Graduation Assessment

Time slipped away, four years passing like flowing water.

During these four years, Shin had remained a diligent student at the Ninja Academy. As for graduating early? Sorry, that was something Shin had never even considered.

Now, the time had come for Shin to graduate. At this point in time, the Ninja Academy course lasted five years, meaning graduation was one year earlier than in the future.

"The graduation exam is almost here. Are you nervous, Shin?"

Nawaki leaned over to Shin's side and asked.

Graduation required an examination, and the current graduation exam was somewhat more difficult than it would be in the future.

First, one had to be proficient in the Three Basic Techniques: the Substitution Technique, the Transformation Technique, and the Clone Technique—all E-rank ninjutsu.

Second, one had to hold their own for ten minutes against a Genin. Only by doing this could one graduate from the Ninja Academy; otherwise, they would have to repeat the year.

However, it was generally understood that for a student to hold out against a Genin for ten minutes was a difficult task, so teaming up was permitted.

Teams could consist of up to three people. As long as one person from the trio lasted until the end, all three could graduate. Viewed in this light, the rules were relatively lenient.

"I'm not nervous, but you certainly seem to be, Nawaki."

Shin looked at Nawaki and noticed his hands were trembling.

"I am a bit nervous. It would be too embarrassing if I failed the exam. Why don't we team up?"

"Forget it. I've already teamed up with Kushina and Mikoto, so you'd better go find someone else, Nawaki."

Shin glanced at Kushina and Mikoto beside him, then looked back at Nawaki. Even a fool would know how to choose; he chose Kushina and Mikoto without hesitation.

"Fine, I knew it would be like this. I wanted to carry you through, but it seems you don't need it."

Nawaki looked disappointed.

Before long, Tanaka arrived in the classroom and announced that the exam had officially begun. The morning would be dedicated to the Three Basic Techniques.

This was basically no challenge for the students in the class, as this was an elite class—everyone was either a member of a major clan or a genius among the commoners.

Therefore, the Three Basic Techniques could not stump anyone.

After the morning exam concluded, they didn't return home for lunch. Instead, they sat in a corner of the training ground, eating the bento boxes Mikoto had prepared.

"We can finally graduate from the Ninja Academy. Doesn't that mean we can leave Konoha to go on missions?" Kushina said with anticipation.

Mikoto kept her head down, her mood seemingly poor.

"What's wrong, Mikoto? Are you worried about not passing the graduation exam?" Shin asked her.

"No, I'm confident about passing the exam. It's just that now that we're graduating, are we going to be separated?"

Mikoto looked at Shin as she spoke; this was the reason her mood had been so low lately.

"Oh, Mikoto, what are you worried about? Maybe we'll be assigned to the same instructor," Kushina said lightheartedly.

However, despite saying that, Kushina was also very worried. What if they were assigned to different instructors?

"Actually, if you aren't satisfied with your assigned instructor, you can apply for a transfer," Shin told the two girls. There was no need to worry about this; at worst, he could ask Tsunade for a favor.

Hearing Shin say this, Mikoto and Kushina relaxed significantly.

In the afternoon, the second round of the graduation exam officially began, and even Sarutobi Hiruzen made an appearance.

Sarutobi Hiruzen certainly wouldn't pay attention to an ordinary graduation exam, but Shin's class was no ordinary class.

The students who graduated from this class would likely become the pillars of Konoha in the future, so even Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't afford to ignore them.

In fact, it wasn't just Sarutobi Hiruzen; even Danzo had sent people to observe. He also wanted to recruit a few talented ninjas for the Root organization to cultivate.

After everyone formed their teams, they were divided into groups. Shin and his team were assigned to Group Three, and their opponent was a Genin around sixteen years old.

Becoming a Genin at sixteen had given him a sense of arrogance, and he looked down on Shin and the others entirely.

As a Genin who had executed many dangerous missions, he felt these greenhouse flowers who hadn't even graduated yet were his to toy with.

Thus, when he looked at Shin and the others, the thick arrogance and disdain were not hidden in the slightest, all of it written clearly on his face.

"You three brats, you'd better just surrender. Don't blame me if I'm too cruel."

Kimura drew a Kunai and stared coldly at Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto, his indifferent eyes revealing deep contempt.

"Tsk tsk, I'd like to see just how cruel you can be."

Kimura was disdainful of Shin, and likewise, Shin was extremely disdainful of him. Shin felt he could beat this small-time Genin with his eyes closed.

"You're courting death."

Kimura sensed Shin's disdain for him and immediately felt a surge of fury.

A ninja student who hadn't even graduated dared to look down on him, a true Genin? Kimura had already decided that, no matter what, he would ensure the boy never graduated.

"Looking at your arrogance, someone who didn't know better might think you were a Kage-level powerhouse. What is there to put on airs about for a mere Genin?"

Shin said indifferently. From the very beginning, he had been annoyed with this guy. Just a Genin, yet he dared to look down on him—did he think he was Uchiha Madara?

"The battle begins. Lethal force is prohibited."

Standing to the side, the Chunin acting as the examiner spoke up. Beyond evaluating the match, he was responsible for preventing any incidents, such as one side suddenly resorting to lethal force.

"You don't need to intervene; I'll take care of him," Shin said to Kushina and Mikoto.

With that, Shin began to walk toward Kimura step by step.

Watching Shin, Kimura was truly incensed; this brat really looked down on him.

"I'll let you know the gap between you and a real Genin."

Kimura gripped his Kunai and rapidly closed the distance toward Shin, moving with great speed.

Well, this speed was fast relative to an ordinary person, but in Shin's eyes, this guy's speed was slow as death.

Cold light glinted in Kimura's eyes as he thrust the Kunai toward Shin. He didn't aim for any vital points; after all, he didn't dare to actually kill Shin.

Though he didn't dare to kill, Kimura was perfectly willing to inflict a serious injury.

"Weak."

Shin raised his hand and punched him in the abdomen. Kimura was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into the ground and kicking up dust. After struggling for a moment, he passed out.

"Examiner, does this mean we've passed?"

Shin turned his gaze toward the dumbfounded Chunin examiner and asked.

Seeing the man's stunned expression, Shin smiled faintly; it went without saying that he had been shocked.

He had revealed a bit of his strength, but Shin no longer cared. He was not the same person he used to be.

In the past, he had wanted to hide himself and avoid standing out because his strength was insufficient, but now, his strength was more than enough.

Over the past four years, Shin's Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Kenjutsu had improved by more than just a little. Most importantly, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan had now evolved into the Mangekyou Sharingan.

What did the Mangekyou Sharingan combined with a perfect Sage Body equal?

It meant he didn't have to worry about the Mangekyou Sharingan going blind and could use it at will. So, what did Shin have to fear now?

It was time to start keeping a high profile.