Early the next morning, the leaderboard of the written test results was posted at the gate of the Ninja School. By dawn, the school gate was already crowded with children and their parents checking the results.
For a while, the entire entrance became packed with people.
"I passed! I passed the written test!"
"This means that no matter how my physical exam goes, I can become a ninja!"
Shouts like these echoed throughout the crowd. Those who passed the exam were excited and overjoyed, while those who failed left silently, their faces filled with disappointment.
Naruto Uzumaki, who had just arrived at the school, glanced at the dense crowd at the gate, clenched his fists, and walked straight toward the campus without bothering to check.
He had known his test scores for a long time—there was no way he could pass the graduation assessment of the Ninja School with a score of zero. From the start, Naruto had set his sights on the physical examination.
Upon entering the classroom, he noticed that several students had already arrived. Class A had a total of more than 30 students, but at this time, only about half were present.
Naruto paid little attention, walked to his seat, and sat down, waiting for Iruka to arrive. Unlike the written test, the actual combat assessment required an explanation of the rules beforehand, which the teacher would provide before the exam began.
After more than ten minutes, Iruka strode into the classroom with a stack of documents in hand. Seeing only a dozen students scattered across the room, he was momentarily surprised but chose not to comment. Instead, he walked straight to the podium and began explaining the rules.
The physical assessment at the Ninja School was simple and followed the same format as their usual training: a Chunin examiner would act as the opponent, while five judges would score each candidate. Students would be ranked based on their scores, and the top 85% would qualify, passing the graduation assessment.
The rules had been adjusted from their original form to improve assessment efficiency.
As Iruka explained the exam structure, Naruto Uzumaki, who had initially hoped to fight Sasuke in front of everyone, couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
That morning, he had overheard people talking about him—mocking him as the "Hokage's son who ranked third from the bottom" and calling him a fool unworthy of his lineage. To prove himself in front of everyone, he had wanted to defeat Sasuke, who was often praised as a genius. If he could do that, he believed more people would recognize him.
"It doesn't matter. If I can defeat the Chunin examiner, that'll surprise everyone too!"
Naruto thought to himself, determination shining in his eyes.
Once Iruka finished explaining the exam rules, the students waited briefly before following him to the playground.
By this time, the stands surrounding the playground were packed. The audience wasn't limited to just the parents of the graduating students—many parents of younger students had come to observe as well. After all, watching the graduation assessment would help them prepare their own children for the future.
In addition to students and parents, several Jonin from the village had also come to watch the assessment.
In a corner of the stands, Asuma and Kurenai sat together, observing the candidates as they entered the arena. At the far end of the stand, Kakashi leaned against a wall, mask in place, casually flipping through a small pink book. Beside him, Might Guy stood with a massive scroll on his back, dressed in his signature green jumpsuit, watching the candidates with great interest.
"Hey, Kakashi, do you have a favorite among these candidates?"
"This time, as a Jonin instructor, Hokage-sama is letting you choose your own team."
"What do you think? Anyone catching your eye?"
Might Guy's voice was anything but subtle, startling Kakashi out of his reading. Silently slipping the book back into his vest, Kakashi looked down at the field and sighed.
"It's too early to say. The actual combat assessment hasn't even started yet, so we don't know who will pass or fail."
"Besides, we don't even have finalized Genin squads yet. It's too soon to decide."
Kakashi had been removed from Anbu after failing to guard the Scroll of Seals, and Minato had given him a new assignment—to become a Jonin instructor and guide newly graduated Genin. He had also been granted the privilege of choosing his own team.
Having heard about this, Might Guy had invited Kakashi early that morning to watch the graduation assessment together.
"I don't believe you're that clueless."
"The Ninja School regularly holds combat simulations. We already know who performs well and who doesn't."
"Even if some students have an off day or perform exceptionally, the overall outcome is fairly predictable."
"So, who do you have your eye on?"
Despite his goofy demeanor, Might Guy's attention to detail was sharp.
"Uh..." Kakashi sighed, realizing there was no avoiding the question.
"I'm looking at students who are already well-known at the school."
"But passing the test isn't everything. Character matters too."
"Uchiha Sasuke from the Uchiha clan—I've kept an eye on him since I was assigned to be a Jonin instructor."
"He's a promising candidate."
Kakashi's gaze shifted to Sasuke, watching him closely. As the two conversed, the students in the field began to gather and line up. At the center of the playground, the principal, Uzumaki Raiden, began a long speech.
"Uchiha Sasuke? Itachi's younger brother?"
"I've heard he's an exceptional genius. I wonder how he compares to Neji," Might Guy mused, stroking his chin as he scanned the crowd for Sasuke.
Sasuke stood out with his sharp features and cool demeanor, bearing a striking resemblance to his older brother. Even without prior knowledge, Guy could identify him by the Uchiha crest on his back. After a moment, he shook his head slightly.
"His foundation isn't solid."
Kakashi turned to him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"Look at Sasuke's exposed skin—it's fair and smooth. That tells me he hasn't trained his body rigorously."
"His focus is likely on ninjutsu and shurikenjutsu. His taijutsu fundamentals are weak."
"As a ninja, taijutsu is the real foundation. Even when you were six years old, you were training on cliffs, remember?"
A hint of nostalgia flickered in Guy's eyes. He recalled a childhood memory—seeing sweat drip onto the ground from an intense training session. When he looked up, he had seen a six-year-old Kakashi practicing relentlessly.
It was at that moment that Guy realized he wasn't the only one working hard. Even a genius like Kakashi put in immense effort. If he wanted to catch up, he had to train even harder.
So, when he looked at people, Guy always respected those who truly worked hard. And right now, Sasuke didn't meet his standards.
"Taijutsu training?"
"The Uchiha clan has honed its training methods for generations."
"Sasuke is the son of Uchiha Fugaku—his training is guided, and it's likely the best approach for him."
"Guy, not everyone can train the way you do. Most bodies wouldn't be able to handle it!"
Kakashi countered, knowing full well that Might Guy's level of taijutsu mastery was not something just anyone could achieve.
"Besides Sasuke, do you have your eye on anyone else?" Guy asked, changing the subject.
"Senju Karin—the daughter of Senju Nawaki. She inherited the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai."
Kakashi nodded toward the red-haired girl on the field.
Might Guy glanced at her and shook his head again.
"There is no doubt that she is incredibly talented, but her foundation is not solid."
Guy looked at the little red-haired girl in the arena and shook his head again.
Kakashi, rubbing his chin, turned his head and couldn't help but ask with curiosity, "Then which one do you favor?"
Hearing this, Might Guy simply laughed without answering. Seeing his expression, Kakashi realized that none of the children present seemed to meet his expectations.
This reminded Kakashi of a rumor he had heard in the village. People often spoke of three eccentrics who roamed the village upside down—two were peculiar-looking men dressed in odd attire, and the third was a straight-faced, spirited boy. Kakashi knew exactly who that was—Hokage's youngest son, Namikaze Yoriichi.
"It seems you already have a student you're very satisfied with," Kakashi remarked, realizing that Guy had simply been boasting about his disciple all along. The realization left him somewhat speechless.
"Of course!" Guy beamed, giving Kakashi a thumbs-up, successfully earning an eye-roll in return.
As the two continued their conversation, Uzumaki Raiden's lengthy speech finally came to an end.
"...I hope all students give their best efforts, and I wish you all success in the assessment!"
With that, Uzumaki Raiden slowly left the playground, signaling the official start of the Ninja School's graduation assessment.
The entire playground had been divided into four examination areas, each staffed with assessment instructors and scoring judges. Instead of overseeing a specific examination area, Uzumaki Raiden took a seat in the designated viewing area to observe the proceedings.
The assessment moved quickly. The judges were all experienced ninjas and could determine at a glance whether a student met the required standards.
To ensure students showcased their full abilities, the judges refrained from intervening unless absolutely necessary. The examinees themselves understood the nature of the test—after exhausting their techniques, the examiners would call the fight when appropriate.
However, some students, failing to recognize their own limits, aimed to defeat their examiners outright. For such individuals, the examiners were not lenient, ensuring the students learned their lesson through direct combat.
Yet, even with experienced Chunin acting as examiners, unexpected events could still occur.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Suddenly, a girl's voice rang out from Examination Room No. 2. Moments later, the entire battlefield transformed as four massive trees erupted from the ground. Their branches grew wildly, entangling the Chunin examiner and locking him in place.
"What just happened?"
"What is that?!"
Gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd. Even from the stands, Uzumaki Raiden's attention was drawn to the scene.
"Karin's Wood Release has already reached this level?"
"Although it's far from the scale of Senju Hashirama's techniques, achieving this at her age already surpasses Yamato in terms of potential."
"As expected of a child who carries the blood of both the Senju and Uzumaki clans."
Uzumaki Raiden chuckled as he observed the Chunin examiner struggling frantically within the tree's grasp. This was the first instance of a student overpowering an examiner in the assessment, but there was no shame in losing to a wielder of a Bloodline Limit.
Still, the sheer power of the Wood Release technique astonished everyone present. A mere academy student—one not even officially a ninja—had subdued an experienced Chunin. This was more than enough to make Karin the center of attention.
"That's enough! The match is over!"
The judges on the sidelines called out loudly. At their command, Karin pressed her hands together, and the towering trees swiftly retracted back into the ground. Her ability to not only unleash but also fully control her Wood Release impressed all the examiners.
It was one thing to activate a technique, but another entirely to withdraw it seamlessly. Clearly, the girl standing before them had a mastery over Wood Release that exceeded what most had expected.
Several judges exchanged glances before unanimously recording Karin's score on their assessment sheets.
Meanwhile, the examiner, now free from the entangling branches, wiped the sweat from his forehead, pulled out his roster, and called out the next name.
"Uchiha Sasuke, report to Examination Room No. 2 for your assessment!"
(End of chapter)