The chosen Chunin chuckled, but his gaze turned serious. Testing an Uchiha wasn’t something to be taken lightly; he knew their reputation well. He remembered another young prodigy from the Hatake family who had shown similar determination. With a signal from the examiner, the match began, and both Shisui and the Chunin prepared themselves.

The training ground was spacious, allowing the two to move freely. Masaki watched closely as Shisui prepared to face his opponent. The clash began with a fierce exchange of shinobi sword strikes. Shisui, limited by his smaller size, struggled at first, finding himself overpowered by the Chunin’s strength. Yet, determined, he delivered a swift kick that caught the Chunin off guard, landing a solid hit on his thigh.

Both retreated, recalibrating their strategies. Shisui, now more focused than ever, felt the weight of the challenge. This was a Chunin—far from the practice fights he’d experienced before. But he wasn’t intimidated. He narrowed his gaze, his resolve hardening.

The Chunin charged, his sword angled forward, building speed and force. Shisui steadied himself, knowing he couldn’t match the Chunin’s strength, but he had speed on his side.

Clang! Clang!

Their swords clashed over and over as Shisui moved swiftly, dodging and countering each strike. His movements were smooth, weaving around the Chunin’s attacks. For a moment, it looked like he was starting to gain the upper hand. The Chunin’s eyes narrowed, feeling a twinge of frustration. He quickened his attacks, forcing Shisui to work harder to evade. At last, one of Shisui’s strikes connected but was blocked, and the Chunin retaliated with a well-placed kick to his abdomen.

“Ugh!” Shisui gasped, stumbling back as he skidded across the training field, leaving a trail in the dirt.

With a smirk, the Chunin motioned for him to come forward again, his confidence unwavering. Shisui’s frown deepened as he steadied himself, knowing he’d have to go all out. His hand tightened on his dagger, and he sprint forward, determined to prove himself. Watching Shisui approach, the Chunin began to relax, his confidence growing. Despite Shisui's impressive speed, he was still just a child fresh out of the academy, charging head-on without any variation in his movements.

But suddenly, the Chunin’s eyes narrowed. ‘What was that hand seal?’

Shisui formed a hand seal with his left hand, a move that stirred a sense of unease in the Chunin. In an instant, Shisui vanished from sight.

‘How is that possible!?’ the Chunin thought in disbelief. ‘Body Flicker Technique? At his age? Not even I have mastered that!’

Before he could react, a hard kick struck his back, sending him stumbling forward. Recovering quickly, he spun around and held his sword defensively across his chest, bracing for another blow. This time, he skidded across the ground, grinding a long mark with his blade as he fought to regain his footing.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Pulling his blade free from the ground, the Chunin steadied himself, his eyes locking onto Shisui, who stood firm, his gaze unwavering. "That move surprised me," the Chunin admitted, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “But it won’t work again. Show me what else you’ve got.”

Shisui gripped his weapon tighter, knowing he couldn’t rely on the same technique twice. Realizing he needed to rely on pure skill, he felt a surge of determination. This battle was his chance to grow stronger. The two clashed again, their blades ringing in the air. Time ticked by slowly as Shisui met every attack with agile counter-movements, matching the Chunin stroke for stroke. Ten minutes passed, and finally, the examiner called out, “Time’s up! The assessment is over!”

Panting heavily, Shisui stood tall as the Chunin sheathed his blade. Though he hadn’t won, he’d held his own against a Chunin—a feat that left even the invigilating teacher in awe. “Well done, Shisui,” the Chunin praised with a nod. “Congratulations on your graduation.” He offered his hand, and Shisui returned the gesture, sealing the match with a respectful bow.

“Good luck, Masaki,” Shisui said, giving his friend an encouraging smile as he stepped aside.

Masaki stepped forward, nodding to the next Chunin in line. From his observations, this Chunin seemed skilled in ninjutsu—an insight that might give him a slight advantage.

The Chunin regarded Masaki with a curt nod, drawing a kunai as he prepared for battle.

"Let the match begin!" the examiner announced.

With a strong push off the ground, Masaki charged forward, his dagger gleaming as he aimed his first strike. His blade missed by inches as the Chunin sidestepped, dodging with practiced ease. Masaki barely had time to readjust before the Chunin launched a counter-attack, thrusting his kunai straight toward him. Quickly, Masaki blocked with his dagger, the clash of metal sending sparks into the air.

The two clashed repeatedly, each attack met with an equal defense. They separated briefly, each assessing the other with renewed intensity. Suddenly, both leaped back, distancing themselves as they formed hand seals simultaneously.

“Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique !” they shouted in unison, unleashing two massive fireballs that collided in midair, exploding in a wave of heat that raised the temperature around them.

As the flames dissipated, Masaki, kunai in hand, watched his opponent carefully. The Chunin looked surprised; his fireball had faltered first, a detail that didn’t go unnoticed.

The two resumed their close-quarters battle, kunai clashing with dagger, sparks flying with every strike. With each move, Masaki grew more exhilarated, his instincts sharpening as the intensity of the fight spurred him on. A sharp glint appeared in Masaki’s eyes as he leaned into the fight, determined to prove himself. He could see his opponent also becoming more serious, a faint smirk crossing the Chunin’s face as he recognized Masaki’s fighting spirit.

In a burst of speed, Masaki swung his dagger with everything he had, the blade catching the sunlight as he aimed a decisive blow. The Chunin raised his kunai just in time, but the force drove him back, bending his knee into the ground as he struggled to hold his position.

“Not bad,” the Chunin grunted, pushing Masaki back with a powerful shove. Masaki quickly regained his balance, his gaze never leaving his opponent. He knew he lacked the experience and sheer strength of a seasoned Chunin, but his resolve remained unshaken.

The Chunin took the initiative this time, launching an aggressive attack with his kunai slicing through the air like a venomous snake striking its prey. Masaki found himself overwhelmed, barely able to fend off the Chunin’s rapid strikes without activating his Sharingan, forced into a defensive stance as he blocked each blow.

Clang!

The sound echoed as Masaki parried a kunai aimed dangerously close to his shoulder.