Early the next morning, Uzumaki Hayashi got up unusually early.
He washed up, ate, and made himself look perfectly presentable. Finally, he took the Tachi off the wall and hung it behind his waist.
The scabbard rested against his lower back, its reassuring weight settling his nerves.
What day was it? The day of his Genin assessment, of course!
Other people brought their brains to exams. He brought a sword. The sheer contrast made the whole getup look ridiculously cool.
As the saying went, carry a sword into a rainy night, not an umbrella.
With that thought, he silently gave himself a thumbs-up, then pushed open the door and left.
He noticed it the moment he entered the classroom.
Every eye in the class turned toward him.
He seemed a little more striking than usual today-though no one could quite put a finger on what was different. He just looked better.
But soon, everyone's gaze was glued to the back of his waist.
A Tachi hung there.
For a twelve-year-old child, the sword was clearly a little too large. Its dark scabbard swayed behind him with every step.
Murmurs immediately broke out in the classroom.
"What's that he's carrying?"
"A sword... a real one?"
"Isn't today the Genin assessment? Why'd he bring that..."
Uzumaki Hayashi acted as though he hadn't heard them. He went to the back row, sat down, and adjusted the sword behind him.
Sasuke Uchiha's gaze lingered on that sword for a long time.
Lately, that Redhead disappeared as soon as school ended. From what Sasuke had seen, a Jonin personally came to pick him up.
He had been wondering what exactly Linshi was training in.
Now, the answer hung behind his waist.
Swordsmanship.
So he had already started learning something like that, too.
Sasuke