Assessment Ends, Graduation Means Three Battles

"Who knows?"

He replied in a flat, indifferent tone, the strange and intricate kaleidoscope pattern of black and blood-red swirling in his eyes quietly fading away.

[Name: Uchiha Hanazuki]
[Kekkei Genkai: Mangekyō Sharingan]
[Identity: Nine-Tails Jinchūriki]
[Tailed Beast: Black Nine-Tails]

As a ward of the Konoha Orphanage, Uchiha Hanazuki's parents had both unfortunately died in the Second Shinobi World War.

Having been cared for like a biological child since he was young, it was inevitable that he would be moved by the sight of familiar places. After all, he wasn't Sasuke; receiving the death notices one after another, the double trauma had allowed him to successfully awaken his Mangekyō.

However, he preferred a different explanation.

His biological parents were forced to be discarded in the graveyard, and after a special sacrifice, he activated a permanent field spell: the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and a consumable magic card: the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Snatching the two bells from Orochimaru's hand, Hanazuki looked on with disdain, tossing them back to Uzuki Yugao and Anko before pressing his palms together.

"Release!"

"There, the two of them have passed the exam. Please, let me go back to the Ninja Academy, I'm begging you, Teacher Orochimaru."

Waking from the genjutsu, Orochimaru broke into a cold sweat, his snake-like, icy pupils darting frantically as he took in the surroundings.

No change at all? No traces of ninjutsu? Was it a genjutsu from the very beginning? This guy...

His cold, slit pupils lingered on the bells in Yugao and Anko's hands, and Orochimaru's expression turned subtle.

"Why? You knew that losing the bells meant losing your qualification to graduate from the Ninja Academy, yet you handed the opportunity over to others?"

"When you ask questions, try not to let your pupils waver, Teacher Orochimaru! Are you... afraid?"

Caught off guard by having his thoughts laid bare, the cold, rigid lines of Orochimaru's face twisted slightly. The clear, black-and-white eyes before him seemed to contain some unknown power, leaving Orochimaru both shocked and trembling.

This guy, this guy, this guy... such potential, such talent...

"Hehehe, congratulations, you all pass. Truly terrifying talent—talent that even makes me jealous. Are you interested in becoming my disciple, Uchiha Hanazuki...?"

Before he could answer, the cries of hawks rang out across the sky. Orochimaru slowly looked up, the shock and smile on his face vanishing.

"You guys really are unexpectedly unlucky. Is the war starting again?"

With a deep sigh, his plan to sneak back into the Ninja Academy went up in smoke.

What is this? My goal was the Ninja Academy, and if I can't go back, is it the Third Shinobi World War?

His figure drifted further away, leaving behind a bewildered Anko and Yugao, and Uchiha Hanazuki, who was looking up at the sky with a look of utter despair.

"I don't want to be cannon fodder, you perverted bastard."

"Does this mean we've graduated?"

Yugao, confused, looked left and right at her two companions who were about to step into a brand-new life, and asked weakly.

"That's right. I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"

Before they could speak, Hanazuki continued on his own.

"The good news is that we've graduated. The bad news is that we're about to step onto the battlefield. Remember to write your wills in advance. I'm off."

Seeing him turn and leave, the two remained silent, and after agreeing on a meeting place for tomorrow, they chose to go their separate ways.

In the Uchiha clan district, members of the Konoha Military Police Force wore solemn expressions in every street and alley, clearly having received news of the war and entering a state of combat readiness.

In a corner on the edge of the street, inside an ordinary, unremarkable house, Hanazuki lay on his soft, comfortable bed and returned to his inner world once more.

"You brat, you're back? Good. This Seat has decided: it really should be changed to a forest villa style. And the potato chips should be fish-cake flavored! Hurry up and change it for me!"

"You're so annoying. Do you even understand the situation? We're about to head to the battlefield. If I die, you'll die too, you damn Kurama!"

He was furious. From yesterday until now, all the fox did was eat and sleep. Even for a Nine-Tails with a contrary personality, this was turning from a fox into a giant orange pig.

"Uchiha brat, did you forget something? This is the inner world; your inner thoughts are heard by This Seat. Who are you calling a giant orange pig?!"

The Black Nine-Tails bared its fangs and brandished its claws, its mountain-like tails kicking up massive waves, though it had no effect on Hanazuki.

"If you're not a giant orange pig, then show me some effort! Give me the power to survive on the battlefield, and hand over the things in your belly."

"Tch, troublesome brat. With This Seat helping you, are you still worried about not surviving?"

Looking at the disdainful Black Nine-Tails, Hanazuki's mouth twitched. Could he really just easily bring out his Mangekyō Sharingan and the existence of the Black Nine-Tails?

Judging by the current timeline, Uchiha Madara wasn't dead yet!

If he found out there was a Nine-Tails inside him, there was no guarantee he wouldn't be targeted. Although Uchiha Madara was currently old, weak, and crippled, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was a natural counter to the Tailed Beasts.

"Besides Tailed Beast chakra, don't you know any other ninjutsu, or perhaps senjutsu?"

"Something like Sage Mode or the Flying Thunder God Technique... ninjutsu that is high-intensity but doesn't draw too much attention..."

Before he could finish, a look of clear impatience appeared on the Black Nine-Tails' face, and it couldn't help but wave its paws repeatedly.

"You brat, you have so many demands. Fine. Although I don't know much about human ninjutsu, I was at least forced to listen to the ninjutsu Minato Namikaze passed on to Menma."

"If you want to ask a fox for something, you need to show some attitude. Hurry up and bring the offerings! With This Seat helping you, mastering the Flying Thunder God in a day will be a piece of cake!"

The fox face was full of craftiness, making one wonder just how much truth there was to his words, but time was pressing, and Hua Yue had no choice but to trust him this once.

"Honestly, my ocular jutsu doesn't exist just to provide you with snacks."

The tomoe spun, and a complex, exquisite kaleidoscope bloomed within her eyes; the pale blue surface of the water began to boil incessantly, transforming illusion into reality.

"Your fishcake-flavored potato chips, with a complimentary soda, plus a forest courtyard—please sign for your delivery."

Beneath the surface of the water, countless strands of pale blue chakra gathered and took shape, as a massive bag of chips nearly a hundred meters tall and a soda bottle the size of a water tower emerged from the void.

"Oh! As expected of the Mangekyou Sharingan's ocular jutsu, you truly are an impressive brat, hahaha..."

"I'd rather have ninjutsu and forbidden techniques than your praise. Don't just sit there eating, you bastard!"

Countless chips the size of carriages crunched loudly between sharp fangs, accompanied by the occasional glug-glug of bubbling soda, as the creature let out a cry of unprecedented delight.

"As for the Flying Raijin Jutsu, I don't actually know it, but there is a ninjutsu that suits you better than that. Learn it yourself."

A scroll the height of a person descended from the sky, landing within the pale blue Heart Lake. Hua Yue raised an eyebrow, a flicker of distinct surprise flashing in her eyes.

"Is it this forbidden technique?"