Proof of Sweat

"Uchiha Kai, you passed!" Funeno Daikoku's voice rang out, clear and resonant, reaching everyone present.

Accompanying his voice was the Panel's cold, mechanical tone.

[Mission: A Stunning Debut Complete]

[Reward: 20 Energy ×20 has been distributed to the Panel, use as you see fit. Special Reward "Proof of Sweat" has been distributed]

[Proof of Sweat: Though the journey be arduous, only by sifting through the sands can gold be found. The brilliance you now display is proof of your sweat, greatly enhancing the holder's learning ability. You will more easily understand and master various skills (Effective)]

A subsequent wave of clarity washed over him, making everything before his eyes sharper. His thoughts seemed to race much faster than before.

"Hoo~ This feels good. Proof of Sweat, huh? Pretty fitting." The young man tilted his head back, feeling a sense of clarity and transparency.

"Hyuga Rei, you passed!"

"Yay!" The girl happily began to dance in place, patting Uchiha Kai and then Morino Kei, unable to contain her excitement.

"I passed! Kai!"

"Congratulations, Rei. From now on, you're a genin." Uchiha Kai smiled, his eyebrows curving.

"Yeah, yeah, congrats Rei!" Morino Kei scratched his head and gave a thumbs-up.

"Haha, I can't wait to wear my forehead protector." The girl's tone was full of joy. She subconsciously touched her forehead, hidden by her bangs.

Uchiha Kai turned his head to look at the girl's happy expression, inexplicably feeling a pang of sadness.

"Morino Kei, you passed!" Only to be interrupted by Funeno Daikoku's announcement the next moment.

"Hahahahaha! Who else could it be but me! My talent is wasted on a mere genin test!" Morino Kei shouted boisterously, drawing the attention of those around him.

A few gazes were particularly resentful; it was easy to tell they belonged to students who hadn't passed.

"Can you tone it down a bit..." Uchiha Kai patted Morino Kei, speaking helplessly.

"I don't know him... this idiot..." Hyuga Rei covered her face and leaned to the side, intending to pretend she didn't know Morino Kei.

"What's with you two? Too serious."

"Besides, shouldn't the strong humiliate the weak mercilessly!" Morino Kei rolled up his sleeves and struck a chuunibyo pose, desperately showing off his muscles.

"You're insane... Stay away from us when you get beaten up later," the girl muttered weakly. Unfortunately, Morino Kei paid no attention, acting like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.

Morino Kei, standing nearby, began to read again.

"Uchiha Ko, in view of his actions, launching a sneak attack on a comrade after the outcome was decided, his behavior is extremely malicious and has caused a negative impact. It has been decided to cancel his examination results."

"He will be held back a year, with no further punishment at this time, pending further investigation and processing by the academic affairs office."

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gazes to Uchiha Ko, who was off to the side. Their looks ranged from schadenfreude to disdain, piercing Uchiha Ko's pride.

"He got off easy, that punishment is too light..."

"Tell me about it. Intentionally injuring someone in that situation, and he only gets held back a year. The Uchiha can..."

"Shh—be careful what you say. Is that something you can just say?"...

The surrounding students lowered their voices, discussing in hushed tones, their words filled with dissatisfaction. They were clearly unhappy with the lenient handling of the situation.

Uchiha Kai took it all in. The young man turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the stunned Uchiha Ko, making the latter flinch.

"Hmph, trash." The young man scoffed dismissively.

Seeing this, Funeno Daikoku quickly clapped his hands, diverting everyone's attention.

"Alright, alright! The students who just passed, report to the classroom on time tomorrow morning. You'll receive your ninja headbands then."

"And your class assignments will be decided. Don't be late," Funeno Daikoku instructed solemnly, then called out.

"That's all for today, dismissed!"

"Yay! School's out early!" "My ninja career has begun!"

"I'm going to become a legend who shakes the Ninja World!"

The students let out a roar, genuinely expressing the pent-up feelings in their hearts.

"It's nice... that feeling of youth." Uchiha Kai surveyed the excited classmates around him, sighing.

"Well~ Kai-kun, you always talk like that, just like an old man. You lack passion and drive," the girl said, hands behind her back, bending down to face Uchiha Kai.

"Exactly! I'm saying, Kai, you're too serious. Life will lose a lot of its fun if you're so solemn!" Morino Kei chimed in from the side.

"It's not that serious. You guys are the ones overreacting. I was just expressing my feelings."

That's a lie. He hadn't experienced this kind of life in a long time. Memories from his past life flickered like a mirage, and the brutal Ninja World constantly pushed him forward. Before regaining his memories, instinct alone had driven him to train relentlessly.

And after regaining his memories, he was met with even greater challenges and pressure. Not to mention the imminent war, Uchiha Madara's schemes that spanned the Ninja World, Black Zetsu's millennia-long plan to revive his mother, and the Otsutsuki Clan, whose depths were unknown from beyond the heavens.

As the saying goes, the more you know, the more you feel your powerlessness. The earlier Uchiha Kai had lived under such pressure, constantly pushing himself to do his best. He couldn't stop, and he wouldn't stop.

It wasn't until the Panel appeared that he found a chance to breathe, truly seeing the possibility and hope of overturning all tragedy.

Seeing a future like this, how could anyone feel at ease? the young man thought, though he still wore a gentle smile on his face.

"Alright, it's time to go. We have to report tomorrow, don't we?" Uchiha Kai said.

"See you tomorrow, Kai-kun. I really hope we get assigned to the same team." The girl waved and quickly left the training grounds.

"See ya, Kai. I bet we'll be in Class 1!" Morino Kei called out and left as well.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow." The boy greeted them both and was about to leave when he suddenly heard a stern voice.

"Uchiha Kai, could you wait a moment?" Orochimaru asked politely.

Uchiha Kai stiffened and turned his head back somewhat unnaturally.

"Haha, Lord Orochimaru, what can I do for you..." the boy said with a forced smile.

"No need to be so nervous, Kai. I'm not here to stick up for Red. Do I really seem like the kind of awful adult who blindly defends their own?" Orochimaru joked with a hint of self-deprecation, trying to appear more approachable.

That's not funny at all... Orochimaru showing up with his disciples could skip straight past a Shippuden arc... the boy thought, his expression unchanged.

"You flatter me, Lord Orochimaru. You are a hero of the village, a legendary ninja who just commanded a major battle. I'm a little nervous meeting you," Uchiha Kai said sincerely, offering genuine praise.

After all, Orochimaru at this time hadn't completely succumbed to his pursuit of immortality. He was still one of the Konoha Sannin, a legendary commander, one of Konoha's absolute cornerstones during the Third Shinobi War, with countless honors. Many even believed he would smoothly succeed the Fourth Hokage.

"Haha, if anyone else said that, I might actually believe it." Orochimaru blinked, seemingly surprised by Uchiha Kai's flattery, and then chuckled lightly.

Now it was Uchiha Kai's turn to be confused, completely unable to understand what Orochimaru meant.

"Alright, no more teasing. I don't have any ulterior motives for coming here." Orochimaru paused and then shouted.

"Red!"

"Yes..." Mitaraishi Anko slowly emerged from behind Orochimaru.

She then bowed slightly to the boy.

"I'm sorry!"