"Hyakawa Yamei, full marks on the Three Basic Jutsu! Graduated!"
"Second Pillar! Full marks on the Three Basic Jutsu! Graduated!"
"Yamanaka Ino, full marks on the Three Basic Jutsu! Graduated!"
"..."
As one test result after another was announced, the students waiting below gradually relaxed.
Yamei's gaze shifted to Mizuki beside Iruka.
With Naruto under his guidance now, passing the Three Basic Jutsu was no longer a problem. Naturally, there was no chance of him failing to graduate.
Then would Mizuki still incite Naruto to steal the Scroll of Sealing?
Besides, Yamei had already taught Naruto the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. Even if Naruto really stole the Scroll of Sealing, was he supposed to learn the Flying Thunder God?
The facts proved that history had shifted somewhat. Naruto passed the graduation exam smoothly! Mizuki did not even spare Naruto a glance.
After everyone had completed their graduation exams, Umino Iruka looked at the gathered students. "Students, as of today, you have graduated! Come back to the classroom in three days and wait. Specialized Jonin instructors will come to lead you."
"Alright, dismissed."
Watching Iruka and Mizuki leave, Yamei blinked.
Could it be... because Naruto was no longer dead last, Mizuki had not betrayed them either?
"Waaah, Yamei! We graduated, and once we're assigned to different teams, I won't be able to see you whenever I want! I don't want to be apart from you!!"
Ignoring everyone else's stares, Ino lunged straight into Yamei's arms.
?(Ino.jpg)
Yamei smiled and rubbed her silky hair, comforting her gently. "Alright, alright. It's not like we'll never see each other again. We have plenty of time ahead of us."
"But I still feel awful!" Ino pouted and acted cute, then grabbed Hinata and pulled her over as well. "Hinata, don't you feel sad too?"
"I... I don't want to be apart from Yamei either." Feeling Yamei's embrace and everyone's gazes around her, Hinata's little face reddened slightly, yet she still voiced what was in her heart.
The many students present had already grown immune to the sight of Yamei holding girls on both sides. The signs had been there since the day they first enrolled.
"Yamei is so lucky!" Choji remarked as he ate chips.
"Hmph! Anyone without a dog by their side can't be happy!" Kiba affectionately rubbed Akamaru's head.
Shikamaru gave Kiba a helpless look and shook his head. "Feelings and all that... really are troublesome."
On the other side, Sakura looked enviously at Ino and Hinata, then turned an expectant gaze toward Sasuke.
If only one day I could act cute in the arms of the person I like, just like them... waaah...
"Everyone! To celebrate our successful graduation, I'm treating everyone to barbecue!!" Yamei raised a hand, drawing the attention of the Rookie Nine.
"Long live Yamei!!" Choji was the first to cheer.
"Yamei's treating us to barbecue? I can't wait!" Naruto's life had improved somewhat, but barbecue was still something he could not afford often.
The ten of them headed grandly toward the barbecue restaurant. It was not until night fell that they finally said their goodbyes and left.
After returning home, Yūhi Kurenai sat quietly on the sofa and handed Yamei a scroll.
"The Third Hokage asked me to become a Jonin instructor."
"So what does that mean?" Yamei asked suspiciously.
"I put you on my team." Yūhi Kurenai smiled.
"Huh??" Yamei froze. Team 8?
But if he joined Team 8, then one of Hinata, Shino, and Kiba would surely be pushed out, right?
"I have no idea what the Third Hokage was thinking, putting an insect user, a dog user, and a Byakugan user—all reconnaissance-type ninja—into the same team..."
Yūhi Kurenai bluntly complained without holding back.
Yamei looked a little awkward. Though he also felt Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrangement seemed like a ridiculous idea, was she not worried about him making things difficult for her?
"So I explained things to the Third Hokage and requested that you be placed on my team. That makes five people in Team 8."
"!??"
Yamei froze for a moment. Five people!?
But why did Yūhi Kurenai make it sound like he had been thrown into Team 8 as a free bonus?
"Fine. Being in your class isn't too bad." Yamei lazily lay down on Yūhi Kurenai's lap.
"You just think it'll be easier to slack off this way. Besides, one of your little girlfriends is in my class!"
Yūhi Kurenai pinched the cheek of this brat who was both lovable and infuriating, then helplessly started massaging his shoulders.
"Don't put it like that. I'm the stabilizing force of the team..." Yamei waved a hand.
"Hmph!" Yūhi Kurenai did not refute him.
She now knew Yamei's strength. A year ago, she had tried to test him, only for one of his genjutsu to leave her standing there in a daze.
The Chakra pressure he unleashed afterward had also made her question her entire life. With Yamei around, there truly was no need to fear danger.
"The Third Hokage seems to know some of your strength," Yūhi Kurenai said after hesitating.
"It's fine. He won't do anything to me." Yamei looked unconcerned.
After all these years of special training Sasuke, Naruto, and the others, if Hiruzen Sarutobi still did not know he was extraordinarily strong, then he was unfit to be Hokage.
But since he had still not come looking for him, Hiruzen Sarutobi must have chosen to trust him reluctantly, though perhaps not very much.
Seeing Yamei's calm expression, Yūhi Kurenai relaxed as well, her gentle gaze fixed on the boy.
He was thirteen or fourteen now. Nearly an adult...
For some reason, her pretty face flushed faintly.
The moment Yamei opened his eyes, he saw the slight blush on her cheeks.
Over the past few years, Yūhi Kurenai's feminine charm had reached its peak. Coupled with that bashful, blooming expression, she left Yamei staring blankly.
As if sensing something, Yūhi Kurenai looked at his dazed eyes and smiled. The two gradually drew closer.
Yūhi Kurenai did not return to her own courtyard that night.
Early the next morning, Yamei woke up and smiled at the breakfast on the table, then gave his body a wry look.
"Just wait another two years!!"
Time passed quickly. On the third day, the students who had graduated and become genin hurried toward the Ninja Academy.
Since Yūhi Kurenai had gone to the Hokage Building, Yamei tidied up, tied Hufa to his shoulder, and headed to the Ninja Academy as well.
The moment he reached the entrance, Yamei heard a burst of noise inside. Then he witnessed the Hokage's famous scene.
Sasuke and Naruto's forbidden kiss.
"Ahem!"
Hearing Yamei cough, Sasuke and Naruto immediately sprang apart and glared viciously at each other!
"You bastard!!"
"It's over! My Sasuke-kun is no longer pure!"
"I haven't even kissed him yet!"
Many of the girls nearby, including Haruno Sakura, glared furiously at Naruto. If looks could kill, no one knew how many times Naruto would have died already.
"Ahem, everyone quiet down. We'll begin assigning teams now." Iruka walked in at that moment, holding the list as he began calling names.
Yamei already knew the results in advance, so he lost interest and simply lay facedown on his desk.
"Team 7! Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura..."
"Yeah!!" Uzumaki Naruto cheered in delight, while Haruno Sakura looked dejected.
"Second Pillar!"
"Yeah!" This time, Haruno Sakura was overjoyed, while Naruto became dejected.
"Team 8: Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino... and..."
Hmm!?
Everyone present froze. And? Wasn't every team supposed to have three genin? Why was there another?
"Hyakawa Yamei!"
The moment the words fell, everyone turned to look at Yamei.
Before you continue