Graduation Exam

Six years later.

Konoha Year 26.

Today was Yui and Nai Hyuga's Graduation Exam.

The two arrived in the classroom early and waited for their teacher.

Behind them, many others were waiting as well.

Over those six years, Yui had made few friends and had barely interacted with even the Konoha Sannin from the original story.

It wasn't that she hadn't wanted to get to know them. Shortly after Yui entered the Ninja Academy, they had passed the Graduation Exam and graduated early.

With Yui and Nai Hyuga's abilities, they could have passed the Graduation Exam too.

But she didn't want to return to the branch family early, so she abandoned the idea.

She had tried to persuade Nai Hyuga to graduate early, but there was nothing she could do. Nai simply wouldn't agree.

That had troubled Yui for quite some time.

Over those six years, Yui and Nai Hyuga had learned many Ninjutsu techniques together, including the Shadow Clone, the Shuriken Throwing Technique, and the Gentle Fist's Eight Trigrams Palm. They both had some mastery of them.

During those six years, she had come to understand the basic principles behind Ninjutsu and had tried to develop one of her own.

But she had made no progress so far.

"All right, we'll begin the Graduation Exam now."

While she was lost in thought, Yamada Hideko had already entered the classroom.

Looking at all the children in the room, Yamada Hideko sighed.

Had so many years already passed in the blink of an eye? The children must have grown so much.

Where would they go from here?

Yamada Hideko placed a pile of ninja forehead protectors on the lectern, one by one.

"Listen carefully. The Graduation Exam requires you to perform the Three Basic Techniques."

"They are the Transformation Technique, the Clone Technique, and the Substitution Technique."

"For the Transformation Technique, you must transform into a complete person."

"For the Clone Technique, you must create three clones. For the Substitution Technique, you must execute a flawless substitution."

Yui wasn't particularly surprised by the exam requirements.

The exam in the original story seemed to be the same.

"Ah... isn't that way too hard?"

"Nonsense. It's obviously easy!"

Opinions varied among the students. Some thought it was easy, while others thought it was difficult.

"Does anyone have any objections?" Yamada Hideko asked them.

At Yamada Hideko's words, everyone fell silent.

When no one answered, Yamada Hideko said, "In that case, today's Graduation Exam will officially begin."

"Come up one at a time, in numerical order."

"Number one, Uchiha Zhong..."

As the exam proceeded, the students who passed took their ninja forehead protectors and danced with joy.

Those who failed crouched in corners, crying quietly.

Still, most of them passed.

Only a small number failed.

Soon, it was Nai Hyuga's turn.

"Next, number thirty-two, Nai Hyuga."

Hearing her name called, Nai Hyuga stood and walked forward.

"Nai, you can do it..."

Seeing Nai Hyuga move, Yui called out encouragement.

"Mm..." Nai Hyuga smiled at Yui.

Over those six years, Nai Hyuga had grown taller too. Having reached puberty, she had filled out in all the right places, no less than Yui, and was probably nearly 160 centimeters tall.

On the testing platform, Nai Hyuga performed her movements in one smooth sequence, executing the Transformation Technique, Clone Technique, and Substitution Technique together.

The students immediately cheered.

"Wow... she's amazing! Just what you'd expect from a Hyuga Clan prodigy!"

"Nai Hyuga... passed," Yamada Hideko said as she recorded the result. "Please come here to collect your ninja forehead protector!"

Nai Hyuga walked to the lectern and took a forehead protector with a dark blue cloth band, then waited quietly nearby.

Yui was next, and she was the only one still sitting in the classroom's seats, waiting.

Everyone else who had already taken the exam stood around the lectern.

As expected, Yamada Hideko called Yui's name.

"Last, Yui Hyuga. Please come forward."

Yui stood at her words.

At twelve, Yui looked more mature than her peers. Both her height and her figure were far too "mature," and she was already 165 centimeters tall.

Standing beside Yamada Hideko, she looked more like the teacher instead.

Realizing this, Yamada Hideko involuntarily coughed a few times.

"Ahem... Yui, let's begin your exam now!"

"Mm..." Yui nodded, then began forming hand seals.

Just like Nai Hyuga, she performed all three Ninjutsu techniques at once.

She created three clones, then transformed into Yamada Hideko's appearance, while her real body swapped places with a log on the testing platform.

"Very good, very good..." Yamada Hideko watched Yui on the platform as she took notes.

At the Lord Third's request, she had to record data on the students' performances.

That would presumably help him assign the students to teams.

"Passed. Yui, please come to the lectern and choose a ninja forehead protector you like," Yamada Hideko said.

Yui walked to the lectern. Looking at the various colored cloth bands, she unhesitatingly chose the most understated one, black.

With her forehead protector in hand, Yui walked over to Nai Hyuga and waited with her for what came next.

After a long while, Yamada Hideko finished organizing her records and finally turned to the group of "little ninja" beside her.

"You all performed very well today. To those who received forehead protectors, congratulations on becoming ninja!"

"However, those who didn't receive one will have to repeat the year."

"If you graduated without the necessary ability, it would only put you in danger."

"On the battlefield, the enemy won't spare you because you're weak. In fact, your weakness will only make them more excited."

"Those who didn't receive forehead protectors may go home now!" Yamada Hideko announced the results coldly.

Only after those who had failed left did Yamada Hideko turn her gaze back to the group standing before her.

"Next, I have an important announcement." After a moment's thought, Yamada Hideko said, "Gather in this classroom tomorrow morning."

"Lord Hokage will assign new teachers to you."

"From now on, your paths as ninja will no longer have anything to do with me. Goodbye."

Yamada Hideko's feelings were complicated. This was the first class she had taught since coming to the Ninja Academy, but they had grown up, and her task was over.

With that, Yamada Hideko walked out with heavy steps.

Watching Yamada Hideko leave, Yui felt a little wistful too.

After six years of teaching, how could she not know how much Yamada Hideko cared about these students?

She probably wished they could stay at the Ninja Academy forever!

"Nai, let's go too!" Yui said, looking at Nai Hyuga, who was still staring at her forehead protector in a daze.

As she spoke, she naturally took Nai's small hand.