The Approaching Graduation Exam

Sasuke was simply far too stubborn.

During every practical combat class, although no one said anything outright, Iruka could clearly see the attitude revealed in those eyes unless he was blind.

Nor did Iruka want to dampen the students' enthusiasm.

So he could only watch Sasuke lose again and again.

But Menma really hit a little too hard this time. Was he getting impatient too?

Iruka's gaze drifted slightly as he glanced at Menma, who had calmly returned to the line. The thought arose in his mind almost unconsciously.

"Today's practical combat class ends here. This was also your last practical combat class at the Ninja Academy. It's already December, and your graduation exam is coming soon. In this little time you have left, you must study hard and prepare well. Don't make any low-level mistakes during the graduation assessment. I hope to see every one of you graduate successfully. Understood!?"

Checking the time, it was about time to end the day's lessons.

Iruka walked lightly up to Menma, Sasuke, Naruto, Shikamaru, Hinata, and the several dozen other students. With a solemn expression, he spoke in an extremely serious tone.

During these years without war, it was not as though there had been no students who graduated early.

But they were almost pitifully few. In recent years, there had not been a single student like Itachi Uchiha, who had enrolled for just over a year and graduated directly at the age of seven. The few who could graduate early were all over ten years old!

Nowadays, almost all Ninja Academy students had to complete the full six years of study and take the regular graduation assessment before they could successfully become genin!

The assessment was generally scheduled for January!

There was not much time left until January.

At most, less than a month!

"Th-then, Teacher Iruka, what will be on our graduation exam? Will it be the same as the previous graduates' exams!?"

"Yeah, yeah, Teacher Iruka, can you tell us in advance!?"

The moment Iruka finished speaking,

the line below erupted as though a drop of hot water had fallen into a pan of oil. Everyone immediately began chattering, their eyes shining as they looked toward Iruka at the front.

Graduating!

Becoming a ninja!

That was something almost everyone in this world dreamed of!

Especially in these long peaceful times.

The younger generation, who had never experienced war, might have heard countless times from the previous generation about the dangers of war and the hardships of a ninja's life, but without experiencing any of it themselves, there was no way they could truly relate!

All they saw was the glamorous and powerful side of being a ninja.

Danger!?

What was that supposed to be!

The Little Ones said they were not afraid of it at all!

They were all future stars destined to become great ninjas, perhaps even challenge for the position of Hokage!

Whether anyone else believed it or not, they believed in themselves!

Therefore, the closer graduation drew, the more their hearts surged with excitement.

"Tell you what the assessment will cover? You really are dreaming big. The assessment changes every year, so don't expect it to be the same as before, and don't think your teacher will tell you. All I can say is that the assessment will cover what we've already learned. As long as you prepare well and perform normally, you can all graduate!"

Upon hearing the Little Ones below,

Iruka deliberately darkened his expression and stared at the students in his class with a stern face, speaking in a very serious tone.

"Huh!?"

"No way!"

"Teacher Iruka, how can you do this!?"

"Tell us, Teacher Iruka!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

Iruka's usual temperament was simply too good. Over the past nearly six years, he had hardly ever shouted at the students, unless they were truly being naughty and troublesome, like Naruto in the Original Work. But even then, Iruka generally preferred to reason with them!

When it came to the students' mistakes, he mainly guided and taught them patiently.

Thus, while the students all felt close to and liked Iruka,

they were not particularly afraid of him either.

It could only be said that there were pros and cons!

Just like now.

Despite Iruka's stern expression, not a single student below was actually frightened.

"That's right, Teacher Iruka. Just tell us already!"

The one leading the commotion was still Naruto!

That gave Iruka quite a headache.

"Alright, class is over for today. Dismissed!"

After saying that irritably, Iruka strode away.

"Huh!?"

"No way, Teacher Iruka!"

"Wait, Teacher!"

He left behind a group of Little Ones who kept wailing in place!

After Iruka left,

Menma likewise walked off the training ground with an indifferent expression. Over the past nearly six years, Menma had never deliberately tried to grow closer to anyone.

Whether it was Uchiha Sasuke,

his own foolish Younger Brother,

or any of the other members of the Rookie Twelve, Menma had always kept them at a respectful distance.

When someone took the initiative to speak with him,

Menma responded with the most neutral attitude possible.

His future was destined to leave no room for any suitable deep connections with these people.

Unless certain people could truly come to their senses, and completely at that.

But that was clearly nothing more than wishful thinking.

Therefore,

Menma would only firmly walk his own path.

Other people?

They were merely passersby in his life.

He would either succeed or perish.

There would absolutely be no third path for him to choose, and even if there were, it would not be one Menma was willing to accept.

Menma's departure naturally drew the attention of some of his classmates, but they had long grown used to it.

After all, when it came to cold expressions, Sasuke was the number one in the class. Menma at least occasionally wore a polite, formulaic smile.

Thus, his fellow students merely felt that Menma's personality was somewhat aloof.

Only a very few people, such as Shikamaru, or certain girls with exceptionally delicate minds, could vaguely sense the deeper feeling of detachment Menma concealed beneath his outward appearance.

But they would not say it aloud.

Without paying attention to what those classmates behind him were thinking,

Menma strode away and headed straight home. Unlike his fellow students' longing for graduation,

to Menma,

the arrival of Year 60 of Konoha

meant the beginning of the Original Work's plot!

Orochimaru's attack, the Konoha Crush Plan!

Itachi Uchiha's return to Konoha, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the others.

And the Akatsuki Organization, which was about to officially begin its operations!

Among these people!

Every one of them could become Menma's mortal enemy!