Graduation Assessment

"Boss, these buns... they don't taste right today!"

That morning, outside a breakfast shop in Konoha, a customer pointed at the bun in his hand and complained.

"Ah, this..." The distracted owner panicked internally. He took a bite, and his expression immediately became exceedingly awkward.

"My apologies, sir. They aren't cooked through yet... How about this? I'll refund your money and give you a few properly cooked ones. Please don't be angry!"

The owner had a very good attitude and immediately offered compensation.

But the customer waved his hand. "Forget it, it's not like this is my first day eating breakfast at your place... But Boss, you don't look too well today, do you?"

"Ah! My brat went to war. That kid doesn't have much talent, so I'm just a little worried..."

As he spoke, the owner packed up some freshly steamed buns and handed them to the customer.

The customer accepted the buns, but first let out a sigh. "Yeah, a lot of young ninja have gone to the battlefield lately. They say Iwagakure has launched an attack. Sigh! If only Lord White Fang could blow up Kannabi Bridge."

"That's right... I heard Lord White Fang clearly had a chance to complete the mission, but gave it up for some reason." Another customer chimed in.

"I heard from some other customers yesterday that it was apparently to save a companion." The owner spoke thoughtfully, then looked at the few boys who had just arrived.

"Little customer, what would you like?"

The boy had already taken out his money, but for some reason, he remained silent. His head was lowered, and his mood seemed off.

It was the companion beside him who stepped forward. "Boss, six piping-hot meat buns."

"Coming right up!" The owner took the money, quickly packed the buns, and handed them over to the boy.

The three boys left at once. Watching their backs, especially that white-haired boy among them, the owner felt that he looked somewhat familiar.

"That one... isn't he Lord White Fang's child? Doesn't he have school today?"

Upon hearing the words "White Fang," several customers turned to look.

But the boys moved swiftly and had already vanished down the street.

"Don't think too much about it, Kakashi."

On the way to school, Hideki finished two buns, only to find that Kakashi had not touched his. He could not help but comfort him.

"Hurry up and eat. If you have no strength when the exam starts, you'll really be done for."

That was right. It had been four days since White Fang returned to Konoha.

Their application for a graduation assessment had also been approved. Today was the day of the exam.

Just as Hideki had expected, rumors throughout the village had gradually spread into every corner.

Kannabi Bridge had not been destroyed, which meant Konoha needed to commit more ninja to the front lines. Naturally, the families of those ninja would worry. That was only human nature.

But logically speaking, White Fang's mission should have been top secret. Destroying Kannabi Bridge should have been an S-rank mission at minimum.

Yet somehow, the entire village of Konoha now knew about it.

Though things had not yet reached the point of widespread resentment, if Konoha's ninja died on the battlefield, the public opinion afterward was easy to imagine.

Kakashi had been somewhat depressed these past few days. Even Hideki's Chicken-Blood Technique had not been as effective.

At last, the three arrived before the gates of the Ninja Academy.

Today was rather unusual. They had arrived fairly late, and on any normal day, they would definitely have been late.

Yet not only were they not panicking about being late, they had not even brought schoolbags.

"Are you all ready?"

Hideki gave one final pep talk.

"Of course!" Obito clenched his fists. Gone was his usual frivolousness; his expression was solemn and his gaze resolute.

"This will be the first step toward becoming Hokage!"

Obito was brimming with fighting spirit. As he spoke, he looked at Kakashi. "When I become Hokage, if you still haven't surpassed Uncle White Fang, don't tell people you know me when you go out."

After saying that, Obito strode straight into the Ninja Academy, leaving Kakashi with a dashing silhouette.

"..." Hideki did not know what to say. He could only say that Obito's way of comforting people was rather unusual.

With their own thoughts in mind, the three found Teacher Guangtai, who they had spent half a year with. Led by him, they entered a fairly spacious room.

Looking at the three boys craning their necks in every direction like curious children, Chunin Guangtai gave a light cough.

"Stop looking around. The examination site isn't here. Hurry and get yourselves ready, and whatever you do, don't get nervous later."

As Teacher Guangtai spoke, he felt a sudden sting in his nose for some reason. Not wanting to lose his composure before the children, he hurried out.

Before leaving, he did not forget to remind them, "Be careful. Even if you don't pass, there will still be another chance next year..."

Teacher Guangtai left.

The atmosphere in the room immediately became even more solemn.

Only then did the three boys realize that graduation exams not only meant becoming ninja, but also saying farewell to the teacher they had spent half a year with day and night.

This feeling...

"Haha! Once we become ninja, we won't have to get up early every day anymore! Sleeping until broad daylight, no problem!"

"From now on, I'm eating Ichiraku Ramen every day, with extra chashu Naruto rolls in every bowl!"

"Damn it! Hideki, help me figure this out. Where should I wear my ninja forehead protector to look more distinctive?"

"I suggest tattooing it directly on your face..."

Watching the two cheer so joyfully, Kakashi felt that the heaviness in his heart had eased somewhat.

He secretly clenched his fists and silently recited, Dad, you have to pull yourself together too!

He had a reason he could not afford to fail this graduation assessment as well.

Outside, Teacher Guangtai, who had not gone far, heard the cheering from the room and trembled with anger.

But just as he was about to turn back and "educate" those three little brats one last time, two masked ANBU appeared.

"Have they arrived, Chunin Guangtai?"

"Yes, they're inside." Teacher Guangtai replied, though a trace of worry flashed in his eyes.

It was already extremely rare for first-year students to apply for graduation, let alone for three of them to apply at once.

Not to mention that one of them was Lord White Fang's son.

This graduation assessment had already drawn the attention of the village's higher-ups.

Even that lord would be coming in person to watch.

Moreover, the assessment itself differed from the early-graduation assessments of previous years... Teacher Guangtai sighed. But at this point, all he could do was silently pray for the three boys.

At that moment.

Inside the Hokage's Office in the Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage, wearing his Hokage hat and holding a pipe in his mouth, gazed into the distance at prosperous Konoha and at the thriving Ninja Academy nearby.

That place was Konoha's future, Konoha's hope.

"Are you ready? This may be a little early for you, but for those three children, there is no one more suitable than you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke softly, his tone full of kindness and encouragement.

Behind him, a blond man with a crew cut wore a solemn expression.

"Yes!"