The next day.
Ninja Academy, fifth grade.
The students bustled with chatter.
"Next class is a Q&A session. Iruka-sensei said his teacher will be teaching it," one student said quietly.
"A Q&A session?
What use is that? Can it make me a ninja?"
"Didn't Iruka-sensei say that we can ask any question and he'll answer it for us?
Iruka-sensei himself was taught by him."
"That bandaged guy?"
The fifth-year students had long known what Iruka-sensei's teacher looked like. Besides, he had become famous a few months ago.
They had originally found him quite annoying, since he had developed Eight Fragrances of Fire.
But a few months ago, they had heard that he could take ninjutsu head-on with his face, and they were very curious.
What kind of face could withstand ninjutsu?
"Captain Tonbo, I have to ask him whether someone who can't use ninjutsu can become an outstanding ninja."
A young boy with a small braid was filled with questions he wanted to ask.
His thoughts had never received anyone's approval.
He sincerely hoped that a powerful ninja from Konoha could clear up his doubts.
This was an opportunity.
Even Iruka-sensei could not guarantee whether someone who could not use ninjutsu could become an outstanding ninja.
He had only told him not to give up hope.
Beside him, a pale-eyed boy braced both hands against the desk and stared expressionlessly toward the door.
His predetermined fate had turned him into a walking corpse. Only a trace of unwillingness gave him the motivation to keep living.
So he had prepared no questions. He was only attending class because there was class to attend.
Tap, tap, tap!
Just as the students were chatting merrily, a man walked in from outside.
He wore a ninja flak jacket, with bandages wrapped around his head.