More than a hundred students hoping to graduate early had gathered in the vast auditorium.
Most were in their third, fourth, or fifth year. Even the youngest among them had spent over two years at the Ninja Academy.
Clan heads and senior officials appeared in the surrounding stands one after another. Konoha's younger generation would shape the village's future strategy, so none of them could afford to ignore this assessment.
Shisui had wanted to graduate early, too. Though he had only recently entered his second year, he had already awakened his Sharingan. An ordinary Genin might not have been his match.
But Fugaku thought he was still too young. Graduating now could easily affect his development.
Bursts of chatter kept rising from the students below. Everyone who had come to take the assessment believed they had some ability.
They might not have stood out in their classrooms, but gathered together under the eyes of Konoha's leadership, many of the children lost all sense of their own limits. They spoke loudly, eager to show off for the officials watching them.
Fugaku had taken a seat on one of the raised platforms. The noisy crowd below almost made him laugh.
A few minutes later, Orochimaru appeared on the platform at the front, neatly dressed.
The crowd fell silent at once. The children gazed up at Orochimaru with admiration.
Every child dreamed of becoming Hokage. Orochimaru smiled, clearly enjoying the attention.
Fugaku was less pleased. Orochimaru had once been a brilliant scientist, but now he barely had time for experiments. He was traveling further and further down the path of a Hokage.
After a little over ten minutes, Orochimaru finished his speech on the Will of Fire and Konoha's legacy.
Nara Shikaku stepped forward. "One hundred and forty-eight students are taking this assessment.