Graduation Examination, Guiding Jonin Orochimaru

Land of Fire, Konoha Village, Ninja Academy.

In this season of blooming cherry blossoms, the cannon fodder of the Ninja Academy... ah, no, the graduates of the Ninja Academy, were about to embark on their brand-new lives.

"Hey, Hanazuki, I heard a new three-color dango shop opened nearby. Want to go check it out?"

Uchiha Hanazuki, who was fast asleep on his desk with his black hair tied into a ponytail, possessed a lazy yet inexplicably beautiful air. He was shaken awake and subconsciously looked around.

"Is it that time already? I'm going to sleep a bit more. Wake me up when the jonin instructor arrives."

He went back to resting his head on the desk on his own accord. Beside him, Anko couldn't help but glare. Was he going or not? This jerk...

Uchiha Hanazuki, male, age 10, a graduate of the Konoha Ninja Academy, and a classmate of the Anko Mitarashi sitting beside him.

It was the time of the Third Shinobi World War. Following the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire was restless, and the surrounding nations were also showing signs of wanting to make a move.

Hanazuki and his batch of academy graduates were lucky; after all, they were still able to experience the full Ninja Academy curriculum.

At the same time, they were unfortunate, because as soon as they graduated, they were about to be sent to the battlefield by those old fossils in Konoha to build up the fame and prestige of others.

"Hanazuki, I'm telling you, at the very least, pretend to be motivated in front of the juniors. Don't make others lose confidence in you. Right, Yugao?"

Though young, Yugao Uzuki was already growing into a beauty. She offered a gentle smile, her expression helpless.

However, in a mental world that no one could perceive, above a pale blue lake of the heart, a pitch-black fox was staring eye-to-eye with Hanazuki.

"Hey, brat of the Uchiha clan, sacrifice a bag of potato chips and this lord will give you chakra. Remember, it has to be fish-cake flavored! If you dare swap it for bamboo shoot flavor, this lord will kill you!"

"Also, I'm sick of the scenery here. Change it to a maple courtyard... no, actually, a cherry blossom forest would be better."

The black-and-orange fox before him seemed to be suffering from a choice paralysis. Hanazuki's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but ask in confusion.

"If I remember correctly, I just obtained the Nine-Tails. Are you really the Nine-Tails, Kurama?"

"Damn brat! Of course I'm the Nine-Tails, but how do you know my name? Did that guy Menma tell you?"

Wait, Menma? Could this sign-in system be...

Hanazuki hurriedly looked at this sudden sign-in system. The three pitch-black tomoe in his eyes spun wildly, and only then did he clearly see the barely perceptible words in front of the "Ninja World Sign-in System."

"Limited Tsukuyomi Ninja World Sign-in System. Limited Tsukuyomi? No wonder this black-orange fox is so easy to talk to; it turns out to be the Black Nine-Tails."

He nodded slightly. The Limited Tsukuyomi was an existence inverted from the original world: Sasuke became a scumbag, Naruto became Menma, Hinata became a bossy big sister...

"So that's it. Is it because it's an inverted world that even Kurama has become so easy to talk to?"

His blood-red Sharingan shimmered. Just as he was about to engage in friendly negotiations with the indecisive Black Nine-Tails, a violent shaking woke Uchiha Hanazuki from his inner world.

"Damn it, who interrupted my good time?"

"Idiot! The jonin instructor is here. Can't you wake up for once?"

Anko urged in a low voice, her face turning pale. A thick, brownish-black, slimy, and moist giant python was slowly constricting around the bewildered Hanazuki, scaring the two young girls into losing their composure.

"A ninja must never let their guard down. Students without a sense of urgency are quite annoying, my dear students. Hehe..."

"So noisy, what a troublesome pervert."

The python tightened suddenly, and a puff of white smoke dispersed. Hanazuki, who should have been lying at his desk, had already turned into a wooden log.

"Hehe, speaking your inner thoughts out loud in front of others will make people dislike you, my dear student."

A thin figure stood quietly behind the three of them. His cold, heavy gaze held a hint of scrutiny as it slowly shifted from Anko and Yugao to the black-haired boy on the podium.

"Orochimaru... sensei? I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! This guy has always been like this, please don't hold it against him."

Anko apologized hurriedly, while Yugao Uzuki stood by in silence, her brows slightly furrowed.

Ignoring Anko's apology, a flash of surprise crossed Orochimaru's eyes. As he sized up Uchiha Hanazuki, he discovered that the boy was sizing him up in return.

His long hair hung loose, his facial features were rigid, and his cold, white skin—reminiscent of a snake—made it truly difficult to feel any affinity toward him.

"Apologies are irrelevant. It seems there is one among you who thinks quite highly of himself. Now, head to Training Ground 3. Your first mission begins."

Training Ground 3, could it be...

Having roughly guessed what game Orochimaru was playing, Hanazuki kept his mouth shut. Anko and Yugao hurried to follow.

Konoha Village, Training Ground 3.

A stream gurgled, birds sang, and flowers were fragrant in front of the wooden posts used for shuriken practice.

Yugao Uzuki, who had been waiting in the training ground for a long time, held a short sword, and Anko was adjusting her ninja tool pouch. Only Hanazuki kept his eyes lowered, having long since guessed what was coming.

"Hehe, what punctual children. I don't dislike students who are on time."

"Yes, yes, let's get started as soon as possible. Whether it's grabbing bells or one-on-one, I won't lose, Orochimaru-sensei."

Hearing Hanazuki's words, Orochimaru merely smiled and extended his right hand. Two crisp bells dangled from it, his dangerous pupils filled with hidden amusement.

"It seems you've already heard some rumors. With your strength, you must snatch the bells from my hands to decide who gets to graduate from the Ninja Academy. The losers are only fit to return to school."

"Alright, begin."

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

As soon as the words fell, the scorching temperature instantly dried the air. The fireball hurtling toward him made Orochimaru's expression one of excitement.

"I almost forgot, I should have reminded you to attack with the intent to kill me. Now it seems I was overthinking it. Hehehe..."

His body melted like mud, and a form as supple as a snake dangled down from a nearby tree branch.

"Uchiha Hanazuki, a middling student from the same class at the Ninja Academy who never showed anything extraordinary. It seems you've been hiding your true depth."

"The two of you, as ninja, must never leave your backs wide open to an enemy. Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."

Dozens of pythons coiled around Anko and Yugao like long ropes. From the mouths of the snakes clinging to them, Orochimaru's figure emerged, his deep purple tongue gently licking Anko's cheek.

"Ara ara, thank you for the compliment, Master Orochimaru, but please take your own advice to heart—a ninja should never leave their back wide open. Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique..."

Heat sufficient to make the stream boil surged forward once more. The excitement on Orochimaru's face grew increasingly apparent as he let out a low, cold chuckle.

"What's wrong with Master Orochimaru? Why has he been standing there chuckling ever since he said 'begin'? What's happening?"

Beside her, Anko was full of confusion, while Yugao gripped her sword hilt tightly, her face etched with shock.

"Could it be... could Master Orochimaru... have been caught in a genjutsu?"