February, Year 36 of Konoha.
The war between Konoha and Hidden Sand has been ongoing for two years and has yet to end.
As the number of ninjas mobilized by both sides increases, a large amount of dicine and supplies is being transported to the frontlines, showing no signs of the war slowing down.
The students in the sa year as Hakushi who didn’t choose to graduate early are now sixth-year pending graduates.
In March, there will be a school graduation assessnt, and students who pass will leave the Ninja School and beco official Genin within Konoha’s ranks.
However, according to Hakushi’s prediction, the so-called graduation assessnt is just a formality.
The teachers at school surely already have detailed information on the students, and decisions about which students can graduate or need to repeat a year have already been made.
After all, with the frontlines being tense, more reinforcents are needed, such as Hakushi and the new generation of dical ninjas, to gain experience on the battlefield so they can play better roles in the dical field in the future.
So at this ti, Hakushi just needs to follow the usual routine of going to school in the morning, interning at the hospital in the afternoon, and doing research in the evening.
Such things as graduation will happen when it’s ti, there’s no need for impatience or to wait excessively, everything will fall into place naturally.
Without a sound, nearly a month passed by like this, and the morning of graduation day arrived.
The weather was pleasant, the clear chirping of birds echoed in the sowhat empty courtyard, and the maids quietly went about their chores diligently in the early morning.
Unlike a certain freeloader who’s been here eating for free for years without doing anything serious, these maids are quite competent.
Since it’s graduation exam day and to ensure students are in their best condition, there was no need to head to school too early, students just needed to be in the exam classroom before nine o’clock.
Hakushi slept until seven in the morning, sensing that from today onwards, things would no longer be peaceful.
A few days earlier, Hakushi had paused his research, and the large equipnt in his lab had been moved by the ninja cats summoned by Ruri to a very safe and secret location. Hakushi only carried a scroll recording his research results with him, which of course gave him the most peace of mind.
Soon, after having breakfast with Ruri, he headed to school.
Seated in the designated exam classroom, so of the other students looked nervous, while others seed relaxed. For most, the graduation exam wasn’t particularly difficult.
The examiner in Hakushi’s exam room was Fujimura Daiga, the horoom teacher of their class. Unknowingly, the six years of school life had passed, and Hakushi couldn’t help but ponder upon seeing Teacher Fujimura Daiga still single.
"The content of the graduation exam is the Three-Body Jutsu; as long as you master two of them, you’ll pass. No more chatter, let’s get started according to seating order."
After speaking, Fujimura Daiga went into the empty classroom next door.
Assisting with the main exam alongside Fujimura Daiga were two Chunin examiners.
Based on seating order, those whose nas were called had to independently go to the adjacent classroom to be assessed on the Three-Body Jutsu, one of the basic ninjutsus consistently practiced over the six years in Ninja School.
Theoretically, no one should fail such a simple exam.
During the quiet atmosphere, it was Hakushi’s turn.
The Three-Body Jutsu wasn’t particularly challenging, and reaching proficiency in two out of the three jutsus was sufficient to secure a Konoha Headband.
Standing in the center of the exam room, Hakushi began forming hand seals, concentrating to perform the Three-Body Jutsu.
"Congratulations, Chiba, you passed."
Seeing Hakushi’s execution of the Three-Body Jutsu exceed the standards, this was exactly what Fujimura Daiga had anticipated.
Hakushi was among the few students in his class with extrely solid basics, so the graduation exam was just a formality when following the regular routine.
"Thank you, Teacher Fujimura."
Hakushi gave a slight bow to express his gratitude.
Successfully obtaining the Konoha Headband from Fujimura Daiga signified that Hakushi had now beco a qualified Konoha Ninja.
In others’ minds, that’s certainly what they would think.
The graduation exam ended in such a calm and uneventful atmosphere.
There was nothing planned for the rest of the day, just waiting for the class assignnts the next morning.
"I’m quite curious about who my team leader will be tomorrow. I’ve heard that only excellent students get assigned Jonin as their team leaders upon graduation, while soone like might have a Special Jonin leading my team."
On the way back, Hakushi started guessing who his team leader might be tomorrow.
"You’re in the sa team as ."
Ruri suddenly spoke.
"Huh?"
Hakushi looked blankly at Ruri.
"What’s that look for? Are you unhappy being on the sa team as ?"
"Ah, no, it’s just that you didn’t ntion this before."
"Because I didn’t think I needed to ask for your opinion, and your opinion doesn’t really matter. Now that you’ve brought it up, I’ll just inform you briefly."
Ruri spoke the truth.
To be honest, saying it this way could be a bit discouraging.
However, Hakushi wasn’t soone who cared about such trivial matters.
"In that case, the squad leader is likely to be a very strong Jonin."
Hakushi had a very clear understanding of Ruri’s abilities.
Almost twelve years old, her strength already rivaled that of an average Jonin.
With her overbearing personality, if it were a regular Jonin leading the team, they probably wouldn’t be able to control Ruri, causing serious fractures within the team.
If I were to be in the sa squad as Ruri, then the leading teacher certainly wouldn’t be just any Jonin.
"The clan only told that it would be a very strong Jonin; they did not specify who it would be."
"I don’t even know if this is unfortunate or fortunate."
An excellent Jonin squad leader can enhance a team’s mission execution efficiency, and the survival rate would also greatly improve.
Conversely, the stronger the Jonin leader, the more likely their true strength will be noticed.
Good and bad are always relative.
"By then, you just need to use your dical ninjutsu expertise."
"That’s true, since appointing a dical Ninja in a squad is the village’s most sensible team configuration now. The first to enjoy the benefits of a dical Ninja would, of course, be a Jonin squad with higher mission efficiency."
Thinking this way, being grouped with Ruri seems quite reasonable.
Due to the scarcity of dical Ninjas, although the village has formulated a perfect squad configuration by assigning a dical Ninja, the demand far exceeds the supply, making only a few elite squads qualified to have a dical Ninja.
My demonstrated abilities are comndable, but as a dical Ninja, my importance isn’t less than that of an average Chunin, so being assigned to an elite group is not surprising.
◎
The next morning.
Yesterday, the students who successfully graduated and received their headbands had to gather in their respective classes for a final class division eting.
Standing in front of the podium, Fujimura Daiga’s voice was loud enough for the entire classroom to hear.
"First of all, congratulations to all of you. From the mont you received your headbands, you beca independent ninja. But since there’s a war going on outside, don’t think becoming a ninja is sothing to celebrate. Because right now, you are all rookies. Rember not to carry a ga mindset onto the battlefield, because it could cost you your life!"
Unlike the usual horoom teacher, Fujimura Daiga was extrely serious today, and his eyes were filled with concern and worry.
Stunned by his words, even the usually lively and active students who wanted to make jokes to lighten the mood gulped in fear upon seeing Fujimura Daiga’s stern and cold expression, and sat silently in their seats.
Realizing he might have co on too strong, Fujimura Daiga preferred to depict the ninja path as bloody and cruel, rather than let them die with naive thoughts.
Fujimura Daiga started calling nas in groups of three.
Soon, Hakushi heard the mbers of his group.
"Team 5, Uchiha Ruri, Hyuga Ayane, Chiba Hakushi. The three of you are together."
While Fujimura Daiga continued calling nas, the three of them exchanged glances, as if reconfirming their future teammates.
"What luck. Well then, I look forward to working with you, Hakushi-kun, Ruri."
Ayane wore a white ninja suit, her long black hair smoothly draped over her shoulders, a distant yet polite smile in her clear white eyes.
"Just don’t hold back."
Ruri did not express dissatisfaction about being grouped with Ayane.
In fact, it was the most perfect combination.
She usually paid attention to Ayane because, just like her, she possessed a bloodline limit, and the Byakugan was often more functional than the Sharingan.
"By the way, this guy is very weak, apart from dical ninjutsu, he’s useless, so you should be ntally prepared."
Ruri unceremoniously belittled Hakushi’s combat abilities.
"Hmm, I understand. After all, the fact that most dical Ninjas are very weak is widely accepted. Leave the fighting to Ruri and ."
Ayane’s intent was clear; Hakushi was responsible for dical work, while the fighting would be handled by the two of them.
It sounded reasonable, but Hakushi sensed a hint of rivalry from Ayane’s tone.
An illusion?
Apart from that, there was another matter that made Hakushi feel it was too perfect.
A group composed of Byakugan, Sharingan, dical Ninja, plus a strong Jonin... this squad didn’t seem ant for ordinary tasks.
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