Chapter 444 Kakashi’s Jonin Reward

“Senior, if I’m finished, may I submit my paper early?” Kakashi asked the examiner after thoroughly checking his test paper.

Although he would still have to wait for Obito to finish, it would ultimately be freer, so Kakashi decided to submit his paper early.

“So fast? Don’t you need to check it again?” The examiner walked over to Kakashi in surprise and looked at Kakashi’s test paper.

Upon seeing it, the examiner was even more surprised; Kakashi had answered several questions he was familiar with very well and accurately.

As an experienced examiner, he was well aware that for young geniuses, the biggest obstacle to becoming a Jonin was never strength, but the written exam.

Because strong individuals don’t necessarily excel in theoretical studies, if it weren’t for Konoha’s additional Jonin assessment mechanism for promotion, he believed the current number of Konoha Jonin would be reduced by a third, or even more.

“Your Jonin assessment is complete; you may leave directly or wait outside for the exam to end,” the examiner said, collecting Kakashi’s paper.

Kakashi nodded and walked out of the examination room to wait outside. From Kakashi’s understanding of Obito, he would likely wait until the end of the exam.

Although Obito didn’t understand much, he wouldn’t give up; even if he couldn’t solve something, he would try until time ran out.

The final result was as Kakashi expected; he didn’t see Obito emerge from the examination room until the exam time was over.

However, Hyuga Qingyu and Sakata Genji also submitted their papers at the very end, making Kakashi, who submitted early, an anomaly.

Obito, who walked out of the examination room, hung his head, looking rather unhappy.

“Oh no, if I don’t pass the exam, won’t Rin’s Ninja rank be higher than mine?” Obito suddenly thought.

According to the issued notice, Rin Nohara did not need to take an exam and was directly promoted to Special Jonin.

If Obito passed the exam and became a formal Jonin, he would be one rank higher than Rin Nohara. If he didn’t pass, his Ninja rank would be lower than Rin Nohara’s in the future.

Obito thought a bit deeper and discovered something even more terrifying: if Kakashi passed the exam, then Muzuki Squad, or rather Minato Squad, would only have him as a Chunin.

Obito could already imagine what Kakashi’s expression would be like then.

“There’s a good-for-nothing in the squad who didn’t become a Jonin. I’m not saying who the good-for-nothing is,” Kakashi said sarcastically.

“You naturally evil Hatake brat, when I get stronger, I’ll definitely beat you…” Just imagining it made Obito’s blood pressure rise, and his Sharingan almost felt like they were about to activate.

Kakashi frowned slightly as he watched Obito walk towards him in a daze, his expression shifting between indignation and wild joy; he had a vague feeling that Obito was thinking about something bad.

“The exam’s over. Are you still thinking about those questions?” Kakashi spoke, interrupting Obito’s thoughts.

Obito showed a look of regret. In his imagination, he had already fast-forwarded to the point where he had cultivated Flame Breathing to its peak, surpassed Muzuki, and was just about to punch Kakashi when he was interrupted.

“How did you do on the test? Do you think you can pass?” Obito thought for a moment and asked.

Although the Kakashi in his memory had never failed a written exam, this time it was a Jonin assessment, covering a wide range of knowledge and difficult questions. Perhaps Kakashi might also stumble.

“It was alright, I should be able to pass,” Kakashi replied calmly, nodding.

During his time in the hospital, Kakashi had been reading various books almost constantly, and with his already good knowledge base, dealing with the Jonin exam could be said to be more than enough.

“Haha, Kakashi, you really don’t know how to be humble.” Hearing Kakashi’s confidence, Obito felt a bit sour.

“After all, the test paper was of average difficulty. I don’t think anyone would be unable to pass, right?” Kakashi said, implying something.

It stiffened, it stiffened, Obito’s fist stiffened.

Although Kakashi’s words didn’t contain a single character from his name, Obito felt that Kakashi was practically calling him out by name.

“You talk so big, then tell me how you did the test paper,” Obito asked, suppressing the urge to punch Kakashi’s face crooked.

He had to be angry, but he had to check the answers first.

Although he found Kakashi excessively conceited, Obito still acknowledged Kakashi’s written exam abilities; he was definitely right more often than he was.

“The first question was like this, and then…” Kakashi didn’t hide anything, explaining all his answers and his thought process for solving the problems.

It was fine not to check the answers, but once he did, Obito felt even worse, because many of his answers were quite different from Kakashi’s.

There were three possible outcomes: first, Kakashi was right and he was wrong; second, he was right and Kakashi was wrong; third, they were both wrong.

Obito hoped for the second outcome, but his still-thinking brain told him that the first outcome was more likely.

After the examinees left, the examiners immediately began grading the papers.

“Today’s geniuses truly cannot be underestimated; they are practically proficient in both academics and combat,” the examiner who proctored Kakashi couldn’t help but exclaim.

He found it hard to imagine how a ten-year-old child could balance both cultivation and theoretical studies.

“Not entirely. Uchiha Obito probably won’t be able to get promoted. His answers for questions other than history were a complete mess,” the examiner proctoring Obito said with a laugh.

The examiner who had finished grading Kakashi’s paper leaned over curiously and took a look. “If his written exam is only at this level, I feel he might be promoted to Jonin based on military achievements before he even completes a make-up exam.”

During peacetime, it’s very difficult to become a Jonin without passing the Jonin assessment, but wartime is different. In wartime, circumstances are special, and special cases are handled specially; sufficient military achievements can lead to direct promotion to Jonin.

After the written exam papers were graded, the examiners sent all the materials to the Hokage Office in the Hokage Building, where Hiruzen Sarutobi himself would decide the exam results.

Seeing Kakashi’s file, Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his goatee, a gratified smile on his face.

He had recognized Kakashi’s potential earlier, which was why he had sought help from Muzuki and Minato when Kakashi was lost and adrift.

Now, Kakashi’s achievements proved his foresight. Though only ten years old, Kakashi had already surpassed many Ninja, truly deserving to be called excellent.

After nodding in affirmation of his own judgment, Hiruzen Sarutobi signed and stamped Kakashi’s promotion document.

“This child Obito is lacking too much in theoretical knowledge.” Seeing Obito’s test paper, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head; this score definitely couldn’t be passed.

“However, his personality is a good thing for an Uchiha.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi would rather have more innocent Uchiha like Obito, as this would greatly reduce the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha.

After rejecting Obito, Hiruzen Sarutobi then looked at Hyuga Qingyu and Sakata Genji.

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment, then rejected Sakata Genji and signed Hyuga Qingyu’s promotion list.

In truth, Hyuga Qingyu’s strength was actually a bit weaker than Sakata Genji’s, but Hyuga Qingyu’s Byakugan had strategic value, allowing for a certain degree of leniency in requirements.

Having completed his work, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not immediately order Ninja to announce the results. It was almost time to leave work; it would be better to announce it tomorrow morning.

Before leaving work, Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered something and found Might Guy’s file from the Ninja Academy.

“Guy’s grades are also terrible,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said, putting down his pipe and exhaling white smoke as he looked at Might Guy’s overall grades from his Ninja Academy career.

Before Fourth Grade, Might Guy couldn’t even be described as bad; he was completely at the idiot level. After Fourth Grade, his grades improved significantly due to Muzuki’s tutoring, but they were still only enough to pass without worry.

The Jonin assessment’s written exam was not as lenient as the Ninja Academy’s; the Ninja Academy’s written exam only required reaching half of the average score to pass, while the Jonin exam’s written exam required reaching at least eighty percent of the total score to be considered passing.

“Should I lower the difficulty for Guy?” Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into thought.

If the difficulty remained unchanged, Might Guy would not be able to pass the Jonin assessment, because his theoretical knowledge was as bad as Obito’s.

The reason Hiruzen Sarutobi was considering this question wasn’t because he favored Might Guy, but because Might Guy had made greater contributions.

In the same mission, different Ninja contributed differently. The person with the greatest credit in this skirmish was undoubtedly Muzuki, who killed Haku and four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, as well as a host of Mist Ninja.

Secondly, it was Might Guy. Without Might Guy’s burst of power, Kakashi and the others would have been unable to repel the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and wouldn’t have been able to hold out until Muzuki’s arrival.

Actually, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already shown some leniency towards Might Guy to a certain extent. If it weren’t for his significant contributions, with Might Guy’s specialized approach, he wouldn’t even be qualified to participate in the Jonin assessment.

Might Guy was primarily at a disadvantage due to his age. If Might Guy were fourteen or older, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have directly promoted him to Jonin; ten years old was too young.

Unless the combat achievements are overly astonishing, like Muzuki’s, age will still have a certain degree of influence.

Ultimately, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to wait and see Might Guy’s scores before making a decision. Jonin are qualified to lead important missions, and someone who knows nothing won’t do.

The next morning, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Ninja to send out the notifications.

Those who successfully passed the promotion needed to go to the Hokage Office to receive their new Ninja certificates, while those who failed the exam only received a notification.

“Uchiha Obito, upon assessment, it has been found that while your strength is excellent, you are lacking in theoretical knowledge and are currently insufficient for promotion to Jonin,” the notifying Ninja told Obito.

Although he had expected it, Obito couldn’t help but feel disappointed when he actually heard about his failure.

A Jonin was an excellent Ninja in the eyes of ordinary people. He wanted his grandmother to be able to proudly tell other Uchiha that her grandson was already very excellent at the age of ten.

“If you study hard next, you still have a chance. Within the next eight years, you can apply for one make-up exam each year. If you pass, you can become a formal Jonin,” the notifying Ninja reminded him.

The Jonin assessment itself is a screening; those who don’t have the opportunity to become a Jonin will not have the chance to take the Jonin assessment.

Of course, Konoha would not easily give up on the Ninja who emerged from such strict screening. They would give many opportunities for make-up exams, and if they passed, they could still become formal Jonin.

“Once a year, huh.” Obito scratched his head, feeling the interval was too long. He was only ten years old now, and a year was already one-tenth of his life so far.

“Before the next exam, I should go find Muzuki Sensei.” Obito felt that trusting the omnipotent Muzuki Sensei was better than trusting his own learning ability.

“Did Kakashi pass?” Obito couldn’t help but ask.

His own failure was regrettable, but his brother’s success was even more maddening.

“That, I wouldn’t know. I’m only responsible for notifying you,” the notifying Ninja replied, shaking his head.

Obito was a bit disappointed; the answer he most wanted to hear was that Kakashi had failed just like him.

The thought of Kakashi potentially becoming a Jonin first made Obito uncomfortable all over. From what he knew of Kakashi, Kakashi would definitely use their Ninja ranks as an excuse to order him around.

To get the latest news, Obito chose to rush to Kakashi’s house to get a clear answer.

“Kakashi, are you home?!” Obito shouted, using concentrated breathing to enhance his body and sprint to Kakashi’s front door.

Obito knocked on the door a few more times, but still no one responded.

Obito’s heart sank, “Oh no, he didn’t actually pass, did he? Is he at the Hokage Building?”

Just as Obito thought, Kakashi was currently completing his promotion procedures in the Hokage Office of the Hokage Building.

“From now on, you are a formal Konoha Jonin,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile, handing Kakashi his brand new Ninja certificate.

After Kakashi took the certificate, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression became serious.

“A higher Ninja rank not only represents greater power, but also greater responsibility and duty!” Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a solemn expression.

“When necessary, Jonin must lead teams to undertake more dangerous missions and face more dangerous enemies.”

“No matter how dangerous the mission, I will protect my comrades and bring them back safely,” Kakashi replied seriously.

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s face broke into a smile again, “I’m relieved to know you have such resolve. If there were more youngsters like you, Kakashi, I could retire with peace of mind.”

After completing the necessary procedures, Kakashi walked out of the Hokage Office. He looked at the word “Jonin” marked on his new Ninja certificate and shook his head.

Having become a Jonin, Kakashi did not feel conceited, because he had seen too many powerful Jonin, such as Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Muzuki, and Minato Namikaze.

On the surface, they were of the same rank, but in reality, the true gap between them was even greater than that between an ordinary Jonin and a Ninja Academy student.

Not to mention others, Kakashi’s father was also a Jonin, but he could only barely glimpse a faint shadow of his father now.

After walking out of the Hokage Building, Kakashi saw Obito looking around, appearing like a thief.

Kakashi’s lips curled slightly as he walked up to Obito. “How did you know I successfully got promoted to Jonin?”

Obito:?

As Konoha’s youngest Jonin, Kakashi once again became the talk of the village.

Hiruko, who was secretly conducting human experiments, nearly lost control of his emotions and smashed the laboratory equipment upon hearing the news.

A ten-year-old Jonin! He had worked so hard for so long to become a Jonin, and these geniuses effortlessly surpassed his efforts.

…

【Disciple Kakashi Hatake diligently trained, achieved excellent results in the Jonin assessment, and was promoted to Jonin. Received rewards: Chakra + 2400, Weapon Draw Scroll – Blade Category, Unknown Pokémon Egg (Only Kakashi Hatake can hatch)】