Assessment Ends, Graduation Means Three Battles

"Who knows?"

He replied with an indifferent tone, the strange and intricate Mangekyo Sharingan, where pitch-black and blood-red intertwined, quietly fading from his eyes.

[Name: Uchiha Hanazuki]

[Kekkei Genkai: Mangekyo Sharingan]

[Identity: Nine-Tails Jinchuriki]

[Tailed Beast: Black Nine-Tails]

As a ward of the Konoha Orphanage, Uchiha Hanazuki's parents had both 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 triggered by his surroundings. After all, he was no Sasuke; receiving the death notices one after another, the double trauma had successfully awakened his Mangekyo.

However, he preferred a different explanation.

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

Snatching the two bells from Orochimaru's hands, 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 beg you, Teacher Orochimaru."

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

No changes at all? Not even a trace of ninjutsu? Was it a genjutsu from the very beginning? This guy...

His cold, slit pupils fixed intently on the bells in Anko and Yugao'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 to others?"

"Don't let your pupils waver when you ask a question, Teacher Orochimaru! Are you... afraid?"

Caught off guard, 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—this potential, this talent...

"Hehehe, congratulations, you all pass. What terrifying talent. It's a talent that even makes me envious to the point of jealousy. Are you interested in becoming my disciple, Uchiha Hanazuki..."

Before he could answer, the cry of a hawk echoed through the sky. Orochimaru slowly looked up, the shock and smile on his face vanishing quietly.

"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, it's the Third Shinobi World War?

As his figure drifted further away, he left 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?"

Confused, Yugao looked left and right, then turned to her two companions with whom she would be stepping into a new life, asking weakly.

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

Before either 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 part ways.

In the Uchiha district, members of the Konoha Military Police Force wore serious expressions as they patrolled the streets; they had clearly received news of the war and had entered a state of combat readiness.

In a corner of the street, inside an unremarkable little 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 need to be fish-cake flavored. Hurry up and manifest them for me!"

"You're so annoying. Do you even understand the situation? We're about to step onto 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 the Nine-Tails, whose personality was the polar opposite of his, this was a transformation from a fox into an 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 an orange pig!"

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

"If you're not an orange pig, then show me some effort. Give me the power to survive on the battlefield. 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 his Mangekyo Sharingan and the existence of the Black Nine-Tails be revealed so easily?

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

If he found out that he had the Nine-Tails, there was no guarantee he wouldn't be targeted. Even though 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, senjutsu, or things like that?"

"Like Sage Mode or the Flying Raijin Jutsu—ninjutsu that is high-intensity but doesn't draw too much attention..."

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

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

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

A fox-like face full of cunning made one wonder how much truth his words actually held, but time was tight, 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 Mangekyō blossomed in her eyes. The pale blue surface of the water began to boil, transforming the illusory into reality.

"Your fish-cake flavored potato chips, a complimentary soda, and a forest courtyard—please sign for your delivery."

Beneath the water's surface, countless strands of pale blue chakra converged and took shape. A 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 Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular jutsu. Truly an impressive brat, hahaha..."

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

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

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

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

"Is it this forbidden technique?"