Two years later, I graduated!

Time flew, and two years passed.

Spring, Year 52 of Konoha.

At the Ninja Academy's graduation ceremony.

Uchiha Rìtiān stood among the graduates, looking utterly done with life.

"Finally graduated... I've been sick of this lousy school for ages." Uchiha Rìtiān yawned.

Beside him, a hot-blooded boy trembled all over with excitement.

"Uchiha Rìtiān! Did you hear? We graduated! We're about to become ninja!"

The boy's name was Akimichi Jifeng, a member of a branch family of the Akimichi Clan and a typical hot-blooded idiot.

Although he was burly and strong, he wasn't very bright.

He was one of Uchiha Rìtiān's few friends at school.

"I heard, I heard. Could you stop shaking? You're making me dizzy," Uchiha Rìtiān said helplessly.

"Hehe, I'm just excited." Hayate scratched his head.

Uchiha Rìtiān rolled his eyes. Excited, my ass. It's graduation, not a wedding.

His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on a silver-haired girl.

The girl's name was Yamanaka Jingetsu, a member of a branch family of the Yamanaka Clan.

She was calm and meticulous, skilled in sensing and genjutsu.

She was also Uchiha Rìtiān's classmate.

Jingyue seemed to notice Uchiha Rìtiān's gaze. She turned and gave him a cold glance.

Her eyes clearly said, "Idiot."

Uchiha Rìtiān: "..."

Tch, so cold. What's so great about you?

Although that was what he thought, Uchiha Rìtiān had to admit that Jingyue really was pretty.

Long, silvery-white hair, delicate features, and that cool, aloof air...

A bona fide ice queen.

"Ding! Host detected sneaking a look at a beauty. Choice triggered:"

"Option one: Go strike up a conversation and show off your charm. Reward: Jingyue's affection +5."

"Option two: Pretend you didn't see her and remain aloof. Reward: Jingyue's affection -5."

"Option three: Make a face at her and tease her. Reward: Jingyue's affection +10 (or -20)."

The corner of Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth twitched. What kind of ridiculous system is this?

"I choose option one!"

"Ding! Selection successful. Please begin your performance, Host."

Uchiha Rìtiān cleared his throat and walked toward Jingyue.

"Hi, Jingyue. What a coincidence. You graduated too?" Uchiha Rìtiān said with a smile.

Jingyue looked at him expressionlessly. "We're classmates. Is it strange that we're graduating together?"

Uchiha Rìtiān: "..."

What a sharp tongue.

"Not strange, not strange." Uchiha Rìtiān smiled awkwardly. "Um... do you think we'll be assigned to the same team?"

Jingyue glanced at him. "Preferably not."

Uchiha Rìtiān: "..."

That hurt, pal.

"Why? I think I'm pretty strong. You definitely wouldn't lose out by teaming up with me," Uchiha Rìtiān protested.

Jingyue said coldly, "If I'm on your team, I'm afraid you'll annoy me to death."

With that, she turned and left.

Uchiha Rìtiān: "..."

"Ding! Conversation attempt failed. Jingyue's affection -10."

The corner of Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth twitched. What the hell? Didn't you say plus five? Why did I lose points instead?

"Ding! The Host's performance was too poor, so points were deducted instead."

Uchiha Rìtiān: "..."

Fine, you win.

Just then, the Third Hokage stepped onto the podium.

The graduation ceremony officially began.

The Third Hokage gave an impassioned speech, essentially congratulating everyone on graduating and hoping they would work hard and contribute to Konoha, and so on.

Uchiha Rìtiān grew drowsy listening to it.

Finally, the speech ended.

Next came the team assignments.

Iruka-sensei held the list and began reading out names.

"Team 1: Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki. Team leader: Kakashi Hatake."

Uchiha Rìtiān raised an eyebrow. Team 7 still has its original lineup.

Nice, nice. It still has the flavor of the original.

"Team 2: ..."

"Team 3: ..."

Several teams were read out in succession, but Uchiha Rìtiān's name hadn't come up.

Hayate grew a little anxious. "Uchiha Rìtiān, why isn't it our turn yet?"

"What's the rush? They'll get to us sooner or later," Uchiha Rìtiān said calmly.

Finally-

"Team 10: Akimichi Jifeng, Yamanaka Jingetsu, Uchiha Rìtiān. Team leader: ..."

Iruka-sensei paused before reading out the final name.

"Team leader: Shikaku Nara."

The whole crowd erupted.

Shikaku Nara?!

He was Konoha's strategist, the Jonin Commander!

Why would he lead a genin squad?

Uchiha Rìtiān was stunned too.

Shikaku Nara?

That's not right. Wasn't Asuma Team 10's leader in the original?

Why has it changed to Shikaku?

Wait, Shikaku Nara... isn't that Shikamaru's dad?

The corner of Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth twitched. That's quite a change to history.

"Ding! Historical change detected: Team 10's leader has changed to Shikaku Nara."

"Reward: fate correction force +1."

Uchiha Rìtiān pursed his lips. That counts as a reward?

Hayate, on the other hand, was thrilled. "Uchiha Rìtiān! We're on the same team! This is great!"

"And our team leader is Lord Shikaku Nara! The legendary strategist!"

Uchiha Rìtiān rolled his eyes. Look how easily you're impressed.

He turned to look at Jingyue, who happened to look at him too.

Their eyes met, and they both looked away.

Uchiha Rìtiān: "..."

Jingyue: "..."

It's over. The days ahead probably won't be very peaceful.

Just then, a laid-back voice rang out.

"Hey, you three are the members of Team 10?"

Uchiha Rìtiān looked up and saw a man in a jonin uniform walking over.

He had long black hair tied into a ponytail and a lazy smile on his face.

It was none other than Shikaku Nara.

"Lord Shikaku!" Hayate saluted excitedly.

Jingyue also bowed slightly. "Hello, Shikaku-sensei."

Uchiha Rìtiān waved. "Hi, old man."

Shikaku: "..."

Old man?

Was he that old?

The corner of Shikaku's mouth twitched. "You're Uchiha Rìtiān?"

"Yep, that's me." Uchiha Rìtiān grinned. "I've long heard of your great reputation, Uncle Shikaku. Now that I've met you, you certainly live up to it!"

Shikaku: "..."

This kid has quite a sweet tongue.

But... why does he seem a little punchable?

"All right, all right, enough wisecracks." Shikaku waved a hand. "Come with me. Let's find somewhere to talk."

The three followed Shikaku to the training ground.

Shikaku leaned against a tree with his hands in his pockets, looking thoroughly laid-back.

"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Shikaku Nara, and I'm your jonin team leader."

"Starting today, I'll be your teacher."

"But let me make this clear up front: I'm pretty lazy. I won't watch over you every day like other teachers."

"So you'd better show some self-discipline."

The corner of Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth twitched. This teacher... really is laid-back.

"Understood?" Shikaku asked.

"Understood!" Hayate answered loudly.

Jingyue nodded.

Uchiha Rìtiān shrugged. "I understand, but... Uncle Shikaku, can you really lead us well when you're this lazy?"

Shikaku raised an eyebrow. "You doubt me?"

"I wouldn't dare." Uchiha Rìtiān waved his hands. "I'm just curious. Why would someone as impressive and important as you lead a genin squad?"

Shikaku fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Because... someone specifically requested it."

"Who?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked curiously.

"It's a secret." Shikaku smiled mysteriously. "You'll find out when the time comes."

Uchiha Rìtiān pursed his lips. So mysterious.

"All right, introduce yourselves too," Shikaku said. "Starting with you."

He pointed at Hayate.

"Yes! My name is Akimichi Jifeng. I specialize in taijutsu and the Multi-Size Technique. My dream is to become a great ninja and protect Konoha!" Hayate said, brimming with enthusiasm.

Shikaku nodded. "Good. You've got ambition."

Then he looked at Jingyue.

"Yamanaka Jingetsu. I specialize in sensing and genjutsu," Jingyue said flatly, sparing with her words.

Shikaku nodded again. "The Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques are very practical."

Finally, he looked at Uchiha Rìtiān.

"Uchiha Rìtiān," Uchiha Rìtiān said with a grin. "As for what I'm good at... quite a lot, so I won't list everything."

"As for dreams... I have quite a few of those too. Making a fortune, marrying beautiful women, reaching the pinnacle of life, things like that."

Shikaku: "..."

Hayate: "..."

Jingyue: "..."

Those dreams... really were... unusual.

The corner of Shikaku's mouth twitched. "You really are... candid."

"Of course. You've got to be honest," Uchiha Rìtiān said as though it were only natural.

Jingyue said coldly, "I'd call it shameless."

Uchiha Rìtiān: "..."

Hey, hey, hey, are we that close? Why are you laying into me like that?

Watching the two clash, Shikaku shook his head helplessly.

These three students... a hot-blooded idiot, an ice queen, and a goofy show-off.

His days probably weren't going to be easy.

"All right, all right, stop arguing." Shikaku waved a hand. "Meet here tomorrow morning at eight."

"We'll have a little test."

"A test? What kind of test?" Hayate asked curiously.

"You'll find out when the time comes." Shikaku gave a mysterious smile.

"All right, dismissed."

With that, he turned and left, leaving the three exchanging looks.

Hayate scratched his head. "Mr. Shikaku... really is mysterious."

Jingyue snorted coldly, then turned and left.

Uchiha Rìtiān watched Jingyue walk away and rubbed his chin.

"This chick's got quite a personality."

Ding! Host is thinking about beautiful women again. Please mind your image.

Uchiha Rìtiān: "..."

Get lost!

Just then, Uchiha Rìtiān's expression suddenly changed.

He sensed a familiar chakra.

Big Brother Shisui's chakra...

And something was very wrong!

Uchiha Rìtiān's expression changed drastically, and he rushed toward the source of the chakra.

Was Big Brother Shisui in trouble again?!