"Will you also accept this task? If it’s chopping wood or fetching water, how about a competition to see who finishes the task first? The loser will have to run 200 extra laps this afternoon!"

Guy happily ran over.

Maybe because of the last attempt to "fleece" him, Might Guy now always drags Kyohiko into the duel…

After learning that they had been doing a lot of tasks recently, Guy started this strange bet.

Kakashi’s expression remained blank.

He had long since gotten used to it.

In both teams, the most noticeable expressions were those of Kurenai, Ebisu, and Shiranui Genma, the three non-participants. They all covered their faces with their hands, looking embarrassed and unwilling to directly witness the situation.

Kyohiko gave a faint smile and said, "Not today."

"Why?"

Guy was slightly startled.

Kakashi spoke coldly: "We are leaving the village for a C-rank mission, and we might not return today."

"What?"

Might Guy and the other two suddenly widened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief.

Leaving the village?

Impossible!

They were all newly graduated Genin, even though they had Kakashi, a Chunin, and their team leader was Jiraiya, one of the three Sannin…

Alright!

Comparing it like this, it seems the other side has a reason to leave the village.

Shiranui Genma and Ebisu pursed their lips, feeling for the first time the gap between their Jonin leader and the strength of their team.

Wherever you are, there is one common rule:

The concern is not scarcity but inequality.

The two felt a bit upset.

However,

Guy’s eyes sparkled.

"My eternal friend and rival, no wonder you’re so enthusiastic about completing D-rank missions. This must be the reason the village allows you to take C-rank missions, right?"

"Maybe, but there’s also the factor of strength. After all, Kakashi is a Chunin."

Kyohiko shrugged.

Upon hearing this, Might Guy was silent for a moment, then said, "I will remember your words. Soon, our team will catch up!"

Hit the target!

This is what Kyohiko told him.

Now, he has a new goal——

Their team must become the second team of the same rank that is qualified to accept C-rank missions!

Shiranui Genma and Ebisu were stunned for a moment, then nodded firmly: "You are indeed very strong, but we’re not far behind!"

Everyone has gone through the assessment.

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Although they didn’t know what Jiraiya’s test was, it was certainly not easy. The fact that Kyohiko and Kurenai completed the test with Kakashi shows that their overall strength is extraordinary.

"I always believed that!"

Kyohiko nodded.

Not long after, a Jonin walked out of the room.

"Let’s go."

"Yes, Sensei."

Guy and the others immediately agreed and walked down the street toward the outskirts of the village.

On the road.

"You guys, don’t take them too seriously, just do your best."

Jonin Choza said.

Ebisu couldn’t help but ask, "Sensei, is there a big gap between us and them?"

"Although they have Kakashi, the other two shouldn’t be too different from us, right?"

Genma Shiranui also looked doubtful.

Choza shook his head.

He looked at the three of them, and after a moment of silence, he finally sighed and said, "I didn’t want to discourage you, but as far as I know, the one who performed best in Jiraiya-sama’s assessment wasn’t Kakashi, but Kyohiko Ryomine."

"What?"

Except for Might Guy, the other two had petrified expressions and were in complete disbelief.

And Might Guy…

"Ahhh! I knew Kyohiko is so smart, and he’s also very strong when we train together. He’s definitely not weak! My blood is boiling, I must surpass him!"

Guy went crazy.

Ebisu thought from the bottom of his heart.

But.

He still couldn’t believe it——

If they were told that Kakashi had played the biggest role in the assessment, they wouldn’t be too surprised. At most, they’d be jealous that their team had a top talent like Kakashi, leading to a huge gap between them.

But…

Kyohiko Ryomine is a ninja who graduated the same year as them, and as far as they knew, he wasn’t known as a genius at the ninja academy. He was just a ninja who started from the same starting line.

Now, Choza told them…

That wasn’t the case—the other party was actually the best among the three members of Jiraiya’s team?!

Is he also a genius?

Genma Shiranui and Ebisu couldn’t believe it.

Choza sighed.

"It might be hard for you to accept, but this is the truth…"

This matter was too shocking. Many people from various clans already knew about it through different channels, but these commoners, the Genin, were still unaware of it.

"It’s not hard to accept. I know how hard Kyohiko, Kakashi, and the others have worked!"

Might Guy turned around and said seriously, "The sweat that is shed is the glory of youth. Guys, cheer up. We should take them as examples instead of feeling deeply hurt by them!"

"Only today do I think what you said makes sense, but when did you become so good at talking?"

The other two murmured to themselves.

Guy chuckled: "Of course, this is what Kyohiko said!"

Then he showed his big white teeth.

"How about running 200 laps together this afternoon, or running 100 laps handstand if you can’t finish it?"

This is right!

Shiranui Genma and Ebisu looked bitter.

"Kyohiko, how is your water ninjutsu training going?"

"I’ve made some progress. I was thinking about whether it’s possible to compress the water column and turn it into a line. The power should be stronger." Kyohiko replied.

Although Kurenai didn’t know much about ninjutsu training, she noticed there had been no major changes.

But one by one…

Jiraiya looked dazed after hearing this, unable to hide his shock.

The Sannin was so shocked…

Kakashi was curious: "Sensei, what’s wrong?"

"You may not know that the 'compression' of the water column that Kyohiko mentioned was actually already done by the Second Hokage. The A-rank technique Water Break Wave is exactly the same as the technique you’re talking about."

Jiraiya sighed and explained the ninjutsu he knew.

Water Break Wave.

A powerful water-style ninjutsu invented by the Second Hokage. Even the hardest objects feel like tofu in front of it.

The state Kyohiko described…

It’s almost exactly the same as the Water Break Wave.

Kyohiko made an expression of surprise and trance.

Jiraiya thought for a moment and said, "Kyohiko, show me how to release the Water Break Wave."

"Yes!"

Kyohiko agreed and quickly formed the hand seals.

The next moment, water surged out like a small waterfall.

He had mastered it!

He had mastered the technique of conserving chakra without instruction, grasping the essence of the water wave.

Could it be that the talent of the Senju clan has been revived in this child?

Jiraiya was dumbfounded.

Kakashi blinked, more shocked than Jiraiya.

He vaguely remembered that just a few days ago, Kyohiko didn’t have such proficiency.

The progress was too fast!

Although he seemed pretty much the same back then, Kyohiko wasn’t really well-known before.

Turns out, looking at it from a different angle?

Kakashi was stunned.

"Not bad, it seems you’ve been practicing a lot recently, but for now, it’s too early for you to practice the compression property change, and you won’t be able to use it even if you’ve mastered it."

Jiraiya said seriously.

Compression, gathering, whether practicing or releasing, requires a large amount of chakra.

"Yes."

Kyohiko didn’t argue——

He had no intention of immediately practicing the "compression" property change.

Then, Jiraiya took out two pairs of weighted leggings and threw them to Kakashi and Kyohiko.

Puff!

The two almost fell down.

So heavy!

"These are weighted leggings, one pair for each of you."

Jiraiya said, "Kurenai, you don’t need them for now, but I will reduce your rest time on the way and let you train continuously as much as possible. I have plenty of Energy Pills here."

"Yes!"

"Alright, let’s go to Tanzaku Town."