Konoha, Just Like Kizaru

The Third Hokage's eye-catching speech finally came to an end. 

A teacher from the Ninja Academy stepped up to take over. 

"This assessment is very important. It not only determines whether you graduate, but also affects your team placements after graduation." 

"To motivate everyone, lord Hokage will rate your performance after watching your battles."

"The student who takes first place will receive a reward of 200,000 Ryo from the village!" 

Kushina's eyes lit up. "Hmph, I will definitely show lord Hokage my true strength!" 

For her, gaining the Third Hokage's approval was crucial if she wanted to become the next Hokage.

Minato, on the other hand, remained calm and collected.

Minato had a gentle personality and didn't seem eager to fight for anything. Yet, it was this calm demeanor that made those around him feel at ease.

Simu, who had always been indifferent and lacked fighting spirit, suddenly perked up. 

Good guy, it's 200,000 Ryo! 

If he remembers correctly, that's a reward for an A-level mission!

With 200,000 Ryo, he could live comfortably for several months.

After a moment of thought, Simu made up his mind: he would go for it!

Minato was a bit surprised to see the sudden fire igniting in Simu. Just a moment ago, he seemed lifeless, and now he was full of energy.

Kushina glanced at him. "Hmph, so you finally want to show off in front of Hokage-sama?"

Simu shook his head. "I'm just in it for the money."

Minato frowned slightly, but remembering Simu's experience growing up in an orphanage, he couldn't help but feel a bit sympathetic.

"Understood."

Kushina realized something and scratched her head, looking a bit embarrassed. 

Simu sensed that they might have misunderstood him, but he didn't care. 

What mattered most was that he had to win first place today!

First up was Kushina. 

Even though she was a girl, she was still from the Uzumaki clan, and her punches were definitely not weaker than Tsunade's in her academy days.

Kushina's fighting style was simple: she simply swung her fists to attack. 

Her opponent was a male student from the class who had often mocked her red hair when she transferred from another school. 

Little did he know that he would soon face a fierce opponent.

As soon as he stepped onto the field, his legs began to tremble. 

Kushina wasted no time and delivered a powerful punch, sending him flying.

"Next up are Namikaze Minato and Hyuga Tenichi." 

Simu's eyes peeked out from under his sunglasses, curious to see what the legendary golden boy looked like when he was young.

Minato did not disappoint him—or anyone else who had high hopes for him. 

Even against a genius from the Hyuga clan, Minato held his own. 

Although Hyuga Tenichi had activated his Byakugan at a young age, Minato still managed to gain the upper hand in their taijutsu battle.

"Is this guy really without any bloodline advantage?" Simu mused, stroking his chin. 

In this world where bloodlines matter, civilian geniuses like Minato are truly rare. 

Take Hyuga Tenichi, for example; no other common student could compete with him like this. 

After all, the Hyuga clan is born with superior dynamic vision and can anticipate an opponent's next move by sensing the flow of Chakra in their body. 

How do normal people fight against that?

In other words, Minato's physical skills are impressive. 

The key factor is that his speed surpasses everything else. 

Even though Hyuga Tenichi has exceptional eyes and can anticipate Namikaze Minato's next move, he still can't keep up with him!

"It's over," Simu said suddenly.

Kushina was confused by what she saw. 

Hyuga Tenichi launched a powerful palm strike at Minato, sending him stumbling back. 

But Minato quickly recovered, using his hands to support himself. With a burst of energy, he kicked hard at Hyuga Tenichi's chest!

Hyuga Tenichi let out a snort. 

He felt as if he had been struck by a bison, easily knocked over by the sheer force of Minato's kick. 

The teacher quickly rushed in to help him up. 

"In this duel, Namikaze Minato wins."

"Minato is amazing!" 

"Minato-kun is awesome!" 

With his good looks and impressive skills, Minato instantly caught the attention of many young fans. 

After checking on Hyuga Tenichi's injuries, the teacher finally called out Simu's name.

"Hanyu Simu vs. Uchiha Hikari."

Kushina suddenly became serious. "Simu, that guy from the Uchiha clan is not easy to deal with..."

Before she could finish her warning, Simu stood up and confidently walked into the arena, wearing his coat of justice.

As Minato brushed past him, he whispered, "Come on." 

Simu casually slid his hands into his pockets and slowly stepped onto the stage. 

To his surprise, his opponent was a young member of the Uchiha clan. 

But that was fine; facing a Uchiha would allow him to showcase his strength even more. 

With a prize of two hundred thousand Ryo on the line, he was determined to win!

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TO BE CONTINUED