Chapter 11: Is This What It’s Like When Geniuses Clash?

"Kakashi… lost?"

"No way, did Mirai actually beat Kakashi?"

"It's over… just like that?"

The crowd watched, stunned, as Uchiha Mirai held his long sword at Kakashi's neck. Shock filled everyone's faces. Kakashi, the one they'd put so much faith in, had lost?

Just as they thought the match was settled, the unexpected happened.

Kakashi's body suddenly turned into a burst of lightning, exploding against Mirai's form.

The ground cracked open, and Kakashi emerged from below, his short blade poised at Mirai's throat.

"You did well," Kakashi said in a low voice, "but this is the end."

He hadn't expected such a challenging fight. If not for using his Lightning Release: Shadow Clone Technique as bait to paralyze Mirai, he might've been the one defeated.

But Mirai's expression barely changed, a faint smile played at his lips.

Kakashi's instincts flared, warning him, but before he could react, the Mirai before him vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!"

With a murmur, Mirai grabbed Kakashi's legs from below, pulling him into the earth, leaving only his head exposed.

Mirai crouched in front of him, sheathing his blade. "You did well, but this is the end."

Kakashi's face turned crimson beneath his mask. He… had lost. Worse, he hadn't made any obvious mistakes, yet he'd still been outmaneuvered. Mirai had anticipated his Clone trick all along. This level of battle intelligence… terrifying.

"The match is over."

Mirai looked toward the instructor, who finally snapped out of his daze, announcing in a trembling voice,

"The winner: Uchiha Mirai!"

The crowd erupted.

"It's unbelievable… Kakashi lost."

"Mirai's strength… has it reached this level already?"

"That fight was incredible! This is what a ninja battle is supposed to be like!"

"Compared to them, our fights are like children playing pretend…"

"Looks like the title of Konoha's top genius has a new owner."

For the students who had yet to graduate from the Academy, the battle between Mirai and Kakashi had shattered their expectations of what ninja combat could be.

Hand-to-hand combat, jutsu feints—a Clone as bait, a Shadow Clone counterattack… layers upon layers of strategy. Truly thrilling!

"Damn it! Has he already grown this strong?"

Asuma, who had been feeling proud of mastering Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning, now felt an overwhelming sense of frustration. Mirai's display left him feeling miles behind.

Obito clenched his teeth, too. Mirai today was the person he wished he could be. Watching Rin, her cheeks flushed with excitement, Obito couldn't help but daydream—if he had Mirai's power, maybe Rin would want to be his girlfriend…

"So this is what it means to be a genius? Guess I still have a long way to go. Starting today, I'm running laps around the village upside down!"

"Now that's youth!"

Guy's eyes shone with determination. Unlike the others, he was awed by the level of taijutsu Kakashi and Mirai had displayed. Taijutsu was all he had, all he excelled at, and if he couldn't make his mark in his one strength, he felt he had nothing. From now on, he'd push himself even harder.

"Heh… that kid really surprised me."

Hiruzen took a thoughtful puff from his pipe as he watched Kakashi's defeat. Mirai's talent had clearly impressed him. Keeping Mirai out of the Konoha Police Force had been the right decision—better to have this level of genius where he could keep an eye on him.

"Lord Third, Kakashi just got careless. Otherwise, with his skill, there's no way he would've lost to Mirai," Fugaku Uchiha insisted, feeling the need to defend Kakashi. He understood Hiruzen's motives in having Kakashi participate in the exam, and now that Kakashi had lost, he feared the Third Hokage might hold it against the Uchiha clan.

"Fugaku, a loss is a loss. There's no need to make excuses for him," Hiruzen replied with a light chuckle.

"It's a good thing for Konoha to have a genius like this around."

Hiruzen had seen countless prodigies—Uchiha Kagami, Sakumo Hatake, Orochimaru, Tsunade… all exceptional talents. Unless someone reached the legendary heights of Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, Hiruzen felt confident he could keep them in check.

"Well, today's exams are over. Let's head back," he said, turning to leave the stage.

Fugaku, Minato, and others followed him closely, though Orochimaru lingered, his gaze on Mirai filled with intrigue. Sensing Orochimaru's stare, Mirai looked back from afar.

"Impressive senses…" Orochimaru murmured with a grin, his tongue flicking across his face. Such a fine body. Once my Living Corpse Reincarnation is perfected, he'll make an excellent first vessel.

Mirai quietly withdrew his gaze as Orochimaru turned to leave. Although dangerous, Orochimaru was likely only experimenting on orphans and death row prisoners at this stage. Until Living Corpse Reincarnation was completed, Mirai didn't see him as an immediate threat. Given time, he was confident Orochimaru would be no match for him.

The crowd dispersed, and Kurenai bounded over to Mirai.

"Mirai, that was amazing! You even beat Kakashi!"

Mirai pinched her slightly chubby cheek.

"Why are you more excited than me? People might think you were the one who defeated Kakashi."

Kurenai giggled. "It's the same thing!"

"Tomorrow, we're getting assigned to our teams. Don't be late!"

----------------

Read 10 chapters ahead for free on my patreon, read pinned message!

+70 chapters on patreon.com/Jixo