Proof of Sweat

"Uchiha Kai, pass!" Funeno Daikoku's loud, clear voice rang in everyone's ears.

[Mission: Startling the World completed]

[Reward: Energy ×20 has been issued to the panel and may be used at your discretion. Special reward "Proof of Sweat" has been issued.]

[Proof of Sweat: Though sifting through countless sands is arduous, only when the raging wind blows away the dust does gold appear. The sharpness you now reveal is proof of your sweat. Greatly enhances the owner's learning ability, making it easier to understand and master all kinds of skills. (Already active)]

A bright, lucid sensation followed. Everything before his eyes became clearer, and his thoughts seemed to move much faster than before.

"Whew, not bad. Proof of Sweat, huh? It's quite fitting." The boy tilted his head back, feeling an illuminating clarity wash over his mind.

"Hyuga Rei, pass!"

"Yes!" The girl happily started dancing in place, patting Uchiha Kai one moment and Morino Kei the next, too excited for words.

"I passed, Kai!"

"Congratulations, Rei. From now on, you're a Genin." Uchiha Kai smiled, his eyes curving gently.

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

"Ha ha, I can't wait to see how I look wearing a forehead protector." The girl sounded overjoyed as her right hand unconsciously touched the forehead hidden beneath her bangs.

Uchiha Kai turned to look at the girl's delighted expression and inexplicably felt a pang of sadness.

"Morino Kei, pass!" Funeno Daikoku's announcement cut through his thoughts the next moment.

"Ha ha ha ha! Who else but me? With my strength, passing a mere Genin test is beneath me!" Morino Kei shouted and began showing off, instantly drawing the attention of those nearby.

Several of those gazes were especially resentful. There was no need to guess that they belonged to students who had failed.

"Could you tone it down a little..." Uchiha Kai said helplessly, patting Morino Kei.

"I don't know him... That idiot..." Hyuga Rei covered her face and edged away, planning to pretend she had never met Morino Kei.

"What's with you two? You're taking this way too seriously."

"Besides, shouldn't the strong humiliate the weak without mercy?" Morino Kei rolled up his sleeves and struck a cringeworthy pose, desperately displaying his muscles.

"You lunatic... If you get beaten up later, stay away from us." The girl cursed weakly, but Morino Kei did not listen at all, wearing the expression of someone beyond shame.

Funeno Daikoku at the side began reading out another announcement.

"Uchiha Ko, due to his conduct—launching a sneak attack on a fellow student after the outcome had already been decided—and the extremely negative impact of his reprehensible actions, his examination results have been revoked."

"He will be held back a year. No further punishment will be imposed for now, pending further investigation and handling by the Academic Affairs Office."

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Uchiha Ko below the stage. Some looked gleeful, others disdainful, and those gazes mercilessly stabbed at Uchiha Ko's pride.

"He got off way too easily. That punishment is far too light..."

"Exactly. He intentionally injured someone under those circumstances, and all he gets is being held back? Just because he's Uchiha..."

"Shh—watch what you say. Is that something you can say carelessly?"

The surrounding students discussed it in hushed voices, their tones filled with dissatisfaction. Clearly, they were extremely unhappy with such a lenient outcome.

Uchiha Kai took it all in. He turned his head and swept his gaze over the blank-faced Uchiha Ko, making the latter shudder in fright.

"Hmph. Trash," the boy muttered disdainfully.

Seeing this, Funeno Daikoku hurriedly clapped his hands to redirect everyone's attention.

"All right, all right! The students whose names were just called are to arrive at the classroom on time tomorrow morning. Your ninja forehead protectors will be issued then."

"We'll also decide your class assignments. Don't be late." Funeno Daikoku gave them a solemn reminder before calling out.

"That's all for today. Dismissed!"

"Yes! School's out early!"

"My ninja career is starting!"

"I'm going to become a legend renowned throughout the ninja world!"

The students erupted in cheers, sincerely venting the feelings they had held in for so long.

"How nice... the feeling of youth." Uchiha Kai looked around at his excited classmates and sighed.

"Well, Kai-kun, you always sound like that. You're like an old man—no passion, no drive." The girl clasped her hands behind her back, bent forward, and leaned close to Uchiha Kai.

"Exactly! I'm telling you, Kai, you're just too serious. Living so solemnly means missing out on a lot of fun!" Morino Kei chimed in from the side.

"It's not that serious. You two are the ones making a big deal out of it, all right? I was just moved by the moment."

That was a lie. It had indeed been a long time since he had experienced a life like this. The memories of his previous life were like flowers seen through mist, appearing and disappearing, while the cruel ninja world had constantly driven him onward. Before recovering those memories, instinct had already pushed him forward without pause, forcing him to train madly.

After regaining his memories, even greater challenges and pressure had awaited him. Not to mention the war looming right before him, there was Uchiha Madara's plan spanning the ninja world, Black Zetsu's millennium-long scheme to save his mother, and the unfathomable Otsutsuki Clan beyond the heavens.

The more one knew, the more one could feel one's own powerlessness. Uchiha Kai had once lived beneath that pressure, constantly forcing himself to do his best. He could not stop, nor was he able to stop.

Only after the panel appeared did he finally gain a chance to catch his breath and truly see the possibility and hope of overturning every tragedy.

After seeing a future like that, how could anyone possibly relax? the boy thought, though a gentle smile remained on his face.

"All right, we should get going too. We have to report in tomorrow, don't we?" Uchiha Kai said.

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

"I'm off too, Kai. I have a feeling we'll definitely end up in the same class!" Morino Kei called out in farewell before leaving as well.

"Mm, see you tomorrow." After saying goodbye to them both, the boy was about to leave when he suddenly heard a cold, stern voice call out.

"Uchiha Kai, could you wait a moment?" Orochimaru asked in a requesting tone.

Uchiha Kai's body stiffened, and he turned back somewhat unnaturally.

"Ha ha, Lord Orochimaru, what can I do for you..." the boy asked, his expression a little unnatural.

"There's no need to be so nervous, Kai. I'm not here to stand up for Anko. Do I really look like the sort of terrible adult who blindly takes sides?" Orochimaru joked self-deprecatingly, trying to seem more approachable.

That joke isn't funny at all... If Orochimaru showed up at someone's door with his disciple, you could skip the whole thing in Shippuden... the boy grumbled inwardly, his expression unchanged.

"You flatter me, Lord Orochimaru. You're a hero of the village, a legendary ninja who just commanded the victory of a major battle. Of course I'm a little nervous meeting you." Uchiha Kai spoke with a sincere expression, praising him from the heart.

After all, Orochimaru had not yet completely sunk into his pursuit of immortality. He was still one of the Konoha Sannin, a legendary commander, and one of Konoha's absolute pillars during the Third Great Ninja War. His honors were too numerous to count, and many even believed that he would smoothly take over the position of Fourth Hokage.

"Ha ha, if someone else said that, I might have believed them." Orochimaru paused, seemingly not expecting Uchiha Kai to flatter him so openly, then chuckled.

Now it was Uchiha Kai's turn to be confused. He could not understand what Orochimaru meant at all.

"All right, enough teasing. I didn't come here with any ulterior motives." Orochimaru paused, then called out loudly.

"Anko!"

"Yes..." Mitaraishi Anko slowly stepped out from behind Orochimaru.

She then gave the boy a slight bow.

"I'm sorry!"