"Your introductions were fine — that's enough theatrics. Now the real exam begins."
Hyūga Ayato raised a single finger and spoke calmly. "The assessment is simple. One step."
"Just one step."
"You may use kunai, use fire-style jutsu, whatever you like — any method is allowed. If you can force me to take a single step, you pass."
"If you pass, you officially become genin. If you fail… all of you in Team 7 will lose the right to become shinobi forever."
"So do your best. Attack with the intention to kill." Ayato slipped his hands into his pockets and regarded the three students with a neutral gaze. The test was intentionally simple — mostly a formality for the system's reward. Just make him move one step.
"One step" sounded easy.
But—
For three genin trying to move a jonin who possessed Six-Path-level power, even one step would be a towering challenge.
"If we fail, we'll lose our qualifications?" Team 7 all hesitated. That meant failure meant returning to the Academy?
No way. After working so hard to become shinobi, they would never accept being sent back — and the whole village would laugh them to death.
"Sensei… you mean for us to attack with intent to kill? Isn't that… dangerous?" Sakura asked, worried.
"No problem." Ayato waved a hand, a faint smug smile on his face. "You're weak anyway."
"You're too arrogant! One step — how hard can it be? I'll just punch you and send you flying!" Naruto leapt forward, fist raised to strike.
"Naruto!" Sakura cried out.
"That idiot," Sasuke muttered under his breath. He suspected Ayato's simple test hid deeper reasons.
"Were you never taught to respect your teacher? At least call me 'Ayato-sensei'." Ayato regarded Naruto as he closed in. He raised a finger and flicked Naruto on the forehead.
BANG.
Naruto sailed like a cannonball across the field and crashed to the earth a long distance away, rolling and clutching his throbbing forehead. "Owwwww! That hurts!"
"Unbelievable." Sakura stared in shock — a single finger flicked Naruto clean across the field. Is this the power of a jonin?
"By the way, I can counterattack too." Ayato smiled. "Now then — begin."
"Fire Release — Great Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke sprang backward, hands forming seals, and expelled a scorching ball of flame that streaked toward Ayato like a meteor, leaving scorched tracks where it passed.
"A great fireball, nearly chūnin-grade. The Uchiha kid's stronger than I expected." Ayato's expression was mild as he watched the fireball hurtle closer.
When the flaming meteor neared, Ayato simply blew out a breath — a gust infused with enormous chakra — and the fireball shattered into embers.
"Impossible…" Sasuke was stunned. He had expected Ayato to use earth or water to defend, but never that a single breath would dissipate his full-strength great fireball.
So this was jonin power? The gap between Sasuke and a jonin was truly massive. Sasuke swallowed his disbelief and accepted the reality: with his current strength, he couldn't make Ayato take even one step.
He gritted his teeth and vanished into the trees, sprinting to create distance and think of an approach.
"Good call." Ayato watched Sasuke and Sakura dart between the trees with his Transmigration Eye, approving their judgment. Given Team 7's present ability, a head-on attack wouldn't make Ayato move. Sakura, on the other hand, was mostly just a tagalong — fun to tease from time to time.
"You can be careful, but there's no need to overdo it." Ayato's eye saw through the leaves; he could plainly see Sasuke and Sakura hiding and had no illusions about their intent. It amused him that they weren't attempting a sneak attack.
Naruto leapt once more and landed boldly in front of Ayato, arms folded. "Sasuke's hiding, but I, Uzumaki Naruto, will face you head-on! Let's have an honest match!"
He didn't overthink things. His one tactic: charge headlong.
"Brashness is kinda cute." Ayato's mouth twitched; it was the first time someone dared to fight him openly.
Sasuke watched Naruto from the trees and snorted silently. "That idiot," he muttered — but inwardly, he appreciated Naruto's straightforward move. With Naruto attacking openly, Sasuke could observe Ayato's weaknesses.
"Sharingan!" Sasuke opened his eye to reveal the crimson, comma-shaped tomoe and locked his gaze on Ayato. He would use his clan's famed ocular power to find an opening.
Hidden in the foliage beside Sasuke, Sakura peered out, face covered by leaves and a hand on her forehead. She watched Naruto's blatant assault with exasperation.
"You dummy — you just got flicked across the field and you still charge in like this?" she groaned.
Naruto pointed and laughed. "No one's watching — now we'll see who's better, sensei!"
Ayato made a polite gesture. "Please. Attack however you like."
"Fine! You'll pay for underestimating me!" Naruto crossed his fingers and exploded into a cloud of pale smoke — dozens of figures emerging.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A dozen-plus Narutos sprang out and circled Ayato, each one yelling and charging simultaneously.
"Take this! I'll punch you away!"
"Hey! That's my move!"
"Don't crowd me!"
"Hurry up—attack already!"
"I'm starving."
"Me too."
The dozen clones bickered as they launched a furious, chaotic assault.