When he returned home, Eisawa was already waiting for him.
"Do you have confidence for tomorrow?"
"Well, it is what it is. After all, I suffered through all that hardship for this."
Eisawa smiled, patted his head, and said, "That's good. Try to perform well tomorrow."
"Why? Is there going to be a problem?"
"Many people from the village will come to watch this assessment."
Gisei nodded to show he understood. This assessment was probably just political propaganda—a way to flex some muscle to the outside world.
"Will it be helpful to you if I perform well?"
"You don't need to worry about such things. Just do your best."
It's like this again...
This kind of care from relatives always gave him an illusion, as if he really were a child.
Unfortunately, he was only a child on the outside. On the inside... well, it's better not to mention it; it was quite disgusting.
...
After dawn, Gisei did some training at home and then headed to the Ninja Academy. He would go to the underground training ground with his teacher, Kawano.
As for Eisawa, he went to the Takemoto clan early; he would arrive with their people.
When he arrived in the classroom, Gisei slumped onto his desk, immediately regaining the long-lost feeling of being a slacker.
Sure enough, human nature is not so easily changed. He was still suited to be a slacker.
Unfortunately, he couldn't slack off for even a minute before he was surrounded by classmates who discovered he had actually come to school.
"Gisei Shiraishi, you actually came to school today. Did the sun rise from the west?"
"Idiot, today is his graduation assessment."
"Eh, are you going to take the graduation assessment today?"
Actually, Gisei couldn't name most of these classmates. But they had been classmates for two years, so he felt a little nostalgic in that moment.
Gisei jumped onto his desk and waved to them, a fake smile plastered on his face.
"I know you can't bear to part with me. Don't be sad; I, Gisei Shiraishi, am destined to be a man who brings you both surprise and joy."
This statement wasn't wrong.
After graduating and entering the hospital, wouldn't his future meetings with them be both a "surprise" and a "joy"?
Gisei imagined himself holding a massive syringe and giving them injections...
The picture was too beautiful; he couldn't bear to look directly at it.
You think I'm leaving, but actually, I'm just changing my identity to stick around.
Yes, from classmate to doctor.
"Is this guy stupid?"
"Who knows? He always was someone who loved to talk nonsense."
Gisei stared at the two students who spoke and said expressionlessly, "I'll remember you two."
"..."
After Kawano left the noisy students to study on their own, he took Gisei to the underground training ground.
"Do you have confidence?"
"My uncle told me to just do my best."
After pushing open the gate to the underground training ground, Kawano went up to the spectator stands.
Gisei walked to the center of the arena and looked up at the audience.
The Third Hokage, the two advisors, and... was that man with the sword on his back Danzo?
He wasn't surprised. After all, this assessment had a strong political meaning. It would have actually surprised him if these high-level officials didn't appear.
Behind the Hokage followed the Sannin. Tsunade even waved at him.
Gisei rolled his eyes at her.
After receiving the eye roll, Tsunade felt annoyed and punched Jiraiya in the face.
Jiraiya: "..."
There were over a hundred people scattered in the stands. Gisei didn't know most of them and could only identify their ninja clans by their clothes.
Red eyes, cataracts, pineapple heads, big fatties, ponytails...
Eisawa stood with Masamasa Takemoto, and Anna Takemoto followed behind.
Those who should come had come, and those who shouldn't have come had also come.
Gisei pursed his lips, finding it quite boring. The upcoming battle would probably be even more boring. It didn't matter who the opponent was; it would be over in an instant anyway.
He had no interest in being watched like a monkey in a zoo.
Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, the Third turned back and said to Orochimaru, "Orochimaru, are you confident you can defeat him?"
Orochimaru was a bit surprised. "Sensei wants me to be his examiner?"
Seeing the Third nod, Orochimaru revealed a sinister smile.
Jiraiya started to make a fuss. "I can beat that guy too! Let me go, Sensei!"
Tsunade punched him on the head again. "Idiot, shut up!"
Just as Orochimaru was about to jump off the platform, Danzo spoke up.
"Hiruzen, are you planning to let Orochimaru be the examiner?"
"Orochimaru is very strong, and he's a classmate of that child. There won't be any problems."
"Do you know what it means if Orochimaru, the Hokage's disciple, loses?"
Hearing this, although Orochimaru didn't speak, his eyes were filled with disdain.
Jiraiya shouted from the side, "How could Orochimaru lose? That guy Gisei Shiraishi is the dead last!"
Tsunade gave him another punch. "A dead last calling someone else a dead last. Idiot, I told you to shut up!"
The Third hesitated for a moment and said, "I believe in Orochimaru."
Danzo grew up with the Third and knew his thoughts as soon as he saw him hesitate.
He winked at Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, then said, "I happen to have a suitable candidate here."
Receiving the signal, Homura and Koharu immediately understood Danzo's meaning and hurriedly persuaded Hiruzen together.
Seeing this, Hiruzen had no choice but to cave. "Alright, just don't cause any trouble, Danzo."
Danzo replied, "Rest assured, I know what to do."
After answering, Danzo retreated to the back. Several masked men immediately knelt on one knee.
"Lord Danzo."
"Ryoma, take off your mask and clothes and go be that kid's examiner."
"Yes... but Lord Danzo, is this okay? The Butterfly User Clan and our clan..."
"That's not something you should worry about. Remember, make that kid lose badly."
Danzo wasn't stupid. Although he really wanted that kid to disappear, this moment was obviously not the best time.
"Understood."
Watching Ryoma Aburame's departing figure, a hint of a smile actually appeared in Danzo's cold eyes.
Next, what will you do?
...
Ryoma Aburame walked toward the training ground.
Gisei looked at the boy walking over wearing sunglasses with a strange expression.
The Aburame clan?
This bug-playing clan's taijutsu didn't seem to be very strong. Would he be bullying him too much?
Regardless of what Gisei thought, from the moment Ryoma stood on the training ground, the spectator stands began to get noisy.
Many people who were originally sitting stood up.
"It's actually an Aburame. Now there's really a good show to watch."
"Heh, bug user vs. butterfly user. The Third really has ideas."
Hearing these words, Eisawa's face turned livid. Beside him, Masamasa grabbed his hand, signaling him not to be impulsive.
The Third turned back to look at Danzo. Danzo met his gaze fearlessly.
"I said no trouble. Don't you know what the Aburame means to the Butterfly Users?"
"I only know that the Butterfly Users cannot defeat the Aburame. Moreover, don't you want to see the Bug vs. Butterfly battle after so many years?"
"Danzo!"
"Don't be too naive, Hiruzen. We must frustrate the Butterfly Users. The Aburame is the best choice."
The Third wanted to say more, but Homura and Koharu quickly smoothed things over. Only then did the storm gradually dissipate.
Gisei scanned around with a puzzled gaze, finally landing on Ryoma.
A middle-aged Jonin jumped onto the training platform and began to explain the rules to Gisei.
"Defeat your opponent or last for ten minutes to pass the assessment."
Gisei nodded to indicate he understood.
The middle-aged Jonin raised his hand high and then swung it down abruptly.
"Start!"
Gisei took out a prepared shuriken from his ninja tool pouch and tossed it up and down in his hand. His nonchalant appearance immediately caused laughter to erupt throughout the underground training ground.
Ryoma crossed his arms, his face cool.
"I advise you to admit defeat voluntarily because you have no chance of winning. If you ask why, it's because no matter what, you cannot defeat me—even with secret techniques."
This way of speaking...
Gisei was certain; this guy was definitely a direct descendant of the Aburame clan.
Since Ryoma didn't attack immediately, Gisei chatted with him.
"Are you really that confident? Still not releasing your bugs?"
"Aren't you avoiding using your butterflies either?"
"I don't know how to play with butterflies."
Ryoma seemed not to have expected him to say such a thing, and he fell silent.
"I understand. I won't use bugs either."
When Ryoma said this, Gisei understood. This member of the Aburame clan was obviously very confident in his own strength and didn't intend to let himself lose too quickly.
But thinking about it, it made sense. For an assessment with such heavy political implications, how could people be convinced if the performance wasn't good?
Thinking of this, he lost interest in talking because it was boring. And those people in the audience, with their scrutinizing gazes, also made him feel like he was being treated like a monkey.
He casually threw the shuriken. He didn't use much strength at all, and the shuriken barely flew to Ryoma's feet.
With a "clang," it fell to the ground.
Laughter erupted in the audience again.
Ryoma stood still, not moving a muscle. That weak shuriken throw was worse than that of a child who hadn't even entered the academy; there was simply no need to dodge.
Of course, he wouldn't think that Gisei, who could graduate early, only had this level of skill. So, was he being underestimated?
The hands crossed over his chest clenched tightly. Even an Aburame, known for being calm, would feel humiliated in this situation.
"If you aimed to provoke me, I have to say this method was very successful, because I am quite angry now."
Gisei sighed.
Why are people always so foolish?
He began to form hand seals.
"Lightning Release: Scorching Stream Kill!!"
This was Shuichi Takemoto's signature move.
Gisei could use it now. Although the power wasn't strong, it was enough to incapacitate someone.
Electricity gradually concentrated in his right hand, while two steel wires were tied to his left hand. The steel wires were connected to the shuriken that had fallen at Ryoma's feet.
Although Gisei used a Lightning Release ninjutsu that looked quite powerful, Ryoma still didn't retreat. He could tell that this Lightning Release ninjutsu should be a close-range technique.