Team Kintsuchi?

Time flies.

Two years after Karin entered the Ninja Academy.

The graduation examination grounds of the Iwagakure Ninja Academy were bustling with noise once again. Today, the spectator stands featured some special faces; beyond the usual parents and instructors, there were several Iwagakure Jonin and members of the Sealing Jutsu Research Class.

This was because the student being tested today was a special child.

Karin.

Eleven-year-old Karin stood at the edge of the arena, dressed in a neat Ninja Academy uniform—a dark gray top and shorts, with the Iwagakure diamond emblem printed on the back.

Her red hair was tied into a high ponytail, and her small face wore an expression of seriousness that belied her age. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides, and her visible tension was apparent.

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

Chinatsu gripped her hands tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Her eyes were fixed unblinkingly on her daughter in the arena, her lips trembling slightly.

"Don't be too nervous," Jingxin conjectured. "Karin is well-prepared; there won't be any problems."

Chinatsu nodded, but her gaze remained locked on her daughter.

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

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

"The theoretical examination has been completed, and Karin's score is: perfect."

A low murmur of astonishment rippled through the spectator stands.

The Ninja Academy's theoretical examination covered ninjutsu principles, chakra control, tactical analysis, ninja world history, and many other fields; children who could achieve a perfect score were few and far between.

Not to mention one who could achieve it in just two years.

"Next is the practical examination." The examiner looked at Karin. "Your opponent is Genin Matsumoto Ken. The rule is to stop at the point of injury; the match ends when one side concedes or loses the ability to fight. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" Karin nodded vigorously, her voice crisp.

Matsumoto Ken walked to the center of the arena. "Are you ready?"

Karin bowed according to ninja etiquette and then assumed a basic taijutsu stance. "Ready!"

"Begin!"

The moment the examiner's voice fell, Matsumoto Ken charged forward.

His speed was not fast, but his strength was substantial, and he threw a punch straight at Karin's face.

This was the most basic taijutsu attack, but for an eleven-year-old child, it was threatening enough.

Karin retreated with light steps, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth, with absolute precision.

Matsumoto Ken continued his assault, punch after punch, but each one was avoided by Karin by the narrowest of margins.

Her movements were not fast, but her timing was incredibly precise; she would side-step, tilt her head, or retreat just as the attack was about to land.

Whispers began to spread through the spectator stands.

"Such precise dodging..."

"Does she seem to be predicting her opponent's moves?"

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

Unable to land a hit after a long exchange, Matsumoto Ken stepped back and formed hand seals. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

A fireball half a meter in diameter roared toward her.

Karin began to weave hand seals while dodging the fireball.

However, her seal sequence was strange; it was not a common offensive or defensive ninjutsu, but a more ancient and complex sequence.

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

Karin cleared the fireball's range and pushed her hands forward simultaneously.

There was no light, no special effects, only an invisible force spreading outward.

Matsumoto Ken's body stiffened. He felt his limbs suddenly become incredibly heavy, as if bound by invisible chains, making every movement extremely laborious.

"What... what is this..." He tried to struggle, but even lifting his arm required all his strength.

Karin asked him, "Do you concede?"

Matsumoto Ken gritted his teeth, attempting to mobilize his chakra to break the restraint.

But the moment his chakra flowed, it was suppressed and scattered by the power of the sealing jutsu, making it impossible to condense.

In the spectator stands, a group of ninjas frowned and discussed the scene.

This sight was too bizarre.

"Is this a paralysis jutsu? Why does it work from a distance?"

"It shouldn't be. I can sense the fluctuations of sealing power."

"Is it some kind of sealing jutsu? And a long-range one at that?"

On the stage, after several attempts, Matsumoto Ken finally gave up: "I concede."

Karin immediately dispelled her sealing jutsu and bowed to Matsumoto Ken: "Thank you for the match."

The examiner stepped forward, carefully checked Matsumoto Ken's condition, and after confirming he was uninjured, announced: "In the practical examination, Karin wins. I hereby declare student Karin has passed and graduated early!"

In the spectator stands.

Chinatsu covered her mouth in excitement, tears welling up and spilling over.

Kurotsuchi also clapped vigorously, a gratified smile on her face.

Karin stood in the center of the arena, accepting congratulations from the crowd.

But she did not look at the others; her gaze cut through the crowd, landing directly on Chinatsu and Jingxin.

Those large, red eyes were filled with anticipation and a hint of unease.

After the examination concluded, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Karin ran up to Chinatsu and hugged her for a moment, then came before Jingxin, her small face still flushed from the exertion: "Brother Jingxin, I... I did it."

Jingxin said with a beaming smile: "Mm, very good."

Karin's eyes lit up: "Then... does that mean I've caught up a little?"

Her question was soft, but the meaning behind it was heavy.

Caught up a little? Caught up to whom? Naturally, it meant catching up to Jingxin's footsteps.

From the very beginning, Karin had set her goal to become as formidable as Brother Jingxin.

She studied desperately, trained desperately, and desperately wanted to prove herself—not just to protect her mother, but to be able to stand by his side instead of being protected by him forever.

"You've caught up quite a lot." Jingxin reached out as if to pat her head, but pulled his hand back halfway.

Everyone was grown up now; some things were no longer appropriate to joke about.

"And your path is very clear." Jingxin reminded her: "The Uzumaki Clan's talent for sensory perception and sealing jutsu is something many people lack. Develop them well, and you will become a one-of-a-kind ninja."

Karin nodded vigorously, then suddenly lunged forward to hug Jingxin: "Thank you... Brother Jingxin... thank you for always believing in me..."

Her body was small, soft, and warm.

Jingxin froze for a moment, then gently patted her back.

Kurotsuchi watched from the side and pursed her lips; if she had known there was such a move, she would have used it when she graduated.

The old Tsuchikage floated in the air, a gentle smile on his face: "I saw your performance. Full marks on theory, outstanding sensory abilities, and you can even use basic sealing jutsu... Very good, truly excellent."

Karin bowed, feeling somewhat nervous: "Thank you, Lord Tsuchikage..."

"No need to be nervous." Ōnoki said with a chuckle: "From today on, you are an official genin of Iwagakure. However, you must continue to learn and grow."

"I have a proposal: to form Team Kintsuchi."