Graduation assessment

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Outside the Ninja Academy's training grounds.

"Hey, Obito, why haven't you applied to graduate? You're not planning to repeat a year, are you?"

"Gen has already submitted his graduation application. Even Guy, who only studies taijutsu, has submitted his. Don't tell me... you're scared?"

Asuma Sarutobi spoke to Obito Uchiha with a somewhat snide tone.

Ever since Uchiha Gen had taught this rebellious boy a lesson in practical combat class three years ago, he had never openly provoked Uchiha Gen again. Obito Uchiha, however, clearly did not fall into that category.

"Damn it, you bastard, Asuma! What are you barking about? I just forgot, that's all! Hmph, just watch! I'll definitely become a genin before you!"

The taunt instantly sent Obito into a rage, and he angrily shot back.

Just as he had said, he really had forgotten that they could submit their graduation application forms today.

Asuma Sarutobi merely gave a quiet scoff and stopped paying Obito Uchiha any attention. He had learned this trick from Uchiha Gen.

He had discovered that taunting people like this and then ignoring them was particularly infuriating. He had already used this trick to anger that damned old man many times.

It was precisely because of this that Asuma Sarutobi had somehow developed an interest in learning from Uchiha Gen's behavior. Unfortunately, during these three years at school, no one else had continued provoking Uchiha Gen.

"You bastard!!! How dare you ignore the great Obito! Aaargh, you're pissing me off! I'm definitely going to teach an arrogant jerk like you a good lesson today!"

Asuma Sarutobi's act of ignoring Obito Uchiha had clearly worked. His face flushed red, Obito Uchiha rolled up his sleeves and was about to step forward to duel Asuma Sarutobi.

"Obito, the exam is about to start, and you haven't submitted your graduation application form yet."

Beside him, Rin Nohara immediately grabbed the furious Obito Uchiha.

Looking at the cute girl holding his arm, Obito Uchiha blushed, and his anger vanished at once.

Rin... held my arm again. Hehe.

"Heh, you're going to be brought down by a woman sooner or later."

Beside them, Asuma Sarutobi curled his lip in disdain at the sight.

"Asuma, Obito, why are you still here? The exam is about to start. Didn't Rin say she was coming to get you?"

Just then, another girl's voice rang out from a distance.

They turned to look and saw Kurenai Yuhi standing demurely at the school building's stairway entrance, holding a graduation application form.

"Coming, coming."

Seeing who it was, Asuma Sarutobi immediately hurried over.

"Let's hurry over too. I've already filled out your graduation application for you. You just need to hand it to Mr. Ichino."

Seeing this, Rin Nohara gave Obito Uchiha a gentle smile and spoke softly.

"Hehe, okay."

A short while later, inside Class A's classroom.

Sarutobi Ichino stood at the lectern, looking solemnly at the students below.

"These are all your graduation application forms. I've signed every one of them. Next, they only need to be handed to Lord Hokage, and you'll be able to take this graduation exam.

"You should have heard at least something about the graduation assessment. Every year, students are injured during the exam. There have even been... students who died.

"You need to understand one thing. I'm not saying this to scare you, nor am I trying to dampen your enthusiasm for the assessment. I need to tell you how harsh this assessment is.

"If your abilities aren't up to standard, then something none of us wants to see could very well happen during the upcoming assessment. So, if you want to withdraw, there's still time!"

At that moment, Sarutobi Ichino abandoned his usual mild manner and held up the stack of graduation application forms, delivering his warning with an ambiguous smile.

"Hahahaha! Bring it on, Mr. Ichino! We'll never give up! I can feel it! I can feel it! The fire of my youth is burning!!"

The moment Sarutobi Ichino finished speaking, Might Guy sprang up from his seat. Flames seemed to ignite in his eyes as he abruptly clenched his fist, thumped his chest, and shouted.

Seeing Might Guy's passionate display, Sarutobi Ichino's mouth could not help twitching.

"Very good. I admire that fighting spirit of yours, Guy! Now, what about the rest of you?"

"Bring it on, sir!"

"We've got to at least give it a try."

"No problem."

"I'm an Uchiha who's going to become Hokage!"

"Yeah, let's do our best!"

For a moment, all the students voiced their responses.

Uchiha Gen sat in the corner by the window in the back row, the corners of his mouth lifting.

So, it was finally about to begin-my life as a ninja.

"I see... Understood, then. Go back and prepare. Tomorrow! Assemble in the large clearing in front of the forest behind the Ninja Academy!"

Looking at the students below, their eyes filled with anticipation, Sarutobi Ichino could not help smiling. These were all his students.

The next day.

Mist shrouded the forest on the mountain behind the Ninja Academy.

Sarutobi Ichino stood before everyone, solemnly reading out the assessment details.

"Within the forest area behind you, we have set up 120 sets of true and false intelligence, 60 simulated enemy situations, and 30 trap locations in advance. There are three categories of targets in total. Over the next ninety minutes, while surviving pursuit by fifteen genin, you must identify and record at least twenty entries on this form.

"In other words, you must use what you were taught in your previous lessons to classify the intelligence you obtain into [real threats], [false threats], and the most ordinary category, [written intelligence].

"How you judge them is up to you. After the assessment ends, I'll collect all your forms. Of course, if you abandon your form... hehe.

"This is an assessment that directly puts a written exam into practice. During this assessment, every tiny action you take will be recorded by invisible cameras provided by Lord Orochimaru, so don't even think about cheating.

"Also, throughout this exam, mindlessly clustering together in groups is prohibited. However, temporary cooperation between two or three people is allowed, but collective action in groups of four or more is forbidden. Violations will result in point deductions.

"At the same time, even if you act together, you must independently distinguish real enemy situations from false ones, record the locations of valid threats, disarm the marked traps you encounter, and then collect key intelligence.

"And one more reminder: during your assessment, you must watch out for pursuit by the other fifteen genin. Five jonin will maintain effective control throughout the assessment. If you fall with serious injuries or are forced out of the area, they will take you directly out of the examination grounds. Of course, anyone taken out will receive zero points for this round and return to school to repeat the year."