Report

The Third Hokage's office was once again packed with Jonin. They had come to report on the situation. Sasuke and the others were this year's graduates, but quite a few students who had returned to the Academy last year were here as well.

Konoha's system required every graduating class to undergo a Jonin evaluation. If they passed, that Jonin would become the class's team leader. If they failed, they would return to study again and take the test the following year. If they failed again, they would go back once more, continuing until they passed or gave up. There were only three teams, nine Genin, each year. That number was far too small for Konoha to become the village with the most ninja. Moreover, this system was no less brutal than those of the other villages, while also giving young ninja a stronger sense of belonging. Konoha had the fewest rogue ninja.

The Jonin continuously reported on the students' test results. Most had failed, but quite a few had passed as well. Those students who had graduated would begin working on the village's low-level missions. D-Rank Missions were the most numerous and required a great many Genin to complete. These missions also trained the Genin's strength and experience before they moved on to C-Rank Missions. C-Rank Missions mainly involved fighting ordinary people—thieves and bandits—allowing Genin to accumulate combat experience and adapt to the cruelty of battle. One careless mistake could get them killed, though the odds were very low. After all, the leading Jonin would protect their safety, while also helping the children grow accustomed to killing.

B-Rank Missions involved battles between ninja. At that point, they were generally completed by Jonin leading Chunin, or by Chunin squads. Genin were the foundation, Chunin were the backbone, and Jonin were the high-end combat force. Kage-level strength served more as a deterrent.

"Team 10 has passed the evaluation under the name of Jonin Asuma Sarutobi. I will become Team 10's leading Jonin." Asuma Sarutobi formed a hand seal and bowed.

"Team 8 has passed the evaluation under the name of Jonin Kurenai Yuhi. I will become Team 8's leading Jonin." Kurenai Yuhi formed a hand seal and bowed.

"Team 7 has passed the evaluation under the name of Jonin Kakashi Hatake. I will become Team 7's leading Jonin." Kakashi formed a hand seal and bowed.

The Third Hokage nodded. All three teams he had high hopes for had passed the evaluation, but he did not yet know the specifics, so he needed the three Jonin to report. After the other Jonin left, the Third Hokage began asking questions.

"The situation with Team 9 is..." Asuma reported on Shikamaru and the others. As the new generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio, they had been deliberately trained since childhood, so there was basically nothing to worry about. However, Shikamaru's exceptional intelligence was specifically mentioned.

"The situation with Team 8 is..." Kurenai Yuhi reported on Shino and the others. They were likewise three children from ninja clans, all educated from an early age. Although Hinata seemed rather timid, she knew quite a lot. Shino was an especially profound and wise person. Though quiet and reserved, he was trustworthy.

"Mm, the children in these two teams received clan education from childhood, so such performances were to be expected. What about Team 7?" The Third Hokage was focused on Team 7. Although Sasuke and Naruto were both descendants of prominent families, they were no different from commoners now. The Third Hokage had always supported the civilian faction.

"Team 7's situation is a little unusual. They had already realized that today's test was not about strength. After I announced the Survival Exercise yesterday, they treated me as an enemy. They didn't believe anything I said."

"Oh? Interesting. Did Sasuke figure it out?" the Third Hokage asked with a chuckle.

"Yes. After I announced the start, they did not hide. Naruto took the main offensive, Sasuke supported him, and Sakura kept watch on the perimeter. I had initially used only one hand, but Sasuke forced me to use both with a combination of ninjutsu. At the same time, he explained my purpose today. From the beginning, they knew that obtaining two Bells would not qualify them, so they never intended to snatch the Bells."

"Not bad. Worthy of a genius," the Third Hokage said with a nod of praise.

"I said the same, but Sasuke seemed unconcerned with the title of genius."

"Haha, that's even better. At least he won't lose himself. Then how were Naruto and Sakura?"

"Naruto has a great deal of Chakra. He remained on the offensive the entire time, and although he did not use ninjutsu, his stamina never waned. Sasuke was very meticulous in calculating Chakra during battle. Sakura had good timing, but she seemed to have another assignment, so she rarely joined the attacks. Based on her performance at the Academy, she was probably assigned to defend against my Genjutsu attacks. That should have been Sasuke's arrangement. Since Sakura Haruno was likely weak in actual combat, he simply had her defend against Genjutsu from the perimeter."

"Very good. They have already begun to grow. I hope the three of you will teach them wholeheartedly. You may leave now." The three Jonin bowed and left the office. The Third Hokage fell silent again. Sasuke and Naruto both had issues; they were potential dangers. He could only hope they would come to love the village.

Meanwhile, the three newly promoted Genin ran to Ichiraku Ramen to celebrate. After all, they could not eat barbecue every day, so they were having Ichiraku Ramen today. "Teuchi, three bowls of Seafood Ramen," Naruto called out.

"Oh, Naruto. You seem really happy today," Teuchi said. He knew Naruto very well.

"We passed our teacher's test today and officially became Genin. Of course we have to celebrate," Naruto said happily. He wanted to share his joy with others.

"That's wonderful. You'll have to work hard from now on. This one's on me." Teuchi was treating them again.

"Thank you, Uncle." All three spoke at once. "Sasuke, where are we meeting tomorrow?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah, Kakashi-sensei didn't even tell us where to meet at the end today. He's so irresponsible," Naruto said indignantly.

"Heh, obviously at the entrance to the Mission Assignment Hall. Didn't sensei say we would officially start taking missions tomorrow? Where else would we go?" Sasuke shook his head. He was practically becoming their nanny. When we start doing missions, I have to make sure those two put in the effort. Otherwise, how will they grow? I still need them to help me resist Orochimaru.

The Ramen arrived, and the three of them slurped it all down before heading home separately. After Sasuke returned home and dismissed the servants, he did not begin training immediately. Instead, he took out the new weights he had prepared long ago. This time, he directly increased the load to one thousand kilograms. Yet even if he dropped that weight on the ground, it still would not produce the effect Rock Lee's did. It was truly troubling. His level of effort still could not compare to Rock Lee's.

From today's battle, Sasuke understood the gap between himself and a Jonin. He might have been able to defeat Mizuki easily, but Mizuki was merely a Chunin who was little more than a nobody. Besides, the Chunin instructors at the Academy were not strong in actual combat. What they excelled at was theory.