A training ground, scarred by countless battles. The scene itself spoke volumes.
Minato and Kushina leaned against a training post, having waited since morning. It was now midday.
"Grrrrrr," Kushina groaned, clutching her stomach. She hadn't eaten anything.
"Where are those two?" Minato also rubbed his stomach. He was hungry, but he could manage. Jiraiya and Jin were nowhere to be seen.
As Kushina began venting her frustration on a training post with a flurry of punches and kicks…
"Boom!" A puff of smoke appeared, revealing a giant toad. A figure emerged from the toad's back.
"From Mount Myōboku, the Toad Sage, Jiraiya, makes his grand entrance!" Jiraiya declared dramatically.
"Get down here!" Kushina appeared behind Jiraiya and launched a kick. Jiraiya effortlessly dodged the attack, gently pushing Kushina to the ground. She landed gracefully, performing a backflip. Jiraiya chuckled. These brats were surprisingly skilled.
"Boom!" The toad vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Jiraiya standing next to Kushina. "Don't underestimate me. Last time, I let you win." He'd been testing them then, but he'd ended up on the receiving end of a thorough beating. Where was the justice? "But… where's that Uchiha brat?" He scanned the area. Jin was nowhere to be seen. He wouldn't be surprised if the boy had skipped the meeting. His face darkened. If that were the case, he had the authority to send Jin back to the Academy. Even Orochimaru wouldn't object. Talent didn't excuse insubordination.
"I'm here," a voice called. A pile of dry leaves rustled, and Jin emerged, yawning. He was lying in a pit camouflaged by leaves. Unless you stepped on it, you wouldn't have known it was there. All three were astonished.
"Ahem," Jiraiya coughed. "Using the environment to your advantage is essential for ninjas."
"You didn't see that coming!" Kushina retorted, seizing the opportunity to tease. She'd seen the surprise on Jiraiya's face.
Jiraiya quickly changed the subject. "Alright, let's begin your ninja exams."
"Didn't we already take them?" Minato asked. He was serious about this.
Jiraiya smiled, explaining. "Passing the Academy exam only qualifies you to become a ninja. My exam determines whether you become Genin." "If you fail, I can send you back to the Academy."
Minato wanted to ask about the other graduates, but hesitated.
"Alright, stop scaring the kids! See how pale Kushina's face is? Get on with the exam," Jin interrupted, dismissing Jiraiya's attempts to build suspense.
"Who's pale?!" Kushina shouted, her face indeed pale with anger.
"Heh," Jin chuckled.
Kushina's anger flared. "Let's fight to the death, you damn Uchiha!"
"Wait!" Jiraiya interrupted the impending brawl. He hadn't even started the exam yet, and these kids were about to fight! Did they not realize this was his stage? "Save your grudges for after the exam!"
Jiraiya pulled out two bells, shaking them before attaching them to his belt. "Your task is to obtain these bells. One bell per Genin."
Kushina pointed at the bells. "You only have two."
Jiraiya's smile faded, his expression turning serious. "Only two of you can become Genin."
Before Kushina could protest…
"Begin!"
Instantly, Kushina and Minato vanished. Jin leaned against a post, observing Jiraiya with a tilted head. "Jiraiya-sensei, are there any other observers here?"
His heightened senses told him that the hidden watchers—ANBU and Root—had left after Jiraiya appeared.
Jiraiya, unsure of Jin's meaning, nodded. With him present, all observers had withdrawn—even Hiruzen's surveillance through the barrier.
"Good," Jin said, clapping his hands and walking towards Jiraiya. After becoming Jiraiya's student, even if his talent was revealed, Jiraiya—and Orochimaru—would likely protect him. The two Sannin held considerable influence in Konoha. Plus, being Kushina's teammate boosted his safety. He decided to reveal his abilities. He'd been called a failure for too long. It was time for a change. Depending on who spread the word, he could reveal it strategically or keep it under wraps. He could use it as a trump card.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I'm going all out." Jin crouched, his body low.
"Don't die on me," Jiraiya chuckled. He was an elite Jonin; a freshly graduated Academy student couldn't harm him. Not even a prodigy.
Jiraiya clasped his hands. "Let me show you the difference in our strength."
Jin moved, appearing behind Jiraiya. Swift Step! "Ninja Art: Needle Ground!" His silver hair hardened, completely enveloping his body, leaving no trace. He landed and used Swift Step to retreat. Jiraiya's next jutsu was already formed.
"Hairy Ball Jutsu!" Jiraiya's hair grew rapidly, sweeping towards Jin. Jin used Swift Step to evade.
Jiraiya watched Jin dodge, noticing his hand seals. He can't use ninjutsu?
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!" Blazing flames erupted from Jin's mouth, spreading outward and engulfing Jiraiya's hair.
As Jiraiya retracted his hair…
Minato appeared behind him. "Chance!" He aimed a finger at Jiraiya's bell.
Jiraiya grabbed Minato's hand, his pupils constricting. Minato's strength was immense; he'd slipped past Jiraiya's grasp.
Before Minato could reach the bell, Jiraiya vanished in a puff of smoke, appearing behind Minato.
But a roar echoed from behind him. "Die a hundred times!" A fist, encased in golden chains, descended.
Jiraiya sidestepped, grabbing Kushina's wrist and swinging her at Minato. The two tumbled to the ground, wrestling.
As Jiraiya prepared to act, kunai whizzed through the air, changing direction, heading towards him. He dodged, leaping away from the attack. Minato and Kushina vanished again. Jiraiya looked up; Jin was also gone.
"You should have learned that ninjas don't fight openly," a voice said.
Wait. Jiraiya felt a subtle shift behind him and turned swiftly. Jin was inches away.
Jin's arms blurred, striking Jiraiya like phantom blows. "Self-Propelled Jutsu: Snake Vitality!" Jiraiya defended, but Jin's attacks landed with intense pain. He saw a shadow approaching his bells.
"Ninja Art: Molting Technique!" Jiraiya's body rapidly shriveled, then shattered under Jin's relentless assault. Jin leapt away, narrowly avoiding a hand that shot from the ground.
Jiraiya, emerging from the ground, wasn't relaxed; he jumped. Three chains erupted from the ground, ensnaring his feet. Minato, using the chains, charged towards Jiraiya, throwing a kunai.
Jiraiya dodged the kunai, quickly forming hand seals. "Fire Release: Flame Bullet!" His face puffed out like a toad's, spitting flames. Minato vanished in a puff of smoke.
Behind him! Jiraiya turned to see Minato emerging from the ground. But there was more! Jin was also before him.
Swift Step x 2.
Two shadows clashed around Jiraiya.
"Amazing!" Jiraiya looked at the chains binding his feet and the wounds on his body. Were Academy students really this strong now?!
"Boom!" Jiraiya vanished into smoke. Minato held a bell—turned to dust. Silver hair erupted from the ground, ensnaring Minato and Kushina.
"Hairy Ball Jutsu!" Only Jin maintained his distance, avoiding the attack. Jiraiya emerged slowly.
"It's over!"
"Not yet!" Jin raised his hands, forming a gun shape, a blue energy ball swirling.
"What's… that?"
"Spirit Ball!"
A blue beam pierced Jiraiya's body.