Assessment Exam

"Tomorrow is the graduation exam..."

"I heard from Kurenai-sensei that besides the standard tests, the Third Hokage will also arrange for three genin to conduct a live-combat survival exercise."

As the evening sun dyed the entire Konoha forest red, Yu's lips curled into a faint, disdainful arc under the sunset's glow.

"Hmph, with my current strength, three genin are naturally nothing to worry about..."

"I just don't know if that guy Shisui can handle it."

It wasn't that his increase in strength had inflated Yu's ego, but rather that with his current vision and perspective, three genin truly didn't warrant his concern.

"I just hope tomorrow isn't too boring..."

Night fell.

In the Konoha Orphanage, where it should have been nearly time for bed, a sudden burst of excited clamor and discussion erupted.

"What?!"

"Applying for early graduation?!"

Yakushi Nonō, who had just returned to the Konoha Orphanage exhausted, looked in surprise at Yu standing before her, and at the early graduation application form in his hand.

"Since applying for early graduation requires the consent of parents or guardians, so..."

Looking at the astonished Yakushi Nonō before him, Yu didn't show much of a reaction.

In this life, he didn't even know who his parents were, so this early graduation application form could only be signed by the director of the Konoha Orphanage who had taken him in, Yakushi Nonō.

"That's... that's so cool!!"

"Yu, you guy! You've only been enrolled for a year and you're already applying for early graduation?!"

At this moment, in the wooden house's main hall, among the children gathered around Yu and Yakushi Nonō.

Urushi, boisterous as ever, had his eyes wide open, his face filled with envy and surprise.

"Does that mean... Yu is going to become an official ninja right away?"

"He really is a genius through and through!!"

Meanwhile, the other children around them also looked at Yu in disbelief.

Especially the little girls like Momoka and Mayuna, whose large eyes were already filled with adoration and admiration.

"He's only a year older than me... and he's already graduating from the Ninja Academy?"

"Yu... what an enviable guy!"

At this moment, watching Yu, who was surrounded by the others like a star, as if he possessed everything in the world.

Even Yakushi Kabuto, standing in the furthest corner, had eyes filled with longing and hope beneath his black-rimmed glasses.

"But, Yu..."

Unlike the blind worship and admiration of the children around them.

Looking at the six-year-old Yu before her, Yakushi Nonō's gentle face was filled with deep concern and worry.

"You are only six years old, and you want to become an official ninja... isn't it too early?"

"Don't worry, Director."

Understanding the worry and concern in Yakushi Nonō's heart, Yu's face beamed with a relaxed smile. "Only by successfully passing the exam personally designed by the Third Hokage tomorrow..."

"Can I smoothly graduate from the Ninja Academy and become an official ninja."

"Also, Director, you gave your glasses to Kabuto..."

Having said this, Yu paused slightly.

He reached into his newly acquired black-bottomed, white-shouldered kimono and pulled out a brand-new pair of black-rimmed glasses, handing them to Yakushi Nonō. "This is a gift I bought for you with the payment I received for treating the village's ninjas."

"This is?"

Looking at the gift Yu handed her, Yakushi Nonō was stunned.

After opening the box, she discovered it was a pair of black-rimmed glasses Yu had bought for her.

Once she put them on, the smiling white-haired boy before her suddenly became clear, yet she felt her own eyes beginning to blur.

"Yu, you child..."

Night, wooden house, candlelight gradually warming the late autumn.

Early the next morning, the Ninja Academy training ground was packed with people.

In addition to the ninja students and instructors watching the graduation exam, many other ninjas and ordinary villagers from the village had also come.

After all, since the genius ninja Hatake Kakashi, two more genius youths were applying for early graduation from the Ninja Academy at the age of six, which naturally drew widespread attention throughout Konoha.

Everyone wanted to see what kind of brilliant performance these two genius youths, who were currently the talk of Konoha, would put on.

In fact, even the Third Hokage, although not present in person, was observing every move here from his office through his crystal ball using the Telescope Technique.

Today were the two tests: the basic ninja theory exam and the practical application of the Three Basic Jutsu.

For both Hane and Shisui, these posed no difficulty at all; they passed with perfect scores in no time, and next came the practical survival test that everyone had been looking forward to.

"Yakushi Hane, Uchiha Shisui."

"These six genin are the opponents for your practical survival assessment."

"Your task is to successfully hold out for five minutes against three genin each. If you can survive, you pass the test."

In the vast training ground of the Ninja Academy, Kurenai Yuhi's Father announced this loudly to the two boys, Hane and Shisui, standing before him.

As the strongest ninja instructor at the Ninja Academy, Kurenai Yuhi's Father, who had successfully been promoted to jonin just yesterday, was naturally the chief examiner for this highly anticipated graduation assessment.

Behind Kurenai Yuhi's Father stood a row of six adult ninjas wearing green flak jackets and Konoha forehead protectors.

Judging by the sharp and seasoned aura they exuded, these six ninjas were all elite genin with the experience of having carried out hundreds of missions.

"Now then..."

"Which one of you will go first for the assessment?"

Now a jonin, Kurenai Yuhi's Father gazed with burning eyes at the two boys, Hane and Shisui, standing before him.

"Hane, your grades have always been ahead of mine in the Ninja Academy."

"This time, let me go first!"

Just as Hane was about to step forward, Shisui had already taken a step ahead of him, turning his head to flash a mischievous smile at Hane.

As an unparalleled genius of the Uchiha Clan, Hane was not the only one whose strength had advanced by leaps and bounds over the past year.

Judging by the glint hidden within Shisui's black eyes and the aura he inadvertently revealed, his strength had actually already completely surpassed that of an ordinary genin!

"Then I'll let you go first... Shisui."

"But don't let me see you crying after you fail later."

Seeing Shisui step onto the training ground ahead of him, Hane merely curled his lips and joked with him, unbothered.

Although they were rivals in the Ninja Academy, they were the best of friends in private.

"Tch, if I can't even pass this level of assessment..."

"Then I'll use my Sharingan to give you a cross-eyed look!"

Hearing Hane's joking words from behind him, Shisui, already on the training ground, was filled with heroic spirit.

Looking at the three genin standing before him, a confident smile appeared on his lips.