"Anya Forger?"
Principal A was visibly taken aback. Then he shook his head, looking unimpressed.
"The girl whose grades have hovered in the lower half for years? Who struggles through theory classes and ranks second from the bottom in Taijutsu and Ninjutsu, apart from the occasional clever trick in practical lessons? That 'Dead Last'?"
"Teacher Aizen, you're joking, right? If we send her, won't the other villages laugh at the Kumogakure Ninja Academy? They'll think we have no promising students left."
Aizen's expression did not change in the face of the principal's doubts. His gaze remained calm and deep behind his glasses as he explained.
"Principal A, when judging a ninja, especially for an event centered on exchange rather than combat, perhaps we shouldn't look only at grades and conventional fighting ability."
"Anya's performance in traditional ninja skills assessments has indeed been unremarkable."
"But," he continued, "have you noticed that she is always among the students who get along best with classmates of different personalities?"
"In particular, she is quite close to both the proud, exceptionally talented Mikoto Misaka and Damian, who is more reserved and carries the pressure of being the Raikage's son. You could even call her the glue that holds their little circle together."
Principal A fell into thought, his fingers absently rubbing the rim of his teacup.
Aizen continued in a steady, persuasive voice. "The key to this trip to Kirigakure is exchange. We want young people raised in different environments and with different ideals to understand one another and begin building connections and trust."
"That takes more than strength to make an impression. It also takes an open mind, flexible communication skills, and a certain warmth that can break down barriers."
"Anya may not be the sharpest spear, but she could be an excellent bridge."