บท 68: Chapter 68 Konoha's Genin

Time is always passing by inadvertently, and in the blink of an eye, four years have passed.

At the Academy.

"First place, Shimizu Sōseki, full marks for the Three Bodies Technique, full marks for throwing technique, full marks for anti-tracking, full marks for "The Extension and Expansion of Will of Fire"…"

Although it was the most exaggerated achievement since the establishment of the Academy, none of the people present were surprised.

In their opinion, it would be strange if Sōseki did not get full marks in any subject.

However, Asuma, who is next to Sōseki, is very nervous, "I am the second, I am the second..."

However, when the teacher in front of the crowd said the results, Asuma wailed on the spot, "Why…! How could it be Kurenai?"

Hearing this, Kurenai, who was so happy, is not satisfied, "Asuma, what do you mean by that? Are you looking down on me?"

"I didn't... huh, why is Shizune the third?"

This time, Shizune, who was a little depressed because of losing to Kurenai, also started to grind her teeth, "Bastard, are you saying I am bad?"

Asuma turned his head away with dissatisfaction, "This is so unfair, obviously our previous scores are all full marks. just because your scores in the culture class are better than mine, you are ranked ahead of me!"

At this time, Ibiki's disdainful voice came into his ear again, "You are not qualified to say that. Most of the books about the Will of Fire are written by Hokage-sama!"

Hearing this, Asuma's body trembled, "It's over, I didn't even pass that old fogey's favorite "The Extension and Expansion of Will of Fire", I will definitely be beaten to death when I go back! Do you think it is too late for me to repeat the class now?"

The corners of Ibiki's mouth twitched, "Has your brain been eaten by maggots? Although it is difficult to get a full mark like Soseki, it is impossible to fail in that subject!"

Asuma showed contemptuous expression, "I just think what the book says is too fake, and it's an insult to my IQ..."

"Cough cough!"

"Yeah, you must also feel disgusted and want to cough when you hear that, right? So, it's not that I can't, I just don't want to go against my Ninja Way!"

At this moment, a large warm hand was placed on Asuma's shoulders.

"So, you still have Ninja Way, then when you go back tonight, you can show me your Ninja Way!"

Hearing this voice, Asuma's body trembled and he turned around stiffly, just in time to meet a pair of "amiable" eyes, "I am actually..."

However, Sandaime did not listen to him, but walked through the crowd and went straight to the podium.

Asuma stood under the stage, as if his soul had been hollowed out, and said weakly, "Do you think I still have a chance?"

Ibiki patted him on the shoulder and said gently, "Today is the time for you to implement Ninja Way, go all the way!"

Onstage, Sandaime showed his usual kind expression, "Children, I am glad to see you standing here. Starting today, you all have a new title – Konoha's Genin!"

Hearing this, there was a burst of excited cheers from the crowd.

For many of them, becoming a full-fledged Shinobi is something they have been dreaming about for a long time.

Sandaime raised his hands and the crowd went silent, "This means growth, but it also means responsibility! The outside world is not as gentle as the village. It's full of competitiveness, deceiving, betraying, and fighting everywhere. Maybe some of you will never be able to come back because of a mission!"

After hearing what Sandaime said, everyone calmed down from the excitement of graduation.

At this time, Sandaime's voice suddenly became passionate, "But because of this, we should protect the hard-won peace in the village! In this village, there are your family, friends and the other bonds who are willing to fight for. Are you willing to let these precious things destroyed by the enemy?"

There was a moment of silence under the stage, and suddenly there was a burst of shouting.

"No! Absolutely not!"

Sandaime watched this scene with relief, and then said with a smile, "When the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew. We used to protect you, but in the future, it will be your turn to protect us old people!"

It has to be said that Sandaime's voice is very infectious.

After the speech, the new Genin in the audience were moved to tears, and could not wait to devote themselves to Konoha now.

The next is to award Konoha's forehead protector to each graduated Shinobi.

'Konoha's Genin? It's not bad.' Sōseki smiled and put the forehead protector on his head.

Asuma looked at the forehead protector and muttered, "Do you think if I make a slash mark on this forehead protector, that old fogey will forget about what happened today and beg me not to be a traitor?"

As soon as his words fell, the people around stood further away from him as if they were worried about being infected by this idiot.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Asuma had to accept his fate, "Okay, I understand."

At this time, Yagami, who is on the stage, looked at the roster in his hand and hesitated for a while, "As for the assignment... The team assignment will be announced on a notice outside the Academy this evening. Now, disband!"

Everyone didn't think much about it, and cheered and scattered.

After some time, in Hokage's Office.

"Hokage-sama, isn't this team assignment not in line with the rules?" Yagami pointed at the roster, a little puzzled, "Sōseki, Kurenai, Asuma, they were originally the strongest in the class. There is no way the strength is balanced like this, right?"

Sandaime knocked his smoking pipe on the table calmly and said, "The strength of several of them is too far from the others. If they are teamed up with the others, receiving a mission that is too easy will leave them untrained, and receiving a mission that is too difficult will put the others in danger."

Yagami suddenly nodded in realization, and emotionally said, "That's right, the strength of a few of them even exceeds that of ordinary Chunin, especially Sōseki. I suspect that his strength is already close to Jōnin's strength!"

Sandaime smiled without saying a word, and after a while his expression becomes solemn again, "Apart from this, I have other considerations for the three of them to form a team."

Yagami wondered, "What other reason?"

"Maybe you, who is in the village, haven't felt it yet, but the dark cloud of war has begun to shroud on the land of the Shinobi World again!"

Yagami was surprised, "What? Is there going to be another war?"

In fact, the small-scale frictions between villages have never stopped, but hearing the Hokage has said so solemnly, Yagami will naturally not consider it a small friction.

"I don't know yet, this is just a guess I made from the changes in the commissioned mission! If I can, I hope this guess is wrong."

Yagami tried to calm down the tremor in his heart, "But, what does this have to do with the team assignment?"

Sandaime looked resolute and said solemnly, "The three of them are geniuses. If they can grow up as soon as possible, maybe they can play a certain role in the war!"

Yagami was shocked and said, "Asuma is your..."

Sandaime shook his head and said, "Because he is my son, that he should go to the battlefield!"

Yagami didn't say anything about it anymore, but his eyes, that are looking towards Sandaime, are full of admiration, "Hokage-sama, who is the Jōnin instructor you arranged for them?"

"Yamanaka Inoichi!"