Graduation Season

Rebuilding the ruins.

Cherishing peace after the chaos of war.

Time flies like an arrow, days and months like a shuttle.

Naruto reaches the moment of graduation at the Ninja Academy.

The graduation exam is still the Three Body Technique.

Naruto has no choice but to ask Liu Er to take the exam for him, only then managing to muddle through.

In the last row of the classroom.

Kiba stands behind Naruto, holding Akamaru, and gestures wildly: "Naruto, you should play a straight!"

Choji nervously munches on potato chips, with only one card left in his hand: "Shikamaru, I only have one left, let me play, let me play."

Shikamaru still has a bomb in his hand, but after playing it, it would be difficult for him to clear the rest of his cards, because the bomb is connected to a straight.

The straight happens to be able to beat Naruto's cards.

Should he choose to trust Choji, or fight on his own?

Shikamaru recalls what other cards Naruto has: "Naruto, with this hand, you're still lacking a bit!"

Shikamaru finds the breakthrough point.

"Bomb!"

"I'll let you bomb! I'm going to tell Iruka!" Ino rushes over from the classroom door, angrily scattering the cards on the table: "Iruka is truly kind; you all don't listen in class, yet he still lets you graduate."

Both Kiba and Akamaru are terrified of Ino's rage, immediately running back to their seats and acting like good students.

Choji dejectedly pours the remaining chips into his mouth and mumbles: "Naruto, count this round as my win. That way, my score is the highest and yours is the lowest; you owe me two bags of chips."

Naruto points at the messy cards and spreads his hands: "That doesn't count. If I had won, my score would be first. Shikamaru, I have the Big Joker in my hand."

Shikamaru analyzes: "Choji's last card is the Small Joker, you definitely have one extra single card, we win."

Naruto looks at Ino: "Class Monitor Ino, with this scene you've caused, the three of us are going to have a conflict. How about Class Monitor Ino buys two bags of chips for Choji, and we go apologize to Iruka?"

"This... this..." Ino stomps her feet: "Fine, I'll buy them so you don't fight."

Shikamaru bows his head and smiles.

On the last day of the Ninja Academy, everyone is the same as usual.

All students gather on the playground.

On the podium, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi congratulates all the students with a kind gaze: "You have graduated. In the days to come, you will form three-man squads, follow our Konoha jonin to carry out missions, and work together to open up a better future for Konoha."

Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze did not come, and some students show expressions of disappointment.

As for the squad assignments, they will be notified to all graduates in a week.

Hinata stands in a row with Naruto, standing tall and graceful: "Naruto, have you thought about what gift to give for Hanabi's birthday?"

Hyuga Hanabi, the second young lady of the Hyuga Clan, is mischievous, strong-willed, and tries to show Hyuga Hiashi that she has better talent than her sister, but when not in front of Hyuga Hiashi, she becomes her sister's little follower.

Naruto has grown quite a bit, with a handsome face and a slender build: "I'll give her a doll; little girls all like them."

Hinata whispers: "Hanabi doesn't like dolls. She told me she wants to learn the Eight Inner Gates from Naruto-niisan."

Naruto chuckles: "Sure! I'd be happy to teach her. Even if she doesn't manage to open the Space Gate after training, it will still greatly improve Hanabi's future taijutsu abilities."

"Mm, it's a deal then." Hearing Naruto agree, Hinata smiles slightly.

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech concludes: "Now, the previous graduates will put the Konoha ninja headbands on you all. Congratulations on successfully becoming genin."

The students applaud.

Lee strides up to Naruto, looking excited. As the music plays, Lee solemnly puts the headband on Naruto, adjusting it on his forehead before heaving a sigh of relief.

Hinata's headband is put on by Tenten.

The graduation ceremony ends.

Naruto and Hinata are on their way to the Hyuga Clan.

"Naruto, which squad do you think we'll be assigned to?" Hinata says expectantly: "I want to be in the same squad as Naruto so we can do missions together."

Naruto thinks of Minato Namikaze's strange smile from a few days ago, feeling in his heart that the squad he is assigned to will likely be under Kakashi.

Kakashi is currently the Konoha jonin most valued by Minato Namikaze, even more so than his own son.

The joke Kakashi made to Naruto when he was a child might actually come true.

Naruto has no opportunity to express his opinion to the Konoha higher-ups: "Guy's will is too wavering. He told me he would lead our class, but after Neji and Lee treated him to a barbecue, Guy decided to lead them instead. We can only wait for the arrangements of the higher-ups."

Hizashi Hyuga is also leading a squad this year, and Hinata specifically mentioned it to Hizashi Hyuga at home, but received no response.

"I'm so worried!" Hinata says.

Passing by a toy store, Naruto picks up a pink doll on the way.

Hokage Office!

Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Council of Elders are all present.

"These are the team assignments for this year's students. I would like to hear everyone's opinion." Minato Namikaze could not decide this matter alone.

Hiruzen Sarutobi scanned the list from top to bottom: "Minato, the Asuma team doesn't seem very reasonable! The Ino-Shika-Cho formation of Konoha should be led by a powerful and steady Jonin; Asuma is the most suitable choice."

Minato Namikaze explained: "Hayate Gekko is fair-minded and his strength is not lacking; he is also suitable to instruct the Ino-Shika-Cho formation."

Both men looked toward the Council of Elders simultaneously; their opinion would determine the instructor for the Ino-Shika-Cho formation.

Asuma was the son of the Third Hokage, and leading the Ino-Shika-Cho would be a great help in his future bid for the position of Hokage. Hayate Gekko had no connections, and while his strength was acceptable, he should just lead a regular team.

The Council of Elders made their stance clear.

Minato Namikaze did not persist further: "Very well, does anyone have any other opinions?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked toward Team Kakashi.

"Minato, I believe Konoha should give more opportunities to civilian ninjas. Team Kakashi is an elite team consisting entirely of descendants from prestigious families; isn't that inappropriate?"

Team Kakashi: Uzumaki Naruto, Hinata Hyuga, Yo Uchiha.

"Optimizing the distribution of personnel strength, Third Hokage, shouldn't that be the goal?" Minato Namikaze did not want to adjust Team Kakashi.

Naruto was a variable to begin with.

The Council of Elders still supported the opinion of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

In the final decision, Yo Uchiha was replaced by Sakura Haruno. Sakura Haruno had average ninjutsu ability, but her academic grades in the academy were excellent, indicating she was a child with high intelligence who could compensate for Team Kakashi's tactical capabilities.

Meanwhile, Yo Uchiha joined Team 8, led by Kurenai Yuhi alongside Kiba and Shino.

The ninja team assignment meeting concluded.

Hiruzen Sarutobi left with a smile; today, his coordination with the Council of Elders had caught Minato Namikaze off guard.

Minato Namikaze wanted to build a prestigious reputation for Team Kakashi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was also paving the way for his own son to become Hokage.