Naruto: From Hyuga To Otsutsuki With My Deduction System

What makes time feel short is activity; what makes time unbearably long is comfort.

Three months is neither long nor short, but in the flurry of missions and battles, Hirito and his team made significant progress.

Among them, Namikaze Minato showed the greatest improvement. With inherent talent and extraordinary potential, Minato's skills in basic taijutsu alone already surpassed many Genin at the Academy. All he'd lacked were ninjutsu knowledge and resources. However, after three months under Shinichi's intensive guidance, Minato absorbed everything like a sponge, developing at an astonishing rate. It felt as though his abilities transformed every three days.

Nonō and Hirito's growth was more gradual. Nonō's skills didn't entirely align with Shinichi's training style, while Hirito's Gentle Fist techniques limited how much Shinichi could help. Nonetheless, these three months were invaluable for Hirito. With every mission, Shinichi took them to the underground money exchange to take on bounty missions. These real battles helped refine their abilities, giving them a deeper mastery over what they already knew.

For Hirito, even though he didn't learn any new techniques during this period, he felt like he could now defeat his three-months-ago self with twice the efficiency. His combat timing, Chakra management, and fighting style combined with his Byakugan insight grew sharper, all helping him to maximize his potential.

At the Hokage Building

Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a stream of smoke, studying the four people standing before him.

"Shinichi, are you sure you want to apply for the Chūnin assessment for them now?" He raised an eyebrow, noting that these three students had applied for early graduation only three months prior.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," Shinichi replied firmly. "After this period of observation, I have no doubt."

He gestured to the three young ninjas, his tone confident. "They have proven themselves in their intelligence-gathering, team coordination, ability to face challenges, perseverance, survival skills, and individual combat prowess."

Raising his hand in the traditional shinobi pledge, Shinichi continued with a solemn expression. "In the name of Shinichi, I recommend Namikaze Minato, Hyuga Hirito, and Yakushi Nonō for the Chūnin assessment."

Sarutobi glanced at the team's mission record: ten D-rank missions, eight C-rank missions, and even one B-rank mission. The record more than met the conditions for the Chūnin assessment.

He paused thoughtfully, then called, "Lynx."

With a swift noise, a masked ninja appeared, half-kneeling before the Hokage.

"Escort them to the Chūnin assessment," Hiruzen instructed.

"Yes, Lord Third," the masked ninja replied in a respectful, icy tone.

As they walked to the assessment site, Hirito noticed a different mood in the village. Maybe it was the number of shinobi that had decreased, or perhaps it was a sense of tension permeating Konoha. Either way, he felt the weight of responsibility.

Initially, Hirito had assumed that becoming a Chūnin required taking the formal Chūnin exams. After learning more, he understood that this wasn't the only path.

There are two ways to become a Chūnin: through the Chūnin Exams or by selection and appointment. The latter is the more common path in most ninja villages.

The Chūnin Exam, primarily intended to showcase the village's strength, often brings together participants who are already at or near the Chūnin level. Small nations may send inexperienced shinobi, effectively as cannon fodder. The exam itself has a high elimination rate, making it more a test of a shinobi's exceptional qualities than an ordinary promotion process.

As seen in the original Naruto storyline, during Naruto's Chūnin Exam, nearly two hundred participants began the exam, yet only ten reached the final stage—and even then, not all of them became Chūnin.

For this reason, many Chūnin reach their rank by appointment based on experience and demonstrated capability in lower-rank missions. Once deemed mature in all aspects, a Genin might be appointed as a Chūnin.

There's also another way—exceptionally talented young shinobi can skip the exam entirely if their sensei sponsors them for Chūnin. Shinichi was confident his students could handle the promotion.

The Chūnin Assessment Begins

The examiner, an Elite Chūnin, initially approached the assessment as routine. But as Hirito took the stage first, the examiner felt a surge of surprise.

"The Hyuga clan… using a sword?" he muttered, noticing a ninja sword tied across Hirito's back.

With a calm smile, Hirito unsheathed his sword slowly, the blade gleaming at 50 centimeters long.

As the whistle signaled the start, Hirito activated his Byakugan, veins popping around his eyes.

Despite the Hyuga clan's focus on Gentle Fist and taijutsu, Hirito had learned to take every fight seriously.

"Hyuga Hirito," he greeted politely, "Brother Examiner, please go easy on me."

With that, Hirito disappeared from the examiner's line of sight in a flash of movement.

"He's fast!" the examiner's eyes widened as he strained to keep track of Hirito's movements. Out of instinct, he threw shurikens to disrupt Hirito's speed, but Hirito evaded seamlessly, his speed seeming only to increase.

The examiner felt a cold sensation against the back of his neck. He attempted to dodge, substituting himself with a nearby log. As he reappeared, he formed a minimal seal with his fingers.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

In an instant, a Shadow Clone emerged beside him, and both charged at Hirito from different angles.

"Troublesome Shadow Clone…"

With his Byakugan active, Hirito could clearly see the examiner's Chakra, but even with this enhanced vision, it was nearly impossible to distinguish between the real body and the clone. Hirito had no choice but to engage at his fullest speed.

With a sudden shift, Hirito's figure blurred, turning into an afterimage as he accelerated beyond the examiner's reaction speed.

"What—!"

The examiner's thought was cut short as both his real self and the Shadow Clone were struck simultaneously by Hirito.

The Shadow Clone vanished with a poof, and the examiner stood, clutching his shoulder as the memory of the attack flowed back into him. He stumbled slightly.

A soft sound cut through the silence—a ninja sword resting against his Chūnin vest.

"I win, Brother Examiner," Hirito's voice came from behind, calm and steady.

The examiner had expected a typical assessment. But this… This had him wondering if Hirito might already be at a level beyond Chūnin.

In the past three months, Hirito's training had focused not on learning new techniques but on mastering his existing skills to an exceptional degree. His timing, Chakra control, and movement were all woven seamlessly into his fighting style.

This was a level of focus and precision rarely seen even among more seasoned Chūnin. Shinichi had indeed trained a remarkable shinobi.

With Hirito's match complete, Nonō and Minato were up next, each demonstrating their own unique strengths honed through months of intense training and missions.

Minato's mastery of ninjutsu, especially Fire Style, had become refined and forceful. Under Shinichi's guidance, he'd gained a broader understanding of combat tactics, which complemented his speed and precise timing.

Nonō's medical skills had made her invaluable on missions. Her Wind Style techniques were both defensive and offensive, providing flexibility to her role in the team.

One by one, they faced off in their assessments, showing their growth and determination.

After watching his students' performances, Shinichi smiled with pride. They'd all come a long way, and their capabilities were a testament to the time and effort they had invested.

As he watched the examiners deliberate, he felt confident that the team's future as Chūnin was within reach.

The Chūnin assessment continued, but one thing was clear—these three shinobi were ready to take the next step.