"Forget it." Namikaze Minato sighed and shook his head.
When it came to taijutsu, he could still hold his own against Kin. But in terms of ninjutsu?
He wasn't so confident.
Though he had made a name for himself on the Iwagakure front, much of that was due to his young age.
A thirteen-year-old with strength comparable to a jonin naturally stood out.
Take this assessment, for example. He and Kushina were the youngest participants.
Even Nara Shikaku and others a year older than them hadn't joined.
Most of the candidates were adults.
Without the two of them, Uchiha Kin would've been the youngest.
But Kin was different—Kin was the real deal.
Thanks to his charisma, Minato had heard plenty of praise about Kin's strength from shinobi who'd returned from the Kumogakure front.
Even jonin treated Kin with respect, a sign that his strength might already be on par with the White Fang's.
On the Iwagakure front, Minato was merely indulged as a prodigy. No one showed him the deference reserved for superiors.
That was the difference.
Not keen on humiliating himself, Minato tossed his slip to Kin.
"What a shame."
Kin caught it and unfolded the paper, revealing the number 256.
He recognized it—a shinobi from the Aburame clan.
One of Konoha's major clans, the Aburame had once vied for the title of the village's strongest family.
Now, however, they were in decline, barely clinging to their status.
Fewer clansmen became shinobi, and none stood out as particularly powerful. They were on the verge of losing their place among the great clans.
"Minato, this one might be strong. Be careful."
Kin offered a warning. This shinobi had fought on the Kumogakure front and likely knew the Three-Colored Haki.
With Haki and the Six Styles mastered, they'd be a formidable opponent even among jonin.
"I'll be cautious." Minato nodded, then hesitated. "What about your target?"
"Don't worry, it's not you."
Kin handed the slip back.
There was no need to hide it—he'd already pinned his number openly on his chest.
Not that he was looking down on anyone. Even if they all ganged up on him (minus Might Dai), they'd still lose.
He just didn't feel like showing Minato.
A winner's privilege.
Kushina jumped down from above.
"So what's our plan now?"
"Find our targets one by one and take their numbers," Kin said.
"But how do we find them?" Kushina pressed. Wandering aimlessly through the Forest of Death wasn't an option.
"Relax. I left markers," Minato said confidently.
"You sure they won't notice?" Kin's voice was dry.
This wasn't the Chunin Exams. Participants in the Jonin Assessment were no pushovers.
"Uh." Minato's face fell. He'd underestimated his opponents. A jonin-level shinobi would likely spot his tricks.
"We'll search manually. If all else fails, we camp the exits."
Kin rubbed his temples. These teammates were a headache.
As a last resort, they could stake out the forest's entrances.
"But first, we've got rats to deal with."
All three turned toward a distant thicket.
Three figures leaped out.
Two men in green flak jackets emerged, one accompanied by a large brown dog.
The lead shinobi was unremarkable, while the other had torn sleeves and distinctive facial markings—clearly an Inuzuka.
"You're Namikaze Minato." The plain-looking shinobi glared at Minato.
"Yeah. And you are?" Minato scratched his head, puzzled.
"Sarutobi Goku. The future Hokage." Goku puffed out his chest. With the current Hokage being the Sarutobi clan head, the title was practically his birthright.
"I'd pick a new dream," Kin cut in, drawing everyone's attention. "Minato's interests lean more toward Kushina than men."
"Kin!!" Minato's voice cracked.
"Die!!" A red-faced Kushina swung a fist, but Kin dodged and kicked her squarely in the rear, sending her face-first into the dirt.
He gave Minato a thumbs-up.
"Kushina's got a nice cushion. Good for bearing sons."
He spoke from experience.
Minato's eye twitched.
If you could just act human for once.
"I'll kill you!!" Kushina scrambled up, claws out, but Minato held her back.
"Let it go. We can't take him."
With Kin's utter lack of decency, fighting would only end worse for them.
"Grrr!!" Kushina seethed.
Why does this trash exist!?
Damn Uchiha!!
"Enough!" Goku's face darkened. As a Sarutobi, he deserved respect, yet these two were fooling around like children.
He eyed Minato's teammates—no clan insignias in sight.
"Just a couple of nobodies."
Kin ignored Goku and turned to the amused Inuzuka.
"And you? What's your deal?"
"Me?" The Inuzuka patted his dog and pointed at Kin's number. "That. You're either confident or stupid to wear it out in the open."
Kin rubbed his nose. He'd thought his reputation preceded him, but these two didn't recognize him.
His fame was limited to higher-ups, certain shinobi, and the Uchiha clan. Most Konoha ninja knew the name Uchiha Kin but not his face.
"This one's yours." Kin clapped Minato's shoulder and stepped forward.
"Shall we take this elsewhere?"
He gestured to a clearing.
"Sure."
The Inuzuka nodded. Winning the assessment wouldn't be easy for anyone.
They moved aside.
"Ignoring me!?" Goku's rage boiled over as the group chatted like he wasn't there.
Hand seals flew.
"Fire Release: Blazing Flame Technique!"
A torrent of fire erupted from his mouth, engulfing Minato and Kushina.
...
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(End of Chapter)