Fortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi was an old fox; he turned the next page without a change in expression while glancing at Uchiha Genya.
‘To awaken the Three-Tomoe at such a young age…
is he another genius like Shisui?’
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi looking his way, the outlines of three tomoe gradually surfaced in Genya’s eyes.
A kind smile immediately appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi’s face, and he nodded to Genya.
“In that case…
very well.
Tomorrow, I will grant you special permission and arrange your Jonin test.”
Genya did not dare to be neglectful and said to Hiruzen Sarutobi:
“Thank you, Lord Third.”
Seeing how polite Genya was, the wariness in Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyes dissipated slightly, though he still said instinctively:
“It is because of ninjas like you and Shisui that Konoha can continue to grow stronger.”
“You must know that where the leaves dance, fire burns.
The shadow of the fire will illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout.”
It was the same old Will of Fire theory again.
Ironically, some people actually fell for this nonsense.
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi wave his hand, Yashiro tactfully led Genya out of the Hokage’s office.
On the way back to the clan compound, Yashiro looked at the silent Genya and asked another question:
“What do you think of the situation just now?”
The Third Hokage, who had theoretically retired, bypassed Minato Namikaze to directly arrange a Jonin exam for Genya.
Furthermore, from the very beginning, Uchiha Yashiro had no intention of asking for Minato Namikaze’s opinion.
It was obvious that the fact the newly appointed Fourth Hokage was merely a puppet had almost become common knowledge among Konoha’s upper echelons.
Activating his Sharingan to confirm there were no Hokage Anbu following them, Genya thought for a moment before summarizing it in one sentence.
“This kind of relationship is highly abnormal, but considering the Fourth just took office, perhaps such a situation is actually normal?”
Yashiro nodded with satisfaction and did not press further.
For a young man, having such insight was already quite an achievement.
“After you become a Jonin, I will support you during the clan meetings.
However, if you want to gain more influence within the Uchiha Police Force, you will have to rely on your own efforts.”
Yashiro didn’t even bother asking if Genya was confident enough to pass the Jonin exam.
An Uchiha who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was undoubtedly among the elite of the ninja world.
If he couldn’t even pass a Jonin exam, it would be a disgrace to the Uchiha name.
This was the pride of the Uchiha; at the same rank, no one could rival a member of the Uchiha clan who had awakened their eyes.
The next day, the Jonin exam arrived as scheduled.
Genya donned his gear and arrived at one of Konoha’s training grounds.
Genya saw his opponent: white hair, a forehead protector covering the left eye, wearing a black mask, looking lazy and bothered by everything.
It was the man who possessed a single Sharingan and had copied over a thousand jutsu, known throughout the ninja world as the “Copy Ninja,” Kakashi Hatake.
Kakashi was just as he remembered.
This genius, who had become a Jonin at age twelve, had become listless after losing two dear friends at the Battle of Kannabi Bridge.
Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had sent Kakashi as the examiner for this Jonin exam, Genya immediately understood his intentions.
He wanted Kakashi to defeat an authentic Uchiha to build up Kakashi’s reputation…
‘In that case, I’ll show you what a real Sharingan looks like today.’
‘Just because someone transplants a Sharingan doesn’t mean they can use it well.’
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in the spectator stands.
Seeing the two were ready, he raised his hand.
“The Jonin exam for Uchiha Genya begins…
now!”
Almost the instant Hiruzen Sarutobi’s hand dropped, Uchiha Genya and Kakashi Hatake vanished from the field simultaneously!
Accompanied by the clang of metal clashing, Kakashi retreated immediately upon contact.
Using the Body Flicker Technique to evade Genya’s attack, Kakashi threw several shuriken to disrupt Genya’s movements while quickly forming hand signs.
“Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!”
Seemingly aware that Genya’s talent for ninjutsu was average, Kakashi appeared to intend to wear him down from a distance.
Throwing a few shuriken to precisely intercept Kakashi’s in mid-air, Genya closed the distance with the Body Flicker while forming seals.
He opened his mouth and spat out a stream of blazing flames.
“Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!”
Genya’s lack of talent in Fire Style was only relative to Uchiha of the same level.
Since his stats had risen to Jonin level, the old intelligence on him was no longer applicable.
Although the Great Fireball Technique was only a C-rank Fire Style jutsu, when Genya used it, it surpassed the expectations of its rank.
The rank of a ninjutsu only represented the difficulty of learning it, not its power.
From the spectator stands, Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes as he watched Uchiha Genya trade blows with Kakashi, even gaining the upper hand.
‘Another genius…
If only he were an Uchiha who held the village in his heart, like Shisui.’
‘Why is it so easy for geniuses to appear in the Uchiha clan?’
Facing the incoming wall of fire, Kakashi slammed his palms onto the ground.
“Earth Style: Mud Wall!”
A mud wall engraved with dog heads rose from the ground, blocking the Great Fireball Technique.
Genya actually never understood why Kakashi was so focused on the sense of ceremony.
His chakra reserves were not large to begin with, and he had to endure the Sharingan’s constant drain.
Yet he insisted on this kind of performance art with his Mud Wall.
Genya wasn’t surprised the Great Fireball Technique was blocked; he continued to close in on Kakashi.
Just as he drew close, a pair of hands suddenly emerged from the ground and grabbed Genya’s legs.
“Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!”
Genya was instantly pulled underground, leaving only his head exposed.
Kakashi’s figure appeared alongside him.
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a satisfied smile.
As expected of the White Fang’s son, Kakashi did not disappoint him.
Looking at the unperturbed Genya, Kakashi said, “It’s over.”
However, the Genya buried in the ground showed a strange smile.
“What makes you think the one you caught is my real body?”
“Genya” suddenly turned into a puff of smoke.
The pupil in Kakashi’s exposed eye suddenly constricted.
‘Oh no, a Shadow Clone!’
‘But when?
I didn’t see him weave signs at all!’
The Shadow Clone Jutsu was a clone technique specifically created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, to counter the Sharingan.
It was effective to the point that even the Sharingan couldn’t see through it.
Kakashi had no time to wonder when Genya had used the Shadow Clone.
His exposed eye scanned the surroundings.
Relying on his powerful combat instincts, Kakashi immediately blocked with his tantō behind his back at an angle.
As expected, Genya’s figure appeared instantly, his short blade clashing once again with Kakashi’s tantō.
The moment Kakashi turned his head, he saw the three crimson tomoe in Uchiha Genya’s eyes.
‘Not good!’
As a Copy Ninja who possessed a Sharingan, he understood the Sharingan all too well.
He knew that when fighting an Uchiha who had awakened their eyes, one must never look them in the eye.