My Techniques are a bit off

"Perhaps I do need some time to step away from basic training and traditional ninja combat to try building my own fighting style," Link thought as he sat up.

He felt no discomfort; the ice created by Horus caused him no harm. In fact, he could even emit it directly from his mouth, making it excellent for freezing wounds. Freezing himself at the end of the battle had been more of a defensive measure.

If he had enough stamina, he could have chosen to freeze himself along with any nearby enemies and then used Horus to attack.

Looking back, if he'd known he could summon Horus, he would have approached the fight differently. Even if he couldn't defeat Kakashi, he wouldn't have been left in such a humiliating state.

With his unique abilities, Link realized he wouldn't follow the same path as ordinary ninjas. Yet, during his time at the academy, he had been too influenced by conventional ninja combat methods.

Trying to fight an experienced jonin using standard tactics was nothing short of self-destructive.

Battle rhythm is everything.

If he wanted to be a typical genin, he should adhere to the tried-and-tested combat methods refined by countless ninjas over generations. But with his unusual jutsu and only average chakra reserves and physical capabilities, his fighting style had to be different.

Combat, after all, is about using one's strengths to exploit the enemy's weaknesses.

This realization left Link feeling surprisingly relaxed. Losing had been expected, but identifying his flaws, understanding the essence of combat, and breaking free from conventional ninja paradigms were his greatest gains.

It was far better to learn these lessons during a training exercise than in real combat.

"Oh, you're awake?"

Kakashi's voice came from the doorway. He stood lazily, one hand holding a copy of Icha Icha Paradise.

"Did I pass the test?" Link asked, holding onto a sliver of hope. After all, he had managed to grab the bells.

Kakashi closed his book, marking the page with a finger. With a hint of amusement in his tone, he said, "None of you passed."

"But I got the bells," Link protested.

Kakashi's exposed eye glinted with humor as he looked at the eight-year-old boy. "This test wasn't about grabbing the bells. It was about teamwork and your ability to complete a mission. Getting the bells wasn't the main criterion."

Konoha stood apart from other villages. While other ninja villages upheld the utilitarian view of ninjas as tools for missions, Konoha's philosophy had gradually shifted away from that, even to the point of collapse.

Examples abounded: the condemnation of Konoha's White Fang for abandoning a mission, the ostracization of Mizuki over rumors of killing a comrade, Tsunade's outright defiance of the advisors' directives when she allowed the jinchūriki to roam freely, and later Kakashi's and Naruto's actions, which barely followed the village's rules.

It was this lenient environment that allowed Link to showcase his abilities. Had he been in a stricter village like Kirigakure or Sunagakure, he might have hidden his talents entirely, waiting for the right moment to defect.

Say what you will about Danzo's methods, but Konoha still treated its own better than any other village.

Besides, Danzo had been stripped of much of his power after the Uchiha massacre. Until the Third Hokage's death, he likely wouldn't have any room to maneuver.

And in truth, Link hadn't revealed enough to make himself a target. Among the substitutes he had summoned before, Horus wasn't even one of the stronger or more broken ones.

"So, I have to go back to the academy and continue my studies?"

Link's tone carried a faint note of disappointment, but his expression betrayed little emotion. He got out of bed, feeling only mild muscle soreness from overexertion.

"Can I go home now?" he asked.

The ice created by Horus didn't harm his body and could even heal wounds by freezing them. But it didn't extend the same courtesy to his clothes and equipment.

[This will cost me a fortune...]

His heart ached at the thought. Clothes weren't expensive, but ninja tools were. Thankfully, he hadn't brought his wallet into the fight. Otherwise...

Still, not graduating might be a blessing in disguise. Becoming a genin would mean losing his student and orphan allowances. And genin salaries were barely enough to scrape by.

"You're in good health and can be discharged at any time," Kakashi said, tucking his book into his pouch. With a smile, he added, "How about I treat you to a meal to celebrate your return to school?"

…

Hokage's Office, Konoha.

"...and that concludes the full report on the academy student, Link."

Kakashi delivered his findings with a calm tone, detailing both objective observations and subjective impressions. Then he stood silently, waiting for the Third Hokage's response.

The report revealed no suspicious details—Link's background was clean, his growth normal, and his apparent kekkei genkai held significant potential. However, it wasn't extraordinary enough to warrant attention from the village elders or advisors.

Konoha was a village that tolerated geniuses, even adopting orphans of unknown origin. It wasn't the kind of organization to attack its own people.

While some individuals might engage in underhanded schemes, such actions wouldn't hold sway in the open.

"Hmm..."

The Third Hokage exhaled deeply, puffing smoke from his pipe. His expression betrayed no emotion as he said, "Thank you for your work, Kakashi."

"If that's all, I'll take my leave, Lord Third." Kakashi bowed slightly before vanishing with a swift body flicker.

The Third Hokage stared at Link's file for a while, tapping his pipe against the desk. Finally, he said, "Raise his surveillance priority."

From the shadows, an Anbu operative acknowledged the order.

This wasn't a punishment. Raising surveillance priority wasn't about monitoring—it was about providing protection.

Konoha was a large village with its share of dark corners and spies. A talented eight-year-old child was an easy target for abduction, coercion, or worse.

When Link first enrolled, he already received a baseline level of Anbu protection, which had deterred Mizuki's attempts to approach him further. Raising the priority simply meant more focused safeguarding.

There was no malicious intent.

The Third Hokage had no reason to target a mere child. After all, Konoha had many ninja with unique abilities or kekkei genkai, and an eight-year-old wasn't particularly unusual—especially during wartime.

After making his decision, the Third Hokage closed Link's file and turned his attention back to more pressing matters.