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Hirito sheathed his ninja sword, apologized to the examiner, and carefully helped him disperse the Gentle Fist Chakra that had accumulated in his shoulder.
The examiner looked at the Hyuga child standing before him with a complex expression. What could he even say?
That he'd held back powerful ninjutsu and didn't get the chance to use them? After all, he'd only managed a Body Replacement and a Shadow Clone during the fight.
Or perhaps he could claim he was caught off-guard?
No matter what he thought, there was no changing the fact that he had been easily defeated.
"What a prodigy," he murmured to himself, glancing at Hirito. That elusive speed with the Body Flicker Technique was… something else. His eyes had barely kept up with Hirito's movements, and his own reaction time had felt hopelessly inadequate.
"Brother Examiner, will my two teammates have their assessments soon?" Hirito asked politely.
The examiner studied Hirito with intensity, as if to commit his face to memory. "Wait here. I'll bring another proctor."
With a final nod, the examiner stepped away, leaving Hirito, Minato, and Nonō alone.
Minato and Nonō immediately came over.
"Hirito, your speed keeps getting faster! I could barely keep up," Minato said with a grin. Seeing his friend handle the examiner so decisively, he had no doubt Hirito would pass.
Nonō, on the other hand, felt a pang of frustration. If Minato could only barely keep up with Hirito's movements, then she… she could barely see them at all. To her, Hirito's rapid moves were a blur of afterimages.
Having two talented teammates was proving to be a double-edged sword for Nonō. Over the last three months, she'd learned a lot from Shinichi. Whether it was the basics of ninjutsu or practical mission experience, she'd absorbed everything she could. But as much as she had improved, she felt like she was falling behind Hirito and Minato with each passing day.
Even though she knew her skills leaned toward intelligence and support, Nonō still clenched her fists as the gap between her and her teammates continued to widen.
"I won't give up," she murmured to herself. She remembered watching Hirito's assessment, realizing that she couldn't even follow his movements.
Compared to Hirito, who could easily overpower a Chūnin examiner, and Minato, who showed tremendous growth, Nonō felt like a laggard.
She had a good sense of self-assessment. She knew that, in a real battle, she would struggle to keep up with either of her teammates' speed and coordination. Like in their B-rank mission, she'd felt she was only along for the ride, a spectator rather than a true contributor.
Both Minato and Hirito had the unique advantage of strong Chakra levels and combat-oriented techniques. In comparison, Nonō was naturally limited in the sheer strength of her Chakra.
Even though Shinichi had taught Minato and Hirito the same Wind Style Jutsu, [Wind Style: Great Breakthrough], the two boys produced stronger blasts with greater range using the same amount of Chakra.
Nonō acknowledged her own strengths as well—she had an edge in Chakra control, allowing her to excel in medical ninjutsu. But she was also painfully aware that both Hirito and Minato were excellent at controlling their Chakra.
And while Hirito practiced free-form techniques and Minato devised creative training methods, Nonō's path required extensive study in medical practices, pharmacology, and toxicology. While essential, these skills did not immediately enhance her combat abilities.
After a few minutes, the examiner returned with two new ninjas, one male and one female, and pointed in Hirito's direction. It was now Minato and Nonō's turn.
Minato's assessment was nothing short of intense. He and his male examiner clashed fiercely, using various clones, shuriken throws, feints, and a mix of taijutsu and ninjutsu. By the time they were done, the exam ground was a mess, littered with marks and scorch trails from their techniques.
Both Minato and the examiner were panting heavily by the end, each with a few scrapes and bruises. They'd reached a sort of stalemate, though Hirito could tell that, if the fight had continued, Minato would likely have lost due to his smaller Chakra reserve. But Hirito also knew that, given another year, Minato would likely surpass this examiner.
Nonō's assessment, however, went differently. Lacking the same raw strength as Hirito and Minato, she found herself outmatched quickly and was defeated within a minute. But rather than ending there, the examiner took Nonō into a small room for further tests.
Her assessment dragged on for well over an hour. When she finally emerged, she looked pale and exhausted, her steps unsteady.
Hirito and Minato rushed over to support her.
"What happened in there? Are you alright?" Hirito asked, his gaze flicking suspiciously toward the examiner.
"I'm fine," Nonō assured them in a soft voice, though she looked drained. "It's just… I overused my mental energy."
The three examiners approached them.
"You're dismissed. The results will be posted at 1 p.m.," one of them announced before they walked away.
Once they were alone, Hirito turned to Nonō. "Nonō, what kind of assessment did they give you in there? Can you tell us?"
Nonō hesitated before replying, "It was mostly intelligence screening and some code-breaking exercises."
Seeing her guarded expression, Hirito and Minato decided not to press her for details. They knew that intelligence assessments often involved sensitive information.
In the Hokage's Office
The examiners arrived to deliver their reports to Sarutobi Hiruzen. As he read through their findings, a smile formed beneath his pipe.
"Shinichi has raised three exceptional students," he murmured to himself.
The report highlighted Hirito's ability to defeat a Chūnin examiner with his unique Body Flicker Technique. Minato's tactical versatility in combining ninjutsu and taijutsu, alongside his calm in battle, showcased him as a rare talent at only nine years old.
However, it was Yakushi Nonō's report that held Sarutobi's attention the longest.
"An intelligence prodigy…" he mused. Her assessment had highlighted her skills in information analysis, decoding, and her fundamental grasp of medical ninjutsu. Despite her lack of combat power compared to her teammates, Nonō's background as an intern at Konoha Hospital and in the analysis division had earned her considerable respect.
Sarutobi's gaze softened. A girl raised in the Konoha Orphanage, dedicating herself to the village, and even using her mission rewards to support the orphanage… she was a child who embodied the Will of Fire.
In large-scale conflicts, a skilled intelligence agent could be as vital as an Elite Jōnin, sometimes even more so. With Rock and Sand Villages on the brink of war, Nonō's potential in intelligence work was invaluable.
After a moment's thought, Sarutobi tapped his desk.
"Lynx," he called out.
With a soft rustle, an Anbu appeared, kneeling before him.
"Summon Shinichi and his three students to me," Sarutobi ordered, a note of pride in his voice. "I'll be issuing their Chūnin certificates personally."
Shortly after, Hirito, Minato, and Nonō arrived with Shinichi at the Hokage's office. There was a quiet air of respect as they stood before Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He looked at each of them in turn, the hint of a smile in his eyes. " Shinichi speaks highly of all three of you, and I've read your assessment reports. Each of you has shown qualities that define a true shinobi."
The trio stood a bit taller at the praise.
Sarutobi turned his gaze to Minato. "Namikaze Minato, your strength lies in your tactical intelligence and versatility. You're well on your way to becoming an extraordinary shinobi."
Next, he looked at Hirito. "Hyuga Hirito, your dedication to refining your abilities and your swift, decisive movements set you apart. You've shown great promise."
Finally, Sarutobi's gaze rested on Nonō. "Yakushi Nonō, your intelligence and compassion are gifts to this village. Never doubt your worth on the battlefield."
Reaching into his desk, he produced three Chūnin certificates.
"By my authority as Hokage, I hereby promote each of you to Chūnin."
They accepted their certificates with deep bows, the weight of their achievement settling on them. This was the first step into their new lives as Chūnin of Konoha.
(End of the Chapter).
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