Captain (Please Bookmark~Please Vote~)

The Ninja Academy dormitories were not far from the teaching area, and Araki quickly arrived at the classroom.

There were not many people in the classroom. Only their chunin instructor and the cold-faced Zabuza Momochi were there.

Seeing Araki arrive, the chunin instructor handed him the forehead protector in his hand.

"Congratulations, Araki. Starting today, you're officially a genin!"

"Thank you!"

Araki took the forehead protector and examined it closely.

It was a dark blue cloth band with a smooth metal plate about the width of a palm fixed at its center. The plate bore four droplet-shaped marks, the symbol of Kirigakure.

He held the forehead protector against various places on his body, unable to decide where to wear it, then turned to glance at Zabuza.

Hmph, he just wore it on his forehead? And crooked, too. That's way too careless!

Araki decided not to copy him. After all, even the slightest obstruction would be a desecration of his handsome face.

Around his waist?

But my waist isn't that slim!

On his arm?

That would affect the feel of swinging my sword!

After fiddling with it for quite a while, Araki finally decided to tie the forehead protector around his neck. It could count as protection for his fragile neck.

Once he had finished adjusting his forehead protector, he looked up and found that the chunin instructor had already left. Only he and Zabuza remained in the classroom.

"Hey, Zabuza, what happened after you were taken away yesterday?"

Araki walked over to Zabuza and asked quietly.

"Nothing."

Zabuza shook his head slightly. He genuinely did not know.

Kuryu had taken him away to report the situation to the Third Mizukage ahead of everyone else, but Karatachi Yagura and the others had planned the whole matter from the start. How could Kuryu's improvised response compare to their prior arrangements?

In the end, Kuryu had not even managed to bring Zabuza before the Mizukage before the high-level meeting began. Once the decision to reform the village was announced, Zabuza naturally had no further trouble, and he was simply told to wait here for his squadmates.

"I see."

It makes sense that he doesn't know. He's only a genin, after all. Once he served his purpose as the fuse, did they stop paying attention to him?

Araki did not press further and lightly changed the subject.

"Then do you know who else is in our squad?"

"No."

Zabuza still shook his head.

"Tsk." Araki clicked his tongue. "You really aren't valued much, are you? You helped them complete a mission, at least. Didn't you get any mission rewards?"

"I did. Big Brother Yagura promised to teach me an advanced ninjutsu!"

Zabuza raised his head, making it clear that he had not come away empty-handed.

"Big Brother Yagura?"

But Araki was clearly not focused on the ninjutsu. "It's only been a few days, and you're already calling him big brother? We've known each other for so long, and I even taught you Water Walking, but you've never called me that."

Though his tone sounded deeply disappointed, Araki greatly admired Karatachi Yagura's methods inwardly.

He won Zabuza over that quickly. He really knows what he's doing!

Zabuza calmly explained Araki's resentment.

"Big Brother Yagura's dream of reforming the Mist Village moved me. I also want to do something for the village where I was born."

Fight for the First Lands?

Araki curled his lip and did not dwell on the topic.

"Then what ninjutsu is he giving you? S-rank? A-rank? Or B-rank? Don't tell me it's not even B-rank?"

There was a set of classification rules for ninjutsu used throughout the Shinobi World. They were not ranked by power or practicality, but by difficulty of learning.

Generally speaking, from easiest to hardest, ordinary ninjutsu were divided into six ranks: E, D, C, B, A, and S. They corresponded respectively to Ninja Academy students, genin, chunin, and jonin. The final A- and S-rank ninjutsu were techniques that even ordinary jonin might not be able to learn, requiring even higher standards.

Given Karatachi Yagura's status, he could at least offer a B-rank ninjutsu. As for whether Zabuza could learn it, that would naturally have to be tested first.

"I don't know. Big Brother Yagura said I could first choose the ninjutsu granted by the Ninja Academy, see what kind of techniques I still lacked, and then ask him for one."

Zabuza explained.

"Right! Now that we've graduated, we should be qualified to choose some C-rank and D-rank ninjutsu. Have you decided what techniques you want?"

Araki slapped his palm.

This was also one of Kirigakure's characteristics. Since the Third Mizukage's goal was to vigorously cultivate civilian ninja, those who emerged victorious from the brutal elimination exams would naturally receive more abundant resources.

By established practice, newly graduated genin could choose one C-rank ninjutsu and two D-rank ninjutsu to quickly form their own combat system.

"There aren't many low-rank ninjutsu that can deal real damage. I'm planning to choose some functional support techniques to complement taijutsu in battle."

Zabuza did not hide his thoughts.

"And then ask Karatachi Yagura for a powerful B-rank offensive ninjutsu? Damn rich people!"

Araki's voice carried a trace of envy.

Zabuza rolled his eyes. "Hey, stop pretending. Big Brother Yagura already told me. You were the first person he approached. It only fell to me because you refused the mission."

"Huh? Haha. Was that how it happened?"

Araki scratched his head, gritting his teeth inwardly.

Damn it, he didn't say the reward was this generous back then!

"All right, your idea is pretty similar to mine. A sword is enough for killing enemies. Ninjutsu is just there to make it easier for us to get close to them!"

Araki patted the unsheathed longsword in his hand.

"Hehe, I can't say I agree with that!"

At that moment, a rather mature male voice rang out from the classroom entrance.

Araki and Zabuza turned to look. A tall, muscular "little giant," nearly two meters in height, pushed open the door and entered.

He had dark blue hair that tilted slightly upward, pale blue skin, and round pupils. Most strikingly, his cheekbones bore rows of features resembling shark gills.

Even in Kirigakure, such an appearance was considered unusual.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Kisame Hoshigaki. Starting today, I'll be your captain. Please take care of me!"

He grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth that were quite common in Kirigakure.

"Captain Kisame!" *2

After the two greeted him, Kisame walked over, looked down at them, and said:

"You two should introduce yourselves as well. I've already heard about your deeds, but as teammates, it would be better to know each other more thoroughly."

"Captain, my name is Araki. I specialize in swordsmanship, and my ambition is to become the greatest swordsman in the Shinobi World!"

Araki was full of energy.

"Not bad. Very spirited!"

Kisame offered a light compliment, then turned his gaze to Zabuza.

"And you, Demon Zabuza Momochi?"