Graduation Exam, Sasuke's 37th Challenge

Year 63 of the Hidden Leaf, spring.

It was the season of blooming cherry blossoms, and the air in the Hidden Leaf Village was filled with a faint floral fragrance.

The morning sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, scattering mottled spots of light across the clean flagstone road.

In front of the Ninja Academy's teaching building, several enormous cherry trees were in full bloom, their pale pink and white petals drifting down with the wind like gentle snow.

Inside the teaching building, however, the atmosphere was completely different from the lazy spring mood outside. A tense, excited air hung over the place. For the students of the Ninja Academy, this was a day that would decide many of their fates. If they passed the exam, they would receive a Hidden Leaf forehead protector and become official Genin. If they failed, they could only repeat the year, or give up the path of a ninja.

Inside the teachers' office on the third floor of the teaching building, the mood was relatively relaxed.

"Iruka, the top student in your class this year is definitely going to be that Menma again, right?" A middle-aged male teacher wearing round-framed glasses smiled and patted Iruka on the shoulder.

"I heard that in last year's practical combat exam, that kid even defeated Saga? He was a combat specialist who retired from being a Chunin. He's not like us teachers!"

Iruka was sorting through the assessment forms in his hands. Hearing this, he gave a wry laugh. "Teacher Yamada, stop teasing me. Menma really is excellent, but you also know we still have that troublemaker Naruto in our class—I'll be satisfied as long as they graduate smoothly today and don't cause me any trouble."

In the corner of the office, Mizuki listened to his colleagues