The Final Warm-up Before the Graduation Assessment!

As time passed, Kizaru's first year of school gradually drew to a close.

The final exams were approaching, and the atmosphere in the classroom had become slightly tense; after all, no one wanted to go home with a "tail-end" report card and suffer the "loving education" of their parents.

For Kizaru, the approach of the finals also meant that his school life was coming to an end.

At the mere thought that his academic credentials would be permanently frozen at the first-grade level, Kizaru felt a touch of melancholy in his heart.

His classmates also knew that Kizaru was about to graduate early to challenge a Jonin of the Uchiha Clan.

The students were all looking forward to this assessment with great anticipation.

After spending more than half a year together, they had discovered that the "Great Demon King" Kizaru was actually a very good person, and they were no longer as afraid of him as they had been when he first enrolled.

Many students had approached Kizaru privately to cheer him on and offer encouragement.

Among them was Uchiha Inabi.

One day after school, this boy secretly found Kizaru and handed him a small note.

The note contained information that Uchiha Inabi had gathered regarding Uchiha Kensuke.

After handing over the note, Uchiha Inabi added, "Good luck, classmate Kizaru! In the future, I am the only one who will be able to defeat you!"

With that, Uchiha Inabi didn't wait for a reply and quickly ran off.

Holding the note and watching Uchiha Inabi's retreating back, Kizaru could only shake his head and chuckle.

The atmosphere in the school was like this, but in the village, it was even more intense.

Driven by the three major forces—the Uchiha Clan, the Shimura Clan, and the Hokage's office—Kizaru's early graduation assessment had become the hottest topic in the entire village.

The villagers were all waiting with bated breath, filled with eager anticipation for the battle between Kizaru and Uchiha Kensuke.

Thanks to this, Uchiha Kensuke, who previously had no reputation in the village and kept a very low profile, suddenly became a celebrity after the Uchiha Clan announced him as the examiner.

Even when Uchiha Kensuke went to buy something on the commercial street in the clan district, he would receive cheers and encouragement from many enthusiastic clansmen.

This made him feel quite uncomfortable, as he was used to solitude; he only wished for the day of the assessment to arrive quickly so this wave of hype would end.

The treatment Kizaru received was even more exaggerated than Uchiha Kensuke's.

Given his outstanding physique and stature, his unconventional style of dress, and his signature tinted sunglasses, Kizaru was easily recognized by the villagers every time he stepped out.

These villagers weren't as fanatical as the celebrity-chasers of Kizaru's past life, but they always stared at him with excited, gossiping eyes, forcing Kizaru to eventually use the Transformation Technique whenever he went out.

In Kizaru's courtyard, a lounge chair was placed under the shade of a tree.

Kizaru was lying on the chair in a relaxed, sprawling posture.

Beside the chair sat a small tea table half the height of a person, topped with tea and refreshments.

Tomorrow was the day of the graduation assessment, yet Kizaru was not the least bit nervous, contrary to what outsiders might imagine.

Sipping hot tea and eating pastries with his eyes squinted in satisfaction, Kizaru was incredibly relaxed and leisurely.

"Little Monkey!"

An aged voice rang out from outside the courtyard.

Still holding half a pastry, Kizaru didn't move his body, merely tilting his head slightly while using his free left hand to push his sunglasses up onto his forehead.

"Old Man, why are you here?"

In the entire clan, only the Great Elder called Kizaru "Little Monkey."

Therefore, Kizaru was very casual, simply looking toward the courtyard entrance and waiting for the Great Elder to walk in.

With a kind smile on his face, the Great Elder stepped into the courtyard.

Seeing Kizaru lying leisurely on the chair in the yard, the Great Elder's expression stiffened for a moment.

Offering an apologetic smile to Tsunade, who was standing slightly behind him, the Great Elder spoke up.

"Little Monkey, get up! Your Senior Sister Tsunade has come to see you."

In truth, before the Great Elder had even finished speaking, Kizaru, who had been watching the entrance, had already spotted Tsunade.

Not the least bit flustered, Kizaru lazily tossed the half-eaten pastry into his mouth, slowly sat up, and picked up the teacup from the table.

Blowing away the steam rising from the tea, Kizaru took a sip, swallowed the pastry, and then stood up from the chair with a smile.

"Senior Sister Tsunade, you're the very last one to arrive! It's truly heartbreaking!" Kizaru teased with his signature, cheeky tone.

The last one?

Tsunade thought for a moment and immediately understood what Kizaru meant.

"Jiraiya and Orochimaru have both looked for you?" Tsunade asked as she walked toward Kizaru.

"Senior Brother Orochimaru gave me a scroll of analysis on Fire Style ninjutsu; the content inside is really good!" Kizaru replied with a smile.

"As for Senior Brother Jiraiya, he didn't bring a gift, but he said that once I graduate, he'll take me to a fun place!" When mentioning Jiraiya, Kizaru added a bit of dark humor by emphasizing the word "fun."

Just as Kizaru expected, as soon as Tsunade heard "Jiraiya" and "fun place," she immediately made the correct association.

Gritting her teeth, and considering the presence of the Great Elder of the Shimura Clan beside her, Tsunade suppressed the urge to curse out loud.

He decided in his heart that he would go find Jiraiya later to have a proper spar, and while he was at it, ask him exactly what kind of "fun places" he was talking about.

That unreliable guy Jiraiya actually wanted to lure his junior brother Kizaru, who wasn't even seven years old yet, to some pleasure houses. What a bastard!

After cursing Jiraiya in his heart once more, Tsunade looked at Kizaru and spoke up.

"The hospital has been too busy lately. That Old Man dumped everything on me while he goes off to enjoy himself. What a bastard!" Half-explaining and half-complaining, Tsunade clarified why she had only just come to visit today.

After finishing, Tsunade continued to Kizaru: "How are you preparing for tomorrow's assessment? I've looked into that Uchiha Kensuke; his strength is decent, so don't be careless."

"A Jonin of the Uchiha, how terrifying!" Kizaru said with a sigh, but his tone shifted immediately as he added, "However, I still have a little bit of confidence!"

A "little bit," right? Then it's in the bag!

Having grown somewhat familiar with Kizaru's style of speaking, Tsunade understood exactly what he meant.

"Since those two guys have already prepared gifts for you, as your senior sister, I'll give you one too!"

"Oh! That's truly something to look forward to!" Kizaru said with a beaming smile.

"You guy, speak properly!" Familiar with it or not, she wasn't used to it, and Tsunade raised her voice.

"How scary! Tsunade." Seeing Tsunade already starting to roll up her sleeves, and considering how much effort it took to arrange his courtyard, Kizaru wisely fell silent.

Glaring at Kizaru with annoyance, Tsunade continued.

"You guys are all so infuriating, it's annoying!" After a brief complaint, she went on, "I heard from the Old Man that you're interested in Sealing Techniques. Once you graduate, come back with me to meet my grandmother."

"How impatient, Senior Sister Tsunade!" A look of fake shyness appeared on Kizaru's face.

Tsunade froze for a moment before the meaning hit her. Her right fist tightened, and she roared, "You bastard, are you looking to die?"

"Little Monkey, don't talk nonsense," the Great Elder quickly interjected from the side to ease the tension. "Princess Tsunade, my apologies! He's still just a child and doesn't know any better!"

What kind of six-year-old looks like that?

Tsunade shot a look of disdain at the Great Elder before turning her gaze back to Kizaru.

"Don't let that bastard Jiraiya influence you, honestly!" Tsunade scolded him first, then continued, "My grandmother hails from the Uzumaki Clan, a clan famous throughout the Shinobi World for their Sealing Techniques. If you can receive her guidance, you'll surely make great progress in your study of them."

"Thank you, Senior Sister Tsunade!" Faced with Tsunade's gift and good intentions, Kizaru's expression turned serious, and he thanked her quite sincerely.

"Anyway, give it your all tomorrow. Don't lose to that Uchiha bastard!" Tsunade reached out and patted Kizaru on the shoulder, encouraging him with full force.

"Honestly."

"Hm?"

"Understood!"

With a satisfied expression, Tsunade rolled her sleeves back down.