NARUTO: In the Era of Sannin

Nara Namakae, the notoriously lazy instructor, sat slumped at his desk. He was known for his indifference, but this time he couldn't afford to slack off. 

The task of grading the students during the early graduation exam was more important than usual. The stakes were higher—this year's graduates could end up under the Second Hokage's personal guards, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

As Namakae watched student after student perform, he found himself growing weary. 

The repetition of basic techniques, the predictable approach—everything was blending together, making it hard for him to differentiate between them.

'Why do they always follow the same pattern?' he thought, rubbing his eyes. 

Each child had memorized the same jutsu, the same sequences, as if their imagination and initiative had been locked away.

Then, Yuichi entered the room.

Namakae scanned through his file with half-lidded eyes. 

Civilian background, marked improvement in the last year, top scores in theory but slower compared to the other top students.

'Hmph, another one with potential but not enough refinement,' Namakae mused as Yuichi prepared his first jutsu. He leaned forward, though, there was something different about this one.

Yuichi's movements were fluid, precise, and far more practiced than Namakae expected.

'He's good... no, better than I thought,' Namakae thought, narrowing his eyes. 

He watched intently, evaluating the boy's ninjutsu with a scrutiny he rarely applied to students. Yuichi's chakra control was impressive, his hand seals executed with grace rather than haste.

It was clear that this kid had put in work, far beyond what his civilian background might suggest.

But Namakae wasn't someone to be easily impressed. He knew that ninjutsu proficiency alone wasn't enough.

"Do you have anything else that sets you apart?" Namakae asked, his voice devoid of any enthusiasm, as if he already expected the answer to be no. He drummed his fingers on the desk, mentally preparing for more mediocrity.

But then Yuichi vanished.

For a split second, Namakae's heart raced, his eyes widening as Yuichi reappeared at the other side of the room.

'Body Flicker Technique? At his age?' Namakae kept his expression neutral, but inside, he was intrigued.

The technique required advanced chakra control, certainly more than a fresh graduate would possess. Most genin couldn't even manage a proper chakra walk, let alone pull off a body flicker this smoothly.

And then, just as quickly, Yuichi was back in place, his breathing steady, as if he had been doing this for years.

Namakae ran calculations in his head, scenarios of how Yuichi might fare in combat. But he wasn't done yet.

"Show me your next jutsu," Namakae said, his voice tinged with curiosity now.

Yuichi nodded, stepping back. His fingers danced through the seals again, and a low hum filled the air.

Suddenly, sparks of blue lightning began dancing across Yuichi's body. It wasn't just a standard lightning technique, it was controlled, refined. 

His muscles tensed as lightning chakra coursed through his veins, enhancing his speed and strength to levels far beyond what Namakae had expected.

Namakae's mouth hung slightly open, a rare break in his typically aloof demeanor.

"What the...?"

The technique wasn't just strong, it was dangerous. 

Namakae had seen high-ranking jonin struggle with maintaining this kind of chakra control during a lightning-enhanced state. And yet, here was a boy, barely old enough to graduate, channeling lightning chakra like it was second nature.

Then came the strike. Yuichi attacked the dummy, and upon impact, a crackling bolt of lightning surged from his hand, reducing the target to cinders. The smell of ozone filled the room.

Namakae sat in stunned silence for a moment before clearing his throat.

"Yuichi, was it?" he began, trying to mask his amazement. "What's the name of that jutsu?"

Yuichi, still catching his breath, replied calmly, "It's a Kekkei Genkai-specific jutsu, sir. It's called 'Blitz Spark'."

A Kekkei Genkai. That explained the extraordinary display. But Namakae was puzzled. There had been no mention of such a bloodline in Yuichi's file.

"Interesting," Namakae said, leaning back in his chair. 

"We didn't know the Ensho family had a Kekkei Genkai. Can you tell me more about it? Just the basics; something we'll need to report to the Hokage for records."

Yuichi hesitated, then nodded. 

"It's called 'Lightning Enhancement'. It allows me to channel lightning chakra through my body to boost my physical abilities. The jutsu you saw, Blitz Spark, is a more advanced form. But it hasn't been in our family for generations, so I don't have much to go on."

Namakae listened carefully, noting the weight in Yuichi's words. This was more than just a powerful jutsu, it was something tied to his family, his heritage. And yet, Yuichi seemed almost reluctant to embrace it fully.

Namakae made a mental note, his earlier laziness replaced by genuine interest. This kid had potential, not just as a ninja, but as something more.

With a final nod, Namakae completed Yuichi's assessment, grading him higher than most.

***

After the assessment, Yuichi exited the room, exhausted but satisfied. 

He had revealed enough to stand out, but not everything. His true bloodline was still hidden, buried beneath layers of secrets.

'Never show your best cards until the right moment.' That was a rule Yuichi had learned in the underworld. And he lived by it even now.

He walked into the large hall where the other students who had passed the first round waited. Orochimaru and Jiraiya were already there, waiting patiently. Yuichi joined them, exchanging greetings as they passed the time.

Jiraiya, ever the prankster, tried to lighten the mood, while Orochimaru spoke of more serious matters: jutsu, strategy, and the weight of their futures as shinobi. Yuichi, still drained from the exam, listened quietly, his mind already thinking about the next challenge.

Suddenly, an instructor walked into the room. "I will now announce the names of those who made it to the final round. When your name is called, please exit through the door behind me."

Yuichi straightened up, feeling a sense of anticipation rise in his chest. This was it, the moment he had been preparing for.