Naruto: King of Hell

A wave of murmurs rippled through the training ground.

What began as whispers quickly turned into quiet expressions of awe and appreciation. The gathered instructors, advisors, and even the other shinobi present couldn't hide their reactions—Santoryu's skill was undeniable.

He hadn't just won.

He had controlled the fight from start to finish.

Nakamura, still standing, looked down at his jacket. Two diagonal slashes ran clean across the fabric, intersected by a second, horizontal cut. Beneath the torn cloth, faint red lines marked his skin—shallow wounds, not deep, but unmistakable.

Santoryu had landed the strikes… and deliberately held back at the final moment.

He could have done more. He chose not to.

Hiruzen turned slightly toward Koharu, standing at his side. "He's injured, though not badly. See to him."

Koharu gave a quiet nod and moved quickly across the field. As she reached Nakamura, her hands began to glow with a soft green light—the signature aura of the Mystic Palm Technique. She pressed them gently against the injured areas, channelling chakra with practiced precision as she began to heal him.

Santoryu didn't leave.

He stood still, swords sheathed, posture composed. He wasn't looking for applause or attention. He remained on the field out of respect.

The battle wasn't truly finished.

He waited, not just for Nakamura to recover, but for the ritual that would officially mark the end of the duel—the seal of reconciliation.

And since Nakamura hadn't been knocked unconscious, it wasn't optional. It was custom, it was tradition, and it was a mark of dignity for both parties. Santoryu had no intention of turning his back on that.

So he waited.

Calm. Silent. Steady.

After a few quiet moments under Koharu's healing touch, the glow of chakra faded from her hands. Nakamura exhaled as the last of the pain ebbed away and slowly rose to his feet.

"Thank you, Lady Koharu, for healing me," he said respectfully.

Koharu gave a curt nod, then turned and walked calmly off the field, returning to her place beside Hiruzen.

Now fully recovered, Nakamura faced Santoryu once again. Their eyes met without hostility. This time, it was formality—recognition.

Santoryu stepped forward and raised his hands.

He formed the seal of reconciliation.

Nakamura mirrored the gesture without hesitation.

The symbolic seal marked the official end of their duel—not just as combatants, but as shinobi bound by the same code.

Santoryu turned to leave, but before he could take another step, Nakamura's voice stopped him.

"Wait."

Santoryu paused, glancing over his shoulder, eyes narrowing slightly in quiet confusion.

Nakamura took a breath, then bowed his head deeply.

"I apologize," he said, his voice steady but remorseful. "You were right. I was biased that day… toward Siryu. I knew his potential. I believed he could become a Jonin. And I assumed you would never amount to anything. So I looked away. I chose not to act."

He raised his head.

"I favored a future Jonin and dismissed you as nothing. And for that, I'm sorry."

Santoryu was quiet for a moment, then gave a single nod—accepting the apology without bitterness.

With that settled, he turned to Hiruzen.

"Lord Hokage," he said clearly, "am I now qualified to be a ninja?"

Hiruzen smiled, eyes warm beneath the weight of his age and title. He turned to one of the nearby Academy instructors and gave a simple gesture.

The instructor understood instantly. He nodded and sprinted into the Academy building.

Moments later, he returned—holding something in both hands.

A Konoha forehead protector.

Hiruzen took the forehead protector from the Academy teacher's hands, the metal plate gleaming in the afternoon light. He stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Santoryu, then stopped just in front of him.

"You've passed your test with flying colors," Hiruzen said, voice calm but filled with gravity. "In your match with Nakamura, you demonstrated clear combat awareness, impressive strength, and refined speed—easily on par with a Chunin."

He held the forehead protector out toward Santoryu.

"But understand this," he continued. "While your skills may match that of a Chunin, promotion isn't given by ability alone. To become a Chunin, you'll need to complete official missions, earn the trust of your superiors, and eventually pass the Chunin Exams. This… is just the beginning."

Santoryu nodded and accepted the forehead protector with both hands. His grip tightened around the cloth as he held it close, acknowledging every word the Hokage had spoken.

It wasn't the end of a journey—it was the beginning of one.

After two long years of relentless training, rejection, and rebuilding himself from the ground up, Santoryu had finally earned the right to take his place as a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf.

A Genin. A true ninja.

The emotions hit him in a wave—relief, pride, and a quiet determination. He didn't show it outwardly, but something in his eyes said it all.

This was the foundation. Now the real climb would begin—toward Chunin, toward Jonin, and beyond… to stand among the strongest in the shinobi world.

Hiruzen said nothing further. He simply stood back, allowing Santoryu the moment.

And for a few quiet seconds, Santoryu allowed himself to feel it.

Santoryu took a steady breath, suppressing the emotions still swirling beneath the surface. He looked up at Hiruzen and bowed slightly.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Hiruzen nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Since you've become a ninja outside the standard graduation cycle, I can't assign you to a newly-formed Genin squad. Instead, I'll be placing you on an existing team—one that recently lost a member."

He paused briefly.

"They'll return to Konoha in a week for a month of rest. You'll be officially integrated into their team at that time."

Santoryu gave a firm nod. "Understood. I have no objections."

"Good," Hiruzen said, satisfied. "Then it's settled."

There was a brief silence before Santoryu stepped back and spoke again, this time with a quiet eagerness in his tone.

"Now, with your permission, Lord Hokage, I'd like to take my leave. I want to share this news with my parents."

Hiruzen's expression softened. "Of course. Go."

Santoryu turned and walked toward Kakashi, who had been standing quietly throughout the entire evaluation. He stopped beside him, a small smile breaking across his face for the first time that day.

"Since I've officially become a ninja," Santoryu said, "there's no way tonight ends without a celebration. Come to my house for dinner."

Kakashi gave a single nod. "Alright."

With that, Santoryu turned and headed out—his new forehead protector in hand.

----

Want to get daily updates and read chapters on a daily basis? Then join my Patreon!

Patreon Link: https://[email protected]/Hkj822

Join Discord Link: https://discord.gg/P3eXz2Er