Hiruzen Sarutobi's Special Reward

How should he put it...

Mikami Yu felt that he had truly bared his heart and shared his experience with Yuhi Kurenai.

But Yuhi Kurenai only thought Mikami Yu was joking.

Well, not entirely. At least the idea of "treating Ninjutsu sincerely" sounded fine, though it was a little too vague to understand intuitively.

As the daughter of a Konoha Jonin, Yuhi Kurenai's practical combat results truly failed to live up to her bloodline.

That was because her talent points had basically all gone into Genjutsu, while the Ninja Academy mainly tested Nintaijutsu. In those two areas, Yuhi Kurenai could only be considered average. She was certainly stronger than most civilian students, but against any child from a Ninja Clan, she would most likely lose.

Because of that, Yuhi Kurenai felt anxious.

She had tried asking Sarutobi Asuma for advice.

But Asuma had no good solution either.

As the son of the current Hokage and a descendant of the Sarutobi Clan, Asuma had started far ahead of ordinary people. Before enrolling, he could already skillfully use the Three Techniques and most D-rank Ninjutsu. Only the exceptionally gifted Kakashi could outdo him. Asuma simply did not know how someone with a weak foundation was supposed to improve.

But Mikami Yu was different.

In previous final exams, his practical combat score had been about the same as Yuhi Kurenai's. Yet he had suddenly shot up to first place, making it hard for her not to notice him.

"Um..."

Yuhi Kurenai gathered her courage. "Mikami, I'd like to ask you to guide my training, even if it's only once or twice. I can pay you by the lesson."

"?"

Mikami Yu's interest was piqued. "How much?"

"One lesson... three thousand ryo. Is that okay?"

Yuhi Kurenai hesitated before naming the price.

"Really, Kurenai?"

Mikami Yu's eyes lit up.

For a Ninja Academy student, that was no small amount. An ordinary D-rank mission only paid about that much, and the village would still take a cut afterward. If he could give Yuhi Kurenai several dozen lessons, that would be over a hundred thousand ryo!

"Ahem, we're classmates. Helping each other is only right. How about this? Winter break starts in a few days. I'll take a look at your training then, and we can improve together. As for the lesson fee... there's no need for three thousand ryo. Twenty-five hundred will do."

"That's great! I'll come find you after school later!"

Yuhi Kurenai left, brimming with joy.

Mikami Yu turned back and noticed that Nohara Rin was talking to Obito beside him. Her gaze occasionally drifted his way, and her expression was somewhat subtle.

But soon enough.

Teacher Oki came out and clapped his hands, herding everyone into the classroom. He then began his end-of-term speech and announced the winter break precautions. "Remember, the most important thing for you now is to consolidate your foundations and prepare for the graduation exam two months from now! You must remember the legacy of the 'Will of Fire'...

"On this matter, I may not be able to explain it to you too thoroughly, because I am still constantly learning and coming to understand it myself. There is only one person who can deeply and fully comprehend the 'Will of Fire,' and that is...

"The Third Hokage!"

At that moment.

Many students turned toward the classroom door and discovered that, at some point, a figure wearing a white Hokage robe and a conical hat had appeared there. His face was somewhat weathered, but his eyes were bright, and a gentle smile rested on his lips. It was Konoha's current Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Lord Hokage!"

All the students, along with Teacher Oki, rose to greet him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and waved, signaling everyone to sit. Then he slowly walked onto the podium, his gaze sweeping across the young, energetic faces below. "Children, seeing all of you so full of vitality brings me great comfort.

"You are Konoha's future, the inheritors of the 'Will of Fire.' Everything you are learning now is for the sake of protecting our home and the companions you cherish in the future. Some students have performed especially well in the recent exams, filling me with confidence in Konoha's future..."

"..."

Every child listened with rapt attention to this speech about the "Will of Fire."

Mikami Yu also pretended to be engrossed, but inwardly he sighed. He sure knows how to string together pretty words. Give us something substantial.

As if responding to Mikami Yu.

After a long-winded speech, Hiruzen Sarutobi paused. "Today, aside from coming to see everyone, I have another matter to announce.

"To encourage everyone to give their all and achieve excellent results in the graduation exam two months from now, I have decided that the top three students in this graduation exam will all receive special rewards from the village! The first-place student in particular... will receive a special honor! They may make one request of me, and as long as it is within reasonable limits, the village will do its utmost to fulfill it!

"For example—you may choose to learn a non-clan-secret Ninjutsu of C-rank or above, which I will personally teach and guide you in!"

"Whoa—!!!"

The whole classroom instantly erupted! The cries and chatter nearly blew the roof off.

"The Hokage will teach us personally?!"

"Ninjutsu of C-rank or above?!"

"Oh my god! I have to take first place!"

Never mind the Ninjutsu itself—just being personally taught by the Hokage was already an unimaginable temptation to the students present. Even Asuma subconsciously straightened his back, while Might Guy, Obito, Kaimon Hyuga, and the others clenched their fists, their faces flushed red with excitement.

Mikami Yu put on the same excited expression as the children around him, but inwardly he remained calm as still water.

C-rank or above... That meant he could learn B-rank, or even A-rank Ninjutsu!

Although Ninjutsu ranks were determined by training difficulty, high-rank techniques generally could not possibly be weaker than low-rank ones.

More importantly,

Mikami Yu possessed the Galageki System and could unlock new special abilities by mastering Ninjutsu. The traits from the Three Techniques were already astonishing enough. If it was an even more powerful Ninjutsu...

Mikami Yu was determined to take first place!

After saying a few more words, Hiruzen Sarutobi left first.

By then, the students in the class had no mind to listen to anything else Teacher Oki had to say. Everyone was whispering and discussing the "graduation rewards." Some eager students had even started predicting next year's top three. Many turned their eyes toward Mikami Yu and Sarutobi Asuma.

Under those circumstances, Teacher Oki could only wrap things up hastily before announcing the official start of the three-week winter break. Once those three weeks were over, it would basically be time for the graduation exam.

"Yu, want to go home together?"

After packing her schoolbag, Nohara Rin asked Mikami Yu as usual.

"No, I have something to do."

"Okay, then Obito and I will head back first."

After watching Nohara Rin leave, Mikami Yu stretched lazily and turned his gaze toward Yuhi Kurenai. She was also waving goodbye to Asuma and Genma Shiranui.

Once most of the students had left the classroom, Yuhi Kurenai turned back toward Mikami Yu.

"Let's go, Mikami."