What, You Regret My Shadow?

The following matches almost became a one-man show for Pakura.

She almost always crushes anyone she participates in.

People in the audience started applauding for her.

The people from Konoha lost the match, but this Ninja from Sunagakure was truly formidable, so formidable that no one could argue with her.

Even in the finals, Pakura still won cleanly and decisively.

On the VIP side, a man in a dark kimono put down his teacup, turned to the person next to him, and said, "Sunagakure is quite strong too."

The person next to him nodded. "Indeed impressive."

The Third Hokage heard this, but said nothing, picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Ai sat down next to someone, who came over and whispered something to her. She nodded to indicate that she understood.

Shin-chan watched as Pakura raised her victory arm once again in the center of the field, her mouth slightly agape. "Konoha actually lost."

"Winning and losing are normal." The Third Hokage, teacup in hand, still gazed at the arena. "If we lose this time, we can win it back next time."

Shin-chan thought for a moment, then suddenly sat up straight and said seriously, "When I participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams, I'll definitely win."

The third generation turned to look at him.

Shin-chan counted on his fingers. "I have Blade Techniques and Fire Style. When the time comes, I'll combine all my attributes into one ball, and I won't be afraid of anyone."

Hiroshi listened from the side, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

The third generation looked at Shin-chan, smiled, and nodded. "Okay, I'll be watching."

The audience began to leave.

The people in the VIP section stood up and walked out in twos and threes.

Ai stood up and looked at Shin-chan: "Did you like today's game?"

"It's alright, but there aren't Pretty Big Sister."

Ai paused for a moment, then asked, "Wasn't that Ninja from Sunagakure pretty?"

I have no interest in children under the age of eighteen.

Ai looked at him, unsure of what to say.

Hiroshi Miya stood up, Miya picked up Shiro yawned in her arms.

Let's go home.

As Shin-chan walked to the door, he glanced back at the venue.

"Dad."

"Um?"

When is the next Chunin Ninja Exams?

Hiroshi thought for a moment and said, "Several years from now."

"Then I want to participate."

"Okay, Dad will go see it then."

You need to dress more stylishly.

"Okay, dress smartly."

"Mom should dress nicely too."

Miya said from behind, "Okay, okay, let's go."

Shin-chan quickened his pace and ran ahead.

It was late at night, but the lights in the Hokage Building were still on.

The third generation sat behind his desk, the teacup in front of him had gone cold, and his pipe sat on the table.

The door was pushed open without a knock or announcement.

The Third Hokage looked up and saw Danzo standing at the door. "What's the matter so late?"

"Today's exam," Danzo he walked in, "That Ninja from Sunagakure beat up our Konoha people like that, and you still can't sit still?"

The Third Hokage remained silent.

"This is the result of your teaching." Danzo's voice turned cold. "You're wasting these children's talent. Those gifted kids will only become mediocre Ninja in your hands."

The Third Hokage tapped his finger lightly on the table.

Danzo took a step forward. "Give me the talented children, and I can turn them into true Ninja, not those useless kids who get crushed by the Sunagakure on the field."

"No." The Third Hokage looked up at Danzo.

Danzo's gaze turned cold. "Hiruzen."

"I said, no." The Third Hokage's voice wasn't loud, but it left no room for negotiation.

Danzo looked at him, remained silent for a long while, then turned and left. As he reached the door, he said, "You'll regret this."

The door slammed shut with a loud bang that echoed several times in the empty office.

The Third Hokage sat there, looking at the door that had been slammed shut, and recalled what Danzo had just said.

"You're wasting the children's talent."

Danzo may not be entirely right, but he wasn't entirely wrong either.

Are children these days really too overprotected?

Let them grow up slowly, learn slowly, and become stronger slowly—is this the right path?

The Third Hokage sighed, and an idea slowly took shape in his mind.

Outside Window, the moon slowly moved across the sky.

The lights in the Hokage Building stayed on all night.

A few days later, at the Ninja Academy.

Teacher Ibuki stood on the podium, tapped the blackboard, and waited for the class to quiet down before speaking, "There's an assignment for today."

The classroom fell silent, and everyone stared at him.

"The whole class will be staying at school tonight."

The classroom fell silent for a second.

Then it exploded.

"What?"

Tonight?

Why weren't you notified in advance?

"Teacher, did you do this on purpose?"

Teacher Ibuki tapped the blackboard. "Quiet!"

"Teacher, why didn't you say so sooner? We weren't prepared at all."

"Yeah, that's right," someone else shouted, "They didn't even bring any clothes."

There's not even a toothbrush!

"I didn't even bring my pajamas!"

After Teacher Ibuki lowered her voice a little, she explained, "This is a special activity aimed at cultivating everyone's teamwork and independent living skills."

He paused, then added, "The school will provide blankets."

Shin-chan raised his hand.

Teacher Ibuki looked at him. "What is it?"

"Teacher, what are we having for dinner?"

The classroom fell silent for a second.

"Oh right, what about dinner?"

Does the school provide meals?

Teacher Ibuki tapped the blackboard again. "The school will prepare dinner—curry rice."

Shin-chan's eyes lit up. "Do you have green peppers?"

"No."

"Then I won't be going home tonight."

Teacher Ibuki's lips twitched. "Weren't you just complaining?"

"I didn't know there was curry rice."

After we finished eating, it was completely dark.

The classroom lights were on, and the warm yellow light cast square patterns on the windows.

Shin-chan slumped in his chair, rubbing his belly with a satisfied expression, because he had eaten too much.

Teacher Ibuki sat behind the podium, flipping through some book she couldn't identify, occasionally glancing up at the students.

Suddenly, with a "snap," the light went out.

The classroom was pitch black.

Someone exclaimed, "Who turned off the light?"

Teacher Ibuki stood up and groped her way towards the switch in the dark. "Don't panic, it's probably just a tripped circuit breaker."

Before he could finish speaking, the door was kicked open.

Several dark figures stood at the doorway.

Teacher Ibuki turned around, trying to make out who it was in the moonlight streaming through the Outside Window: "Who are you?"

The shadowy figure did not answer.

The one at the front dodged and raised his hand, striking Teacher Ibuki on the back of the neck.

Teacher Ibuki's eyes widened for a moment, then she went limp and collapsed to the ground, motionless.

Then the classroom descended into complete chaos; some were screaming, some were crying, and some were running around in the dark.

The shadowy figures stood beside the podium, glancing at the children in the classroom.

"Don't move."