This year's exam tested the Transformation Technique.
Konan, Kurenai Yuhi, and Rin Nohara stood before the examiner and formed their Hand Seals one after another.
Konan turned into a sapling, Kurenai into a cat, and Rin into the examiner himself, right down to the mole on his face.
"Pass." Their instructor, Eijuro Oda, nodded.
The three girls hugged and cheered.
Not far away, Kakashi completed the Transformation Technique without a flicker of expression. His movements were textbook-perfect.
Obito stood beside him, struggling for ages before finally turning into a lopsided version of the examiner, with his nose crooked to one side.
Eijuro Oda glanced at him. For the sake of the Uchiha Clan, he decided to let it slide and sighed. "...Barely a pass."
Guy's Transformation Technique wasn't much better. He was far more skilled at Taijutsu than Ninjutsu.
The examiner he turned into looked as though someone had beaten his face swollen.
But Eijuro Oda knew the boy in the green bodysuit had astonishing talent for Taijutsu. He didn't give him a hard time and waved him through.
Asuma, Mitaraishi Anko, Uzuki Yugao, and Gekko Hayate were among the other familiar faces graduating that year. The ceremony buzzed with excitement.
Then came the team assignments. Eijuro Oda stood at the lectern with a list in his hand.
Oda spoke at an unhurried pace. "Things are a little different this year. A Genin from one of our allied villages will be joining us for the team assignments."
"Come in, Noka Uzumaki!" Eijuro Oda waved toward the door, and a girl with long red hair walked in obediently.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Noka Uzumaki, a Genin from Uzushio Village!"
"Wow! She's so cute!"
"Uzumaki? Is she from the same clan as that guy?"
"They both have red hair, so probably!"
With Mirai