The Dance King Couldn't Wait to Dance

It had finally come.

In the four-year program, all students from the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades graduated and began taking on village-issued missions to support the war.

Then Yoshino Masada directly announced the early graduation to everyone.

This caused a huge uproar. The same thing was happening in several other fourth-year classes as well.

Every student in this grade was graduating early.

"After graduation, you must not slack off..."

Like an old father marrying off his daughter, Yoshino Masada rambled on earnestly.

He was terrified that, in a few years, all his students would be dead.

Unfortunately, very few of the excited students were in the mood to listen to him anymore.

Most of them were immersed in the immense delight of graduating early.

"From now on, I'm a Konoha genin too!"

Many people cheered.

"Ahem, these guys are too naive. With our level of ability, if we head straight onto the battlefield, a lot of us will probably die, right?"

Gekko Hayate coughed twice, looking so sickly that it seemed as though he might drop dead at any moment.

"Ah, don't be so pessimistic. Out of everyone in this classroom, at least a few should survive... don't you think, Hayate?"

Genitsu remained as lazy as ever.

As long as Konoha's upper ranks had any sense, they would not kill the goose for its golden eggs. The system of one veteran leading three rookies was still quite reliable.

Very soon, Yoshino Masada began announcing the three-man squad rosters.

"Morino Ibiki, Uenaka Yuto, Yamashiro Aoba."

"Gekko Hayate, Shiranui Genma, Ebisu."

"Uchiha Kazue, Shiranui Genitsu, your squad is short a member. Another genin will be added to your team afterward."

"Since most jonin are away fighting and their numbers are insufficient, some squads will temporarily have no jonin leader. You may directly accept missions from the village and contribute to it."

Yoshino Masada announced the final results.

These arrangements had been made after considering every student's personality, specialties, and overall grades.

Those with talent naturally had a jonin leader, someone to personally guide Konoha's young seedlings and help them quickly grow into sturdy leeks.

As for those without potential or backing... they would naturally be sent straight out to accept village missions. How many would survive in the end was up to fate.

The only exception was Kazue and Genitsu's group. Two outstanding students had been placed on a team together, and a genin was to be added from outside the academy... The same thing had happened in the neighboring class. Obito and Rin had formed a team and would likewise receive an outside teammate, but they had no jonin leader.

"Honestly, I hope nothing strange gets mixed into my squad. And the jonin leader had better be reliable."

Kazue hesitantly glanced at Genitsu.

Yesterday, the clan elders had only told her they would find a way to put Genitsu on her team. They had not mentioned that another teammate would be brought in from outside.

If she had a choice, she would rather have Gekko Hayate from next to her join her team. Strength was secondary; familiarity was what mattered.

"I roughly know who the third squad member is already. If it really is that person, then it seems the village thinks highly of us."

Genitsu said with a smile.

"Is that so? Genitsu-san even knows that? You're amazing."

Soon, jonin appeared one after another and took away their respective squads. The teams not chosen by a jonin wore disappointed expressions.

"Uchiha Kazue, Shiranui Genitsu, you two come with me. I am Aburame Shibi, and I will be your jonin leader."

A man entirely shrouded in a loose, oversized robe stood at the classroom door.

Kazue and Genitsu exchanged a glance, immediately rose to their feet, and followed Aburame Shibi.

The three of them immediately began moving at high speed toward the village training grounds. Along the way, none of them spoke as they raced through the village in silence.

Shibi observed the two from the corner of his eye and nodded inwardly. At the very least, their basic abilities were up to standard.

Before long, the three arrived at a training ground.

"Whoa! Genitsu-san, aren't you incredibly surprised to see me? Hahaha, I already knew, so I came here early to wait for you!"

Might Guy threw a Konoha Whirlwind on the spot and shouted loudly.

Clearly, he had been preparing for that pose for a long time.

"So it's this idiot..."

Kazue's expression shifted slightly. She nearly could not hold it together, but when she saw Genitsu's satisfied look, she immediately recalled Dai's performance against the White-Eyed brothers... Did Dai and Guy both possess hidden strength? Were they also Genitsu-san's people?

Genitsu-san really was a dangerous person.

Genitsu smiled and nodded. "This is truly something to look forward to, Guy. Partnering with you makes me feel very safe."

"It seems you all know each other well. That will save us a lot of unnecessary trouble..." Shibi nodded. "Then, let's introduce ourselves first. My name is Aburame Shibi. What I like most is insects. What I hate most is people who harm insects."

"Sensei, me, me, me—Might Guy! I specialize in taijutsu. I like training and staying by Genitsu-san's side. What I dislike... I don't have anything I dislike for now."

"I am Uchiha Kazue. I specialize in genjutsu and taijutsu. There is nothing I particularly like. What I hate most is an unbreakable fate."

In the end, they all looked toward Genitsu.

"I'm a fairly simple person. Shiranui Genitsu. I specialize in... ninjutsu, I suppose. What I like is the process of pursuing dreams. What I hate most is this chaotic ninja world. It runs contrary to my dream. As for my dream, it is quite simple as well: world peace. I will forge ahead tirelessly to bring peace to this world."

Genitsu said with a smile.

"World peace? What a lofty ideal. Just as expected of you."

Shibi adjusted his sunglasses, acknowledging Genitsu's words.

"Oh? It seems Shibi-sensei knows quite a bit about me?"

"Yes. I spent some time in the ANBU before. I know of a special junior like you. It is exceedingly rare for someone to carry out the Will of Fire to this extent and earn the Hokage's appreciation."

Shibi spoke stiffly and methodically. Though he was merely making conversation, his entire body exuded a heavy, gloomy air.

It seemed that people lacking in presence often appeared in the Aburame clan...

"You should all go prepare yourselves. At six tonight, Team Three will gather here. Your opponent will be an Insect Clone I send out. I will adjust your training plan according to your performance."

After dryly finishing those words, Shibi transformed into a mass of insects on the spot and scattered, vanishing from sight.

"Insects... Even if he's an elite jonin, he shouldn't think he can defeat us with just an Insect Clone."

Kazue said this, but her expression was incomparably solemn.

Aburame Shibi was known as the most well-rounded ninja. He had no weaknesses in any area and was practically a monster.

The village had actually assigned such a ninja to their squad as their guiding jonin. It was utterly shocking.

"An Insect Clone, huh? A special Materialized Clone Technique. With such a knowledgeable and powerful teacher, we should be able to learn many things... Speaking of which, I happen to need to study Materialized Clone Techniques." Genitsu nodded.

The materialized clone he wanted was not something like a Shadow Clone Technique, which would be finished after one hit.

Rather, it had to be like a Wood Release Clone, capable of withstanding extremely intense combat!

At that moment, Kazue moved close to Genitsu, brushed back her hair, and softly said, "Genitsu-san, we still have time. Why don't we take this chance to give it a try..."

Her breath brushed against Genitsu's ear, making it itch.

"Sure. I was also planning to study your special physique... Guy, come with us."

Within a dim underground cavern.

The enormous Demonic Statue of the Outer Path cast a vast shadow.

"Oh? It seems Konoha has indeed taken this step, sending its new generation onto the battlefield. Such a terrible world is not what I wanted, Hashirama. The facts have proven that you were wrong..."

The aged man slowly raised his head. A three-tomoe Sharingan emitted a strange, blood-red glow.

"Now, it is time to begin carrying out my will..."