In Konoha Year 44, four years at the Ninja Academy came to an end amid the endless yellow sands of the Land of Wind and the war clouds that had never truly dispersed.
The Ninja World was currently in a delicate and tense period. Although the Second Shinobi World War had ended with Konoha's victory, all Five Great Nations had been severely weakened, leaving countless bones in its wake. The vast power vacuum and the collapse of the postwar order had stirred many surrounding small nations and hidden villages into action, hoping to seize benefits while the giants paused wearily for breath. Local conflicts and minor frictions occurred from time to time. An atmosphere of "cold peace" shrouded the entire Ninja World, and the air seemed to always carry a faint scent of gunpowder.
With a storm seemingly on the horizon, Sunagakure's upper ranks, led by the Third Kazekage and Elder Chiyo, issued clear orders: the Ninja Academy was to immediately implement wartime regulations, shorten its curriculum, and accelerate the training of talent in preparation for possible new unrest. Thus, studies that might originally have taken longer were compressed, and Shaye's class faced their graduation assessment after four years of study.
The atmosphere at the examination grounds was grim, far more solemn than any ordinary practical lesson. Teacher Yura wore a cold expression, while several unfamiliar Special Jonin served as examiners. The examination items were also highly practical: extreme physical fitness, shuriken throwing, basic genjutsu resistance, trap placement and identification, as well as the most important applications of the Three-Body Technique and a final combat exercise.
Standing among the crowd, Shaye was still as small and thin as ever, his face somewhat pale amid the windblown sand. As expected, he placed last in the physical fitness test, while his shuriken throwing only barely passed. Thanks to the immense mental strength gained from living two lives, he easily passed the genjutsu resistance test. Traps, however, were his strength. Combining Spider's reconnaissance with his own theoretical analysis, he set traps that were intricate and concealed, earning a rare nod from the examiners.
For the most important combat exercise, he was once again grouped with Takumi and Chino. This time, they faced a stronger team of opponents. Shaye did not choose to meet them head-on. Like a commander concealed in the shadows, he relied on Spider's precise field of vision and Takumi's stubborn resistance to continuously issue orders, directing his teammates away from danger while using the environment to set up small tripwires and harassing traps that greatly limited their opponents' performance. During one emergency evasion, he even used an extremely tiny Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall—only enough to raise a wall one brick high—to alter the trajectory of an opponent's kunai and protect Chino. In the end, with the faint Wind-Dust Technique Chino bravely unleashed to disrupt their opponents' vision, along with Takumi's all-out strike, they narrowly won again.
After the examination ended, all the students waited anxiously for the results.
Teacher Yura held the list and began announcing the graduates and their assignments.
"Black Ant, graduated! Assigned to the Third Combat Squad!"
"Takumi, graduated! Assigned to the Seventh Combat Squad!"
"Chino, graduated! Assigned to the Logistics Medical Preparatory Class!"
One name after another was called. Those who passed were overjoyed, while those who failed were crestfallen. Soon, it was Shaye's turn.
"Shaye." Teacher Yura paused, giving him a complicated look. "Graduated."
Shaye quietly let out a breath of relief.
But Teacher Yura's next words stunned everyone.
"Due to his chakra reserves not meeting the minimum standard for a combat squad and his physical assessment being unqualified, he will not be assigned to a combat squad."
A low murmur and scattered whispers rose from the crowd. So it was still like this? Even if he performed brilliantly, the fundamental weakness of his body was still impossible to overcome?
However, Teacher Yura was not finished.
"With Elder Chiyo's special approval and the consent of the Puppet Manufacturing Department, Shaye will be directly assigned to the Puppet Corps' logistics Manufacturing Division as an apprentice."
This assignment surprised everyone, yet it also made perfect sense.
He was not assigned to a combat squad because his physical condition truly could not handle high-intensity combat missions. That was reality.
But being directly admitted into the puppet manufacturing department, and with Elder Chiyo's special approval no less, undoubtedly acknowledged the extraordinary value he had displayed in Puppet Technique and tactical planning. It was a form of protection, and even more so, targeted training for his unique talents.
Hearing the result, understanding flashed through Shaye's dark eyes. Perhaps this was the best arrangement. Combat squads were not his specialty; what they needed was direct fighting strength. The puppet manufacturing department, on the other hand, was where he could fully apply his knowledge and put his ideas into practice.
After school, Shaliu came to pick up his son. He had already learned of the assignment in advance. There was little expression on his face, but he firmly patted Shaye's thin shoulder.
"Come on, let's go home. Starting tomorrow, I'll take you to report to the Manufacturing Division."
Shaye nodded and took one final look at the school where he had spent four years. This was where his theoretical knowledge had begun, but his true stage lay elsewhere.
He did not say many farewells to his classmates. As he left, he merely nodded slightly to Takumi and Chino. Takumi looked somewhat awkward, but in the end, he still muttered, "Hey, if you make any useful puppets later, remember to save some for us!" Chino, meanwhile, softly said, "Shaye, do your best."
Following his father along the road home, Shaye walked through the ever-present wind and sand. He knew that his time at the school had ended, but another journey, one far more suited to his dreams, was about to begin. The puppet manufacturing department had more materials, more professional knowledge, and perhaps... it could bring him one step closer to his dream of changing his body.
His future did not lie on the smoke-filled front lines, but within workshops filled with the scent of machine oil and the sound of metal striking metal.
(End of Chapter)
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