Inside the Hokage's office.
"What do you plan to do? Perhaps you should be a little more patient with Kakashi."
The Third Hokage looked at Jiraiya.
Kakashi was the biggest problem.
However.
He had talent. The Third couldn't bear to see him waste it and still hoped Jiraiya would give him a chance.
But Jiraiya only said, "If things really turn out that badly, then it just wasn't meant to be."
"I'm off."
With a wave of his hand, he vanished from the office.
The Third Hokage sighed softly, his face clouded with worry.
---
The next day, at Training Ground 7 in the Forest of Death.
Kurenai arrived early, only to notice that Kyohiko and Kakashi had already arrived ahead of her, sitting beneath a tree to rest.
She tiptoed forward, not daring to make a sound.
Just sit and rest…
But her mind kept racing!
Kurenai stared at the shifting shadows of the leaves above, her emotions in turmoil.
A long time passed.
"Ah, sorry about that! Ran into a little trouble on the way. I'm late."
Jiraiya grinned sheepishly.
"Lord Jiraiya, you're way too late!"
Kurenai checked the time.
Another hour, and it would be noon.
But then—
His smile froze as he took in the sight of the three before him.
One wore a mask, his gaze icy.
The other two remained calm.
"Quite the united front, huh? Seeing you like this gives me even more confidence that you'll pass the test."
Jiraiya cleared his throat and casually pulled out the bell hanging at his waist.
"Kakashi, I don't know what your first test was like, but mine is simple. You just have to take this bell from me to pass."
Ding—
The bell jingled as he hooked it back onto his belt.
"Any questions?"
"Do we only need to take one to pass, or do we have to take all of them?" Kakashi asked.
Jiraiya smirked. "Considering the gap between us, just one will do. But the worst performer gets tied up and skips lunch, then takes a separate test in the afternoon."
Kakashi took a deep breath and said nothing more.
Jiraiya turned to the other two.
"And you?"
"No problem." Kyohiko replied.
"Good. Then let's begin. I'll give you some time to strategize."
Whoosh!
In an instant, all three vanished from sight.
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. "They went in different directions? Could it be…?"
His heart sank.
He had high hopes for Kyohiko. But if Kyohiko's mindset and teamwork were this lacking, he'd be deeply disappointed.
---
At the same time.
Kurenai whispered, "Kyohiko, are we really not going to work with Kakashi?"
"Of course we are. We'll coordinate and set up tactics, leaving openings for him. He's a chūnin. If he refuses to cooperate, there's nothing we can do." Kyohiko said.
Kurenai let out a relieved breath.
"Then how do we fight?"
"We'll distract Jiraiya from the front, using traps and genjutsu to create openings for Kakashi to strike. The plan is for you to use illusions while I…"
"Got it."
---
"Begin. Before the hourglass runs out, you must take my bell—or you fail."
Jiraiya flipped the hourglass over.
Then, he focused, sensing the surroundings.
"Good hiding spots."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
Say what you will about these kids, their fundamentals were solid.
But.
One of them had left a slight opening.
Jiraiya walked forward casually, though his steps were deliberate.
Crack!
A massive log, rigged with ropes, swung toward him from the front.
Jiraiya flickered away with a shunshin.
Yet—
In that split second, he saw a figure distort and vanish before his eyes.
Kurenai?
Genjutsu: Tree Binding Death!
The name of the technique flashed in his mind as he immediately disrupted his chakra flow.
In an instant, he broke free from the illusion.
But—
In the blink of an eye, multiple traps launched at him simultaneously.
Jiraiya vanished again with shunshin.
The next moment, he crouched on a tree branch, scanning the area warily.
These brats…
Not a single one can be underestimated!
He never expected the little girl from the Yūhi clan to already have mastered a B-rank genjutsu.
Before he could assess further, two figures lunged at him.
Kakashi, wielding his sword, and Kyohiko, flickering up from below.
Jiraiya smirked.
Then—
Clang!
His kunai met Kyohiko's strike mid-air, perfectly intercepting it.
Kyohiko didn't linger—he vanished from the spot, reappearing on another tree.
But.
"Not bad tactics."
Jiraiya's voice came from behind him.
The Jiraiya he had just struck dissolved into bubbles—a shadow clone.
The real Jiraiya struck immediately, his fists and feet a blur.
In seconds, Kyohiko exchanged three punches and two kicks with him.
His taijutsu is impressive!
Jiraiya was surprised.
Kyohiko's physical skills…
Among genin, he was undoubtedly top-tier. Many chūnin might not even match him.
Deciding to test further, Jiraiya increased the pressure.
But—
Poof!
The figure before him turned into a log.
The real Kyohiko…
Had already fled to another position.
Damn, this kid!
A glint of approval flashed in Jiraiya's eyes.
What impressed him wasn't just Kyohiko's reflexes, the seamless blend of substitution and shunshin, but also his judgment.
The moment Jiraiya escalated, Kyohiko disengaged instantly.
That level of composure was rare.
Impressive.
"Here!"
Another log shot down from above, swinging toward Jiraiya.
Kurenai had triggered a trap to cover Kyohiko's retreat.
But.
Jiraiya simply punched through the wooden contraption.
"If this is all you've got, you're not passing."
"Go!"
Kyohiko understood—
Jiraiya isn't even trying.
In a real fight, Jiraiya could have used Wild Lion's Mane or moved much faster.
He was one of the Legendary Sannin, after all!
Right now, Jiraiya was keeping his speed just slightly above theirs.
They had to rely on traps or teamwork to escape.
This was a test.
But.
Kyohiko had already led Jiraiya exactly where he wanted him.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Spiked wooden panels shot toward Jiraiya from all directions as he hung mid-air.
At the same time, two clones charged—
One resembling Kyohiko.
The other transformed into Kakashi.
Both "figures" rushed at Jiraiya.
Kurenai, still perched on a tree, formed hand seals.
In an instant, the traps and clones were upon Jiraiya.
Then—
His hair lengthened wildly, snaring the incoming projectiles and grasping at the two attackers.
Boom!
The clones exploded.
This was Dark Clone, an advanced illusionary technique created by Kurenai's father.
Jiraiya had been maintaining disrupted chakra, so he wasn't fooled. But in that moment, the last wooden panel morphed into a human figure.
Kakashi, gripping a rope, slashed at Jiraiya like a beast baring its fangs.
Clang!
Jiraiya blocked with his kunai.
But then—
A breeze brushed his back.
Kyohiko?
That speed—!
Jiraiya's heart pounded.
He'd heard about Kyohiko's shunshin, but experiencing it firsthand was another matter.
A seven-year-old with this level of skill…
Unbelievable!
Not just that.
His punches, kicks, and overall balance surpassed even elite chūnin.
The only ones who could compare at that age…
Were Kakashi and that other freak of a kid.
And now, Kakashi was also pressing the attack.
Sword, kunai, fists.
Interspersed with Kurenai's cherry blossom illusions.
The trio's coordination was dizzying.
Then—
A blade and fist struck simultaneously.
"Watch out!"
The moment Kyohiko's fist connected, he knew something was wrong.
The texture wasn't right.
Besides.
Did they really think their half-baked skills could threaten Jiraiya?
Sure enough, the figure before them melted into mud—
A Earth Clone.
"Above!" Kurenai shouted.
No need for orders—Kakashi's blade flashed upward, slicing through a net descending upon them.
At the same time, the previously ensnared wooden panels closed in.
Rip!
The net tore open under Kakashi's blade.
Before he could recover, Jiraiya was already upon him.
But—
Kyohiko flickered in front of him.
Bam!
Fist met fist in a solid impact.
Boom!
Kyohiko was sent crashing to the ground, but in that instant, he yelled—
"Lord Jiraiya, you wouldn't want people to know you spend all your time—"
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Every 50 power stones = 1 Extra Chapter
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