The atmosphere in the center of the assessment grounds had frozen solid.
Uchiha Tekka, the Guard's company commander and a long-renowned jonin, stood with his arms crossed, studying the boy across from him with keen interest.
And Uchiha Shinsuke, young as he was, radiated a composure and sharpness that far surpassed anyone his age.
"Kid, are you ready?"
Uchiha Tekka showed not even a trace of contempt on account of Shinsuke's age.
That transcendent Phoenix Sage Fire from moments ago had already made him regard Uchiha Shinsuke as a genuine opponent.
"I can begin at any time."
"Good!"
The words had barely left his mouth when Uchiha Tekka's figure vanished from where he stood in an instant!
So fast!
The watching clan members outside the field felt only a blur before Tekka's presence had completely disappeared from sight.
This was the speed of a jonin!
However, within the field of Uchiha Shinsuke's Sharingan, Tekka's movements, though pushed to the extreme, were not impossible to track.
A terrifying whip kick came sweeping in with a piercing shriek that split the air!
That kick could shatter a steel plate!
Uchiha Shinsuke's body reacted on pure instinct, leaping backward.
He evaded the lethal strike by the slimmest of margins.
"Good reflexes!"
Uchiha Tekka called out in approval, yet his assault did not relent for a moment as he shifted from the whip kick into a downward chop, bringing his entire right leg crashing down toward Uchiha Shinsuke's head like a battle axe!
Uchiha Shinsuke drove the tips of his feet against the ground and blasted several steps backward, opening up distance.
At the same time, Uchiha Shinsuke's hands completed a sequence of hand seals at a speed impossible to follow with the naked eye.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
An enormous fireball came roaring out of Uchiha Shinsuke's mouth in an instant!
"A trivial trick!"
Uchiha Tekka gave a cold snort and, facing the scorching fireball bearing down on him, neither dodged nor retreated!
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Boom!
A tremendous blast rang out!
The two Great Fireballs collided and produced a thunderous roar!
At the examiner's table, a sharp gleam flashed through the clouded old eyes of Elder Uchiha Hachidai.
"Kid, your fire style is genuinely impressive, but that alone won't be enough to beat me!"
Uchiha Tekka laughed and closed the distance again in an instant.
Uchiha Shinsuke's gaze was utterly calm.
'A battle against a jonin is not only a contest of ninjutsu power, but also of combat experience, efficiency of chakra use, and the ability to control the flow of the fight.'
The chakra within Uchiha Shinsuke began to circulate at an unprecedented speed.
The one-tomoe Sharingan spun at high speed, taking in every minute movement Tekka made.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A fire dragon even more concentrated and more ferocious than the one before came roaring out of his mouth, surging toward Uchiha Tekka with the force to incinerate everything in its path!
"Fire style again? The same move won't work on me!"
Uchiha Tekka's gaze sharpened as his hands also flew through hand seals at speed.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
ROAR!
A flame dragon far larger and more savage than Uchiha Shinsuke's came screaming out of Tekka's mouth and slammed head-on into Shinsuke's dragon!
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Two terrifying forces of flame intertwined, collided, and consumed each other in midair!
The raging waves of fire swept outward in all directions, and the scorching heat drove the onlookers outside the field to step back one after another, every face filled with alarm.
"He actually... actually held his own against Squad Leader Tekka's Great Dragon Fire head-on?!"
Uchiha Kyouichi and Uchiha Kaede had by now completely abandoned any thought of comparing themselves to Shinsuke, and were left with nothing but blank, dazed expressions.
This level of battle had already far surpassed anything within the scope of their understanding!
The flames dissipated.
Uchiha Shinsuke and Uchiha Tekka each fell back several steps, facing each other from a distance.
Fine beads of sweat had seeped across Uchiha Shinsuke's forehead, and his breathing had grown slightly labored.
Controlling such powerful fire-style techniques came with an immense drain on chakra.
Uchiha Tekka, though he still appeared composed and at ease, now carried an even heavier weight of gravity in the gaze he fixed on Uchiha Shinsuke.
'Impressive kid! He actually pushed the Dragon Fire Technique to this level!' Tekka praised him silently.
"Squad Leader Tekka, my apologies for what comes next!"
Uchiha Shinsuke let out a low shout and launched the attack himself once more!
He understood clearly that a prolonged battle was not in his favor.
He had to end it quickly!
Uchiha Shinsuke drove off the ground with explosive force, his body shooting toward Tekka like an arrow loosed from a bow, the kunai in his hand glinting with a cold, lethal light beneath the sun!
"Come on then!"
The fighting spirit in Uchiha Tekka's eyes blazed even hotter as he drew his own kunai and charged forward to meet him!
Clang clang clang!
The crisp ring of metal striking metal sounded in rapid succession across the field.
The two figures moved fast as lightning, constantly crossing and clashing throughout the field, sending showers of sparks flying!
Uchiha Shinsuke pushed the perceptive power of his one-tomoe Sharingan to its absolute limit, clearly capturing every one of Tekka's attacks and every follow-up shift in technique.
Uchiha Tekka grew more alarmed with every exchange.
Uchiha Shinsuke's taijutsu was not as seasoned as his, but his combat instincts were frighteningly sharp!
Several attacks that Tekka had been certain would land were dissolved by Shinsuke in advance through methods that defied expectation.
'Is this kid a natural-born combat genius?!'
The instant that thought flashed through Tekka's mind, the crimson light in Uchiha Shinsuke's eyes surged suddenly and intensely!
The opening was here!
A heavy, forceful slashing blow from Tekka was sidestepped by Shinsuke, leaving him wide open at the center!
Now!
"Fire Style: Flame Bullet!"
Uchiha Shinsuke's mouth erupted with a highly concentrated ball of flame!
The flame bullet was not large in size, but the chakra packed within it was exceptionally pure!
And its speed was fast as lightning!
Fired from such a close distance!
Uchiha Tekka had never imagined that Uchiha Shinsuke could, in the midst of such intense close-quarters combat, instantly unleash a fire-style technique of such staggering power!
This left him no time to perform a substitution to evade.
In his haste, he could only pour chakra into both arms, cross them over his chest, and take the blow head-on!
BOOM!
A deep, heavy explosion rang out!
Uchiha Tekka was blasted backward dozens of meters by a tremendous force!
Uchiha Tekka had actually been pushed back, and had taken damage.
Uchiha Shinsuke slowly let out a breath, his chest rising and falling slightly.
That flame bullet just now had drained nearly all of the chakra he had left.
But he had succeeded!
Although it was only a simulated battle, and Uchiha Tekka had not even activated his Sharingan and had likely used less than half of his true strength, this was still a brilliant achievement capable of shaking the entire Uchiha Clan!
"Cough, cough..."
Uchiha Tekka wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and rather than showing any anger, broke into an exhilarated grin.
"Incredible kid! What a kid! Ha ha ha ha!"
Uchiha Tekka walked up to Uchiha Shinsuke and gave his shoulder a firm, hearty slap.
"Uchiha Shinsuke, from this day on, you are a member of the Uchiha Guard!"
Uchiha Tekka turned to face the examiner's table and made the announcement in a loud, resounding voice.
"Combat simulation, score: exceptional!"
Two exceptional scores!
One superior score!
Uchiha Shinsuke had passed the Guard assessment with an overwhelming dominance that left no room for dispute!
Within just half a day, the name "Uchiha Shinsuke" spread like a storm across the entire Uchiha clan territory!
The former "failure Shinsuke" had now become the "genius Shinsuke" whom everyone held in awe!
Three days after the assessment concluded, Uchiha Shinsuke officially put on the Uchiha Guard uniform that represented power and honor.
Uchiha Shinsuke was assigned to the First Squad under Uchiha Tekka's command.
Patrols, training, handling disputes within the clan: life became regular and fulfilling.
And Uchiha Shinsuke's system panel had also undergone tremendous changes.
[Ding! The host has successfully passed the Uchiha Guard assessment and has risen in standing!]
[Ding! The host made a name for himself in a single battle and astonished all present, clan prestige has risen greatly, Clan Honor Points +300!]
[Ding! Senior Guard members Uchiha Tekka, Uchiha Hachidai, Uchiha Setsuna, and others have developed a high level of recognition for the host, loyalty has risen substantially!]
A string of notification chimes put Uchiha Shinsuke in excellent spirits.
He opened the member list.
[Uchiha Tekka, Loyalty: 80% (to the clan), 20% (to the host).]
[Uchiha Hachidai, Loyalty: 90% (to the clan), 15% (to the host).]
[Uchiha Setsuna, Loyalty: 80% (to the clan), 15% (to the host).]
After that assessment, a number of senior Guard members had seen a marked rise in their loyalty toward him.
This was an excellent start!
[Uchiha Shinsuke Attribute Panel]
[Strength: Elite Chunin (Chakra approaching early Jonin level)]
[Mastered Skills: Shadow Clone Technique (Mastered), Complete Fire-Style Ninjutsu Mastery, Sharingan (One-Tomoe), Uchiha-Style Taijutsu (Proficient)]
[Clan Standing: Member of the Uchiha Guard First Squad]
[Clan Honor Points: 685]
[Overall Clan Prestige Assessment: Genin Level (Mid) (slightly risen due to host's increased standing and Honor Points)]