Graduation Exam, Jonin Instructor Orochimaru

Land of Fire, Konoha, Ninja Academy.

In this season of blooming cherry blossoms, the cannon fodder... no, the Ninja Academy graduates were about to begin brand-new lives of their own.

"Hey, Huayue, I heard a new Tricolor Dango shop opened nearby. Want to go try it?"

Uchiha Huayue, who had been sleeping soundly with his head on the desk, his long black hair tied into a ponytail, was shaken awake. There was an inexplicable beauty beneath his lazy air as he instinctively looked around.

"Is it already that time? I'm going to sleep a little longer. Wake me when the Jonin Instructor gets here."

He simply put his head back down on the desk. Anko beside him could not help glaring at him. So was he going or not? This bastard...

Uchiha Huayue, male, ten years old—the graduation age of the Konoha Ninja Academy—was classmates with Mitaraishi Anko beside him.

It was the time of the Third Great Ninja War. With the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire was far from peaceful, and the surrounding nations were showing signs of making a move.

Huayue and the other Ninja Academy graduates of his class were fortunate, since they could still experience a complete Ninja Academy curriculum.

At the same time, they were unfortunate, because the moment they graduated, Konoha's old fossils would send them to the battlefield to build someone else's fame and prestige.

"Huayue, I'm telling you, at least pretend to be more motivated in front of the younger students. Don't make everyone lose faith in you, right, Yugao?"

Though young, Uzuki Yugao had already grown enough for her beauty to show. She smiled gently, her expression helpless.

Yet within the Inner world that no one could perceive, above a pale-blue lake of the heart, a pitch-black fox was glaring red-eyed at Huayue.

"Hey, Uchiha brat, offer up a bag of Potato Chips and This Lord will give you chakra. Remember, fish cake flavor. If you dare substitute bamboo shoot flavor, This Lord will kill you!"

"And This Lord is tired of looking at this scenery. Change it to Maple Courtyard... no, Cherry Blossom Forest would be better after all."

The black-and-orange fox before him seemed to have fallen into a dilemma of choice, while Huayue's mouth twitched and he could not help asking doubtfully.

"If I remember correctly, what I just obtained was the Nine-Tails. Are you really the Nine-Tails, Kurama?"

"You little bastard! Of course I'm the Nine-Tails! But how do you know my name? Did that guy Menma tell you?"

Wait, Menma? Could this Sign-In System be...

Huayue hurriedly looked at the suddenly appearing Sign-In System. The three black tomoe in his eyes spun madly, and only then did he make out the nearly imperceptible words before Ninja World Sign-In System.

"Limited Tsukuyomi Ninja World Sign-In System. Limited Tsukuyomi? No wonder this black-orange fox is so easy to talk to. So it's the Black Nine-Tails."

He nodded slightly. Limited Tsukuyomi was originally an existence reversed from the original world—Uchiha Sasuke had become a scumbag, Naruto had become Menma, Hinata had become a big sister boss...

"So that's it. Because this is a reversed world, even Kurama has become easier to talk to?"

His blood-red Sharingan gleamed. Just as he was about to amicably negotiate with the Black Nine-Tails, who was trapped in a dilemma of choice, a violent shaking woke Uchiha Huayue from his Inner world.

"Damn it, who interrupted my good thing?"

"Idiot! The Jonin Instructor is here. Can't you be a little more alert?"

Anko urged him in a low voice, her face turning pale. A thick brown-black Giant Python, slick and wet, was slowly tightening around the bewildered Huayue, frightening the two girls until their faces went white.

"Ninjas cannot let down their guard. Students without a sense of tension are unpleasant, my adorable students. Hehehe..."

"You're too damn noisy, you troublesome pervert."

The python suddenly constricted. A cloud of White Mist dispersed, and Huayue, who should have been lying at his desk, had already turned into a Substitution Log.

"Hehehe, speaking your true feelings in front of others will make you unpleasant, my adorable student."

A slender figure silently appeared behind the three of them. His cold, heavy gaze carried a hint of scrutiny as it slowly shifted from Anko and Yugao to the black-haired boy on the podium.

"Orochimaru... Sensei? Sorry, sorry. He's always like this. Please don't hold it against him."

Anko hurriedly apologized, while Uzuki Yugao beside her remained silent, her brows slightly furrowed.

Orochimaru paid no attention to Anko's apology. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes. As he examined Uchiha Huayue, he discovered that the other boy was examining him as well.

His long hair hung loosely around him, his facial lines were hard and cold, and his skin was the icy pallor of a snake. It was truly difficult to feel any fondness for him.

"Apologies are irrelevant. It seems one of you also thinks highly of himself. Go to the Third Training Ground now. Your first mission has begun."

The Third Training Ground... could it be...?

Having roughly guessed what trick Orochimaru was playing, Huayue said nothing. Anko and Yugao hurriedly followed.

Konoha's Third Training Ground.

Beside the babbling stream and singing birds, before the Substitution Logs used for shuriken practice.

Uzuki Yugao, who had arrived at the training ground early and waited for some time, held a Single-edged Sword. Anko was also adjusting her Ninja Tool Pouch. Only Huayue lowered his eyes, having long since guessed what this was about.

"Hehehe, such punctual children. I don't dislike students who are punctual."

"Yeah, yeah. Then let's get started quickly. Whether it's snatching Bells or a one-on-one fight, I won't lose, Orochimaru-sensei."

Hearing Huayue's words, Orochimaru merely smiled and extended his right hand. Two crisp Bells dangled there, and amusement lurked in his dangerous eyes.

"Looks like you've heard certain rumors. With your strength, snatch the Bells from my hands to decide who can graduate from the Ninja Academy. The failures are only worthy of returning to school."

"Alright, begin."

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

The moment the words fell, scorching heat instantly dried the air. The fireball rushing toward him made Orochimaru reveal an excited expression.

"I nearly forgot. I should have reminded you that you may attack with the intention of killing me. It seems I worried for nothing. Hehehe..."

His body melted like mud, and his snake-like, flexible body dangled from a tree branch not far away.

"Uchiha Huayue. Middle-tier grades among his Ninja Academy class, with no outstanding performance shown. It seems he has hidden himself deeply."

"You two, as ninjas, you cannot leave your backs wide open to the enemy. Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."

Several pythons bound Anko and Yugao like long ropes. Orochimaru emerged from the mouths of the snakes coiling around them, his dark-purple tongue lightly licking Anko's face.

"Oh my, thank you for the compliment, Orochimaru-sensei. But ninjas cannot leave their backs wide open—please remember those words well. Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique..."

Heat sufficient to make the stream boil surged over them once more. The excitement on Orochimaru's face became even more obvious, and he let out a low, cold laugh.

"What's wrong with Orochimaru-sensei? Why has he been chuckling over there ever since he said begin? What happened?"

Beside him, Anko's face was full of confusion, while Yugao gripped her sword hilt tightly, her face filled with shock.

"Could it be... could Orochimaru-sensei... have fallen under Genjutsu?"