February, Year 36 of Konoha.
The war between Konoha and Hidden Sand has been ongoing for two years and has yet to end.
As the number of ninjas mobilized by both sides increases, a large amount of medicine and supplies is being transported to the frontlines, showing no signs of the war slowing down.
The students in the same year as Hakushi who didn't choose to graduate early are now sixth-year pending graduates.
In March, there will be a school graduation assessment, and students who pass will leave the Ninja School and become official Genin within Konoha's ranks.
However, according to Hakushi's prediction, the so-called graduation assessment is just a formality.
The teachers at school surely already have detailed information on the students, and decisions about which students can graduate or need to repeat a year have already been made.
After all, with the frontlines being tense, more reinforcements are needed, such as Hakushi and the new generation of medical ninjas, to gain experience on the battlefield so they can play better roles in the medical field in the future.
So at this time, Hakushi just needs to follow the usual routine of going to school in the morning, interning at the hospital in the afternoon, and doing research in the evening.
Such things as graduation will happen when it's time, there's no need for impatience or to wait excessively, everything will fall into place naturally.
Without a sound, nearly a month passed by like this, and the morning of graduation day arrived.
The weather was pleasant, the clear chirping of birds echoed in the somewhat empty courtyard, and the maids quietly went about their chores diligently in the early morning.
Unlike a certain freeloader who's been here eating for free for years without doing anything serious, these maids are quite competent.
Since it's graduation exam day and to ensure students are in their best condition, there was no need to head to school too early, students just needed to be in the exam classroom before nine o'clock.
Hakushi slept until seven in the morning, sensing that from today onwards, things would no longer be peaceful.
A few days earlier, Hakushi had paused his research, and the large equipment in his lab had been moved by the ninja cats summoned by Ruri to a very safe and secret location. Hakushi only carried a scroll recording his research results with him, which of course gave him the most peace of mind.
Soon, after having breakfast with Ruri, he headed to school.
Seated in the designated exam classroom, some of the other students looked nervous, while others seemed relaxed. For most, the graduation exam wasn't particularly difficult.
The examiner in Hakushi's exam room was Fujimura Daiga, the homeroom teacher of their class. Unknowingly, the six years of school life had passed, and Hakushi couldn't help but ponder upon seeing Teacher Fujimura Daiga still single.
"The content of the graduation exam is the Three-Body Jutsu; as long as you master two of them, you'll pass. No more chatter, let's get started according to seating order."
After speaking, Fujimura Daiga went into the empty classroom next door.
Assisting with the main exam alongside Fujimura Daiga were two Chunin examiners.
Based on seating order, those whose names were called had to independently go to the adjacent classroom to be assessed on the Three-Body Jutsu, one of the basic ninjutsus consistently practiced over the six years in Ninja School.
Theoretically, no one should fail such a simple exam.
During the quiet atmosphere, it was Hakushi's turn.
The Three-Body Jutsu wasn't particularly challenging, and reaching proficiency in two out of the three jutsus was sufficient to secure a Konoha Headband.
Standing in the center of the exam room, Hakushi began forming hand seals, concentrating to perform the Three-Body Jutsu.
"Congratulations, Chiba, you passed."
Seeing Hakushi's execution of the Three-Body Jutsu exceed the standards, this was exactly what Fujimura Daiga had anticipated.
Hakushi was among the few students in his class with extremely solid basics, so the graduation exam was just a formality when following the regular routine.
"Thank you, Teacher Fujimura."
Hakushi gave a slight bow to express his gratitude.
Successfully obtaining the Konoha Headband from Fujimura Daiga signified that Hakushi had now become a qualified Konoha Ninja.
In others' minds, that's certainly what they would think.
The graduation exam ended in such a calm and uneventful atmosphere.
There was nothing planned for the rest of the day, just waiting for the class assignments the next morning.
"I'm quite curious about who my team leader will be tomorrow. I've heard that only excellent students get assigned Jonin as their team leaders upon graduation, while someone like me might have a Special Jonin leading my team."
On the way back, Hakushi started guessing who his team leader might be tomorrow.
"You're in the same team as me."
Ruri suddenly spoke.
"Huh?"
Hakushi looked blankly at Ruri.
"What's that look for? Are you unhappy being on the same team as me?"
"Ah, no, it's just that you didn't mention this before."
"Because I didn't think I needed to ask for your opinion, and your opinion doesn't really matter. Now that you've brought it up, I'll just inform you briefly."
Ruri spoke the truth.
To be honest, saying it this way could be a bit discouraging.
However, Hakushi wasn't someone who cared about such trivial matters.
"In that case, the squad leader is likely to be a very strong Jonin."
Hakushi had a very clear understanding of Ruri's abilities.
Almost twelve years old, her strength already rivaled that of an average Jonin.
With her overbearing personality, if it were a regular Jonin leading the team, they probably wouldn't be able to control Ruri, causing serious fractures within the team.
If I were to be in the same squad as Ruri, then the leading teacher certainly wouldn't be just any Jonin.
"The clan only told me that it would be a very strong Jonin; they did not specify who it would be."
"I don't even know if this is unfortunate or fortunate."
An excellent Jonin squad leader can enhance a team's mission execution efficiency, and the survival rate would also greatly improve.
Conversely, the stronger the Jonin leader, the more likely their true strength will be noticed.
Good and bad are always relative.
"By then, you just need to use your medical ninjutsu expertise."
"That's true, since appointing a Medical Ninja in a squad is the village's most sensible team configuration now. The first to enjoy the benefits of a Medical Ninja would, of course, be a Jonin squad with higher mission efficiency."
Thinking this way, being grouped with Ruri seems quite reasonable.
Due to the scarcity of Medical Ninjas, although the village has formulated a perfect squad configuration by assigning a Medical Ninja, the demand far exceeds the supply, making only a few elite squads qualified to have a Medical Ninja.
My demonstrated abilities are commendable, but as a Medical Ninja, my importance isn't less than that of an average Chunin, so being assigned to an elite group is not surprising.
◎
The next morning.
Yesterday, the students who successfully graduated and received their headbands had to gather in their respective classes for a final class division meeting.
Standing in front of the podium, Fujimura Daiga's voice was loud enough for the entire classroom to hear.
"First of all, congratulations to all of you. From the moment you received your headbands, you became independent ninja. But since there's a war going on outside, don't think becoming a ninja is something to celebrate. Because right now, you are all rookies. Remember not to carry a game mindset onto the battlefield, because it could cost you your life!"
Unlike the usual homeroom teacher, Fujimura Daiga was extremely serious today, and his eyes were filled with concern and worry.
Stunned by his words, even the usually lively and active students who wanted to make jokes to lighten the mood gulped in fear upon seeing Fujimura Daiga's stern and cold expression, and sat silently in their seats.
Realizing he might have come on too strong, Fujimura Daiga preferred to depict the ninja path as bloody and cruel, rather than let them die with naive thoughts.
Fujimura Daiga started calling names in groups of three.
Soon, Hakushi heard the members of his group.
"Team 5, Uchiha Ruri, Hyuga Ayane, Chiba Hakushi. The three of you are together."
While Fujimura Daiga continued calling names, the three of them exchanged glances, as if reconfirming their future teammates.
"What luck. Well then, I look forward to working with you, Hakushi-kun, Ruri."
Ayane wore a white ninja suit, her long black hair smoothly draped over her shoulders, a distant yet polite smile in her clear white eyes.
"Just don't hold me back."
Ruri did not express dissatisfaction about being grouped with Ayane.
In fact, it was the most perfect combination.
She usually paid attention to Ayane because, just like her, she possessed a bloodline limit, and the Byakugan was often more functional than the Sharingan.
"By the way, this guy is very weak, apart from medical ninjutsu, he's useless, so you should be mentally prepared."
Ruri unceremoniously belittled Hakushi's combat abilities.
"Hmm, I understand. After all, the fact that most Medical Ninjas are very weak is widely accepted. Leave the fighting to Ruri and me."
Ayane's intent was clear; Hakushi was responsible for medical work, while the fighting would be handled by the two of them.
It sounded reasonable, but Hakushi sensed a hint of rivalry from Ayane's tone.
An illusion?
Apart from that, there was another matter that made Hakushi feel it was too perfect.
A group composed of Byakugan, Sharingan, Medical Ninja, plus a strong Jonin... this squad didn't seem meant for ordinary tasks.