The Third Year Arrives

Opening it...

The exposed pitch-black Ninja Tools gleamed with cold edges.

There were not many of them, but every necessary type was included. Menma's face lit up when he saw them.

Ninja Tools were already incredibly expensive, and even though Menma had money now, there was no way he could buy them.

Throughout the entire Shinobi World, he was still a "feral beast of the wilderness" whom everyone feared.

If he walked into someone's Ninja Tools shop,

it would already be a sign of remarkable restraint if the owner did not throw him out. And he wanted to buy something?

That was nothing but a joke.

In the Original Work, Naruto's standing and reputation in the ninja village began to change after graduation. Ninjas held an exceptionally special status in this world, and the civilians living in ninja villages understood that deeply.

They knew that ordinary people could not stand on equal footing with ninjas. They had to fear and respect them. Naruto's status in the Original Work began changing from the moment he graduated.

Menma in this life was still just a little kid at the Ninja Academy.

Status?

That could wait until later.

Therefore, when he saw Iruka bring so many Ninja Tools, Menma was naturally delighted.

"Thank you, Teacher Iruka! I'll definitely study and train even harder."

With a sincerely happy look on his face, Menma thanked Iruka.

"Hehe, it's best as long as you work hard at your studies. But you should also make sure to balance work and rest. At your age, you cannot train excessively either. That would only do more harm than good, understand, Menma?"

Iruka chuckled as he patted Menma's little head, then shifted his tone and spoke with a faint note of warning.

"Yes, Teacher Iruka."

Even Iruka himself did not know exactly what state of mind he had when facing Menma now.

At first, he had been like most Konoha Villagers.

He had found it difficult to accept Menma as the Nine-Tails' vessel, and had even harbored a trace of resentment.

But he was not an ordinary villager.

He was a ninja, and a ninja trusted by Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Naturally, he understood what a Jinchuriki meant.

To put it bluntly, rationally speaking, Iruka could clearly distinguish the Nine-Tails from Menma.

At first, he had merely felt some emotional resistance.

But after nearly two full years together,

Iruka had truly come to realize that Menma was a hardworking child, and also a pitiful one.

Menma's life circumstances were even more tragic and pitiful than his own.

At least Iruka had once enjoyed the warmth of a family. Menma, meanwhile, had lost his parents from the moment he was born. The Third Hokage had discovered him by chance outside the village and brought him back. This was the vague explanation Sarutobi Hiruzen had given Iruka regarding Menma's identity!

Then, because of his special bloodline, he had unknowingly become the Nine-Tails' vessel.

Was Menma at fault?

No!

Not in the slightest.

In fact, considering that he had become the Nine-Tails' vessel as an infant, Menma could already be considered a hero of Konohagakure.

It could only be said that the ways of the world never followed common sense.

Because of that,

Iruka cared even more deeply about Menma.

Without realizing it, he had even begun to regard Menma as though he were his own younger brother.

"New Year's is coming again. You'll soon be entering your third year at the Ninja Academy, and from then on, you'll move into a stage focused mainly on practical training, with theoretical studies as a supplement. Menma, although you're extremely gifted in this area and have already mastered the Three Body Techniques ahead of time, you still aren't stable enough, right? You still need to guard against arrogance and impatience. You know there are several students in our class who are just as outstanding as you. I hope you can keep up this momentum and graduate with the best results four years from now."

Iruka spoke with a serious expression.

This was not a time of war. Aside from those born into ninja clans, who received specialized guidance and training within their families in advance,

the Ninja Academy's curriculum proceeded step by step.

There was no need to rush graduates through their training and send them to the battlefield as cannon fodder!

With more time, they could steadily cultivate a foundation of low- and mid-level Combat Power.

That was the most reliable approach.

Thus, the first two years were devoted entirely to theoretical studies, along with strengthened Chakra training.

This was a necessary foundational stage in the Ninja Academy's education for children.

Only in the third year did they begin placing emphasis on practical training.

The Three Body Techniques, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and the like had previously only been touched upon lightly. Now, they were truly entering the main course.

"Mm, I understand. Don't worry, Teacher Iruka."

Menma straightened his chest and responded brightly.

"Mm, I believe in you too. I have some other matters to take care of, so I'll head back first! It's getting late today, so you should go home and rest early too, Menma."

"Yes."

The approaching New Year.

Another year turned over.

Year 56 of Konoha arrived.

Menma officially entered his third year of study at the Ninja Academy.

And this year,

the Ninja Academy's newly announced curriculum was packed with all kinds of practical training subjects, including but not limited to basic physical conditioning, Ninja Tools throwing, trap placement and detection, sparring matches between students, introductory training in the Three Body Techniques, and more.

And as these courses were added,

the theoretical classes were reduced somewhat, though everything that needed to be taught was still there.

The gap between students officially began to widen from this moment onward.

Or, to be more precise, it had started widening in the second year, because the first year was the only period of purely theoretical study. In the second year, they had already begun encountering preparatory courses for practical training.

Learning to become a ninja was the same as it was for most students.

Practical application would always matter more than theoretical study.

The differences would also become extremely apparent.

At that point, the class had clearly divided into distinct tiers.

Menma naturally belonged to the first tier of the class.

Having already mastered the Three Body Techniques in advance,

Menma's overall grades had consistently ranked at the top of the class.

Uchiha Sasuke, who had ranked first in the original timeline, could only place beneath Menma in this life and become second in the class.

Although Sakura Haruno, whose theoretical knowledge was unmatched, could keep pace with Menma in that regard, when it came to practical performance,

Sakura Haruno lagged far behind.

She could only rank in the lower-middle range.

And the most important measure of a Ninja Academy student's performance was still their practical results.

In other words, even if you failed every theoretical exam throughout the Ninja Academy's six-year course of study, as long as you passed the practical assessments and ninjutsu examinations,

there was still a high probability that you could graduate.