"Uhm…"
Bang!
Extra A: "Why'd you hit me?! Damn…"
Extra B: "Did it hurt?"
Extra A: "Of course it hurt! And you still haven't told me why you hit me! If you don't give me a reason, we're sparring outside later!"
"Uh, well… since it hurt, that must mean this is real after all. We weren't seeing things." Extra B pointed at the two fighting in the arena, looking completely shocked. "I actually believe the rumors from yesterday now. It's hard to imagine a five-year-old kid being this strong."
"He can actually activate his body's cellular activity to this extent? I haven't even learned Lightning Armor yet!" another Chūnin said enviously.
...
Boom! The two people in the arena separated once again. A pointed at Killer Bee and said:
"That's 81 matches. You still lost, Bee."
Bee wiped the blood from his face and said, "Big bro, I'll definitely keep working hard."
All the extras were wide-eyed: "No way… are you sure that's your little brother? He's coughing up blood! I… I'm speechless."
"That's enough, Bee! The warm-up is over. Now it's your turn. Two minutes. If you can't pass in two minutes, we're going back to training," A said casually.
After A finished speaking, the training ground was left with only Killer Bee. A's figure had already walked toward the crowd near the Raikage. When he returned to the Raikage's side, the atmosphere immediately became silent.
"You, get up there," the Raikage said, pointing to a random extra.
"Ah! Lord Raikage, I'm only a Chūnin!" The Chūnin who was called out looked nervously at Killer Bee in the center of the training field, then his expression turned gloomy as he asked, "Lord Raikage, are you sure this isn't a Jōnin-level test? The speed those two showed earlier was already at Jōnin level!"
"Who said it's a Chūnin test? Of course this is a Jōnin-level test," the Raikage said matter-of-factly.
"Huh?!"
Almost as soon as the Raikage finished speaking, everyone around them let out sounds of surprise. But when they thought of the battle between A and Bee just now, they understood. That was Lord A—next in line to become the Raikage. Although he didn't go all out, he must've used at least a third of his strength. He's a peak-level Jōnin, only a step away from Kage-level. Even most of the regular Jōnin would've gotten crushed.
"Ah!" One extra suddenly felt lightheaded—joy came too suddenly. Looks like he brought it up just in time and wouldn't get wrecked. He quickly added, "In that case, Lord Raikage, please have other Jōnin go test him!"
"What do you mean, have Jōnin go up? I remember you've been an elite Chūnin for two years now, right? It's time you tried challenging for Jōnin," the Raikage said next.
Thud.
Everyone: "…"
As soon as the Raikage said that, several people collapsed on the spot.
Damn it! So the Raikage had already decided to pass him directly?! And not just any promotion, but straight to Jōnin! A whole rank up! Though many wanted to argue, when they thought about it, he did have the strength. So they kept their mouths shut.
Just then—Bang! The Raikage kicked the extra into the field and said:
"Killer Bee has been fighting with A for a long time now. Can't you hear his heavy breathing? Clearly he's spent. If you can't even beat a worn-out Jōnin like that, you might as well go back to being a Genin!"
From hell to heaven to hell again, the poor Chūnin's heart nearly stopped. But after hearing the Raikage's words, his eyes lit up.
"Yeah! The guy's already worn out, I can hear him panting. If I beat him, I'll become a Jōnin. That's over thirty thousand ryo a month—more than double a Chūnin's salary!" In that instant, the previously dejected Chūnin was suddenly revived and full of energy.
"Begin," the Raikage said calmly.
Whoosh. In almost an instant, Killer Bee charged forward.
So fast! The extra thought to himself as he leaped back a few steps. He quickly formed hand signs, then looked up at Killer Bee rushing at him and shouted, "Lightning Release: Thunder Spider Web!"
Crackle crackle!
As soon as the Chūnin pressed his hands to the ground, blue lightning spread from his palms. In moments, it formed a spiderweb of lightning on the ground, which expanded forward and moved to trap Bee.
Lightning Release… Seeing the web on the ground, Bee smirked and kept charging.
He's running straight through it? The extra was shocked. "This is a B-rank technique! If it works, it should paralyze him even briefly. That would be my chance!"
But it happened so fast—in the moment the Thunder Web closed around Bee, Bee suddenly roared, "Break!"
The stable Lightning Armor around Bee surged explosively, more than doubling in intensity. The web of lightning shattered instantly.
"What?!"
No way! He broke through my B-rank Thunder Web just like that? The Chūnin was stunned, then his eyes narrowed as he muttered, "Not good."
Because Bee had already reached him. With no time to spare, the Chūnin crossed his arms in an X to guard.
"What are you guarding against?" a voice said below.
"Crap!"
The Chūnin looked down in shock—Bee was already under him! Before he could react, he was hit. Boom! A huge impact hit him under the chin and sent him flying.
"That hurts!" Just one punch nearly knocked him out.
But it wasn't over! Bee pushed off with one foot and leapt up, landing three consecutive kicks to the Chūnin's stomach—boom, boom, boom!—rendering him completely helpless.
At some point, Bee was already above him.
"Lion Combo!"
BOOM!
An explosive crash echoed through the air. The Chūnin was like a cannonball as he shot toward the ground. A loud crash followed, kicking up a cloud of dust. When it settled, cracks spread across the ground, forming a small crater.
Silence. Dead silence.
No one expected the fight to end so quickly.
The entire battle had lasted barely a minute. Bee's combo was smooth and continuous—flawless. Other Chūnin couldn't help but gasp, "Beautiful."
"Done." Looking at the unconscious Chūnin, Bee turned to his brother and asked, "Big bro, wasn't that super cool just now? (Totally copied Sasuke's move.)"
"Yeah, yeah. Not bad. Just needs a little more power," A commented.
Huh?! That guy was one of our own! Big bro, did you want me to use my newly learned Lightning Mine Bomb? Bee grumbled.
A nodded in realization, "True, he's one of ours after all."
Damn! Everyone wiped sweat off their brows. They knew how powerful Lightning Mine Bomb was. No one had survived a direct hit before. Even though Bee was young, the technique's power—even if weaker than A's—wasn't something ordinary ninja could handle.
Moments later, the Raikage officially announced the youngest special Jōnin in Kumogakure history—Sābi Killer Bee*, promoted at the age of five. In an instant, Bee became the center of attention.
At the same time, the Raikage announced that the unlucky extra had been demoted one rank, becoming a Genin again—the first ninja in history to be officially downgraded.