After a full night of rest.
The next morning, bright and early.
Sosuke got up as usual and made himself breakfast after washing up.
Kyoka Suigetsu materialized once more. She didn't need to eat, so she simply leaned against a chair.
She rested her slender hand against her head and watched Sosuke bustle about with a seductive gaze. Her dreamy eyes seemed filled with endless contentment.
Sosuke sat upright at the table, quietly eating his rice.
Every movement of his gave off a strange sense of reassurance.
Across from him, Kyoka Suigetsu watched him with a contented smile, as if she had made the meal for him herself.
This life... seemed better than the days of slaughter from before...
Kyoka Suigetsu thought to herself. Her red lips parted slightly.
"Sosuke, do you really want to become this world's Hokage?"
At her words, Sosuke paused mid-bite.
"I want to protect some things..."
"If I don't have enough power, my fate will always be in someone else's hands. I don't like that feeling. Becoming Hokage might let me change that."
Sosuke spoke softly, then went back to eating slowly.
Kyoka Suigetsu said nothing more, and everything fell quiet again.
Only the soft clink of Sosuke's chopsticks broke the silence.
Protect... someone he wanted to keep safe... Lord Aizen... was I ever someone you wanted to protect?
After breakfast, Sosuke set off for the Ninja Academy.
Today was the important day of the school's ninjutsu test, and the day they would find out whether they could graduate.
The sun shone brightly, warm light spilling over Konoha as people came and went along its bustling streets.
Birds chirped and fluttered around the utility poles, as if today were destined to be a fine day.
Amid this lively atmosphere, Sosuke arrived at the Ninja Academy.
Tsunade and the others spotted him. Her brown eyes suddenly lit up, and she hurriedly waved.
"Sosuke! Over here."
For some reason, whenever Tsunade saw the bespectacled boy with tousled brown hair, her heart gave a little flutter!
She had a wonderful time whenever they were together, and she found herself craving that feeling.
When he came over, Tsunade's face flushed, and she looked at Sosuke with flickering eyes.
Could it be!? Am I in love!?
Seeing her acting strangely, Sosuke asked with concern,
"Tsunade, are you sick?"
"How could I be? No, nothing's wrong. I'm fine, Sosuke, so don't worry."
At his question, Tsunade hurriedly waved her hands, flustered and stumbling over her words.
"Heh, Sosuke, you're overthinking it. Look at Tsunade—she's like a female tyrannosaurus. How could she ever get sick!?"
Jiraiya snickered to the side, gloating without a care.
The moment he finished speaking, Tsunade punched him hard, sending him flying with blood streaming from his nose.
The commotion they caused drew the attention of the students nearby!
"Is that the Senju Clan's precious little darling!?"
"She's so strong! And... is that white-haired guy dead!?"
"What a scary girl! She hits people at the drop of a hat!"
"Look, that must be Sosuke, the one who beat Uchiha Tokino!"
"He seems pretty quiet in person."
The students' chatter had no effect on Sosuke and the others.
Everyone lined up, waiting for the ninjutsu test to begin.
Before long,
the test officially began.
It was held in an open area inside the Ninja Academy.
The teacher in charge was Onoki Kimura, who had taught Sosuke and the others before.
He stood to the side with a notebook, recording each student's performance.
When Sosuke's turn came, Teacher Kimura gave him a friendly smile.
He had always liked this outstanding, sensible, polite, and gentle student.
Sosuke wore a gentle smile. Then his gaze sharpened, and his hands swiftly formed seals!
"Clone Technique!"
"Transformation Technique!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Substitution Technique!"
With a sudden poof, another Kimura Ono appeared beside him!
The two of them each spat a huge fireball from their mouths, attacking the other.
"Boom!"
Sosuke's fireball struck "Onoki Kimura," making him disappear on the spot!
When "Kimura Ono's" fireball hit Sosuke, a cloud of smoke burst up, revealing a wooden post burning in the flames!
Meanwhile, Sosuke's real body slowly emerged from behind Teacher Onoki Kimura.
He respectfully announced that he was done, then politely concluded his test.
The boys watching were dazzled by Sosuke's dazzling display!
They couldn't help but feel awed by his strength.
The same basic Three Body Technique looked completely different in Sosuke's hands than it did when they used it.
Tsunade looked at Sosuke with delight. Even she hadn't expected him to perform so brilliantly.
Teacher Kimura Ono looked at Sosuke in shock, then broke into a pleased smile.
He smiled at Sosuke and took out a Forehead Protector bearing Konoha's symbol.
"Sosuke, congratulations on graduating from the Ninja Academy! This is Konoha's Forehead Protector. Take good care of it."
Sosuke respectfully accepted the Forehead Protector and tied it around his left arm.
Teacher Kimura Ono watched him with pride, as if he were his own child.
The boy came from a civilian family and had always worked hard. As his teacher, Kimura knew that well.
Kimura Ono had retired from the battlefield, and he knew all too well how many gifted, diligent young ninja like Sosuke that terrifying battlefield would claim.
He stared intently at Sosuke and spoke with great seriousness.
"Sosuke, even though you've become a Genin now, you must keep working hard. Only then will you be able to survive on the battlefield when war comes. Do you understand?"
At Kimura's words, Sosuke nodded thoughtfully.
He looked deeply at Kimura, then bowed slightly.
"I'll keep working hard, Teacher Kimura!"
Sosuke's answer clearly pleased Teacher Kimura.
The test continued.
After Tsunade had also passed, Sosuke and the others were about to leave when a green figure in another open area caught Sosuke's attention!
"Could we stop for a moment?"
Sosuke looked toward the figure and spoke softly to Tsunade and the others.
"What is it, Sosuke?"
Tsunade looked at him questioningly, then everyone followed his gaze toward the figure!
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