Class Assignment

"Feel it, then control it."

In the end, Orochimaru didn't teach Ye Zi anything, only saying a short sentence.

How to feel it, how to control it, he didn't understand the steps at all, but this didn't stop Ye Zi from trying to feel it.

He didn't sleep all night. Ye Zi was like an idiot, trying every method to feel Chakra. Perhaps hard work pays off. At sunrise, he finally felt a stream-like flow within his body, starting from his abdomen and slowly spreading throughout his body, like a thin stream.

"This is Chakra...?"

The first ray of morning sun fell on Ye Zi's small face, and in a moment, the thin layer of moisture on his cheeks evaporated, sweeping away the fatigue from his face.

He lowered his head, clenched his small fists, and a suppressed smile bloomed on his small face. He trekked towards a road that seemed to have no end, the only reason he could persevere being the milestones that appeared every so often.

Ye Zi headed to the Ninja Academy with a different mood. No one noticed his change. From this day on, Ye Zi no longer felt bored with the Ninja Academy. During class, he diligently absorbed the knowledge taught by Takagi into his mind. After class, he would increase his Chakra reserves and try to control Chakra.

The problem he realized was simple: although it would take three years to graduate from the Ninja Academy, he didn't need to follow the academy's pace for those three years.

He didn't let go of anything taught in the Ninja Academy; if he could learn it, he would.

For what the Ninja Academy hadn't taught, he found ways to self-study.

Spring turned to summer, autumn waned into winter. Old trees gained more rings, small grasses re-emerged, and withered flower bushes began their seasonal competition again.

Time flowed according to people's expectations, sometimes like a rushing river, sometimes like an old man leaning on a cane. For Ye Zi, he wished time would be like an old man when training, and like a river when sleeping.

Day after day, year after year.

Under the silent gaze of many, Ye Zi grew rapidly from the moment he first touched Chakra.

In less than two years, the information about Ye Zi on the Hokage's desk was constantly updated. Hiruzen witnessed Ye Zi's astonishing changes time and again.

Exquisite Chakra control, diversified use of Chakra...

The first time he condensed Chakra on the surface of his body, the first time he used a trace amount of Chakra condensed in his palm to increase destructive power, the first time he condensed Chakra on the soles of his feet to adhere to objects, the first time he attempted to imbue Chakra into a kunai but failed, the first time he manipulated Chakra condensed outside his body to change its form.

If he hadn't been constantly monitoring Ye Zi, Hiruzen would have suspected that Orochimaru had secretly taught him. But in reality, Orochimaru's help to Ye Zi was just one sentence. Yet, it was precisely this sentence that made Ye Zi realize his own treasure and subsequently soar.

"Orochimaru, you really brought back an extraordinary child."

Every time Hiruzen looked at the updated information, he couldn't help but sigh with admiration.

Whoosh...

Suddenly, a figure flashed and appeared mysteriously in front of the desk. Hiruzen was not surprised at all.

The newcomer was dressed in a black, form-fitting outfit and wore a white fox mask. It was an Anbu member.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Jiraiya has returned." The Anbu member bowed slightly with respect and then disappeared like a shadow.

Upon hearing the news of Jiraiya's return, Hiruzen paused slightly, then smiled faintly and said, "He's returned at just the right time."

Today was the graduation day for Ye Zi's class.

In the classroom, Takagi, with a face as stiff as a zombie's, leaned on the podium and looked at the students, who were shedding their childishness, saying coldly, "After today, you will all be ninjas."

Even at the last moment, the man refused to offer a single smile.

"This is the team assignment list. Someone will come to pick you up shortly."

Without even a word of congratulation, without even bothering to read out the list, Takagi slapped the team assignment list onto the blackboard. In this final moment of parting, he glanced over the students in the classroom and then, without another word, turned and walked out decisively.

"Don't die easily, you..."

As he stepped out of the classroom, a hint of sigh flickered in Takagi's eyes.

Ninjas were beings who walked the edge of life and death. The stronger one was, the greater the danger they faced. In these still turbulent times, even Genin were not absolutely safe.

Inside the classroom, after Takagi left, most of the students surged towards the team assignment list posted on the blackboard.

After graduation, Genin were divided into teams of three, led by a Jonin. The list did not specify the names of the lead teachers, so no one knew who their leader would be.

Ye Zi did not look at the list. He rested his chin on his hand and gazed out the window at the training grounds.

Before long, the students in the classroom had formed groups of three, huddled together, except for Ye Zi, who was staring blankly out the window.

Kushina looked up at the list with her name on it. One name listed before hers was particularly glaring.

"Ye Zi."

Kushina rubbed her forehead, glanced at Ye Zi, who was staring blankly out the window, and felt utterly speechless.

Judging by the team assignments, there was a clear pattern: no team would have two academically excellent students. Her team was a complete exception. Why she was paired with Ye Zi, she couldn't understand.

"Kushina, from today onwards, we are teammates."

Kushina, still rubbing her forehead, suddenly heard a timid voice beside her. She turned her head and saw a Watermelon Head Boy wearing glasses, with a few pimples on his cheeks, and he was half a head shorter than her.

Seeing Kushina look over, the Watermelon Head Boy's gaze darted away, as if he desperately wanted to lower his head and avoid her eyes.

"Um... please take care of me from now on." Forcing himself to overcome the urge to look away, the Watermelon Head Boy's voice trembled slightly.

Kushina stared at the Watermelon Head Boy and asked, "What's your name?"

In an instant, the Watermelon Head Boy felt as if his heart had been struck by an arrow. He froze, the words "What's your name?" echoing in his mind.

After three whole years as classmates, she didn't even know his name.

The Watermelon Head Boy thought sadly, almost crying.

Kushina looked at her classmate's sorrowful face and chuckled awkwardly, "You never told me your name either, so it's not strange that I didn't know, right?"

Thwack!

Was that the sound of arrows piercing flesh?

The Watermelon Head Boy clutched his chest and said mournfully, "My name is Bei Xingye. Please remember it."

Kushina nodded repeatedly. She realized her actions just now might have been too hurtful, but she couldn't be blamed, could she? This classmate had such a weak presence.

"That guy probably doesn't know Bei Xingye's name either."

Thinking this, she looked at Ye Zi, harboring ill intentions in her heart.

Bei Xingye suddenly shivered. He also looked at Ye Zi, his other teammate. He hoped Ye Zi remembered his name...

"Probably not..."

Bei Xingye forced a strained smile and turned to Kushina, weakly asking, "Um, Kushina, aren't we going to find Ye Zi?"

"Of course, we are."

Saying this, she walked straight towards Ye Zi. Seeing this, Bei Xingye quickly followed.

Slap.

Kushina slammed her palm on the table, successfully attracting Ye Zi's attention.

Ye Zi's gaze lingered on Kushina's face for a moment, then swept over the pairs of students in the classroom. He said calmly, "Uzumaki Kushina." He paused, then looked at the Watermelon Head Boy beside Kushina, "Bei Xingye. It seems the three of us are a team."

Hearing Ye Zi say his name, Bei Xingye's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Kushina withdrew her arm and said, "You're too careless about class assignments."

Ye Zi glanced at her and said lightly, "Please take care of me from now on."