Ninja Academy Ranking Assessment

Lin Ze slowly stood up, feeling the power surging through his body.

The Gate of Life's effects were more pronounced than the Gate of Healing's. Not only had his stamina improved significantly, but the fatigue in his muscles had also eased considerably, and green currents of air swirled around him.

"How does it feel?" Might Duy patted Lin Ze on the shoulder.

"Great." Lin Ze clenched his fists. "It's like... another layer of shackles inside my body has been unlocked."

Might Duy laughed heartily, giving him a thumbs-up and flashing a mouthful of gleaming white teeth. "A true genius of hard work! You mastered the Third Gate in just two months. Even I never expected that kind of speed!"

Might Guy wore the same expression beside him. "Lin Ze, you really are a genius! But I'll definitely catch up to you!"

Lin Ze smiled, but he knew perfectly well that without the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon's recovery abilities, he could never have attempted to break through those points in such quick succession. After every training session, the fruit's power rapidly repaired his damaged muscles and chakra pathways, allowing him to keep trying.

"Next, you need to get used to the Gate of Life," Might Duy said seriously. "Keep it open for an hour every day. Once your body has fully adjusted, try breaking through the Fourth Gate-the Gate of Pain."

Lin Ze nodded. Opening the Gate of Pain would begin damaging his body through excessive strain. He was not ready for that yet.

The next day, at the Ninja Academy.

The moment Lin Ze entered, he heard Izumo Kamizuki shouting, "I'm definitely making the top twenty in this assessment! Then I can make Pops in the Military Police Force proud!"

"With your pathetic skills, you should count yourself lucky if you make the top thirty."

"What did you say?" Izumo Kamizuki rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight Kotetsu Hagane, but their classmates hurriedly pulled them apart.

"Assessment?"

Lin Ze sat down beside Kurenai and asked, "Kurenai, what's this assessment they're talking about?"

"You don't know, Lin Ze?" Kurenai's eyes widened. "The academy is holding a Combat Ranking Assessment next week. Every first-year student has to participate, and everyone will be ranked according to their results!"

"This Ranking Assessment seems pretty important. I heard the top three will receive Ninjutsu scrolls presented by Lord Hokage himself."

Lin Ze raised an eyebrow. He had little interest in Ninjutsu scrolls, but he was quite interested in the assessment's rules.

This assessment was clearly similar to the Ninja Academy's final exams, though slightly different.

More precisely, it was actually the "first lesson" Konoha gave its new generation of ninja.

For one thing, it allowed newly enrolled students to experience the atmosphere of ninja combat as early as possible, getting them used to the tension and actual fighting involved in the profession ahead of time.

For another, it served to identify children with ninja talent for focused training-after all, geniuses often distinguished themselves early, while true late bloomers were ultimately few.

The top students in the year would certainly receive rewards too-such as the Ninjutsu scrolls Kurenai had mentioned. But the most important thing was not the scrolls; it was that Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi would personally present the rewards.

The reason Ryota Uchiha was hostile toward Lin Ze stemmed from the Third singling him out by name at the opening ceremony.

It was now Konoha Year 38, and relations between the Uchiha Clan and the village were not yet as strained as they would later become. Many children in the clan greatly admired the Third, including Ryota Uchiha and Obito.

Lin Ze turned his head slightly, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Ryota Uchiha in the back row. Although the boy still looked his way from time to time, his earlier arrogance was gone.

Presumably, word of his older brother's wager with Lin Ze had reached him, finally making him realize that Lin Ze was not someone he could afford to provoke. After all, while the Uchiha were a little prone to adolescent delusions, they were not fools.

Just then, their homeroom teacher, Kenichi Yamada, walked in, and the classroom immediately fell quiet.

"Quiet, everyone!" Mr. Yamada cleared his throat. "Starting next Monday, the academy will hold its annual Combat Ranking Assessment. Let me explain the rules."

"First, the assessment will use a one-on-one elimination format. The winners will advance until the final rankings are determined."

"Second, Ninjutsu and weapons that could cause fatal injuries are prohibited. Anyone caught using them will be immediately disqualified."

"Third, the referee will determine the outcome. Surrendering, becoming unable to fight, or falling out of the ring will all count as a loss."

Mr. Yamada paused, then added, "This assessment will not only test what you have learned since enrolling, but also serve as an important basis for Konoha's selection of talent. I hope everyone will show what they're truly capable of!"

The classroom immediately grew noisy again. Lin Ze leaned back in his chair, considering it. An elimination format? That'll save quite a bit of trouble.

He looked at his classmates around him. Most looked excited, while only a few appeared nervous.

"Lin Ze, what are you thinking about?" Kurenai Yuhi's voice brought him back to reality.

"Nothing." Lin Ze smiled. "Just thinking about how to fight in this assessment."

"You'll definitely take first place!" Kurenai looked utterly confident. "Your Taijutsu is so good."

Lin Ze shook his head. "Forget first place. I'm not aiming that high. The top ten will do."

At those words, Asuma, who sat behind them with a toothpick in his mouth, immediately leaned over. "Hmph, don't think beating Ryōta makes you so strong. I bet you won't last three rounds!"

Ryota Uchiha: "..."

Seeing this, Lin Ze turned away without saying anything, clearly unwilling to bother with the little brat.

In a Combat Ranking Assessment like this, anyone who placed high enough could apply to graduate early.

However, they were all children who had been at the Ninja Academy for less than a year, and practically none chose to graduate early. Freakish geniuses like Kakashi Hatake were extremely rare. Most still needed to follow the curriculum for several years, slowly honing their skills.

The same went for Lin Ze. Although he was now almost seven, which was nothing compared with Kakashi graduating at five, after graduation, Hiruzen Sarutobi would promote him straight to Chunin and have him join the ANBU directly.

A seven-year-old Chunin would still stand out far too much. Lin Ze did not have a father known as the "White Fang of Konoha" backing him. He would pass on receiving the same genius treatment as Kakashi.

Therefore, Lin Ze planned to spend another year at the Ninja Academy. He would be about eight then. Although that was still a year earlier than Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma, and the others, who graduated at nine in the original story, it would not attract too much attention.

Moreover, Might Guy entered the Ninja Academy at six and graduated at seven. Lin Ze was a year older than Might Guy and Kakashi, so he could graduate at the same time as Might Guy.

Although joining the ANBU meant he could not team up with Might Guy to run missions, he would at least have someone who could lend a hand. After all, Might Guy should have started practicing the Eight Gates Released Formation by then.

In the original story, Rock Lee only began practicing the Eight Gates Released Formation at twelve because he did not become Might Guy's student until after graduating from the Ninja Academy.

But Might Guy's circumstances were different-the Eight Gates Released Formation was his family's Secret Technique. Granted, in the original story, Might Guy only began practicing the Eight Gates Released Formation around the age of twelve, during the Third Ninja World War.

Now, however, Lin Ze's arrival had not only spurred Might Guy's enthusiasm for training, but his success in opening the Eight Gates Released Formation had also given Might Duy tremendous confidence.

Now, Might Duy was only waiting for Might Guy's physical fitness to meet the minimum requirements for practicing the Eight Gates Released Formation. Once he reached that level, he would immediately teach him this Secret Technique!