The Assessment Finally Arrives!

"You're no different!!!"

Jiraiya shot back indignantly. Why was he always the one being picked on?

Hiko could only shake his head and continue eating his meat.

Like Hiko, Orochimaru did not take part in such arguments. He occasionally smiled, but rarely spoke.

Because of the alcohol, the entire Barbecue restaurant became lively, leaving the owner helpless. In the end, he gave Jiraiya some fruit wine. It was low-proof enough for children to drink, but Tsunade took half of it from him in the blink of an eye.

Although the fruit wine was not strong, Jiraiya and Tsunade's cheeks still turned slightly red after drinking it.

As they ate Barbecue, Jiraiya curiously asked, "What do you all want to do most after graduating?"

After saying that, Jiraiya looked at Hiko. Tsunade did the same, and even Orochimaru put down his chopsticks, his gaze settling on Hiko.

"Why are you all looking at me?!" Hiko could not help but laugh.

"Nothing much, really. Do more missions, train hard, and make myself stronger."

"That's so boring." Jiraiya complained. In his eyes, all Hiko ever did was train. There was nothing interesting about it at all.

Boring? Perhaps.

Jiraiya was the type who would not understand the need to work hard unless he was beaten down. Once they graduated, he would grow up—though the ones to deal those blows would be his teammates, Tsunade and Orochimaru.

"It's getting closer and closer!!!"

After enjoying a delicious meal of Barbecue, the four parted ways at the Barbecue restaurant and returned home. Watching the sky gradually darken, Hiko's smile did not fade. He had waited a long time for this day.

The next day, the Teacher announced Hiko, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya's application for early graduation. The entire class erupted. Some were shocked, some envious, but if they wanted to graduate too, they would have to keep working hard.

After the initial shock, the little brats began chattering away. Most of them discussed whether the four could pass the assessment and whether any of them would be eliminated, occasionally letting out gleeful laughs.

Naturally, most of that discussion and mockery was directed at Jiraiya.

As for the other three, they were probably certain to pass.

Over the following days, Hiko rested at home without stepping outside even once. He seemed to have become incurably lazy, spending most of his time lying in the wicker chair in the courtyard and staring blankly at the sky. He could stare for an entire day, only stopping when he got hungry or tired.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was time for the assessment.

Early in the morning, Hiko gathered what he needed and left home, heading toward the school. Everyone taking the assessment would be taken away from the school by their Teacher. Since they had applied for early graduation, Hiko, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade needed to wait at the Playground for the Teacher's arrival.

Hiko was also curious about what his Teacher would look like and what stage of the timeline this was.

Among the major ninja villages, anyone whose strength had reached Special Jonin was qualified to become a squad leader. Of course, the Teacher assigned to certain specially favored teams would not be ordinary.

This was something students liked to speculate about before undergoing the assessment and formally meeting their Teacher.

Hiko was no exception.

Hiko soon arrived at the school and entered the Playground. He was neither especially early nor late. Orochimaru and Tsunade had already arrived, but Jiraiya had not.

"Hiko!!" Seeing Hiko arrive, Tsunade smiled and walked over. Before he came, she and Orochimaru had each stood off to one side like wooden posts, neither willing to speak first.

Tsunade could not quite stand that atmosphere, even though that was simply Orochimaru's personality.

Thus, she happily went up to greet Hiko when he arrived.

"I didn't expect you to get up early for once." Tsunade had arrived at school bright and early today, which surprised Hiko. Girls all liked to sleep in, and Tsunade was no exception. She had a serious case of difficulty getting out of bed.