Class Assignment

"Nebula, are you ready?"

"My youth is already starving and impatient." Might Guy's voice rang out from the side.

Nebula Kotetsu closed his panel, and meeting Might Guy's passionate, surging smile, he smiled back.

"Guy."

"I'm ready, let's begin!"

"Yahoo!~"

"Let's start!!"

Following Might Guy's shout to begin, the two started to sprint at full speed.

One minute in, Nebula Kotetsu felt the speed of the wind.

Three minutes in, Nebula Kotetsu felt the agony in his muscles.

Ten minutes in, Nebula Kotetsu felt like he was going to die.

Even though his physical constitution and chakra reserves had significantly increased, his body still began to signal a strike under the sudden, intense exertion.

Lungs: I'm dying, I'm dying, I can't take it anymore.

Heart: I'm dying, I'm dying, I'm about to give out too.

Brain: I think they have a point.

Nebula Kotetsu refused to listen.

Might Guy was running in front like a donkey off its leash; why should he be the one who couldn't keep up?

My body, my rules!

Three minutes later, Nebula Kotetsu felt that maybe these rules weren't worth keeping.

Watching Might Guy, who was still full of boundless energy ahead, he shouted the question in his heart.

"Guy!~"

"When you can't hold on anymore, how do you push through it!~"

Might Guy didn't even look back, shouting as he ran toward the morning sun.

"Yo-hoo~~"

"It's by relying on youth!!~"

"Only through constant effort can I feel that my youth is still alive!~"

Nebula Kotetsu was speechless.

Refusing to accept defeat, he struggled to catch up.

In the hazy morning, outside Konoha, two trails of dust gradually stretched into the distance...

Morning, the large classroom of the Ninja Academy.

"Nebula, what's wrong?"

"Do you want to go to the hospital?" Under the disgruntled gazes of dozens of girls, Rin Nohara sat beside Nebula Kotetsu, her tone filled with worry.

It was only because Nebula Kotetsu's current state was a bit frightening.

His already fair complexion was paler than usual, and every breath seemed to exhaust all his strength; anyone who didn't know better would think he had a terminal illness.

"I'm fine." Nebula Kotetsu tried his best to reveal a faint smile.

However, his pale face still carried a hint of fragility. At this moment, many girls in the classroom clutched their chests, wishing they could pull him over and shower him with concern.

"Are you really okay?" Rin Nohara was still uneasy.

Beside them, Obito Uchiha looked jealous, but seeing Nebula Kotetsu's complexion today, he didn't say anything, feeling that it wasn't a big deal for Rin Nohara to show some concern.

After all, the guy looked like he was about to die.

"I'm really fine," Nebula Kotetsu said helplessly.

He knew his own body.

He had just undergone sudden, high-intensity training that he couldn't quite handle, and coupled with waking up early for the second time, he hadn't adapted yet.

A few more times, and he would be just about right.

"Oh right, Rin, you still have milk, right?"

"I do." Rin Nohara took a carton of milk from her small bag and handed it to Nebula Kotetsu: "Here."

Under Obito Uchiha's twitching gaze, Nebula Kotetsu took the milk from Rin Nohara, inserted the straw, and began to drink it bit by bit.

Drinking something made him feel much better, and before long, his complexion gradually began to improve.

Rin Nohara finally set her heart at ease.

Suddenly, she noticed Nebula Kotetsu's ninja tool pouch and asked in confusion, "Nebula, why is your pouch so bulging?"

"What did you put in there?"

Nebula Kotetsu tucked the pouch into his desk without a trace; inside was his green spandex suit.

"Nothing much."

"It's just some wicked stuff for boys; girls shouldn't be curious."

Hearing this, Rin Nohara stopped asking.

However, Obito Uchiha, sitting to the side, suddenly felt a surge of curiosity.

Wicked stuff?

I really want to see it.

Unfortunately, he and Nebula Kotetsu were not on good terms, so he couldn't bring himself to ask.

"Rin, who do you think our team leader will be?" Obito Uchiha asked proactively, trying to draw Rin Nohara's attention away from Nebula Kotetsu.

"I have no idea." Rin Nohara was indeed distracted, looking toward the door with eyes full of anticipation.

"It would be best if it's a sunny and cheerful team leader."

"That way, the team atmosphere would be much more harmonious."

"Mm-hmm." Obito Uchiha nodded in agreement, but immediately offered his own opinion.

"If you ask me, it should be a powerful ninja."

"The kind who is cold, arrogant, and has killed countless enemies."

"A strong team leader would be a great role model; we can only improve faster by learning from them."

Listening to Obito Uchiha's fantasy, an image involuntarily surfaced in Rin Nohara's mind: a ninja with a full beard, a broad build, holding a giant blade, and wearing a bloodthirsty expression.

She couldn't help but shiver.

"Ew~ Obito, you're so annoying."

"I still prefer someone sunny and cheerful."

It wasn't just Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha.

At this moment in the classroom, almost everyone was discussing the same thing.

Graduation team assignments.

Everyone present was a qualified graduate of this year, about to welcome their squads.

Who would the team leader (captain) be? A Chunin or a Jonin?

Who would they be teammates with?

Everyone felt as restless as if they were being scratched by a cat, unable to calm their minds.

Who would their teammates be?

Would it be their best friend, their partner-in-crime, or their long-time rival? Or perhaps... the class beauty or the school heartthrob?

The students' anxious yet expectant gazes darted around the room.

Among them, Rin Nohara, Kurenai Yuhi, and a few other standout female students attracted the secret stares of many boys.

As for the girls' gazes... they were almost all fixed on Nebula Kotetsu.

Some were sneaky and coy, while others didn't bother to hide their interest, praying silently in their hearts.

"I really hope I'm on the same team as Nebula."

"Oh heavens, please, grant my wish."

"Sage of Six Paths, show your grace; ignore the little hussies nearby and give Nebula to me."

The Nebula Kotetsu of today was no longer the Nebula Kotetsu of the past.

His strength had improved significantly compared to his former status as a dead-weight, and he could even defeat ordinary students like Mizuki, placing him at an above-average level.

And most importantly, he knew the Mystical Palm Technique.

On the battlefield, a medical ninja was second only to a powerful protector!

Everyone was curious, and Nebula Kotetsu was no exception.

Who would his teammates be?

If it were Rin Nohara, that would be best, as it would make it easier for him to go on dates while doing missions.

If it wasn't Rin Nohara... it didn't really seem to matter.

As long as they were normal people, it would be fine.

While the classroom was buzzing with noise, the door to the large room swung open.

A male teacher walked in, looked at the students who had just been clamoring and were now looking at him with anticipation, and said with a smile, "It seems you've all been waiting for me."

A bold male student asked directly, "Teacher, are you announcing the team assignments now?"

"Mm." The male teacher nodded. Seeing the students below beginning to clamor again, he pressed his hands downward, and once they had quieted, he spoke.

"Starting today, everyone here is a ninja capable of standing on your own."

"But for now, you are merely novice Genin; greater difficulties and challenges await you in the future."

"From here on out, you will be organized into squads to carry out missions together."

"As your teacher, I leave you with one final piece of advice: cherish your comrades, and protect the village."

"I will now begin reading the results of the squad assignments."