Team Kintsuchi?

Time passed.

Two years after Karin entered the Ninja Academy.

The graduation examination grounds at Iwagakure's Ninja Academy were once again packed with spectators. Among the audience today were some special faces, beyond the students' parents and instructors: several Iwagakure jonin and members of the Sealing Jutsu Research Class.

That was because the child being tested today was special.

Karin.

Eleven-year-old Karin stood at the edge of the grounds in a neat Ninja Academy uniform: a dark gray shirt and shorts, with Iwagakure's diamond-shaped emblem printed on the back.

Her red hair was tied in a high ponytail. Her little face wore an expression far more serious than her age would suggest, and her hands were clenched into fists at her sides. It was clear she was nervous.

In the front row of the audience, Jingxin, Kurotsuchi, and Chinatsu sat together.

Chinatsu clasped her hands tightly, her knuckles turning white with the strain.

Her eyes were fixed on her daughter in the arena, unblinking, and her lips trembled slightly.

"Don't be too nervous," Jingxin said. "Karin has prepared thoroughly. She'll be fine."

Chinatsu nodded, but her gaze never left her daughter.

The examiner walked to the center of the grounds and cleared his throat. "Graduation examination, special session."

"Student Karin has applied for early graduation. According to the rules, she must pass both the theoretical and practical examinations."

"The theoretical examination has been completed. Karin's score was perfect."

A murmur of astonishment rippled through the audience.

The Ninja Academy's theoretical examination covered a range of subjects, including the principles of ninjutsu, chakra control, tactical analysis, and the history of the Ninja World. Few children could earn a perfect score.

Fewer still could do it after only two years.

"Next is the practical examination." The examiner looked at Karin. "Your opponent is Genin Matsumoto Ken. The rules are to go easy on each other. The match ends when one side surrenders or is unable to continue fighting. Understood?"

"Understood!" Karin nodded firmly, her voice clear.

Matsumoto Ken walked to the center of the grounds. "Ready?"

Karin bowed according to ninja etiquette, then assumed the starting stance for basic Taijutsu. "Ready!"

"Begin!"

As soon as the examiner spoke, Matsumoto Ken charged forward.

He wasn't fast, but he was strong. He threw a punch straight at Karin's face.

It was the most basic Taijutsu attack, but for an eleven-year-old, it was dangerous enough.

Karin retreated lightly, barely dodging his attack by the narrowest margin.

Matsumoto Ken kept attacking, throwing punch after punch, but Karin evaded each one by a hair's breadth.

Her movements weren't especially fast, but her timing was precise. She always turned aside, tilted her head, or stepped back at the very moment an attack was about to land.

Whispers began to spread through the audience.

"Her dodges are so precise..."

"It looks like she can predict her opponent's movements?"

"No, it's not prediction. It's perception. She can see the flow of chakra."

Unable to land a hit, Matsumoto Ken retreated a few steps and formed Hand Seals. "Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!"

A fireball half a meter in diameter roared toward her.

As Karin dodged the fireball, she began forming Hand Seals.

But her seals were strange. They weren't for any familiar offensive or defensive ninjutsu, but part of a more ancient, more complex sequence.

"Sealing Jutsu: Four-Limb Heavy Seal—Simple!"

Karin moved clear of the fireball's path and thrust both hands forward.

There was no light, no special effect. Only an invisible force spreading outward.

Matsumoto Ken's body went rigid. His limbs suddenly felt unbearably heavy, as if bound by invisible chains. Every movement took an immense effort.

"W-what is this...?" He struggled, but even lifting an arm took all his strength.

Karin asked him, "Do you surrender?"

Matsumoto Ken gritted his teeth and tried to summon his chakra to break free.

But as soon as his chakra began to flow, the sealing power suppressed it and scattered it, leaving him unable to gather it.

A group of ninjas in the audience frowned and began discussing what they had just seen.

The scene was too strange.

"Is this a paralysis technique? How can it work from a distance?"

"I don't think so. I can sense the fluctuations of sealing power."

"Some kind of Sealing Jutsu? And a ranged one, at that?"

After trying a few times, Matsumoto Ken finally gave up. "I surrender."

Karin immediately released the seal, then bowed to Matsumoto Ken. "You were a good opponent."

The examiner stepped forward and carefully checked Matsumoto Ken's condition. After confirming that he wasn't injured, he announced, "Karin wins the practical examination. I hereby declare that student Karin has passed and graduated early!"

In the audience,

Chinatsu covered her mouth in excitement, tears spilling from her eyes.

Kurotsuchi clapped hard, a relieved smile on her face.

Karin stood in the middle of the grounds, receiving everyone's congratulations.

But she didn't look at anyone else. Her eyes passed through the crowd and landed directly on Chinatsu and Jingxin.

Her big red eyes were full of hope, with just a hint of unease.

After the examination, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Karin ran to Chinatsu and hugged her for a while, then came to Jingxin. Her little face was still flushed from exertion. "Big Brother Kintsuchi, I-I did it."

Jingxin smiled warmly. "Mm. You did well."

Karin's eyes lit up. "Then... did I catch up a little?"

Her question was quiet, but it carried a lot of weight.

Caught up a little? Caught up with whom? Of course, she'd caught up with Jingxin.

From the very beginning, Karin had made becoming as strong as Big Brother Jingxin her goal.

She studied hard, trained hard, and did everything she could to prove herself—not just so she could protect her mother, but so she could stand by his side instead of always being protected by him.

"You've caught up a lot," Jingxin said. He reached out to pat her on the head, but halfway there, he pulled his hand back.

Everyone had grown up now. Some things were no longer fit for joking about.

"And you have a clear path ahead of you." Jingxin reminded her, "The Uzumaki Clan's perceptive abilities and talent for Sealing Jutsu are things many people don't have. Develop them well, and you'll become a one-of-a-kind ninja."

Karin nodded firmly, then suddenly threw her arms around Jingxin. "Thank you... Big Brother Jingxin... Thank you for always believing in me..."

She was small, soft, and warm.

Jingxin paused, then gently patted her back.

Kurotsuchi watched from the side and pursed her lips. If she'd known there was a move like that, she would have tried it when she graduated.

The old Tsuchikage floated in the air, a kind smile on his face. "I saw everything you did. A perfect score in theory, outstanding perceptive abilities, and even the ability to use basic Sealing Jutsu... Very good. Excellent."

Karin bowed nervously. "Thank you, Lord Tsuchikage..."

"There's no need to be nervous," Ōnoki said with a chuckle. "From today onward, you're an official Iwagakure Genin. But you'll need to keep learning and growing."

"I have a proposal: let's form Team Kintsuchi."