Nawaki

"Yamamura Jushi! Come up for your exam!"

"Hyuga Shiro! Come up for your exam!"

"Inuzuka Saburo! Come up for your exam!"

The classroom had been cleared out, with three desks placed at the front. Three examiners watched the students.

They were all teachers from the school and the proctors responsible for this examination.

Their former smiles were nowhere to be seen. Every face was stern.

"The exam is moving pretty quickly."

Standing by the window, You could see what was happening inside. From the outside, it looked like the Three Basic Techniques were tested at random. Which one you drew depended on your luck.

Not every student could master all of them. Some lucky ones got through purely by chance.

Fortunately, Genin only carried out C-rank missions, so their lives would not be in danger. It gave them a period of adjustment.

Minato Namikaze stood in front of You. Even though he had mastered the Three Basic Techniques proficiently, he could not help feeling nervous when the exam came. He swallowed and said,

"That idiot Ida's transformation didn't look anything like him."

"As long as there aren't any major mistakes, he'll pass."

Kushina squeezed between them, glanced inside, and took a deep breath.

"I hope we get assigned to the same team later."

The exam would not be a problem for the three of them; they would all pass. But Kushina did not want to be separated from Minato. Inwardly, she prayed that Minato Namikaze would become Tsunade's disciple, so the three of them could continue carrying out missions together.

"Let's leave it to luck."

You knew that was impossible. He and Kushina might be assigned to Tsunade's team, but Minato Namikaze was destined to follow Jiraiya.

Soon, it was their turn.

Faced with his most prized student, Chishu had originally wanted to cheer him on. But when he remembered You skipping class yesterday, he snorted and said,

"Transformation Technique, Substitution Technique, and Clone Technique. Draw lots."

"Yes, Teacher Chishu."

You drew a card from the box. It was the Clone Technique, the one he knew best. Since he had already learned the Shadow Clone, this was simple for him.

He formed hand seals, and a puff of white smoke appeared. A person identical to You appeared before him.

"No problems. Passed."

"Congratulations, Uchiha You. You are now a qualified Genin. Here is your forehead protector. From today onward, you are a Konoha ninja."

"Come to the Academy this afternoon. A team leader will come to collect you."

The examination went smoothly, and all three quickly completed their assigned tests.

The exam was held in the morning, and they were to return to the Ninja Academy in the afternoon to meet their team leaders. The Ninja Academy had arranged everything swiftly.

From this moment on, You was a qualified ninja.

The three did not leave the school. The real highlight of the day was only just beginning, and many students from other classes had also passed their exams.

Naturally, some had failed their studies and could only remain students at the Ninja Academy.

"Minato! You look so handsome wearing that forehead protector."

Kushina personally tied the forehead protector onto him, leaving Uchiha You dumbfounded beside them. Another serving of damned lovey-dovey nonsense!

He chose not to stay beside the two of them. You did not enjoy being a third wheel.

He went alone to the second floor, where several newly graduated ninjas leaned over the railing.

"The Ninja Academy is so lively today. Look, ninjas have already arrived at the gate. They're our team leaders."

"I hope I don't run into some strange senior! Especially someone from the Aburame Clan. I'm scared of bugs."

"Huh? Did our Aburame Clan offend you or something? Seriously!"

You followed their gazes downward and saw that Jonin had indeed arrived.

There were different levels even among Jonin. Ordinary students would be assigned an Elite Chunin or a Special Jonin.

Only geniuses would be assigned an Elite Jonin as their teacher.

"I hope Lady Tsunade doesn't treat me like a lab rat."

Those closest to the water got the moonlight first. Tsunade had been eyeing his body for a long time. After studying him for a year without discovering any differences, she had become thoroughly frustrated.

She had even begun wondering whether You was deliberately messing with her.

As Uchiha You observed his surroundings, he suddenly saw Tsunade entering from nearby. This time, however, he noticed a man following beside her.

"Tsk, tsk. Look what I found. Lady Tsunade's mysterious lover—Kato Dan!"

They were still secretly dating at this stage. Uchiha You merely glanced at them without paying much attention.

He remembered that Kato Dan had been severely wounded and died during a mission in the original story. It had been an immensely tragic event.

However, Uchiha You did not know which mission Kato Dan had died on.

Tsunade's arrival ignited the atmosphere. Many people knew of her fame.

"I hope I can become Lady Tsunade's disciple."

"Dream on. With your talent, it's impossible for you to become Lady Tsunade's disciple."

"I think among us, only You can become Tsunade's disciple."

Many people looked at You enviously. They had heard that You often went to the hospital for treatment, and Tsunade personally diagnosed him every time.

Moreover, You had been able to leave his wheelchair thanks to Tsunade's help. Many people envied him for that.

"If you want to spend several years lying in a wheelchair like a cripple, you can become Lady Tsunade's disciple too."

You said it deliberately, and several displeased boys immediately fell silent. Thinking of Uchiha You's former miserable condition, many realized that whether they could endure it themselves was another matter entirely.

"Hmph, it's too early to say that. He might not become Tsunade's disciple after all."

"If he becomes Tsunade's disciple just because he was sick, then he got in through the back door. That's the most shameful way."

Just as a group of people slandered Uchiha You, someone behind them rushed forward. He wore a ninja forehead protector, and his gray hair bore a fifty-percent resemblance to Tsunade's. He immediately shot back,

"My sister isn't that kind of person. You was already a genius, so why can't he become my sister's disciple?"

"As for you people, you'll never become my sister's disciples."

At home, Nawaki often heard his sister praise You. Combined with You's talent at school, Nawaki had developed a favorable impression of him.

Nawaki also refused to believe that Tsunade would give him special treatment.

Someone recognized Nawaki's identity. Faced with Konoha's young master, no one dared argue back.

The few children who had been shouting earlier hid behind the crowd, afraid of being noticed.

"Thanks, Nawaki."

You occasionally saw Nawaki at the hospital, and they had spoken before. Their relationship was somewhat closer than that of ordinary classmates.

"It's nothing, You. If anyone dares badmouth you again, come find me!"

People might dare gossip about You, but no one would dare gossip about Nawaki.

As the examinations neared their end, many ninjas arrived outside. Everyone realized that the next stage would begin soon.

After the exams, the students immediately returned to their classrooms and waited quietly for the choice that would determine their fates.