Ninja Academy Graduation

After a full night of rest.

Early the next morning.

Sosuke rose early as usual, and after washing up, he prepared a meal for himself.

Kyoka Suigetsu manifested once again; she did not need to eat, so she simply leaned against a chair.

With her slender hand supporting her head, she watched Sosuke bustle about with a charming gaze, her eyes seemingly filled with infinite contentment.

Sosuke sat upright at the dining table, eating his rice gently.

His every movement gave off an inexplicable sense of peace.

Opposite him, Kyoka Suigetsu watched him with a satisfied, beaming smile, as if it were she who had prepared the meal for him.

This kind of life... compared to the days of slaughter in the past... seemed much better...

Kyoka Suigetsu thought to herself, her vermilion lips parting slightly.

"Sosuke, do you truly wish to become the Hokage of this world?"

Hearing her words, Sosuke's eating motion faltered and came to a stop.

"I wish to protect certain things..."

"Without powerful strength, one's fate is always held in the hands of others. I dislike that feeling very much. Becoming the Hokage would likely change that state of affairs."

Sosuke said softly, then continued to chew his food slowly and deliberately.

Kyoka Suigetsu did not speak again, and everything returned to tranquility.

Only the soft clinking of Sosuke's chopsticks could be heard.

To protect... is there something you wish to guard... Lord Aizen... was I... once the existence you wished to guard...

After finishing his meal, Sosuke set off for the Ninja Academy.

Today was the momentous day of the academy's ninjutsu test, the day that would determine whether they could graduate from the Ninja Academy.

The sun was bright, and warm daylight spilled over Konoha Village, where people bustled through the prosperous streets.

On the utility poles, birds chirped and fluttered about, as if it were destined to be a fine day.

Accompanied by this thriving atmosphere, Sosuke arrived at the Ninja Academy.

Tsunade and the others spotted him, her brown eyes suddenly brightening as she hurriedly waved at him.

"Sosuke! Over here."

For some reason, every time Tsunade saw this brown-haired boy with glasses, she felt a flutter in her heart!

The time she spent with him was very pleasant, which made her crave this feeling all the more.

When he walked to her side, Tsunade's face turned flushed, and she looked at Sosuke with flickering eyes.

Could it be! Am I in love!? she thought.

Seeing Tsunade's unusual behavior, Sosuke asked with concern.

"Tsunade, are you sick?"

"How could I be? No, nothing at all, I'm fine, you don't need to worry, Sosuke."

Hearing Sosuke's question, Tsunade waved her hands nervously and incoherently.

"Heh heh, Sosuke, you're overthinking it. Look at Tsunade, she's like a female tyrannosaurus; how could something like being sick have anything to do with her!?"

Jiraiya snickered from the side, gloating heartlessly.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he was sent flying by a fierce punch from Tsunade, blood streaming from his nose.

The massive commotion they caused inevitably drew the attention of the surrounding students!

"Is that girl the apple of the Senju Clan's eye!?"

"She's so strong! And... is that white-haired guy going to die!?"

"What a terrifying person! She starts swinging at the slightest disagreement!"

"Look over there, that's Sosuke, the one who defeated Uchiha Tokino, right!"

"He looks quite quiet in person, doesn't he."

The murmurs of the crowd had no effect on Sosuke and his companions.

Everyone stood in line, waiting for the ninjutsu test to begin.

Before long.

The test officially commenced.

In an open space within the Ninja Academy.

The person in charge of this test was Onoki Kimura, who had taught Sosuke and the others previously.

He stood to the side, holding a notebook and recording the performance of each student.

When it was Sosuke's turn, Kimura-sensei gave him a kind smile.

He had always been very fond of this excellent, sensible, polite, and gentle student.

Sosuke wore a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes suddenly narrowed as his hands moved with lightning speed to weave hand signs!

"Clone Jutsu!"

"Transformation Jutsu!"

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

"Substitution Jutsu!"

Suddenly, a "poof" sounded beside him, and another Kimura Ono appeared!

The two of them spat massive fireballs from their mouths at each other.

"Bang!"

Sosuke's Fire Style struck "Onoki Kimura," causing him to vanish from the spot!

When "Kimura Ono's" Fire Style hit Sosuke, a cloud of smoke erupted, and a wooden log was left burning in the flames!

Meanwhile, Sosuke's real body slowly stepped out from behind Teacher Kimura Ono.

With a respectful announcement that he was finished, Sosuke politely concluded his test.

The group of youths nearby were dazzled by Sosuke's brilliant performance!

In their hearts, they couldn't help but feel awe toward Sosuke's strength.

Even though it was the same basic Body Replacement, Transformation, and Clone techniques, the version Sosuke displayed felt completely different from the ones they used.

Tsunade also watched Sosuke with a face full of joy; even she hadn't expected Sosuke to perform so exceptionally.

Teacher Kimura Ono also looked at Sosuke in shock, followed by a gratified smile.

He looked at Sosuke with a smile, took out the forehead protector symbolizing a Konoha ninja from behind his back, and said.

"Sosuke, congratulations on successfully graduating from the Ninja Academy! This is the Konoha forehead protector; keep it safe."

Sosuke respectfully accepted the forehead protector and tied it around his left arm.

Teacher Kimura Ono looked at Sosuke with gratification, as if looking at his own child.

This commoner child had always been working hard, and as his teacher, he naturally knew all of this.

Having retired from the battlefield, Kimura Ono knew very well how many young ninjas with talent and diligence like Sosuke would be stifled by that terrifying ninja war.

He stared intently at Sosuke and said with great sincerity.

"Sosuke, even though you are now a Genin, you must continue to work hard. Only then will you be able to survive on the battlefield when the great war arrives, do you understand!?"

Hearing Kimura's words, Sosuke nodded thoughtfully.

He took a deep look at Kimura and bowed slightly to him.

"I will continue to work hard, Teacher Kimura!"

Receiving Sosuke's reply, Teacher Kimura was clearly very happy.

The test continued.

Just as Sosuke and the others were waiting for Tsunade to pass the exam as well, and the four of them were preparing to walk out, a green figure in another clearing caught Sosuke's attention!

"Could you wait a moment?"

Sosuke looked at that figure and spoke softly to Tsunade and the others.

"What's wrong, Sosuke?"

Tsunade looked at Sosuke with a puzzled expression, and then the group followed his gaze to look over there!