New Beginnings

Konoha in early March.

The spring chill lingered.

The Ninja Academy's graduation season is always held in early spring when the weather is still chilly.

The wind still carried a slight chill, but the training grounds at the Ninja Academy were already buzzing with excitement.

This year's graduation exams are being held here.

"This year's test is all about practical skills," Sakura Haruno said with a touch of melancholy. She stood on the roof of the school building, looking down at the students taking the exam. "Back then, our test was on the simplest Clone Technique!"

She had returned to Konoha a month ago, and was still wearing the same coffee-red down jacket and straight-leg capri pants; the long fur on the collar completely obscured the corners of her slightly upturned mouth.

"Such a simple question, Naruto still can't pass it..." Sasuke calmly, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. "He's so good at using Shadow Clone, but he can't even do the regular Clone Technique. What an idiot!"

"The practical exam is probably because of the tense situation lately..." Kakashi leaned against the railing, glancing at Sakura Haruno. "Anyway, the graduation exam is just the first hurdle. To truly become Genin, you still have to pass the test of the team leader."

Sakura glanced back at Kakashi; his test back then had filled Team 7 with surprise and delight...

I can't believe it's already Sakura Haruno's turn to surprise someone else so soon!

"So what kind of test should I set for them?" the pink-haired girl chuckled, her eyes brimming with mischievous amusement. The tables had turned; it was her turn to surprise others...

However, she then thought, "What if they don't approve?"

"So don't go too far..." Kakashi broke out in a cold sweat, feeling like he had corrupted an innocent student.

"A test? Is it that teamwork test?" Hinata asked, a little puzzled. "It can't be that difficult, how could you fail?"

"Red-sensei didn't give you too much trouble, did she?" Sakura asked, giving Kakashi a sharp look. "Kakashi-sensei's tests back then were quite a lot of fun!"

Kakashi scratched his silver hair and chuckled twice.

"Haha, you all passed in the end, didn't you!" he said, squinting. "Let's forget about the old stories and see what promising talents we have this year!"

The four people on the stage stopped talking and turned their attention to the graduation exams that were taking place downstairs.

"Hah!" A Ninja Academy student wearing a scarf launched a series of powerful kicks, sending the Chunin who was acting as the examiner in front of him Chunin backward.

With his final kick, he unleashed Konoha Whirlwind, a powerful and heavy leg sweeping fiercely towards the examiner's waist!

Bang! The examiner instantly transformed into a log, and a vicious side kick swept the log in two.

Substitution Technique!

The examinee wearing a scarf was startled, and then the examiner suddenly appeared behind him, his Kunai piercing through the examinee's clothes.

"You failed the exam!" The Chunin examiner shook his head, put away his Kunai, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go back and try again next year!"

"Next!"

Sasuke, standing on the platform, shook his head upon seeing this.

"Too slow to react, terrible adaptability! And their fighting style is limited to Taijutsu attacks. If this is all the graduates are capable of, I suggest you send them back to the Ninja Academy, Sakura."

"Not at all. This year I'm bringing Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi," Sakura Haruno laughed. "You should remember those three, they used to hang out with Naruto all the time."

Sasuke and Hinata both nodded.

"He's the Third Hokage's grandson, right? A child trained by the Lord Third should be quite strong," Sasuke said.

"Yeah, all three of them are very strong. Actually, I'm most optimistic about Moegi, the girl with the braided hair. She has a lot of potential in Ninjutsu," Sakura Haruno said. "Honestly, their teamwork as a trio of troublemakers shouldn't need to be tested, right?"

She turned to him and asked, "Kakashi, is this test an unspoken rule that every class has to go through?"

"It's up to you. If you think they're fine, you don't have to test them. It depends on the specific situation."

"I see..." Sakura replied, her eyes suddenly flashing as she thought of something, "So you thought there was something wrong with the three of us back then!"

The pink-haired girl stared at Kakashi with wide, dangerous eyes.

"Kakashi-sensei, it's been so long since we sparred... I heard your Sharingan has upgraded recently?"

"Haha, not at all, you're all my most outstanding students!" Kakashi waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Let's postpone the sparring for another time!"

With a whoosh, a figure appeared on the stage, rescuing Kakashi from being dragged out for a one-on-one duel by Sakura Haruno: "Ah, Shino! You've come!"

"Sorry I'm late," Shino said, wearing a mask.

"No, you've come at the perfect time!" Kakashi said with a smile, taking out a mask from his pocket and putting it on. "Let's go!"

Sasuke and Hinata also took out their masks, walked over, gave Sakura a high-five to say goodbye, and Hinata said, "Good luck!"

They nodded to each other in greeting, and then the four of them vanished from the stage in Body Flicker Technique.

Sakura Haruno was left alone, watching their departing figures. "When did Hinata join the Anbu?"

She seems to be following in the footsteps of Hotaru Hyuga...

Meanwhile, the assessment downstairs was also gradually coming to an end.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" "Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

The clash of two Ninjutsu on the field signaled the end of the final person's assessment.

"Kain Katsuragi has passed the test!" Iruka raised his hand and announced loudly, "Today's test is now over!"

He took out a list, walked to the center of the room, and announced loudly, "Now, I will read out the list of candidates who have passed the examination. Those whose names are heard, come forward!"

"Yuu Yakushi, Hong Yu,..., Konohamaru Sarutobi, Udon, Moegi,..., Kain Katsuragi!"

"Be in the classroom promptly at 2 PM. We will announce the group assignments then, and your assigned Jonin instructors will come to meet you for the first time. Remember not to be late!"

"Above. Dismissed!"

When the Konohamaru Corps trio arrived at the classroom, Iruka had already written the names of each group on the blackboard.

As expected, the three of them were assigned to the same group.

"Ah, you've arrived. Please follow me," Iruka said.

He walked ahead, leading the three out of the classroom. "Your teacher is Jonin Sakura Haruno, you all know her, right?"

"It's the boss!" Udon shouted, raising his hand.

"The boss's boss is the boss's boss's boss's boss," Moegi added calmly.

"Is the eldest sister also Jonin?" Konohamaru turned his attention to something else.

Iruka took a breath, veins bulging on his face, and scolded, "You three are so rude! You should call her Sakura-sensei, not 'Big Sister,' that's so disrespectful, understand? Also, Sakura was Jonin last year!"

"Didn't our leader just graduate a couple of years ago? I don't want her to be our teacher. We need to find a better teacher!" Konohamaru said indignantly.

Iruka led the three into an empty classroom, and upon hearing this, glared at Konohamaru: "Idiot, Sakura is very strong, no less so than the other Jonin!"

"Really?" Even Udon and Moegi looked at them with suspicion. "She's only been out of school for two years!"

Iruka sighed and waved for the three of them to sit down.

"Fine, I'll give you one last lesson!" He wrote in large characters on the blackboard, "Kage, Jonin, Special Jōnin, Chunin, Genin, Ninja Academy Students".

"Listen up!" he turned and said loudly, "The ninjas in each village are basically divided into these levels. From students studying at the Ninja Academy, to becoming Genin after passing the exams, then becoming Chunin after the Chunin Ninja Exams or regular assessments, then Special Jōnin, Jonin, and finally the 'kage' of each village."

"In terms of strength ranking, this hierarchy is generally followed: Ninja Academy students are the weakest, followed by Genin, Chunin, Jonin, and the 'Kage' level represents the strongest ninja in the village."

"So, is the Big Sister a ninja second only to the Lord Hokage?" Udon asked, raising his hand.

"No, what I just said was only a rough analysis, and the specifics will differ depending on the individual circumstances. For example, even before taking the exam, you guys were already much stronger than the average Genin!"

"So, how strong is the boss?" Moegi asked.

"I just said that Sakura is very strong, no less than any Jonin. She is a recognized 'Kage' level ninja whose strength is comparable to the Hokage, and one of the strongest ninjas in the village!" Iruka said loudly, his expression serious and earnest, without the slightest hint of joking.

"A Kage-level ninja!" The three boys and girls gasped in astonishment. "The strongest ninja in the village!"

"Ahem." A cough from outside the door interrupted Iruka's last lesson. The four of them turned to look and saw a pink-haired girl standing in the doorway.

"Iruka-sensei, you're exaggerating!" Sakura Haruno Earth Flow a smile and said, "'Kage' level ninja, um... Iruka-sensei, leave this to me."

Okay, good luck!

Sakura Haruno watched Iruka walk away, her smile instantly fading. She turned to the three students seriously and said, "Alright, from now on I'll be your team leader. Although we've all met before, let's start with formal self-introductions!"

Before she could finish speaking, Konohamaru raised his hand and shouted, "Wait a minute, Big Sister, why are you our team leader?!"

Big Sister...?

Sakura Haruno's lips twitched, and the excitement and pride she had just felt as the leader Jonin the Jonin vanished instantly.

Is that how you address a teacher?

The girl raised an eyebrow, Body Flicker Technique appeared in front of Konohamaru, and gave him a solid flick on the forehead.

With her movements, Konohamaru couldn't see her at all.

"Ouch!" The brat immediately clutched his head and squatted down. Sakura Haruno then said seriously, "First, don't interrupt before the teacher finishes speaking. Second, don't call me 'Big Sister,' from now on you have to call me 'Teacher.' You all need to learn to respect your teachers, understand?"

"Teacher, are you really as amazing as Iruka-sensei?" Udon asked, sniffling.

Seeing the doubtful expressions on the faces of the remaining two, Sakura Haruno sighed.

Knowing them before had its downsides too. It made me lose my authority as a teacher.

If it were someone else, Konohamaru probably wouldn't dare to be so arrogant; he got a little carried away in front of acquaintances.

What should we do?

To project an image of teacher authority in their presence...

Sakura said calmly, "Come with me."

She jumped out of the window and left the school with the three kids.

"I'll show you my true strength!"

(Second update delivered, guaranteed minimum update/. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I should be able to finish four updates today!)

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