Graduation Assessment

(The Graduation Assessment)

After the homeroom teacher finished speaking, he announced that school was over. This was the first time Mikazuki Sora had come to class only to be dismissed without a lesson. Still, the matter Nakamura-sensei had announced was clearly very serious; the students needed to go home and discuss it with their parents.

Although they could become Genin after graduating this time, they would be sent to the battlefield much sooner, putting them at considerable risk.

After their homeroom teacher left, the class erupted into chatter. Even though becoming ninja so early would be dangerous, all the students dreamed of becoming ninja, protecting the village, and becoming its heroes.

Naturally, they all wanted to apply for the Genin graduation assessment. Mirai and the others gathered together.

"Mirai, what have you decided? Are you going to apply?" Hyuga Hiben asked. The others looked at Mirai, too, wanting to know what he would do. Mirai had no parents in this world, so he had to make all his own decisions.

Mirai nodded. "I'm going to apply for the Genin graduation assessment. I've learned almost everything the school has to teach me this year. Staying longer won't help me improve much. What I lack now is real combat experience, so I plan to take the assessment."

"If Mirai's applying, then I'm applying too," Cunxia Ye said.

"Your grades are so bad that they'll probably reject your application anyway. What about you, Itachi? Are you going to apply?" Shiba Bun asked Uchiha Itachi, looking down on Cunxia Ye. Of their group, only Mirai and Uchiha Itachi seemed qualified. Their abilities were far beyond those of their classmates.

"I need to ask my father and mother. If they agree, I'll probably apply too."

"I need to ask at home as well," Hyuga Hiben said. Mikazuki Sora nodded in agreement.

Mirai shook his head. "You should stay in school for another year and wait until you're stronger before taking the assessment. You all know what's happening this time: ninja from another village have invaded the Land of Fire. If you aren't strong enough, you could lose your life at any moment while carrying out missions on the battlefield. You're still too young."

Hyuga Hiben heard Mirai and raised her nose indignantly. "Hmph! You talk as if you're so grown-up. You're a kid too."

Mirai smiled. "Sure, but I'm stronger than you."

"Only by a tiny bit."

"Heh. Don't make a decision rashly. It's best to discuss it carefully with your families. Of course, there's nothing wrong with applying for the graduation assessment. Whether you pass is still up in the air."

The others thought Mirai made sense. They weren't really in a position to make this kind of decision on their own. After a while, everyone left the classroom and went home to discuss it with their parents.

Mirai filled out an application form. When he brought it to school, he handed it to his homeroom teacher, Nakamura. Seeing Mirai, Nakamura Hino gave him a look that said he'd expected this. "I thought you'd apply for the graduation assessment. You're the best student in the class. To be honest, I really don't want you going to the battlefield so soon."

"Every ninja has to go through the baptism of battle to grow stronger. It's already hard for me to make progress at school, so I think fighting will suit me better." Mirai spoke to his homeroom teacher, Nakamura. His system hadn't given him a new mission in a long time, so he figured he needed to become a ninja as soon as possible. Maybe then he'd have new missions to complete and could grow faster.

It was like playing an online game: missions wouldn't appear until you reached a certain level. Maybe it was time for him to change classes.

"All right. I won't try to talk you out of it. With your ability, you should be able to survive the battlefield. You may become a great ninja someday."

"By the way, Nakamura-sensei, who else applied for graduation?"

Nakamura Hino picked up the two application forms on his desk. "Besides you, Uchiha Itachi and Mikazuki Sora."

"Mikazuki Sora?" Mirai was surprised. It made sense that Uchiha Itachi had applied. Itachi was a genius with great strength and a calm mind, and the Uchiha clan had strict standards. At a time like this, there was no way he'd back down and willingly fall behind. It was only natural for Itachi to apply for the graduation assessment.

But Mikazuki Sora was a girl. Of course, Mirai didn't look down on girls. There were plenty of powerful female ninja, like Tsunade and Terumi Mei—or, for that matter, Otsutsuki Kaguya, the ultimate boss.

Still, Mirai remembered Mikazuki Sora as a quiet, reserved girl who wasn't very talkative. She studied diligently and trained hard, but her strength didn't seem quite sufficient.

"Maybe she wants to test her abilities. But the Third Hokage will be overseeing this assessment, and his standards are very strict. I expect Mikazuki will end up returning to class."

Mirai nodded. That seemed like the only explanation. "Nakamura-sensei, when is the assessment?"

"Tomorrow morning at eight thirty. Meet at the school, and then we'll take you to the assessment site."

"I understand. Then I'll be going, Nakamura-sensei." Mirai left the office and closed the door behind him. He hadn't expected so few people to sign up. Their families must have told them to stay in school for another year or two. That wasn't a bad choice; it might even be the right one.

The next morning, Mirai arrived at school. The first-year students had the day off. The large classroom on the first floor was filled mostly with second- and third-year students. Soon, Mirai spotted two familiar figures: Uchiha Itachi and Mikazuki Sora. They saw him, too, and came over.

"Cousin Mirai." "Mirai, you're here. Do you know what happens next?" Uchiha Itachi and Mikazuki Sora greeted him. Mikazuki Sora asked the question, a little uneasy at seeing so many unfamiliar faces for the first time.

Mirai answered them, "Yeah. You two got here early. Someone will come explain the assessment soon, so let's wait patiently."