W-wait a second…
What is this?!
[From Clone Technique you learn that although Great Fireball Jutsu looks like a glamorous young lady, she isn't actually valued. Many people insult her with the nickname "Kindness Jutsu." Great Fireball doesn't say it out loud, but she cares a lot inside and really wants to prove her strength and shut the mockers up.]
[Decide whether to take real action to clear Great Fireball Jutsu's name: Yes/No]
[Time limit: 15 days]
"!!"
Mikami Yuu's eyes lit up.
Nice, Clone Technique. Very nice.
Truly worthy of my trusted right-hand—three lines and you forced Great Fireball's special event to trigger… what's there to say?
Accept!
As the saying goes: there are no bad jutsu, only bad users. If Uchiha Madara can make a C-rank jutsu hit like an A-rank, then Mikami Yuu can do it too!
Sure, the "clear her name" standard was a bit vague—felt like he might need to roast a few people with Great Fireball—but the time limit was generous: a full fifteen days. By then he should already have been assigned to a squad and could start taking missions outside the village.
And in the ninja world—an era of war—killing wasn't rare. Worst case, he could find some bandits to fill the quota.
As Mikami Yuu accepted the quest, the text box changed:
[Great Fireball Jutsu: (The flames calm a little, but still burn high) Hmph! That's more like it! Remember your words! I'll be waiting!]
[Great Fireball Jutsu Affection +2]
The day's training ended.
As the sun set, Mikami Yuu dragged his tired body home, washed up, and rested.
…
In the blink of an eye, graduation ceremony day arrived.
Like the entrance ceremony, it was a big day for the Ninja Academy, so besides the graduating students, many parents were invited. Naturally, that included Mikami Yuu's mother, Mikami Aoi.
Early in the morning,
Aoi woke Mikami Yuu up. While he ate breakfast, she went back to her room to get ready and changed into a clean, new outfit.
When the mother and son stepped out of their house, they saw the neighbors next door—Nohara Hiroshi and Nohara Misae—walking out with Rin. Smiling brightly, they greeted Aoi:
"Morning, Aoi—and little Yuu. Rin's been telling us you got first place, and we haven't even had a chance to congratulate you yet!"
"Uncle Hiroshi, you're too kind. If it weren't for the ninjutsu scrolls you gave me, I couldn't have achieved that result."
Mikami Yuu said.
Hiroshi laughed loudly. "Ha! Nonsense. It took me two or three months to master those two techniques back then. If you learned them in such a short time, that's your talent. Even without them, you'd still make a name for yourself."
After a few more lines,
the two families headed toward the school together.
At 9 a.m.,
Konoha Ninja Academy's main hall was already packed. Graduating students and some parents filled the seats, greeting each other warmly.
Mikami Yuu looked around and caught some familiar faces: Kurenai's father, Yūhi Shinku; Might Duy; Hyūga Hizashi; and a few people he didn't personally know but could identify by their looks—like a classic Nara "pineapple head."
"Huh, is Obito late again?"
Rin remembered that noisy hedgehog-haired figure.
"Probably."
Mikami Yuu said.
In the original storyline, Obito seemed to have missed this graduation ceremony too.
"Let's find our seats. Looks like there are name tags on them."
Soon, the ceremony began.
Principal Fujimoto Itsuki walked onto the stage and delivered a long but necessary speech—reviewing the past, looking to the future, emphasizing the Academy's responsibility and Konoha's glory. Finally, he announced solemnly:
"This year's class: thirty-three students have passed the rigorous assessment and will be officially awarded Konoha's ninja headband, becoming honored genin! Please give them your applause!"
Clap clap clap—
"Huh? Thirty-three? That's a lot. I think last year there were only twenty-one?"
"Seriously—even someone like Ebisu passed?"
Mikami Yuu heard someone whisper.
Then an older voice murmured, "Shh—lower your voice. Have you forgotten all the wounded who've been returning lately? These aren't peaceful times. The village needs fresh blood…"
The murmurs gradually died down.
Mikami Yuu refocused.
The ceremony continued.
During it, Mikami Yuu, as the "top student," went on stage to give a speech on behalf of the graduating class. He'd spent two hours writing it the night before, polishing every word. The content centered tightly on the "Will of Fire." After all, this was a public spotlight moment—he had to perform well.
When he finished speaking, the applause was thunderous—especially from Rin and Mikami Aoi.
Then the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, appeared again, smiling warmly. He personally handed each graduating student a Konoha forehead protector.
After all those segments finished, parents began leaving one after another. Those with missions went back to work; those with time clustered in small groups, planning to have a few drinks and catch up.
The students stayed behind, waiting for squad assignments.
"Mikami-kun, your situation is special. The Hokage instructed that you should go to the back field to see him first."
Teacher Ooki came over and told him quietly.
"…Huh?"
Mikami Yuu paused, then stood up. Under the envious gazes of Rin and the others, he left the hall and went behind the teaching building. Hiruzen was already waiting there, pipe in his mouth, smiling cheerfully.
"You're here?"
When Mikami Yuu walked up, Hiruzen removed the pipe and got straight to it:
"Now I'll fulfill my promise and teach you Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu."
"Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu is a C-rank Fire Style technique. Unlike Great Fireball, which pursues explosive burst and range, this one focuses more on dispersed attacks and sustained pressure…"
As the "Professor of Ninjutsu," Hiruzen's teaching was as good as it got—so refined it felt simple.
In a clear, easy-to-understand way, he explained the chakra circulation route and key hand seals for Phoenix Sage Fire, even briefly referencing Great Fireball and Water Wave along the way. Once he confirmed Mikami Yuu understood, he began to demonstrate:
"Watch closely: Rat—Tiger—Dog—Ox—Rabbit—Tiger…"
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"
Fwooo—!
Several orange-red flames, like balsam seeds, shot from Hiruzen's mouth.
They didn't fly in a straight line. Instead, they arced like tracking missiles, splitting to strike several dirt targets ahead—blasting them apart one by one.
[Ding! Detected high-quality potential romanceable target: "Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu." Time-limited encounter mission triggered!]
~~~
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