New Teammates

Time flew by, and peaceful life had finally come to an end.

Today was the last day at the Ninja Academy, the day they received their graduation certificates and were assigned to teams.

Inside Konoha Ninja Academy.

The Third Hokage stood on the podium, speaking of the Will of Fire.

Beside Uchiha Yufeng, Yuhi Kurenai had also been stirred up by the Third Hokage's Will of Fire theory. Her little face was flushed red with excitement.

When she turned and saw Uchiha Yufeng looking so listless, she could not help quietly nudging his arm.

"Yufeng, why are you so out of it?"

Uchiha Yufeng helplessly spread his hands.

"I went to Konoha Orphanage to look after the children yesterday. I was kept busy until late, so of course I'm sleepy."

Because Uchiha Shisui had been training so hard lately, he rarely came back either.

In order to farm Ninja Fragments, Uchiha Yufeng had rarely returned to his home in the Uchiha Clan district.

After finishing his studies at Konoha Hospital, he went straight to Konoha Orphanage, following Yakushi Nonō around and keeping the orphanage children company.

Looking after children was exhausting work.

Even after fusing the Shippuden Sasuke, Yakushi Kabuto, and Nohara Rin cards, he still felt mentally drained after getting so many children settled down to sleep.

Still, speaking of which.

Though going to the orphanage every day was a little tiring, as long as he ran into Yakushi Nonō, Kabuto Fragments dropped more often than anything else.

Including what he had accumulated before, the Yakushi Kabuto card fragments had already surpassed eighty.

As he came into contact with Yakushi Nonō more often, the number of Yakushi Kabuto fragments that dropped each day had decreased significantly.

Uchiha Yufeng knew it would probably not be easy to keep squeezing Ninja Fragments out of Yakushi Nonō in the future, unless he waited for the cooldown to end and started over.

It looked like it was time to get in touch with Orochimaru!

"Oh, you went to see the children again. Yufeng, you're really kindhearted!"

Yuhi Kurenai knew that the children at Konoha Orphanage were orphans of war or had been abandoned by others.

Uchiha Yufeng's actions undoubtedly struck a chord in the young girl's heart.

"By the way, where's Obito?"

Uchiha Yufeng swept his gaze through the crowd. Obito seemed to be missing.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since this morning..."

Yuhi Kurenai looked around as well and shook her head.

"Yufeng, Obito still hasn't come..."

Not far away, Nohara Rin heard Uchiha Yufeng's voice. A trace of gloom flashed through her eyes as she spoke to the two of them.

"Don't tell me he got delayed helping an old lady cross the street again? Today's our graduation ceremony! Is that really okay?"

Shizune, standing nearby, sounded somewhat puzzled.

Nohara Rin smiled helplessly.

"Obito has always been like this!~"

Thinking of how Uchiha Obito usually was, the others said no more.

Time passed second by second.

"Finally, congratulations to all of you for successfully graduating from the Ninja Academy and becoming honorable Genin!"

"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns on without end..."

Listening to the Third Hokage's speech, Uchiha Yufeng could not help curling his lips.

Where the leaves dance, the fire burns on without end? Wouldn't that mean the fire was out of control?

Good thing you're in the Ninja World, where no one cares.

Otherwise, if you set a mountain on fire, you'd be behind bars for life!

Uchiha Yufeng sighed. He had thought the Third Hokage was almost done just now.

But then a Ninja Academy student took the initiative to ask a question, reigniting the Third Hokage's urge to lecture.

After another round of Will of Fire verbal preaching, he finally stepped down from the podium, still wanting more.

Below, the students wore forehead protectors one after another, their eyes filled with longing at the future the Third Hokage had described.

After all, becoming ninja and protecting the village was the dream of most of them.

The Will of Fire indoctrination had been very successful indeed!

After the Third Hokage left, school staff led the students back to a hall that had been prepared in advance.

They began handing out the students' graduation certificates.

"Graduation certificate, Hyuga Tsuchida. This certifies that the student has graduated from Konoha Ninja Village's Ninja Academy."

"Here. Congratulations on graduating!"

"..."

The students below began applauding. As they went up one by one to receive their graduation certificates, Uchiha Yufeng could not help feeling that the atmosphere was quite warm.

It was a little like graduating from school in his previous life.

"Uchiha Yufeng, come forward to receive your graduation certificate!"

Hearing his name, Uchiha Yufeng gathered his thoughts. With a slight movement of his feet, he arrived at the front in a few leaps.

After going through the standard procedure, Uchiha Yufeng accepted his graduation certificate and walked down.

"Ah, my easy days are about to end."

Uchiha Yufeng sighed.

"The graduation ceremony is over! Does anyone want to collect the graduation certificate for the student who didn't come today?"

Nohara Rin hurriedly stood up and ran toward the teacher who had spoken.

The surrounding students immediately began chatting among themselves.

Among them, a somewhat slender purple-haired girl squeezed through the crowd and came before Uchiha Yufeng.

"You're Uchiha Yufeng? The first-place winner of this year's practical Ranking Match?"

Looking at the girl's chubby little face, it seemed to be filled with displeasure toward him.

"I'm not. You've got the wrong person."

The girl had not expected Uchiha Yufeng to deny it. She froze, unable to react for a moment.

"And you are?"

Hearing the commotion, Yuhi Kurenai looked over in surprise and sized her up.

Only after hearing Yuhi Kurenai's voice did the girl come back to her senses.

She stared fixedly at Uchiha Yufeng.

"I just saw you collect your graduation certificate. You're Uchiha Yufeng!"

"Do you have time? Let's find a place to spar."

Yuhi Kurenai looked the girl over. She seemed younger than her.

But she immediately frowned.

She knew roughly all of her first-year classmates.

This girl before her was unfamiliar.

Could she not be from their year?

If she were a lower-year student, what was she doing at this graduation ceremony?

When her gaze swept over the forehead protector in the girl's hand, she froze.

"You graduated?"

"Yes!"

Only then did the girl look at Yuhi Kurenai and nod heavily.

"I heard there was a taijutsu expert in the Ranking Match who defeated an Uchiha with an awakened Sharingan using only taijutsu. I've been looking for you for several days, and I only found you today."

Uchiha Yufeng gave her a thumbs-up. Could she be a female version of Might Guy?

Her face was so young and tender that it looked like water could be squeezed from it.

Judging by her age, she had graduated from the Ninja Academy at least a year early.

She really had guts. Why graduate so early? Wouldn't it be better to stay alive?

Did she really enjoy graduating early and seeking thrills in the Ninja World?

Uchiha Yufeng kept his distance from hot-blooded fools like this.

"I remember now. You're Uzuki Yugao, the one who graduated early through swordsmanship?"

Yuhi Kurenai's eyes lit up as she looked at the purple-haired girl.

"Yes, I'm Uzuki Yugao! I came here today to challenge the number one in the practical Ranking Match!"

At that moment, a Sarutobi Clan ninja entered through the doorway.

"Alright, everyone, quiet down first. We'll begin assigning teams now!"

"Team 1: Uchiha Yufeng, Yuhi Kurenai, Uzuki Yugao!"

"Team 2..."

"Team 3..."

"..."

After the Sarutobi Clan ninja finished reading the team assignments from the roster, he snapped it shut.

"Your team instructors will be here shortly. Please wait!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he left with a crisp Body Flicker.

Uchiha Yufeng, Yuhi Kurenai, and Uzuki Yugao stared at one another.

"We're Team 1?!"

A familiar figure appeared at the doorway.

"Uchiha Yufeng, Kurenai, Uzuki Yugao, step out! Follow me!"