In Konoha Year 44, the clouds of war still hung heavy over the Ninja World.
And Mitsuki, already 11 years old this year, would graduate from the Ninja Academy today if he could successfully pass the graduation exam.
As for failing the graduation exam, that was naturally impossible. Although the front lines in Konoha were not currently pressing, cannon fodder was always welcome, and even the last-place finisher in the exam would still graduate.
At this moment, Mitsuki and Rin were walking to school.
“Sigh~”
“Mitsuki, what’s wrong? You’ve been sighing since this morning. Were you too tired yesterday?” Rin looked at Mitsuki with concern, yet his words were easily misunderstood.
The reason Rin said this was because Mitsuki knew today was the graduation exam, and a graduation exam during wartime naturally couldn't avoid the words 'actual combat'.
Therefore, after school yesterday, Mitsuki helped Rin with a crash course.
“Sigh, it has nothing to do with Rin. I just suddenly realized I’m already 11 years old and still haven’t become invincible in the Ninja World. It’s truly shameful.”
“?”
This was a lie.
The reason this man was sighing was because he had secretly used his Six Eyes yesterday to look at the new student group assignments for the Ninja Academy, and he hadn't been placed in the same group as Rin.
Rin was still in a group with Kakashi and Obito. Incidentally, because Sakumo Hatake did not commit suicide, Kakashi naturally did not apply for early graduation.
Mitsuki had originally thought that since Kakashi hadn't graduated early, perhaps he could be assigned to the same squad as Rin, but it turned out he had overthought it.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
After greeting their classmates, Mitsuki and Rin returned to their seats.
At this moment, Obito stealthily leaned over, “Mitsuki, have you heard? That…”
What ‘that’ and ‘that’? Mitsuki was speechless. Who could guess that?
“Idiot Obito, even if that person really comes to be a Jonin instructor, he wouldn’t choose you.” Kakashi walked over with dead fish eyes and took over the conversation.
After hearing Kakashi's words, Mitsuki understood; it must be about Minato Namikaze also taking on students this time.
Speaking of which, Obito had spoken so mysteriously that Mitsuki really hadn't guessed it was about this matter. It really took Kakashi to understand this idiot.
It seemed the Third Hokage was already starting to favor Minato Namikaze. Logically speaking, a highly mobile Advanced combatant like Minato shouldn't waste time teaching children.
It was probably the old Konoha routine again, all for the sake of fostering bonds or something.
“Everyone, gather at Training Ground Seven.”
Teacher Morino walked into the classroom and called out, gathering everyone at Training Ground Seven.
“So why didn’t we just gather at Training Ground Seven from the start?!” Obito shouted.
This time, there was no way to call Obito stupid… “First group, Asuma Sarutobi versus Shimizu Mitsuki.” Teacher Morino called out, holding the group list.
“Ah, I’m fighting Mitsuki, really?!” Asuma, who had been grinning playfully next to Yuhi, widened his eyes and pointed at himself upon hearing this.
It was normal for this situation to occur, because Mitsuki had no intention of hiding his strength and playing the pig to eat the tiger. While keeping some trump cards hidden, Mitsuki still took first place in all practical combat classes from enrollment to graduation.
Incidentally, Asuma’s practical combat scores had never even made it into the top three.
In short, Asuma was very upset right now, because he had spent the entire night yesterday thinking about how he would show off his coolness in front of Yuhi today. Now, it seemed he wouldn't be cool at all; he would just make a fool of himself first.
Mitsuki and Asuma stood on opposite sides of the training ground, following the instructions of another teacher, Kato Itsuki, who was acting as the referee.
“Hey, Mitsuki, I’ve been training really hard lately, so don’t underestimate me.” As the saying goes, one can lose the battle but not the spirit. Asuma was the first to throw out some pre-match trash talk.
“Alright, alright.” Mitsuki replied perfunctorily.
It wasn't that Mitsuki was underestimating him; it was simply that this level of combat was truly too easy for him. Mitsuki's current stats, when placed in a Genin exam, were considered overpowered among the overpowered.
“Both sides, form the Seal of Confrontation.” Teacher Kato raised the flag.
“Konoha 31st Class Graduates, First Group, Asuma Sarutobi versus Shimizu Mitsuki, begin!”
As soon as the words fell, Asuma instantly lunged towards Mitsuki, knowing that Mitsuki’s Ninjutsu abilities were very strong. If he didn’t close the distance, he wouldn’t have a chance to win.
Mitsuki watched Asuma charge at him. Did he want to close the distance and compete in Taijutsu? Mitsuki’s Taijutsu was not bad, and he felt no pressure in a direct confrontation with Asuma.
However, he had a better method. Mitsuki formed a single hand seal.
A sound like a thousand screaming thunderbirds rang out, and Mitsuki’s right hand emitted a dazzling lightning glow.
“This is?”
Teacher Kato’s eyes widened as he looked at Mitsuki in the arena, no, he stared intently at Mitsuki’s right hand, which flickered with irregular electrical arcs.
The surrounding classmates also saw Mitsuki use such a visually splendid Ninjutsu for the first time. Previously, Mitsuki had mostly used unadorned Earth Release Ninjutsu in his matches.
In fact, Mitsuki used Earth Release Ninjutsu simply because Earth Release was effective. For him, using any type of Release for a Genin match would be the same; it was just that Earth Release Ninjutsu consumed less Chakra and was less likely to cause accidental injury.
Mitsuki’s inherent Chakra natures were Fire, Wind, and Lightning.
Earth and Water were developed later by him.
Regardless of how the surrounding classmates felt seeing such splendid Ninjutsu, Asuma in the arena, facing Mitsuki’s Chidori, felt every cell in his body screaming a red alert.
“I’m going to die.” At this moment, this was his only thought.
Asuma forcefully stopped his forward charge.
Mitsuki had no habit of waiting for his opponent. He directly used the acceleration brought by the Chidori to charge at Asuma at high speed.
At the same time, he threw a Shuriken with his left hand and formed a hand seal with one hand.
“Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique”
This technique was the Ninjutsu Mitsuki used most often. He had even simplified the hand seals to just three: Monkey – Boar – Tiger.
The Shuriken instantly multiplied into dozens, flying towards Asuma at high speed.
“Wind Release: Great Breakthrough”
Asuma quickly formed hand seals, his chest swelled, and then he exhaled a powerful blast of wind from his mouth, blowing away all of Mitsuki’s Shuriken.
“Taste this move, the result of my recent hard training!” Asuma knew he would likely be instantly killed in close combat, so he directly channeled most of his Chakra.
“Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, Fire Release: Fireball”
A compound Ninjutsu!
Wind fueled the fire. The C-rank Ninjutsu Fireball, after passing through the wind zone created by Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, directly increased its power and range by a notch.
“Oh my Ninja World Zhou Yu.”
Mitsuki wasn't flustered at all, even having the leisure to make a sarcastic remark. He should have known not to experiment with Chidori; he really was more suited to being a long-range artillery.
But that didn't stop Mitsuki from securing this victory.
“Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall”
A giant rock rose, blocking the Fireball like an impassable chasm.
Asuma still wanted to do something, but he heard a bird cry. He instantly turned around, only to see Mitsuki holding a dazzling lightning glow, thrusting it towards him.