Graduation Exam

Since it was the weekend, most people in the village seemed quite relaxed. The ninja who usually carried out missions finally had a rare day of rest—some stayed home to sleep in, while others stole a moment of leisure, strolling through the streets to buy snacks and enjoy the peaceful, fleeting tranquility.

Children were always bursting with boundless energy, to the point where people couldn't help but wonder, "Don't these kids ever get tired? How do they have so much energy every day?" They were full of curiosity about the world, especially the little ones at the Ninja Academy. Before they learned ninjutsu, they were already wild as could be; after mastering it, they were practically climbing onto rooftops and tearing off tiles.

"Take this, Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" A few kids from the Ninja Academy were playing in groups by the roadside, making gestures and shouting with all the seriousness they could muster.

"Watch me, Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!" Another group of kids refused to be outdone, putting on a fierce show of force. But they were just playing around—not a single spark or drop of water appeared, let alone actual Fire or Water Style.

A bunch of children frolicked through the crowd, and the adults on the street couldn't help but be infected by their vitality. The morning breeze, the clear blue sky, the laughing kids, and the chatting adults painted a harmonious picture.

"Hey, hey, look over there at those three—aren't those the Hyuga team?" A few sharp-eyed kids spotted Zi Xu's group approaching from a distance and crowded around them.

Over the past three years, Zi Xu's team had become one of the most outstanding among their peers, whether in theory or practical combat. The only exception was Zi Xu himself, whose grades had always been average. He was considered a "lucky guy riding on his teammates' coattails," and many had challenged him, claiming he didn't deserve to be in this "top-tier team." But every challenger was sent packing by Chino and Hatsumi.

"Uzumaki Zi Xu! I challenge you! If you're a man, accept my challenge! My Clone Technique has reached perfection, with the power to destroy heaven and earth..."

"I've recently had an epiphany and created a technique for throwing kunai. I call it the 'All Kunai Throwing Technique'..."

"Damn it, why is this guy so lucky? He got assigned to such a good team. With Hyuga and Aburame helping, even an idiot could get good results, right? This guy hasn't changed at all—still stuck in the middle. What a jerk."

The murmurs of their peers surrounded them. Zi Xu heard everything they said but didn't take it too seriously. If anything, this was exactly how kids their age should act. Only someone as extreme as Nohara would be the exception.

But even if Zi Xu didn't care, that didn't mean Chino and Hatsumi wanted to hear these snide remarks. They had a vague idea of Zi Xu's true strength. Though they didn't know the specifics, judging by his terrible acting during their spars—looking exhausted when he was clearly holding back—he was at least handling fights with them effortlessly. As for how bad his acting was? Imagine Ultraman fighting a monster and collapsing before his light even started blinking. It was that obvious.

"Everyone, please step aside. We need to see Takeshi Goda-sensei for our graduation exam. Let us through." Chino's tone was gentle, making people instinctively want to obey. The reason for her change in attitude was that she used to carry a heavy burden, especially after learning that the previous Hokage's parasitic insects were also planted in her mind.

But over these three years, she had learned from her clan that the mother insects controlled by the successive Hokage only targeted Aburame clan members who had awakened venomous bugs. For someone like her, who had shown no signs of awakening a plague-like venomous insect, there was no threat. Chino had explained this during that time.

Back then, they had said it to give her and Zi Xu a sense of urgency, while also strengthening the cohesion of the organization they had founded. After going through this rollercoaster of emotions, she had let go of a lot and changed her mindset entirely.

Chino wasn't as easygoing as Hatsumi. Her expression turned cold, her brows slightly furrowed, and she said impatiently, "Move. Don't block the way." The people nearby who had been about to approach froze in place. Sometimes, intimidation worked better than a friendly face.

"Um, everyone, we're leaving." Zi Xu walked at the back, flashing a grin at the crowd that somehow looked a bit smug, making them clench their fists and want to teach him a lesson.

But if they actually fought Zi Xu, the damage they could deal would probably be less than what a Horned Beetle bumping into him would feel. Not that it mattered—the Horned Beetle had long since given up, sulking in a corner and crying silently because it couldn't break through his defense.

"Ah, those were the days—Ninja Academy life." An adult watching from the roadside took a sip of steaming tea, looking at the kids as if seeing his younger self.

"The Ninja Academy is the most carefree time in a ninja's career. Even if you don't learn much ninjutsu, the friends you make there often become lifelong companions."

"I heard they're going for their graduation exam. Once they pass, they'll be Genin. They'll have to start taking missions."

"They'll have to bear the name of a ninja..."

To make a long story short, Zi Xu's group soon arrived outside Takeshi Goda's office. Normally, teachers would also rest on weekends, but Zi Xu and his team had postponed their exam for too long, claiming they "felt their foundation wasn't solid enough and needed more practice."

In reality, it was because of Zi Xu's mission requirements. Their team's strength should have met the mission's demands, but the mission hadn't been settled yet. He had no choice but to stall for time to help the team improve. But even now, there was still no notification from the mission, so he decided to take the exam first and see if it would trigger the settlement. If not, there wasn't much he could do.

Takeshi Goda was sitting in his office revising lesson plans. The main reason was that his superiors had been pressing him to arrange Zi Xu's team's exam. He couldn't wait for them to come and take it so he could stop worrying.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in."

"Fat... Takeshi Goda-sensei, we're here to—" Chino started to explain, but as soon as Goda saw it was the three of them, he pulled out a prepared notebook without a word, clasping his hands together with fingers interlocked.

"I know. You're here for the graduation exam, right? No need to say more. I'm well aware of your abilities, but rules are rules. Let's begin the exam now." Goda spoke rapidly, not giving them a chance to interrupt, afraid they might not actually be there for the test.

"Draw lots. These contain your exam content." Goda pulled out a stack of slips from his pocket with a practiced motion that was almost pitiful.

"Uh, okay." The three of them were a bit speechless at Goda's behavior. It was only a few days late... well, a few dozen days... ahem, a few months. No need to be like this.

"I drew Transformation Technique and Clone Technique."

"Me too."

"Same here."

"Alright, both Transformation and Clone Techniques need to be tested. You may begin now."

"Then what was the point of drawing lots..." Zi Xu looked at Goda's serious face, suspecting he had done it on purpose.

Hatsumi nodded, walked lightly in front of Goda, and gave a slight bow.

"I'll start."

She pressed her ring and pinky fingers together on both hands, forming a gun shape with her hands. Then, her left index and middle fingers pressed against her right palm, and her thumbs bent slightly to form a strange hand seal.

"Poof!" A white smoke rose around Hatsumi. When it cleared, she had vanished, replaced by a yellow cicada slightly larger than an ordinary one. Its head and abdomen were brownish-yellow, textured like tree rings, and its transparent wings overlapped like two leaves.

"Not bad, Transformation Technique." Goda wrote down his evaluation and gestured for her to continue.

With another puff of smoke, Hatsumi returned to her original form. She then pressed her index and middle fingers together, crossing her hands in a cross shape.

Another puff of smoke appeared, smaller than before. When it cleared, an identical copy of Hatsumi stood beside her—double the joy.

Satisfied, Hatsumi nodded and stood to the side, smiling as she watched Chino and Zi Xu.

Chino moved swiftly and cleanly. After a quick sequence of hand seals, she successfully transformed into a pigeon with a faint blush of down on its chest. Despite being a pigeon, its eyes were eerily human-like. If you met its gaze, you couldn't help but think, "Is this pigeon looking down on me?"

Then, Chino also performed the Clone Technique flawlessly. Her clone looked no different from her—a textbook example.

Done, Chino walked to the side and crossed her arms to observe.

"Hello, sensei." Zi Xu greeted casually, then quickly crossed his hands. When the smoke cleared, a two-meter-long snake lay sprawled on the ground like a salted fish. After a moment, it began to writhe, slithering at high speed across the floor. Its slender tail whipped through the air with sharp cracks, and its forked tongue flicked in and out, looking quite dangerous.

Zi Xu dispelled the technique, returned to his normal form, and then performed the Clone Technique. He used the standard version taught at the Ninja Academy, not the Shadow Clone technique he had obtained from Chino.

After seeing Zi Xu's clone, Goda wrote in his notebook, "Solid foundation, meets standards." He closed the notebook, let out a slight sigh of relief, and opened his desk drawer. He took out three headbands and handed them solemnly to Zi Xu and the others. He stared intently at their faces, scrutinizing their expressions, and after taking it all in, he spoke earnestly.

"Congratulations on your successful graduation. You have officially become Genin. From now on, Konoha needs your protection. Remember, where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire burns unceasingly. Pass on the Will of Fire well..."

Although the three did not agree with this in their hearts, they all put on a look of deep approval, nodding vigorously as if they truly believed and accepted what Takeshi Goda had said.

Gazing at the headband in his hand, engraved with an abstract leaf emblem, Zi Xu felt a wave of emotion. This was his third year in the Naruto World and the first day he officially became a ninja. It meant that from now on, he finally had some power to change the situation, stepping onto the chessboard of the ninja world.

"Speaking of which, isn't Genin the strongest rank? I've heard before that Genin fights destroy the world. But it seems this Genin is not that Genin. Maybe the real Genin are even stronger than Kage-level experts..." Lost in his own thoughts, Zi Xu's train of thought was interrupted because the mission, which had been dormant until now, finally displayed "Completed" at this moment.

---Author's Note---

Which is stronger, Genin or Kage?