The invasion by the Kumogakure's Ninjas didn't cause many ripples in Konoha. Time quickly passed, and two weeks went by in the blink of an eye.
For most students of the Ninja Academy, this was an important day because it would be the day they graduated and became official Ninja.
On the training ground, a table filled with forehead protectors was placed at the very front, attracting the gaze of most students.
"This time, the test will be on the Transformation Technique. Those whose names are called, please step forward for the assessment," The proctor said sternly, even seeming a bit nervous.
He had heard long ago that the Hokage was coming to observe their teaching results for the year, so he specifically moved the assessment, which should have been conducted individually in the classroom, outdoors to make it convenient for the Hokage to watch at any time.
"Hokage-sama is probably here to watch Asuma's graduation exam, right?" The chief proctor instinctively glanced towards a young boy in the crowd who was talking to a cute girl.
The boy looked spirited and confident, as if he didn't take this exam seriously at all.
"That makes sense. Asuma is the Hokage's son. If he wanted, he could have graduated early long ago." The chief proctor felt a twinge of envy, then collected his thoughts and began calling out names.
In the crowd, a boy wearing goggles was breathing heavily, his calves trembling slightly.
Beside him, a girl asked with concern, "Obito, are you okay?"
Hearing her voice, Obito immediately perked up, laughing boastfully, "Haha, of course I'm fine! I'm just excited! Finally, I can let them see the power of Obito-sama!"
The girl was already used to his intermittent excitement and nodded, saying, "I believe you can definitely pass the exam."
Just then, the girl's name was called from the stage: "Next, Nohara Rin."
After Rin went up, Obito immediately showed his true colors, grabbing onto Setsuna beside him, his voice tinged with a hint of tragic indignation: "Setsuna-san, I'm definitely not going to make it this time. On my way here, I helped an old lady get home. To thank me, she gave me a piece of bread. After eating it, I'm feeling really unwell now."
Perhaps because they were both 'dead-lasts' and shared a similar plight, Obito had always been very friendly with Setsuna.
Hearing this, Setsuna was speechless. Obito's goofy nature was indeed evident from a young age. The future Tobi Obito was probably just his true nature exposed.
However, compared to that scumbag Obito, the goofy Obito was much more likable.
"You have to believe that your body is under your own control," Setsuna comforted him.
"Right! My willpower can definitely overcome it!" Obito gritted his teeth and persisted.
"Besides, you wouldn't want Rin to become someone else's teammate, would you?"
Like a demon's whisper, Obito shuddered and instantly overcame the urge.
Rin passed the assessment smoothly, and soon it was Asuma's turn.
Stepping onto the platform, Asuma first glanced in the direction of Yuhi Kurenai, then showed off by creating a clone while simultaneously performing the Transformation Technique.
Many students gasped in surprise. Using two of the Three Basic Techniques at the same time was so impressive.
The chief proctor also nodded in satisfaction, 'As expected of the Hokage's son.'
The Third Hokage, observing from the corner, shook his head with a bitter smile. "To use Ninjutsu as a trick to show off to a girl... he's so immature."
Minato, standing beside him, smiled slightly. "This is the path to maturity that most people go through, Hokage-sama. You don't need to be too hard on Asuma."
The Third Hokage sighed, feeling rather weary. The people he had taught before were all like Orochimaru and Tsunade, or at least someone like Jiraiya.
Asuma was pretty good, but compared to Orochimaru and the others, there was a gap, especially since Asuma proudly considered himself a genius.
Then, the chief proctor called Setsuna's name.
Instantly, all eyes turned towards him. Compared to Asuma, Setsuna was the center of attention in another sense.
Setsuna went onto the platform, formed hand seals, and then shook his head: "Sorry, sensei, I still can't do it."
The chief proctor sighed, his gaze full of pity. "It's okay, you can step down."
He truly felt sorry for Setsuna. In his opinion, with Setsuna's perseverance, if not for his poor talent, he would definitely become a Jonin-level figure in the future.
There was a wave of murmurs from below, but not many mocking voices. Or rather, they had already mocked him enough before.
The first or second time, it might seem laughable, but after that, they all felt a strange sense of respect.
At the very least, they believed they couldn't withstand that kind of pressure themselves.
"What terrifying mental fortitude!" The Third Hokage in the corner couldn't help but praise. "To have such great strength, yet not get angry when mocked... this is a Ninja who truly embodies the essence of 'endurance'." (T/N: The kanji for Shinobi or Ninja can also means endurance.)
Minato nodded slightly. He still remembered the calmness Setsuna displayed when he killed those three Kumogakure's Ninjas, as if his heart had been tempered through countless trials.
Soon, most people successfully passed the assessment and received the forehead protectors they had been longing for.
Afterwards, the Third Hokage was invited by the chief proctor to give a speech on the platform.
"Students, I am very happy that you have passed the assessment and become official Ninja. Konoha will surely be proud of you in the future..." The Third Hokage delivered a long and eloquent speech, starting from the Warring States Period to the establishment of the Ninja Villages, then from the situation in the Ninja World to the development of Konoha.
If he hadn't noticed Minato signaling him, he would have continued talking about each person's future.
Remembering the main task for today, the Third Hokage had to reluctantly end his speech. Immediately, warm and lasting applause erupted from below.
The Third Hokage nodded with satisfaction and continued, "Students, a Ninja's strength is not measured by the amount of Chakra they have, but by the endurance in their hearts. A Ninja is one who can endure what ordinary people cannot. In my opinion, among you, there is one who can be called an excellent Ninja. He is..."
Asuma instinctively puffed out his chest, only to hear his old father call out another person's name: "Chiaki Setsuna!"
"Huh?" Many people tilted their heads in confusion, wondering if the Third Hokage had said the wrong name.
Although they somewhat admired Setsuna's persistence, that was different from being an excellent Ninja.
'Setsuna couldn't even pass the academy's assessment, right?'
Before anyone could voice their thoughts, the Third Hokage continued, "I know the doubts in your hearts, but hard work never betrays anyone. The Ninja Academy's assessment is not necessarily absolute. Asuma, you come and have a match with Setsuna."
Hearing the Third Hokage's words, Asuma subconsciously curled his lip, thinking to himself, 'The old man is trying to win people's hearts by showing favor to ordinary people again. Hmph, I won't go easy on him.'
Asuma walked to the center of the training ground, emphasizing pointedly, "To show my respect for you, Senpai, I will go all out. You'd better go all out too, Senpai!"
The Third Hokage's mouth twitched slightly. He originally thought that a smart person like Setsuna definitely wouldn't use heavy-handed tactics and would just show an appropriate level of strength. But what was this silly boy Asuma doing? Trying to dig a hole to bury himself?
Setsuna was silent for a moment, then said, "Since you request it, then I will go all out."
Saying this, Setsuna crouched down and took off two bracelets from his ankles, throwing them to the ground. The earthen ground trembled slightly.
Asuma stared wide-eyed at this scene, 'What was going on? Had he been walking around with such heavy things all this time? There was no sign of it at all.'
Before Asuma could ask, Setsuna also took off the two bracelets from his wrists and threw them together with the others, then began moving his body with a light and agile posture.