name: Taiichi Matsushita
> Class: Apprentice Ninja Lv10 (Max Level)
> Talents: Diligence, Academic Genius
> Age: 7
> Constitution: 18 (Increased by 1 due to long-term training)
> Strength: 19 (Increased by 1 due to long-term training)
> Agility: 17 (Increased by 2 due to long-term training)
> Spirit: 22
> Chakra: 12,000 (14,200)
> Attribute Points: 12
> Skill Points: 13
> Nature Transformation:
> Fire Nature Transformation Lv6 (823/1000)
> Wind Nature Transformation Lv6 (363/1000)
> Water Nature Transformation Lv5 (574/800)
> Yang Nature Transformation Lv6 (454/800)
> Skills:
> Advanced Taijutsu Lv0 (844/1000)
> Advanced Meditation Lv0 (867/1000)
> Hatake Style Kenjutsu Lv10 (634/2000)
> Body Flicker Jutsu Lv6 (536/1000)
> [Fire Style]
> B-Rank Dragon Flame Bomb Lv7 (753/1200)
> B-Rank Intelligent Hard Work Lv3 (321/400)
> [Wind Style]
> C-Rank Gale Palm Lv8 (683/1400)
> B-Rank Pressure Damage Lv3 (321/400)
> [Water Style]
> B-Rank Water Wall Lv8 (653/1200)
> C-Rank Water Prison Lv5 (221/800)
> C-Rank Water Clone Lv5 (432/800)
> B-Rank Water Dragon Bullet Lv3 (221/400)
> [Medical Ninjutsu]
> Mystical Palm Jutsu Lv9 (323/1600)
> Delicate Illness Extraction Technique Lv8 (463/1400)
> Chakra Scalpel Lv6 (464/1000)
> [Max Level Skills]
> Ninja Tool Throwing, Three Basic Jutsu, Flame Bullet, Phoenix Flower Jutsu, Great Breakthrough...
> Evaluation: You are about to graduate. The true ninja world awaits you.
Looking at his new panel, Taiichi was pleased. The only frustrating thing was that Advanced Taijutsu and Advanced Meditation were incredibly hard to train. It had been a year, and they still hadn't reached Lv1. Thinking about future progress gave Taiichi a headache. Fortunately, he hadn't used any of his Skill Points yet. If leveling up became too difficult later, he could use points to upgrade them when necessary.
The day of the exam arrived in the blink of an eye. The proctor was Jonin Matsuya Sarutobi again, but the examiner had changed to a Chunin named Hikaru Nagashima. The procedure was the same, but since it was exam day for the rest of the school, there weren't any student spectators—though quite a few teachers showed up.
Taiichi and Chunin Nagashima took the field, made the Seal of Confrontation, and with Jonin Sarutobi's "Start," the battle began.
Taiichi didn't hold back and attacked first. His hands formed seals rapidly; in just over a second, the seals for Phoenix Flower Jutsu were complete. "So fast!" was the thought shared by every ninja watching. Taiichi spat out 24 fireballs in succession, grouped in pairs, attacking Chunin Nagashima from different directions one after another.
Nagashima was already startled by Taiichi's seal speed. Seeing 24 fireballs coming at him, he was shocked. "Is this still Phoenix Flower Jutsu? How are there so many?" He thought while using the Body Flicker Jutsu to dodge to the side.
Just as he left his original spot, the first group of fireballs bombarded his previous position. Boom, boom. Two explosions rang out.
"The power of a single fireball rivals a Flame Bullet!" Teachers on the sidelines whispered.
Nagashima broke into a cold sweat seeing the power of those two fireballs, but he didn't have time to worry. The remaining fireballs adjusted their trajectories slightly, chasing after him as he moved. This terrified him, and he hurriedly continued to dodge with Body Flicker Jutsu.
Controlling a released ninjutsu to adjust its direction—that wasn't something just anyone could do.
Actually, this was an ability Taiichi had only recently mastered. When his Chakra Nature Transformation reached Lv6, Taiichi felt his understanding and control of the corresponding elemental ninjutsu reach a new height. Lv6 Nature Transformation was Jonin level. Coupled with his Spirit attribute, which was comparable to a Jonin's, Taiichi could finally fine-tune his ninjutsu after release.
Of course, right now it was just minor adjustments, enough to scare Chunin Nagashima who was seeing it for the first time. Once his strength improved further, the power and tactical value of this move would be immense.
While Chunin Nagashima was busy dodging, his attention drifted away from Taiichi. At that moment, Taiichi drew his short sword and used the Body Flicker Jutsu to intercept Nagashima's path.
By the time Nagashima noticed Taiichi, it was too late. He could only hastily block Taiichi's slash. "Flustered" wasn't enough to describe Nagashima now; having underestimated his enemy and lost the initiative, even parrying was a struggle.
Sure enough, after five strikes, Taiichi successfully knocked away Nagashima's defensive kunai, leaving him wide open. Taiichi seized the opportunity, switched the sword to his left hand, stepped forward, and landed a right uppercut to Nagashima's abdomen. As Nagashima doubled over from the blow, the long blade was already resting on his neck.
"Taiichi Matsushita wins!" Jonin Sarutobi announced.
It took a while to describe, but in reality, the entire match lasted less than a minute. It ended so quickly that the spectators on the sidelines didn't react until Jonin Sarutobi made the announcement, causing a buzz of discussion.
"That was too fast!"
"That kid is amazing!"
"Nagashima underestimated him too much."
"Don't you think his Phoenix Flower Jutsu was incredible? Releasing so many fireballs at once."
"Exactly. Not just the quantity, but the power was exceptional."
"Must be a modified new jutsu."
The discussion on the sidelines made Hikaru Nagashima want to crawl into a hole. Losing was embarrassing enough, but losing so quickly because he underestimated his opponent... Nagashima hurriedly greeted Jonin Sarutobi and left the scene.
Watching Nagashima leave, Jonin Sarutobi shook his head. Nagashima didn't understand; he thought he lost only because he underestimated the enemy. But Matsuya Sarutobi saw clearly that Taiichi Matsushita's mastery of Fire Style was at least at the Jonin level. What he lacked was experience and physical maturity. So, Nagashima didn't lose unjustly.
Thinking this, he turned to Taiichi, who was walking over, and said pleasantly, "Taiichi Matsushita, you have passed the exam. You will graduate alongside this year's sixth-year students. Remember to come to school tomorrow for team assignments."
"Understood. Thank you, Jonin Sarutobi."