Chapter 6: Hand-Seal-Less Fire Release, Victory, and Applying for Early Graduation

On Uchiha Itachi’s side, seeing his shuriken knocked down, he was slightly surprised, but did not think much of it.

Taking advantage of the opening created while Reiji was knocking away the shuriken, Itachi ran forward while rapidly forming hand seals.

Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger!

He took a deep breath, his chest swelling up.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A fireball three to four meters in diameter completely blocked the view between the two and surged toward Reiji.

’At this distance, he shouldn’t be able to dodge...’

Uchiha Itachi thought to himself.

His opponent’s taijutsu and shurikenjutsu were both no weaker than his own. Even if he could ultimately win by relying on the ninjutsu he had mastered, as far as Itachi was concerned, he would still have lost this battle.

He had already decided that after this fight, he would seek out Shisui for special training.

Tamura-sensei had not even had time to be surprised that Itachi had mastered an elemental ninjutsu. He had just been about to rush over and rescue Reiji when he saw Reiji bring the index and middle fingers of his left hand together and hold them upright in front of his mouth.

He had not formed a single hand seal.

Instead, he directly spat out a massive fireball!

In terms of size alone, it was even larger than Uchiha Itachi’s Great Fireball!

Almost at the exact moment Uchiha Itachi finished forming his hand seals, Reiji simultaneously unleashed his own Great Fireball Technique!

Uchiha Itachi, who had originally been thinking about whether he should apply for early graduation first or spend some time undergoing special training with Shisui, stared blankly as his fireball was scattered. Another fireball came from the opposite direction, carrying the remaining force and charging toward him!

Boom!

The scorching flames seared his skin. At the critical moment, Tamura-sensei hurriedly changed direction and barely managed to pull Uchiha Itachi away from the path of the fireball.

The medical ninja who had been waiting nearby immediately rushed forward to treat the skin Itachi had burned.

"...The winner, Uchiha Reiji."

Tamura-sensei announced the result, his face still filled with shock.

"Reiji... actually won..."

"They both mastered Fire Release ninjutsu? Damn it! Is the gap between us really this huge? We’re all the same age!"

"Did you guys see that? It looked like Reiji didn’t form any hand seals when he used his ninjutsu just now."

"How could that be? You must have seen it wrong. How could anyone use ninjutsu without forming hand seals?"

The battle had happened too quickly. Moreover, most of the students’ attention had been focused on Uchiha Itachi, while the flames had obscured their view. Many of them were therefore uncertain whether Reiji had formed hand seals when he used his ninjutsu.

However, Tamura-sensei and the other Chunin instructors nearby had seen it clearly.

That child had not formed any hand seals at all just now. He had used the same Great Fireball Technique as Uchiha Itachi, and it had even been more powerful!

On Uchiha Itachi’s side, he received treatment from the medical ninja, but his face was blank and dazed.

He had lost.

He had actually... lost?

Taijutsu, shurikenjutsu, ninjutsu—he had already used most of the methods he currently possessed, yet he had still lost.

Thinking back to what he had been thinking earlier, he found it somewhat laughable, while at the same time feeling a sharp pain in his heart.

He raised his head and looked toward Reiji. The other party seemed to be looking at him as well.

Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Itachi felt that he seemed to see an emotion called disappointment in Reiji’s eyes.

In an instant, the pain in Uchiha Itachi’s heart grew even stronger. He could not help clenching his fists, only to be scolded several times by the medical ninja treating him.

Reiji withdrew his gaze from Uchiha Itachi. Seeing that the other boy was in poor condition, he did not form the Reconciliation Seal. Instead, he reached up and touched the area around his own eyes.

He had won without using the Sharingan.

He had his own pride as well.

Since Uchiha Itachi had not awakened his Sharingan yet, there was no reason for him to use his Sharingan during the fight either.

However, since he had won even without it, there really was nothing left for him to learn at the Ninja Academy.

"Tamura-sensei, I’d like to apply for early graduation."

Reiji spoke calmly.

"...All right. However, I can’t make that decision myself. I’ll need to report it to the Hokage."

Tamura-sensei was not particularly surprised by this.

The strength Reiji had demonstrated earlier had already reached the level of a Genin.

If he continued staying at the Ninja Academy, there was not much more Tamura-sensei could teach him.

And it was not just Reiji.

Although Uchiha Itachi had lost, in his opinion, he also possessed the strength necessary to apply for early graduation.

"Phew~"

Tamura-sensei let out a long breath.

His class had really produced two geniuses.

Hokage Tower.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had already received two applications for early graduation from the Ninja Academy.

That was right—two applications.

Uchiha Itachi had also applied for early graduation.

After losing to Reiji, he had instead become even more determined in his decision.

He could no longer stay at the Ninja Academy and waste time.

Playing those boring ninja games was completely useless for improving his strength.

"Uchiha Itachi, son of Uchiha Fugaku, the Uchiha clan leader. Since entering the academy, he has ranked first in every examination. His taijutsu is excellent, his shurikenjutsu is excellent, and he has mastered a C-rank Fire Release technique."

"Uchiha Reiji, whose parents died in battle. His grades at the Ninja Academy are above average, but he has always trained extremely hard. During the previous practical combat assessment, he demonstrated excellent taijutsu and shurikenjutsu, and has also mastered the Great Fireball Technique."

"...He even used the Great Fireball Technique without forming any hand seals."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at one of the applications and muttered to himself.

This had been confirmed by several Chunin instructors who had been present at the time.

Hand-Seal-Less Fire Release!

"The Uchiha clan really has produced two geniuses..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed in admiration before flipping through two other documents.

They were two examination papers from the Ninja Academy. One of the previous questions had asked the students to write down their understanding of shinobi and the Will of Fire.

The central idea of Uchiha Itachi’s answer was that a shinobi was someone capable of enduring and bearing burdens, and that shinobi should shoulder their missions for the sake of the village and peace.

The central idea of Uchiha Reiji’s answer, on the other hand, was that shinobi were people who possessed power, and that this power should be used to protect their families, comrades, and friends.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyes, the difference between the two was immediately apparent.

The latter answer was still somewhat narrow. Unlike the former, it had failed to transcend the limitations of the individual, family, and clan, and its understanding of the Will of Fire was still insufficient.

Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help feeling somewhat troubled.

In his view, Uchiha Reiji would be better off remaining at the Ninja Academy and receiving more education about the Will of Fire.

On the other hand, Uchiha Itachi, who had lost the practical combat assessment, could be allowed to graduate early.

However.

There was no reason for the second-place student to graduate while the first-place student remained at school, was there?

After thinking for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi came up with an idea.

"Give the order. Arrange two more assessments for them. If they pass, allow them to graduate early."