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 dango shop opened nearby. Want to go check it out?"

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

"Is it that time already? Let me 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. Are you going or not, you jerk...

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

It was the time of the Third Shinobi World War. With 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 showing signs of stirring.

Hanazuki and his batch of 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 least pretend to be motivated in front of our juniors. Don't make others lose confidence in you. Right, Yugao?"

Though young, Uzuki Yugao had already grown into a budding beauty. She offered a peaceful smile, her expression helpless.

However, in the inner 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 great one will give you chakra. Remember, it has to be fish cake flavor! If you dare swap it for bamboo shoot flavor, I'll 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, while Hanazuki's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but ask in confusion.

"If I recall 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 spinning wildly, only then did he clearly see the barely perceptible words in front of "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 originally an existence inverted from the original world: Sasuke became a scumbag, Naruto became Menma, Hinata became a bossy leader...

"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 negotiate amicably 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 him in a low voice, her face turning pale. A thick, brown-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 annoying. My cute students, hehe..."

"So noisy, you troublesome pervert."

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

"Hehe, speaking your inner thoughts out loud in front of others is quite annoying, my cute student."

A thin figure stood quietly behind the three of them. His cold, heavy gaze carried 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 Uzuki Yugao 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 was draped loosely, his facial features were cold and rigid, and his cold, white skin—reminiscent of a snake—was truly difficult to feel fond of.

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

Training Ground Three, could it be...

Roughly guessing what kind of game Orochimaru was playing, Hanazuki kept his mouth shut, while Anko and Yugao hurried to follow.

Konoha Village, Training Ground Three.

A babbling brook, birds singing and flowers fragrant, in front of the wooden posts used for shuriken training.

Uzuki Yugao, 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 guessed this long ago.

"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 dangling from it. His dangerous pupils held a hint of amusement.

"It seems you've already heard some rumors. With your strength, try to snatch the bells from my hands to decide who gets to graduate from the Ninja Academy. The losers will only be 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 turn excited.

"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 frame as supple as a snake's dangled down from a nearby tree branch.

"Uchiha Hanazuki, average grades among his peers at the Ninja Academy, never showed anything extraordinary. It seems he has been hiding his true depth."

"You two, as ninjas, 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, Orochimaru-sensei, but a ninja must never leave their back wide open—please keep that in mind. Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique..."

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

"What is wrong with Orochimaru-sensei? Why has he been standing there chuckling ever since he said 'start'? What is happening?"

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

"Could it be... could Orochimaru-sensei... have fallen under a genjutsu?"