Ninja Academy

Konoha's streets bustled with people in the early morning.

This prosperous village was the heartland of the Land of Fire.

As the Land of Fire's military institution, it was also one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Countless people envied and took pride in its prosperity.

Because today was a special day.

Many children, alone, in small groups, or accompanied by their parents, were heading to take the Entrance Examination.

And the Senju Clan.

Fewer than ten children, led by the Great Elder, set off toward their destination.

Fewer than ten?

Jueming swept his gaze over them.

A week ago, during the worship at the Ancestral Hall, hadn't there still been over twenty Peers?

Why were there only so few people taking the Entrance Examination now?

That could only mean most of them were useless.

Either they themselves had backed down in fear, or the Great Elder had deemed them untalented.

After all, on such a special day, they had to ensure the highest possible enrollment rate. Otherwise, the Senju Clan would surely lose face.

And judging by how many had been weeded out, the Senju Clan truly had a dwindling pool of talent.

"Today, you must all perform well."

The Great Elder did not forget to remind them as he turned around, afraid someone might cause trouble.

Everyone agreed.

But whether anyone would actually cause trouble, no one knew.

By the time they reached the area near the Ninja Academy gates, the place was packed with people.

The Great Elder squeezed into the crowd and made some arrangements.

Jueming and the clan children began lining up in a long queue.

It would still be a while before they reached the front.

Without a second thought, Jueming flopped onto the ground with a thud.

[Stamina +1]

[Stamina +1]...

Everyone: "..."

"Jueming, what are you doing?" someone asked.

"Who knows? But he'll definitely disgrace our Senju Clan like this. Everyone, stay away from him." It was Senju Takeshi, whom Jueming had beaten up before.

"Hold my place in line for me. Call me when it's our turn. I'm idle anyway, so I'll train for a while."

Jueming glanced at his clan members, then turned his gaze to the clouds drifting overhead.

Mito Uzumaki still did not know that Jueming could grow stronger simply by lying down.

She thought he trained too diligently every day, so there was nothing wrong with seizing the chance to lie down for a little longer.

After all, work and rest had to be balanced. Sharpening the axe did not delay the chopping of wood. When it was time to rest properly, one should rest properly.

Only...

Mito Uzumaki said, "Senju Jueming, with so many people watching you, don't you feel ashamed?"

Lying Flat alone in broad daylight.

Being watched by everyone—if it were Mito Uzumaki herself, she would have left immediately.

"Glare coldly at a thousand accusing fingers, bow my head willingly to serve the people."

Jueming answered her casually.

"I'm lying down because I want to grow stronger, and I want to grow stronger for the Senju Clan. Even if I have to endure the condemning stares of others for that, I'm willing."

Mito Uzumaki: "..."

Today, Mito Uzumaki gained an even deeper understanding of Jueming's shamelessness... no, his steadfast character.

This kid completely disregards the eyes of others...

Mito Uzumaki thought.

Put nicely, that's unwavering will. Put badly, it's being headstrong and stubbornly following his own ideas to the bitter end.

Thus, Mito Uzumaki decided that she would guide Jueming even more carefully in the future, so he would not stray down the wrong path.

"Sigh..."

Seeing Jueming lie down again, the Great Elder sighed to himself and shook his head, but said nothing.

Yet there was no disappointment in his eyes, only another kind of expression...

Jueming lying down drew countless onlookers.

When they saw the Senju Clan Crest embroidered on his clothes, all sorts of reactions appeared in their eyes.

"Didn't the Senju Clan already die out?"

"Nonsense. They married into other clans."

"That's not it at all. I heard... they gave up their surname... and went into seclusion..."

All kinds of conflicting claims rang out.

The Senju Clan's appearance caused a stir.

Hearing them, the Great Elder flushed red with embarrassment, his heart aching terribly.

All of this was because the Senju Clan had declined.

"A Tiger Fallen on Flat Ground, a Tiger Fallen on Flat Ground..."

He sighed mournfully.

Then he left.

The old man truly could not bear all those humiliating remarks.

Children, work hard on your own.

"Great Elder..."

Seeing the Great Elder leave, Senju Takeshi and the others began to panic as well.

What were they supposed to do? They had been counting on the Great Elder to encourage them.

Faced with the crowd watching them like monkeys and pointing fingers at the Senju Clan, Senju Takeshi and the others shrank back even more...

"..."

Only Jueming stared fixedly at the sky, unmoved.

[Stamina +1]

[Stamina +1]...

Only when the queue reached their number did Jueming get up to register.

After all the candidates had been checked, the first round of eliminations began.

Led by the teachers, they arrived at the rear training field of the Ninja Academy.

"This year... eight members of the Senju Clan are taking the Entrance Examination."

"Even fewer than in previous years. It's declining year after year."

The ninja teachers responsible for the assessment watched this scene and shook their heads.

The Senju Clan's decline was a fact everyone had long foreseen.

Because of this.

The Senju Clan had no choice but to use political means to win over other clans and individuals, forming the Pan-Senju Alliance—the interest group known as the "Senju Lineage."

Therefore.

It could be said that many Konoha ninja were actually on the Senju Clan's side.

After lamenting the Senju Clan's gradual decline.

They turned their attention to the other candidates.

"There are several outstanding prospects this year, such as the son of Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo... Kakashi Hatake."

"Ooh..."

Upon hearing that Konoha's White Fang's son had reached the age to enroll, the ninja teachers immediately cried out in surprise.

After all... Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, possessed strength surpassing the Three Legendary Sannin and was second only to Hokage-sama.

He stood at the pinnacle of Konohagakure, one of its foremost powerhouses.

Naturally, his son's performance was worth anticipating.

"There's also the Uchiha Clan's genius youth, Tekka Uchiha."

At the mention of Uchiha.

The surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

Konohagakure had three factions.

The Senju Lineage, Ordinary people, and... the Uchiha Clan.

Most ninja, whether willingly or unwillingly, belonged to the Senju Lineage.

Only the Uchiha, due to certain historical issues, had been marginalized.

The reasons were nothing more than political factors and the like.

Another reason was their powerful talent and unique bloodline... the Sharingan, a Kekkei Genkai ocular technique.

Even without awakening their eyes, members of the Uchiha Clan could become elites.

Thus... the Uchiha were also known as the elite clan, and it was inevitable that others would envy them.

Afterward, the ninja teachers named one genius after another, as well as other candidates worthy of attention.

For example, Asuma Sarutobi, the son of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

And Kurenai Yuhi, the daughter of Kurenai's Mother, Konoha's powerful genjutsu user.

...And so on.

The ninja teachers believed that this year's Entrance Examination would certainly be extremely exciting.