Bai Lin and the others chatted as they waited.
Kushina was lively, practically clinging to Bai Lin as she chattered on about all sorts of things.
Bai Lin didn't mind. He amused her with jokes from his past life, making Kushina giggle.
A hunter shot a fox, then the hunter died. The fox said, "Hahaha, I'm a reflex arc."
Fortunately, the teachers arrived soon and organized their classes, telling the students to line up in order.
Kushina had no choice but to let go of Bai Lin's arm and return to her class.
The Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi; Tsunade; Orochimaru; Jiraiya; Shimura Danzō; Utatane Koharu; Mitokado Homura; and Hatake Sakumo;
representatives of the Ino-Shika-Cho; and representatives from the Hyuga, Uchiha, Aburame, Inuzuka, and other clans.
The Konoha High Command had turned out in force, showing the hundred students how much importance they placed on them.
"Whoa, what a turnout!"
"What do we do? I'm about to wet my pants. So many big shots are here."
"No, hold it in! Forget it, I can't hold it. I'll just forfeit later."
A babble of voices rose from the crowd, making quite a racket.
It was only natural. Most of the children here were ordinary kids who had never seen anything like this.
Utatane Koharu said, "Hiruzen, the children about to graduate are one thing, but they lack combat experience. Sending them straight to the battlefield is too risky. If we suffer heavy losses, it could affect Konoha's future strength."
Mitokado Homura agreed. "Koharu has a point. Why not have them join support squads first and build up some combat experience before we consider transferring them to the front lines?"
At the meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already decided what would happen to the children who passed the exam.
They would all be assigned to squads led by jonin. Even if their original squads already had the standard four members, they would be added as extra members. The only goal was to help them grow quickly.
At first, they wouldn't be given any dangerous missions. Once their strength was up to par, they would be reorganized into new squads.
Those with good talent would be led by jonin, while those with average talent would be led by chunin.
Shimura Danzō spoke with a hint of menace. "In wartime, we need all the manpower we can get. Since they've applied to graduate early, they must have some confidence in their abilities."
"My Root is also in need of people. I'll pick a few of them to join."
He had other plans in mind. If any of the students proved promising, this would be the perfect chance to bring them into Root and expand his influence.
Now that Hiruzen Sarutobi had agreed to let him expand Root, these underage children were perfect recruits.
He wouldn't have to raise them from childhood, and they'd be easy to manage and ready to put to use at once. It was practically perfect.
While the Konoha F4 were concerned about the children at the Ninja Academy, the others also studied them with solemn expressions.
"Tsunade, Orochimaru, don't these kids remind you of us when we were young? We were just as full of energy back then. Hahaha!"
Jiraiya's eyes shone as he surveyed the children in the crowd, his voice tinged with nostalgia and emotion.
"I was a genius, after all. I graduated from the Ninja Academy at six. It'll take them ten thousand years to catch up with me!"
He held up a finger, as if to emphasize his genius.
Tsunade folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "Give me a break. If you hadn't been dragging our team down, I don't know how much easier things would've been."
"Hey, hey! Who was dragging the team down? In Konoha, what ninja doesn't call me Lord Jiraiya when they see me? That proves my talent, doesn't it?"
"Hahaha!" After praising himself, Jiraiya couldn't help laughing again.
Tsunade could only sigh. She used Super Strength and slammed her fist down hard on Jiraiya's head.
"Get serious! If you don't care about your reputation, I do!"
Orochimaru watched the two fool around. A faint smile flickered in his golden, slit-pupil eyes before they returned to their usual coolness.
He licked his lips and looked past the crowd at Bai Lin, who stood by himself. An intrigued expression crossed his face. "What a pointless farce. But... that kid gives me a familiar feeling. Is it just my imagination?"
"What kid could possibly catch your eye, Orochimaru?" Tsunade rubbed her knuckles, sounding curious. If Orochimaru called someone "interesting," they definitely weren't an ordinary child.
Orochimaru was arguably the most gifted of the three. Even Tsunade admitted that her talent didn't match his.
"Do you mean that kid with black hair and black eyes, his long hair tied back, wearing a white kimono and straw sandals?" Jiraiya had recovered from Tsunade's blow. Following Orochimaru's gaze, he spotted Bai Lin. "He looks ordinary enough. He's not as handsome as me!"
Jiraiya immediately dropped his cheeky grin. His expression turned serious as he put a hand on Orochimaru's shoulder. "Hey, Orochimaru. Do you think there's anything special about him?"
He hadn't sensed anything unusual or special about Bai Lin, but he also didn't believe Orochimaru would say something without reason. That was the bond between the three of them.
"His presence is steady—too steady for someone so young. Faced with so many members of Konoha's High Command, he isn't nervous or intimidated at all. He seems more like an observer. That kind of composure is rare." Orochimaru didn't answer directly. He simply raised a hand and pointed toward Bai Lin.
"That's it?" Jiraiya scratched his head. "Weren't you the same way? When the teacher took you on as a student, you seemed pretty indifferent too. Is that how geniuses think? Maybe that kid will be the next Orochimaru."
Tsunade looked over as well. All she could think was that he was handsome; she couldn't see anything wrong with him either.
"No. There's something familiar about him, as if I've known him for years—as if I'd personally trained him."
"I like this kid. Once the exam is over, I'll ask the teacher to assign him to my squad and take him on as my student. I'll train him myself."
Tsunade and Jiraiya both noticed the interest in Orochimaru's eyes. They couldn't help feeling that the only time Orochimaru ever got this excited was when he was doing research.
Not human experimentation, but research in general. Orochimaru seemed especially obsessed with studying things like ninjutsu.
Jiraiya rubbed his chin and looked Bai Lin over again. "I can't tell. He just seems pretty aloof to me. But if you say so, Orochimaru, then this kid must be something else! Should I go test his strength myself?"
He paused, licked his lips, and spoke with a hint of curiosity. "No. I want to test him myself!"
Jiraiya: "I'll go!"
Orochimaru: "I'll go!"
"Bang! Bang!"
Tsunade: "Get lost, both of you!"
Orochimaru hadn't been hit with Tsunade's Super Strength in a long time. He had no idea how long it had been since the last time.
Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya (Konoha Year 13, age 23, Elite Jonin).
(Nawaki is still alive at this point. After he dies, Dan Katō speaks up for Tsunade and later becomes her lover.)