While Saigoji Youmu was engaged in combat with Uzumaki Kushina, Uchiha Mikoto raised her hand and swiftly began forming hand signs.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Boom!
After completing the hand seals, Mikoto took a deep breath. A huge Great Fireball—several meters in diameter—hurtled toward Saigoji Youmu. Sensing the intense heat from behind, Kushina quickly dodged. The fireball stayed on course, engulfing the area where Youmu stood as it burst into a raging inferno that wrapped around him.
"Although it's merely the basic Fire Style ninjutsu of the Uchiha clan, it's not bad to wield such power," came Youmu's voice from within the flames, as calm and unflappable as ever.
Then, Boom! the fireball exploded suddenly, shattering into several smaller, precisely-cut flames. In a heartbeat, the fragments dissipated, leaving the ground around Youmu charred to a deep black. Even the circle drawn at his feet was blurred beyond recognition. Yet Youmu emerged completely unscathed—his clothes not even singed.
Stunned for a moment, Mikoto quickly regained her focus.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Drawing several shurikens from her ninja kit, Mikoto flung them with expert precision at Youmu. Clearly, her assault was far from over. Meanwhile, Kushina—already sharing a tacit understanding with Mikoto—charged at Youmu once more.
"Ah?" Youmu noted as shurikens whizzed past him. A glint flashed in his eyes; though his expression remained unchanged, his intent was clear—he planned to catch the incoming shurikens with his bare hands. Just as his hand neared one of them, the projectiles abruptly altered course, colliding mid-air. In the aftermath, several shurikens veered off, and one shot directly toward the bell tied around Youmu's waist.
Clang!
The impact snapped the rope, sending the bell tumbling to the ground.
"Good chance," Kushina declared, lunging forward to snatch the bell.
"Want to snatch the bell?" Youmu taunted. "It won't be that easy." Even as he spoke, his hand darted out in a bid to reclaim it—for if left unchecked, the bell was destined to be his.
"Damn it—Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Suddenly, several golden chains burst forth from Kushina's back, coiling around Youmu's hand like lightning.
"Even the Adamantine Sealing Chains?" Youmu's face betrayed a rare hint of surprise. With a sharp click, the chains shattered. Although Youmu quickly broke free, that brief hesitation proved enough for Kushina.
"It's mine," she declared, clutching the bell firmly before Youmu could react further.
Not far away, Mikoto wiped the sweat from her forehead and silently exhaled in relief. "Hee hee, Mr. Saigoji—we passed the test!" Kushina flashed the recovered bell proudly.
"You two have certainly given it your all," Youmu remarked as he affectionately ruffled Kushina's hair, laughing helplessly. "Though your hairdo is a mess!" Kushina shook her head in playful protest.
With the test now complete, the three of them moved under the shade of a large tree to take a well-earned break. "What reward do you want?" Youmu asked.
"A reward?" Kushina looked a bit surprised. "I thought you said we'd only be rewarded if we could force you out of your circle!"
"Your performance just now exceeded my expectations," Youmu explained. "Consider it an encouragement." After a moment's pause, he continued."My sister Tsunade mentioned that your swordsmanship is exceptional. So… can i learn your sword skills?"
"You may," Youmu agreed with a nod.
After a brief thought, Kushina nodded eagerly. "Can I really?"
"Yes."
Then, turning his gaze to Uchiha Mikoto beside him, he asked, "And what about you, Mikoto?"