Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had every intention of refusing, the sheer number of clan heads demanding the assessment was too much to ignore. Ultimately, the Third Hokage was forced to clear out Training Ground One specifically for Jie Uchiha's graduation exam.
When Jie arrived, he found the massive training ground completely empty save for the gathered clan heads of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi, his Academy instructor Tatsuya Yamashiro, and a young, masked Jonin with white hair.
'Kakashi Hatake?' Jie thought, raising an eyebrow. 'Hiruzen, you shameless old man. You actually brought in an elite Jonin to be the examiner?'
Despite the surprise, Jie internally breathed a sigh of relief. If it was Kakashi Hatake, things wouldn't be so bad. After all, who hadn't heard the reputation of the famous "Mr. Fifty-Fifty"?
Furthermore, Kakashi was infamous for his lack of stamina. A few high-level Jutsu and his notoriously small chakra reserves would hit rock bottom. While Jie's own base chakra capacity was currently roughly on par with Kakashi's, he possessed the Sage Body. In a battle of attrition, Jie was confident he could outlast five Kakashis without breaking a sweat.
Noticing Jie's arrival, Hiruzen took a slow drag from his pipe. "Jie, are you absolutely certain you want to take the graduation exam on your very first day of enrollment?"
The Hokage exhaled a plume of smoke, his tone shifting into a weary lecture. "Ever since my teacher, the Second Hokage, Lord Tobirama, founded the Academy, the Will of Fire has been passed down through its halls. Are you certain you have already grasped the Will of Fire, and are truly ready to bear the heavy burdens of a ninja?"
Jie almost laughed out loud. The old man constantly kept the 'Will of Fire' on his lips, parading it around as if everyone didn't already know it was just a political tool to enforce his own will. Besides, the curriculum taught at the Academy was practically useless. In the original timeline, Naruto Uzumaki couldn't even manage the basic Clone Jutsu during his graduation exam, yet that didn't stop him from using his unique powers to become the world-renowned Seventh Hokage.
Forcing down the overwhelming urge to roast the old man, Jie took a deep breath. "Yes, Lord Hokage. I am ready."
"Very well," Hiruzen nodded. "In that case, Kakashi Hatake will serve as your chief examiner. To pass this assessment, you simply need to survive under his attacks for five minutes."
As soon as the Hokage finished speaking, a wave of murmurs and quiet arguments rippled through the observing clan heads.
Everyone present knew exactly who Kakashi Hatake was. He was the son of Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake, and the sole surviving student of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. He was a peerless genius who had graduated from the Academy in a single year. By his second year, he was promoted to Chunin, and by the age of twelve, he had become the youngest Jonin in Konoha's history.
Later, after receiving a Sharingan from a dying comrade during a mission, he allegedly copied hundreds of jutsu, earning the moniker "Konoha's Technician."
To have such a prestigious, elite Jonin act as the examiner—and to demand that a child hold out against him for five whole minutes—seemed like an absolutely impossible task.
In the stands, Fugaku Uchiha's eyes narrowed sharply as Kakashi stepped into the center of the training ground. After a moment, his tense posture slowly relaxed.
'It's fine if Jie suffers a bit of a setback,' Fugaku thought, sighing internally. 'Let him learn that there is always someone stronger out there in the world. Perhaps then he won't be in such a rush to leave the Academy.'
Down on the field, Kakashi looked lazily at Jie and broke the silence. "You know, you look a lot like a friend of mine. Another Uchiha."
'Obito Uchiha?' Jie blinked, feeling a sudden surge of indignation. 'I am handsome, dashing, and possess unmatched talent. How am I anything like that simpleton Obito?'
"You're both incredibly confident," Kakashi continued, his visible eye curving slightly. "You both believe you can accomplish anything."
Jie was practically speechless. His confidence was firmly rooted in his actual strength and cheat abilities. Obito's confidence, on the other hand, was purely the result of a low IQ.
"But I must apologize," Kakashi said, his tone dropping the casual drawl. "I won't be holding back today. Bring it on!"
As the last word left his mouth, Kakashi's aura instantly shifted. A wave of powerful chakra, laced with a thick, suffocating killing intent, washed over the field, making the very air feel stagnant.
If an ordinary Academy student had been hit by that wave of pressure, they would have collapsed to the ground in terror. Even Jie couldn't help but shiver as his instincts registered the sudden threat.
But it only took a second for Jie to adjust his mental state. Instead of fear, a burning fighting spirit flared to life in his chest.
Since transmigrating to the Naruto world, he had only truly fought twice. The first time was against Obito, but he had relied on the Tailed Beast Cloak and had Minato Namikaze standing by to back him up. The second time was against his younger brother, Itachi Uchiha, which had been nothing more than a friendly spar devoid of any real passion or danger.
Now, facing a genuinely powerful opponent like Kakashi, Jie was eager to test his own limits.
Seeing Kakashi settle into a combat stance, Jie's hand became a blur, swiping across his ninja pouch. In an instant, six shuriken were securely gripped between his fingers.
Swish!
Without a second of hesitation, Jie pinpointed his trajectories and snapped his wrists. The six shuriken tore through the air, rocketing straight toward Kakashi.
'His throwing speed is excellent, but his accuracy needs work,' Kakashi noted calmly as he watched the projectiles approach. Keeping Hiruzen's instructions in mind, he was already mentally drafting the first line of Jie's evaluation.
Kakashi effortlessly shifted his weight, sidestepping to dodge the six flying blades. He prepared to counterattack, but just as he moved, a sharp sound rang out directly behind him.
Clang!
It was the distinct ring of metal violently striking metal. A heartbeat later, the surrounding crowd erupted into a collective gasp of astonishment.