Another Newcomer

Hatake Sakumo told Minato and Shikaku that he was preparing to leave the Academy.

The two of them were very reluctant to see him go, but they couldn't let one person's circumstances interfere with another's fate.

They had planned to spend their last day together in peace and good spirits, but they hadn't expected to find another strange character in the classroom.

Hatake Sakumo couldn't take his eyes off him at first sight. Shen Ye could clearly feel the surging chakra inside him stirring restlessly.

It looked ready to erupt at any moment. Shen Ye was curious about what kind of person could provoke such a strong reaction from Hatake Sakumo.

He looked over and saw a man in green standing blankly at the classroom door, gazing inside with a hint of uncertainty.

"Is that... Might Duy?"

"Shen Ye, you know him too? The two of us are very close friends."

Shen Ye's mouth twitched. From the way Hatake Sakumo was gritting his teeth, you'd never guess they were close friends.

Shen Ye would have believed they were lifelong rivals. Still, he knew quite a bit about their past; the original story had explained it very clearly.

Before Shen Ye could react, Hatake Sakumo rushed forward and immediately started wrestling with Might Duy.

Shen Ye watched quietly as the two exchanged punches and kicks. Only then did he realize how strong Hatake Sakumo was: he could hold his own against Might Duy, who specialized in Taijutsu.

Just as the two were fighting fiercely, a masked ninja dropped between them and pulled them apart.

"Stop fooling around. Lord Danzo ordered me to take you back. Your assignment at the Ninja Academy is complete."

Hatake Sakumo gave Shen Ye a lingering look, then followed the Anbu member out of the Ninja Academy.

Might Duy stood there in a daze, unable to understand what had happened. Why had someone suddenly taken him away?

Shen Ye shook his head gently and walked over to Might Duy.

"You two are friends, so from now on, you're our friend too. There's nothing wrong with being unable to learn ninjutsu."

"Do you know me?"

Might Duy pointed at his own nose in shock. He had never even met this guy before.

"Of course. You'll become an excellent ninja one day."

"Actually, I'm just a hopeless loser. I couldn't learn ninjutsu, so I had no choice but to leave the Ninja Academy. I only came back so I could graduate."

"But you're already far stronger than many of us still at the Ninja Academy. Have a little faith in yourself."

Might Duy nodded repeatedly. He knew all too well how he differed from everyone else.

If he couldn't train in ninjutsu, he would work hard at Taijutsu instead and prove that someone could become an outstanding ninja through Taijutsu alone.

Minato and Shikaku had already entered the classroom, unaware that a new member had joined their group.

Shen Ye patted Might Duy on the shoulder and gestured with his eyes. The two of them headed into the classroom together.

At the same time, Shen Ye silently activated the system's Steal Skill.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You successfully stole Might Duy's Eight Inner Gates Technique! Steal Skill cooldown: 3 hours."

It was still the same long three hours. Shen Ye couldn't help asking the system when the cooldown would be shortened.

But he got no reply. It seemed his question had vanished into the void.

The dull classroom routine began. Only Might Duy listened attentively to the teacher, occasionally jotting something down on paper.

The three of them kept their eyes on the scenery outside the window, already itching to rush out and have some fun.

Just then, three pieces of chalk flew straight at them and landed precisely on their foreheads, leaving faint white marks.

"You three, behave yourselves! Don't think I don't know what you're up to. There's no way you're leaving during my class."

"Don't worry, teacher. We won't leave."

Shen Ye raised a hand to promise, but his gaze remained fixed outside the window as he wondered when he could finally graduate and leave.

Once he became a true Genin, countless missions would be waiting for him. That would be real freedom.

"Shen Ye, I think we should pay attention today. Maybe we'll be able to leave the Academy whenever we want starting today."

"Oh? Why are you so sure?"

Minato gave him a mysterious smile. He had already found out what they would be learning that day: the Shadow Clone Technique.

If they could use the Shadow Clone Technique with ease, they could send a clone to school while their real bodies played outside to their hearts' content. What could be better?

Shen Ye slapped his forehead. How had he not thought of that jutsu sooner?

But he had just used the system's Steal Skill, so he would have to wait a while before he could use it again and steal the Shadow Clone Technique.

"There isn't much time left before you graduate. Your only exam requirement is to perform the Shadow Clone Technique correctly. Today, I'll teach you this jutsu."

The teacher stood at the front of the classroom and explained everything about the Shadow Clone Technique.

Might Duy swallowed hard, feeling that he was in a difficult position. He had no talent for performing ninjutsu. The Shadow Clone Technique was impossibly difficult for him—perhaps even impossible altogether.

"So it's the Shadow Clone Technique! Does this mean I'll never be able to become a Genin? The heavens are unjust!"

"I'll help you solve this problem. A jutsu like that isn't enough to judge someone's strength."

Shen Ye rose with a serious expression and walked toward the lectern.

Might Duy had faced countless cold stares and taunts because he couldn't perform ninjutsu. Shen Ye didn't want that to keep happening.

So he went to the teacher and spoke quietly, hoping to spare Might Duy the others' merciless ridicule.

"Shen Ye, if you have a question, you can ask it from your seat. There's no need to come up here."

"I have to say this right into your ear. Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to control my temper."

He wore a faint smile, but everyone could sense the unyielding force in his words.

The teacher sighed softly and said nothing more, waiting for Shen Ye to come over. He was curious about what Shen Ye wanted to tell him.