Year 49 of Konoha, July 1st—graduation day.
The blazing sun hung high in the sky. The gates of the Ninja Academy were tightly shut, with groups of parents waiting anxiously nearby.
The intense sunlight intensified the already tense mood of these worried families. Some directed anxious gazes toward the academy gate while others chatted casually with strangers beside them, trying to ease their nerves. Even ninja who'd faced death countless times lost their usual composure on this crucial day that would decide their children's futures.
A man wearing a ninja vest with spiked-up hair like a hedgehog stood with his arms crossed, his face painted with frustration evident beneath the war paint. Watching his energetic companion bouncing around, he unusually lost his patience and snapped, "Grayfang, stop running around and just sit still!"
The large wolf-like dog known as Grayfang obediently crawled next to its master after hearing his command, sitting dejectedly by his side.
A sword-carrying ninja nearby chuckled at the scene. "You're just being impatient yourself, Inuzuka Yū. Why take it out on Grayfang? Besides, what are you even worried about? If your little Sayaka can't graduate today, very few students will pass."
Hearing the compliment about his daughter, Yuu let out a hearty laugh and quickly replied, "Your own kid Jifeng is pretty good too! Though his physique needs improvement—he should train more!"
The sword-carrying ninja couldn't help shaking his head. It wasn't simply a lack of training for Jifeng! Sigh... He wondered whether it had been right to let him become a ninja in the first place.
While the parents were discussing, the graduating students had already completed their written exam, turning in their papers. But they remained in their seats, waiting for the next—and final—test: the ninjutsu assessment.
Being a ninja wasn't about penmanship—if you didn't have strength, you didn't stand a chance.
Soon, a Chunin examiner walked into the room holding a list.
"Next is the ninjutsu assessment. Those called will come with me for testing in the adjacent classroom. Everyone else remains here."
"Willow Seiichiro!"
A young boy wearing a green headband stood up.
"Rong Hyuga!"
A white-eyed boy stood immediately.
"..."
"Uchiha Aozora!"
When Uchiha Aozora rose from his seat, all eyes in the classroom turned toward him.
Like most Uchiha, he had jet-black hair and sharp facial features. Yet he differed from other Uchiha in one obvious way—he always looked half-asleep with a gentle smile, giving off an innocent and harmless aura.
"The ten of you above, follow me!"
With those words, the examiner turned and left the classroom. The selected students hurriedly followed.
As soon as the examiner exited, the restless students began whispering among themselves. At first they quietly discussed possible test questions, but gradually grew louder while speculating about the results of those ten students.
A chubby boy with a watermelon-shaped haircut proudly stood up. "I bet Rong Hyuga definitely passed!"
His tone sounded so smug that someone unfamiliar might mistake him for Rong himself.
A girl sitting behind him punched him back into his seat and placed her hands on her hips. "What nonsense, fatty? Rong wouldn't have been held back last year if he hadn't gotten injured during the Nine-Tails' attack on the village."
"Fine, fine!" the chubby boy with a watermelon-shaped haircut wanted to snap back, but when he noticed the face paint on the other's face, he quickly bowed his head. "Boss lady is absolutely right!"
Inuzuka Aya ignored the boy's flattery and turned to consult the pale-faced boy beside her. "Jifeng, how many of them do you think can pass?"
"Cough! Cough!" Hayate Gekko covered his mouth and nose while coughing lightly. "I guess all of them will probably pass."
"Oh?" She looked skeptical before carefully posing the question. "Hayate, do you think this year's graduation standard will be as lenient as last year's?"
Hayate Gekko nodded in agreement.
Aya first chuckled twice, then added, "Even so, I don't agree with you!"
"Is that so? Aya, please explain your opinion—I'd love to hear it," Hayate said gently.
"Mm-hmm," Aya hummed, then shook her head thoughtfully. "Let me break it down—Rong Hyuga, Willow Ichiro... definitely they can pass. There's also a chance for Kino and Qiumu since their taijutsu is okay enough."
"But why should Uchiha Aozora pass with those perpetually narrow eyes?"
"Taijutsu? Just looking at his skin tone tells me he probably never even steps outside his home."
"Ninjutsu? He only managed to extract chakra this year."
"Genjutsu? Maybe he actually knows something, who knows—maybe he practices in his dreams every night!"
Although Aya wasn't exactly a genius herself, she was certainly an honor student and the acknowledged boss of the class. When she spoke, everyone in the classroom couldn't help but lean forward to listen closely.
Hearing "practicing in dreams," the boys exchanged knowing smiles while the girls became slightly indignant, leaping to his defense.
"Uchiha Aozora isn't that bad—he's the absolute best at throwing ninja tools!"
"Uchiha Aozora is such a sweetheart!"
"You're just jealous. Don't defame our Uchiha Aozora!"
...
Inuzuka Aya rolled her eyes in exasperation under the resentful gazes of her female classmates.
Konoha's been around for 49 years already—why hasn't there ever been a female Hokage? If kunoichi were all so shallow like these girls, how could any woman ever become a great ninja?
She, Inuzuka Aya, would be different. She was destined to become as mighty a woman as Princess Tsunade—the opposite sex meant nothing to her.
Faking an apology, she continued, "Sorry. I forgot, Uchiha Aozora really is pretty excellent. He probably has a good chance of passing the exam."
Just as the girls' lips curled into sweet smiles, Aya added: "After all, with his looks, if he smiled once, maybe some male ninja wouldn't be able to resist giving him a pass!"
"Aya, come on..."
Hayate Gekko shook his head slightly, tuning out the classroom's squabble.
His gaze drifted past the windowpanes to where ten students followed their teacher toward the examination venue—to the lagging figure of Uchiha Aozora among them.
He knew the real skills of nine out of the ten students. But Uchiha Aozora—the bottom of the class—was still a complete mystery to him.
His older brother was the most brilliant prodigy in the entire Uchiha clan. When Aozora first entered the academy, everyone paid attention to each of his actions. Unfortunately, during his six years at school, he'd shown no special talent whatsoever.
Uchiha Aozora was always seen dozing lazily on his desk, showing little enthusiasm during physical training, and even surrendering outright during combat lessons. He didn't manage to mold chakra until age six. Except for Ninja Tool Throwing, which he inherited from the Uchiha tradition, he appeared utterly incompetent in every other aspect.
At first glance, it seemed as though his only asset was his handsome face.
Yet Hayate Gekko felt that this classmate wasn't as simple as he appeared. There was no specific reason—he just had that instinct, the intuition of a fellow kenjutsu practitioner.
He sensed that this person was dangerous.
Hayate Gekko was right. This year was an unusual period. Although the destroyed buildings in Konoha had already been rebuilt, the fallen ninja could not be brought back to life.
Even with the large number of ninja promoted last year, Konoha would still face severe shortages in the coming years. Thus, this year's graduation examination at the Hidden Leaf Ninja Academy had been deliberately simplified.
As long as one possessed even a single special skill—whether it be Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, or Genjutsu—they could graduate.
Uchiha Aozora stepped calmly into the Examination Venue, eyes half-open but sharply scanning the room in an instant.
Proctor Yamanaka Qingyue's eyes lit up. She looked at the handsome young man before her and smiled lightly. "Next is the Ninjutsu Assessment," she said. "Uchiha Aozora, please prepare yourself."
Aozora stood steadily before the examiners, nodding once with quiet confidence.
"Please demonstrate the following techniques in order: Clone Jutsu, Substitution Jutsu, and Transformation Jutsu."
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