The invasion by the Kumogakure ninja didn't cause too much of a stir in Konoha. Time quickly moved forward, and two weeks had passed.
For most students at the Ninja Academy, this was a huge day: their graduation to become official genin.
In the training yard, a table piled high with forehead protectors was set up front, drawing the eyes of most of the students.
"The test today will be on the Transformation Jutsu," the examiner announced. "Those whose names are called, please step forward for your assessment." The examiner was stern, perhaps even a bit nervous.
He had heard earlier that the Hokage himself would be observing to see the results of this year's class. That's why he specifically moved the evaluation—which was normally held inside the classroom individually—outdoors, making it easier for the Hokage to watch.
"Lord Third must be here to watch Asuma's graduation test," the chief examiner thought, instinctively glancing at the confident young man talking to a cute girl in the crowd, acting as if he didn't care about the exam at all.
"Of course. Asuma is the son of the Hokage. If he wanted to, he could have graduated early long ago." The examiner envied him for a brief moment, then refocused and started calling out names.
In the crowd, a boy wearing goggles was taking deep breaths, his calves trembling slightly.
Beside him, a girl asked with concern, "Obito, are you okay?"
Hearing her voice, Obito immediately brightened, letting out a delighted laugh. "Haha, I'm totally fine! I'm just pumped! I'm finally going to show them the true power of Obito the Great!"
The girl was used to his sudden bursts of hyperactivity. She nodded and said, "I know you'll pass the test."
Just then, the examiner called her name: "Next up, Nohara Rin."
As Rin stepped up, Obito instantly reverted to his panicked state, leaning on Setsuna beside him. His voice was laced with something akin to misery. "Setsuna-bro, I'm definitely not going to make it this time. On the way here, I helped an old lady get home. To thank me, she gave me a piece of bread, and now that I've eaten it, I'm not feeling so hot."
Perhaps due to their shared status as "Dead Lasts," Obito had always been close to Setsuna.
Setsuna was rather speechless. Obito's goofball nature was clearly evident even as a child—maybe the future Tobi/Obito was just his true personality unleashed.
Still, compared to that trash Obito, the goofy one was much more likable.
"You need to trust that your body is under your control," Setsuna comforted him.
"You're right! My willpower can overcome this!" Obito gritted his teeth, holding fast.
"Plus, you don't want Rin to become someone else's teammate, do you?"
Like the whisper of a demon, Obito shivered and instantly overcame his need to use the restroom.
Rin successfully passed her assessment, and it was quickly Asuma's turn.
---
Walking onto the platform, Asuma first glanced in Kurenai Yuhi's direction. Then, as if showing off, he completed the Transformation Jutsu while simultaneously creating a Shadow Clone.
Many students gasped. Using two of the basic jutsu techniques at once? That was impressive.
The chief examiner nodded in satisfaction. He truly is the son of the Hokage.
In the corner, the Third Hokage sighed, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Turning ninjutsu into a parlor trick to impress a girl... He's still so immature."
Minato Namikaze smiled slightly at his side. "It's a path most people take on their way to maturity, Lord Hokage. You don't need to be so hard on Asuma."
The Third Hokage sighed wearily. He was feeling worn out. Look at the people I trained before: Orochimaru, Tsunade... at the very least, Jiraiya. Asuma was decent, but there was a gap compared to Orochimaru and the others, especially since Asuma was so self-satisfied and thought of himself as a genius.
Just then, the chief examiner called Setsuna's name.
Instantly, all eyes turned toward him. Compared to Asuma, Setsuna was the focus of attention for an entirely different reason.
Setsuna walked up, made a hand sign, and then shook his head. "Sorry, Sensei. I still can't do it."
The chief examiner sighed, his gaze full of pity. "It's alright. You can step down."
He truly felt bad for Setsuna. In his view, with Setsuna's sheer willpower, if he didn't have such poor talent, he would definitely become a high-ranking shinobi, maybe even a jōnin, someday.
The students below murmured in disappointment, but there wasn't much laughter, or rather, they had already gotten their mocking out of the way.
It felt ridiculous the first or second time, but after a while, they developed a strange sense of respect. At the very least, they didn't think they could handle that kind of pressure themselves.
"What incredible mental fortitude!" the Third Hokage couldn't help but praise from the corner. "To possess such strength, yet not get angry when mocked... that is a ninja who has truly grasped the essence of 'Endurance' (NIN)."
Minato nodded slightly. He still remembered the calmness Setsuna showed when he killed those three Kumogakure ninja; it was as if his heart had been forged by a thousand trials.
Soon, most of the students successfully passed the assessment and received the forehead protectors they had been waiting for.
Afterward, the chief examiner invited the Third Hokage to the stage to give a speech.
"My students, I'm very happy that you've passed the assessment and become official ninja. From this day forward, Konoha will be proud of you all..." The Third Hokage delivered a passionate, lengthy address, covering everything from the Warring States period to the founding of the ninja villages, and from the state of the ninja world to the development of Konoha. If he hadn't noticed Minato giving him a look, he might have kept going all the way to discussing everyone's future.
Remembering the main business of the day, the Third Hokage reluctantly paused his speech. A warm and sustained applause immediately broke out below.
The Third Hokage nodded with satisfaction and continued, "Students, a ninja's strength is not determined by the amount of their chakra, but by their inner resilience. One who can endure what others cannot is a ninja. In my eyes, there is one among you who can truly be called an excellent ninja, and that is..."
Asuma instinctively puffed out his chest, only to hear his old father call out another name: "Chiaki Setsuna!"
"Huh?" Many people cocked their heads in confusion, wondering if Lord Third had misspoken.
While they respected Setsuna's perseverance, that was different from being an excellent ninja. Setsuna couldn't even pass the ninja assessment, could he?
Before anyone could speak up, the Third Hokage continued, "I know you have your doubts, but hard work never betrays anyone, and the Ninja Academy's assessment isn't the absolute final word. Asuma, I want you to have a match with Setsuna."
Hearing the Third Hokage's command, Asuma subconsciously pursed his lips. The old man is trying to win favor by showing goodwill to a civilian again, huh? Well, I'm not going to hold back.
Asuma walked to the center of the training yard and emphasized with a pointed look, "Out of respect for you, senpai, I'm going to go all out! You should go all out too!"
The Third Hokage's mouth twitched slightly. He had thought that a smart person like Setsuna would go easy on him and just show a bit of his actual strength. But what was this idiot Asuma doing? Was he trying to dig a grave for himself?
Setsuna was silent for a moment, then said, "Since you insist, I'll go all out."
Saying that, Setsuna squatted down and took two heavy wristbands off his ankles, dropping them to the ground. The dirt gently shuddered.
Asuma stared at the scene, dumbfounded. What was happening? Setsuna had been walking around wearing weights that heavy all this time? He didn't show any signs of it at all.
Before Asuma could ask, Setsuna took off the two wristbands from his arms, dropped them with the others, and began to move with a sudden, noticeable lightness.