Chapter 33

Year 36, February.

The war between Konoha and Suna has been ongoing for two years without any sign of ending.

As the number of mobilized ninja from both sides continues to increase, large quantities of medicine and supplies are being transported to the front lines, indicating that the war shows no signs of stopping.

The students from the same year as Hakushi, who did not choose to graduate early, are now all sixth-year students awaiting graduation.

In March, there will be a school graduation exam. Students who pass the exam will leave the ninja school and become official genin under Konoha's jurisdiction.

However, according to Hakushi's prediction, the so-called graduation exam is just a formality.

The teachers at the school definitely have detailed information about the students, and which students can graduate and which need to be held back have already been decided.

After all, with the front lines being tight, more fresh troops are needed to support the front, such as the new generation of medical ninjas like Hakushi, who need to gain experience on the battlefield to better serve in the medical field in the future.

So at this time, Hakushi just needs to follow his usual routine: go to school in the morning, intern at the hospital in the afternoon, and do research in the evening.

Graduation will come when it should, and there's no need to be impatient or wait for anything; everything will fall into place naturally.

Nearly a month passed quietly, and the morning of the graduation day arrived.

The weather was bright, and the clear chirping of birds echoed in the somewhat empty courtyard. The maids were quietly holding cleaning tools and working hard early in the morning.

Unlike a certain freeloader who had been living here for several years without doing anything, these maids were very competent.

Since today was the graduation exam, to keep the students in good condition, they didn't need to go to school too early; they just needed to arrive at the exam room by nine o'clock.

Hakushi slept until seven in the morning, sensing that life wouldn't be as peaceful after today.

In the past few days, Hakushi had interrupted his research, and the large equipment in the laboratory was moved to a very safe and secret location by the cats summoned by Ruri. Hakushi only carried the scrolls recording his research results, which he kept with him for safety.

Soon, after having breakfast with Ruri, they set off for the school.

In the designated exam room, some of the other students were very nervous, while others were very relaxed. For most people, the graduation exam was not a particularly difficult test.

Hakushi's examiner was his homeroom teacher, Fujimura Daigawa. Unconsciously, six years of school life had passed, and looking at the still single Fujimura Daigawa, Hakushi couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.

"The content of the graduation exam is the three basic ninjutsu. You just need to pass two of them. No more talk, we'll go one by one according to your seats."

After saying this, Fujimura Daigawa walked into the empty classroom next to the exam room.

Along with Fujimura Daigawa, there were two other chunin examiners.

According to the seating order, the students whose names were called had to go to the next room alone to perform the three basic ninjutsu, which were the three foundational techniques they had frequently practiced during their six years at the ninja school.

Theoretically, it was impossible for anyone to fail such an extremely simple exam.

In the quiet atmosphere, it was Hakushi's turn.

The three basic ninjutsu were not difficult, and he only needed to pass two of them to receive the Konoha headband smoothly.

Hakushi stood in the center of the exam room, began forming hand seals, and focused his mind to perform the three basic ninjutsu.

"Congratulations, Chiba-kun, you have passed."

After watching Hakushi perform the three basic ninjutsu, which all met the standards, this was not unexpected for Fujimura Daigawa.

Hakushi was one of the few students in his class with a very solid foundation, and as long as he followed his usual routine, the graduation exam was just a formality.

"Thank you, Fujimura-sensei."

Hakushi bowed slightly to express his gratitude.

Receiving the Konoha headband from Fujimura Daigawa, this moment meant that Hakushi was now a qualified Konoha ninja.

In others' minds, it must have been thought of this way.

The graduation exam ended in such a calm atmosphere.

The rest of the day was free, and they just needed to wait for the team assignments the next morning.

"I'm a bit excited about who my team leader will be tomorrow. I heard that only outstanding students are assigned to jounin team leaders after graduation, and someone like me might be assigned to a special jounin team leader."

On the way back, Hakushi began to speculate about who his team leader would be.

"You and I are on the same team."

Ruri suddenly spoke.

"Huh?"

Hakushi looked at Ruri, a bit dumbfounded.

"What's that look for? Are you dissatisfied with being on the same team as me?"

"Ah, no, I just didn't know about this."

"Because I didn't think it was necessary to ask for your opinion, and your opinion wasn't worth considering. Since you brought it up, I'll tell you a little bit."

Ruri spoke frankly.

To be honest, that was a bit hurtful.

But Hakushi wasn't the type to care about such trivial matters.

"If that's the case, then the team leader is likely to be a very powerful jounin."

Hakushi had a very clear understanding of Ruri's strength.

At almost twelve years old, her strength was already on par with a typical jounin.

Combined with her dominant personality, a regular jounin team leader would likely be unable to control Ruri, leading to serious team conflicts.

If he and Ruri were on the same team, the team leader definitely wouldn't be a regular jounin.

"My clan only told me that the team leader would be a very powerful jounin, but didn't reveal who it would be."

"I don't know if this is a blessing or a curse."

An excellent jounin team leader can improve a team's mission efficiency and survival rate.

However, the more powerful the team leader, the more likely their true strength would be revealed.

Good and bad always come hand in hand.

"When the time comes, you just need to focus on your medical ninjutsu skills."

"That's true. After all, assigning a medical ninja to a team is the most reasonable formation for the village. The jounin teams that benefit from medical ninjas will naturally have higher mission efficiency."

Thinking about it, being assigned to Ruri's team seemed quite reasonable.

Due to the scarcity of medical ninjas, although the village had established the ideal team formation of including a medical ninja, the demand far exceeded the supply, so only a few elite teams had the privilege of having a medical ninja.

His displayed abilities were commendable, but as a medical ninja, his importance was not less than that of a typical chunin. Being assigned to an elite team was not unusual.

◎

The next morning.

The students who successfully graduated and received their headbands gathered in their respective classes for the final team assignment meeting.

Fujimura Daigawa, standing at the front of the classroom, spoke in a voice that could be heard throughout the room.

"First, congratulations to you all. From the moment you received your headbands, you are independent ninjas. Since there is a war going on outside, do not think that becoming a ninja is something to be happy about. You are all rookies now. Remember, do not bring the mindset of a game to the battlefield; it will cost you your life!"

Unlike the usual Fujimura Daigawa, he looked very serious today, with his eyes filled with concern and reluctance.

His words silenced the students. Even the usually lively and playful students, who might have wanted to make a joke to lighten the mood, swallowed their words and sat quietly in their seats, intimidated by Fujimura Daigawa's stern and cold expression.

Fujimura Daigawa realized his words might have been too harsh, but he preferred to paint the path of a ninja as bloody and cruel rather than let them die with naive thoughts.

Fujimura Daigawa began to call out the names of the teams.

Soon, Hakushi heard the names of his team.

"Team 5: Uchiha Ruri, Hyuga Ayame, Chiba Hakushi. You three are a team."

Fujimura Daigawa continued to call out names, but the three of them looked at each other, as if to reaffirm their future teammates.

"Good luck. So, please take care of me from now on, Hakushi-kun, Ruri."

Ayame, wearing a white ninja outfit, had long, straight black hair that fell gracefully over her shoulders. Her fair eyes carried a distant yet polite smile.

"Just don't hold me back."

Ruri did not express dissatisfaction at being on the same team as Ayame.

In fact, this was the perfect combination.

She had always paid attention to Ayame, as they both had bloodline limits. The Byakugan often had more functional uses than the Sharingan.

"By the way, this guy is very weak, with no achievements other than medical ninjutsu. You should be mentally prepared for that."

Ruri bluntly criticized Hakushi's combat abilities.

"Okay, I understand. After all, most medical ninjas are weak, which is a common belief. Leave the fighting to Ruri and me."

Ayame's meaning was clear: Hakushi would handle the medical work, and the fighting would be left to her and Ruri.

It sounded reasonable, but Hakushi felt there was a subtle hint of competition in Ayame's tone.

Was it just his imagination?

Putting that aside, another thing made Hakushi feel a bit special.

Byakugan, Sharingan, medical ninja, plus a very powerful jounin... this team didn't seem like it was meant for ordinary missions.