Teachers Who Do Not Issue Forehead Protectors Must Still Answer for Every Training Session

Iwahashi's application was not rejected outright.

Nor was it automatically approved because his sentence had ended.

Four separate sets of documents lay on the review desk.

Past conduct.

Penalties already served.

Current teaching ability.

And records of his life over the past five years.

Iwahashi had joined the Mobile Combat Unit after his former Shinobi Village dissolved.

The unit had attacked three settlements, stealing medicinal supplies, grain, and travel documents.

He admitted to participating in unlawful entry and aiding the plunder, and had received an additional penalty for concealing the identities of two accomplices.

After serving his sentence, he had worked along the border hauling goods, guarding wells, and cleaning up chakra accidents.

There were no new records of violence.

That proved only that no new offenses had been discovered so far.

Five years of silence could not be written up as a guarantee of permanent safety.

By the same token, his old sentence had already been served. He could not be frozen forever on the day before his imprisonment.

"Why do you want to teach?"

The reviewer asked.

Iwahashi did not say it was to atone.

"Quite a few children along the border try to figure out chakra on their own."

"I've seen two who burned out their chakra pathways."

"I shouldn't teach them the combat techniques I know, but I know how to make the output stop."

His answer was recorded.

Motivation did not count as proof of qualification.

The review still had to examine how he actually taught.

The trial lesson was held in a public classroom with no ninja tools.

Along the wall were only soft mats, clean water, and three slips of paper that measured chakra fluctuations.

An independent safety instructor sat to one side.

Medical staff waited outside the door.

Before entering, students and