As the collective cry of "Grass!" echoed through the clearing, signaling the official end of the Three Ninja Schools Joint Exam, the tension in the air dissolved, leaving behind a sense of bewildered relief. The exam had been filled with unexpected twists and turns, but despite everything, the outcome had turned out... well, somewhat favorable.
The only real regret, however, was the fact that the blame initially meant for Black Zetsu had been cleverly uncovered by none other than Naruto himself. Akihiko, the leader of the Grass Village, couldn't help but shake his head in mock regret. It was a shame, such a plan had almost worked.
But, of course, even if the truth came to light, it hardly mattered. After all, as the esteemed leader of the Grass Ninja, how could Akihiko possibly have any ill intentions? Everything he did, every step taken, was for the greater good of the children. The Grass Village had only their best interests at heart.
As for the final top scorer, there were no surprises. It was Gaara, without a doubt. Though both Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto were incredibly strong in their own rights, they still couldn't match up to Gaara's overwhelming power at this stage. While their skills were sharp, Gaara's combat experience and his chakra reserves put him in a league of his own.
That being said, Naruto did have a chance of defeating Gaara. After all, the Nine-Tails sealed within him was no mere decoration. If Naruto pushed himself to the limit and unleashed his full potential, there was a possibility he could pull off a stunning upset.
However, even if Naruto had won that particular battle, his overall score would still have fallen short of Gaara's. No matter how much the Nine-Tails tried to cram for the exam at the last minute, it simply couldn't compete with Gaara, who had spent his entire time studying and honing his skills alongside the One-Tail.
At this stage, the only real contender capable of challenging Gaara was Jugo. If Jugo fully unleashed his cursed seal, he would undoubtedly stand a real chance of defeating Gaara. In addition, Jugo had proven himself to be an academic powerhouse, excelling in the written exams as well. Unfortunately, Jugo had no interest in competing for the first place; his heart and mind were not fully invested in the rankings.
Of course, everyone performed admirably throughout the exam, including Kankuro and Temari from the Sand Village. Despite their varying levels of desire to claim victory, each one showed growth, skill, and potential.
Finally, Akihiko, the leader of the Grass Village, delivered a closing speech. Acknowledging the hard work and effort of all the students, he pointed out the one area where they still fell short: the true mastery of the 'Spirit of Grass.'
While the students had shown incredible talent, they hadn't yet fully embraced the essence of their training. But Akihiko believed that this unique and unforgettable graduation exam had taught them all something valuable. And with that, the final chapter of this year's graduation exam came to a perfect close. The students, greeted by their proud parents and left the exam site happily.
After three grueling days of intense combat exams, everyone was exhausted, physically and mentally, including the White Zetsus, who cheerfully went to claim their promised boxed lunches. The entire venue buzzed with the joyous laughter and exhilaration of the exams finally coming to an end.
For everyone, it was a moment of relief, of celebration. Everyone, except for one. A lone figure stood apart from the festivities. Black Zetsu, his expression unreadable, silently turned and walked away from the celebration. His silhouette, fading into the distance, seemed especially desolate against the backdrop of the happy crowd.
Perhaps... seeing all the other children being picked up by their mothers, surrounded by love and warmth, had reminded him of something he'd long buried: the absence of his own mother. His steps grew heavier, as if the weight of his loneliness had settled in even more.
Looking at him, Akihiko, ever the compassionate leader, couldn't help but sigh with emotion. Despite all the schemes and plans that had unraveled during the exam, this sight... this sight of a lonely orphan, abandoned to walk alone... was something that tugged at his heart more than anything else. Sighing deeply, Akihiko thought to himself, 'Of all things... this is the one sight I can't bear.'
…
At this point, the temperature had dropped even further, a clear sign that the year was drawing to a close. Though the Three Schools Joint Exam had been allotted a generous timeframe, it had still stretched on longer than expected.
As a result, this year the students found themselves celebrating an unusual New Year's, one that was both a graduation exam and a year-end festival rolled into one. Laughter and chatter filled the village as students, relieved of their burdens, finally embraced the festivities.
As for the official graduation ceremony… considering both the harsh weather and the timing, it was postponed until spring. After all, there was no need to rush. For now, the students could simply enjoy their well-earned rest.
Meanwhile, Gaara, perhaps moved by Kankuro's selfless act of shielding him during the exam, found that his bond with his siblings had deepened. The experience had brought them closer, in a way that words never could.
Feeling both relieved and proud, Pakura extended an invitation for the two to stay and celebrate the New Year together.
At the same time, Hanzo, along with Advisors Chiyo and Ebizō, decided to stay behind and join the family dinner. Although Hanzo, true to form, refused to remove his mask and ate little, his demeanor clearly indicated that he was in a remarkably good mood.
With age, Hanzo had become more composed, often reminiscing about his glorious past in front of the children. He would recount the days when he single-handedly fought against the three great ninja villages, his pride evident in every word.
Of course, Hanzo's legendary history was already part of the academy's curriculum, and he had shared these stories countless times before. Yet, no matter how many times he told them, nothing could stop the old man from reliving his memories.
However, today was different. A special guest from the past had also joined them, Advisor Chiyo. No matter how much Hanzo boasted about his past accomplishments, a single remark from Chiyo, "Your poisons? I countered them all.", was enough to send him jumping to his feet in frustration.
Despite Hanzo's pleas for her to stop mentioning his poisons, Chiyo simply added, "And you lost the battle," leaving him utterly speechless.
Of course, everyone was used to this by now. Hanzo and Chiyo never failed to start an argument whenever they met. But after the gathering… something felt different.
Perhaps it was the warmth of the Grass Ninja leader's family, or maybe it was just the passage of time, but when Chiyo returned to her residence, she stood quietly in the courtyard, gazing toward the Land of Rain. It was as if she were speaking to someone far away. A faint trace of reluctance flickered in her eyes, one that did not go unnoticed by Ebizō.
Watching her, the lifelong bachelor Ebizō let out a sigh. So this is what they call love, huh? Always bickering when together, yet feeling a deep, unspoken longing when apart.
Still, as her younger brother, Ebizō, knew better than to meddle. For some reason, every time he even considered giving his sister, or Hanzo, for that matter, a little push in the right direction, an overwhelming sense of impending doom washed over him.
Perhaps… that, too, was the nature of love. Some things were simply beyond an outsider's reach. In the end, he decided it was best to just let things be.
…
On the other side, Black Zetsu wasted no time slipping away after the exam ended, suspecting that the Grass Ninja leader knew more than he was letting on. However, upon returning, he was met with a frustrating sight: White Zetsu, cheerfully indulging in food and drinks as if they had nothing to worry about.
Black Zetsu let out an exasperated sigh. Did these idiots even grasp the gravity of the situation? That fool had already sniffed out their secret, and yet here they were, stuffing their faces. What happened to staying vigilant? What happened to the mission?
But when he tried to deliver a stern reprimand, the White Zetsus merely waved him off, fists raised in defiance.
"We worked hard all year! What's wrong with celebrating?"
"Do you think twelve years of education came for free?"
"This is called rest and recovery! We need to recharge so we can work harder next year!"
Black Zetsu was speechless. With subordinates like this, the future was looking bleak. Ahead of them stood the Grass Ninja leader, an unpredictable wild card; behind them lurked Ashura and Indra's reincarnations, growing more monstrous by the day; and right in the middle… was this group of freeloaders more concerned with their year-end banquet than the fate of their grand plan. What could he do? He was suffering too.
In the end, he had no choice but to retreat to a quiet perch on a tree, a plate of food begrudgingly taken from White Zetsu's so-called 'hard-earned' banquet in hand. As he gazed at the luminous full moon above, his grievances spilled into the night like a forlorn whisper. "Mom… I miss you..."
…
This year's end was destined to be a lively one, with the children's celebration blending seamlessly into the year-end festivities.
Some siblings put their past differences aside, reconnecting and chatting late into the night, while others reminisced about their past victories, raising their cups in a toast to the bustling scene before them and exclaiming with nostalgia in their voices.
There were those who gazed toward the Land of Rain, their eyes filled with longing, while others quietly reflected on their sister's complicated love life, sighing at the thought.
Some, still burdened with melancholy, gazed up at the high walls surrounding them, shaking their heads before finally joining their colleagues in welcoming the New Year. Meanwhile, there were those who, though they didn't need food themselves, still bought a huge feast to share in the celebration.
A few looked up at the bright moon, thoughts of their mother stirring deep within them as they silently vowed to avenge her once she returned. Others stood proudly, watching their children, filled with pride at how far they had come. And then, of course, there were the parents scolding their kids in good humor, making everyone around them burst into laughter.
In the end, everyone was caught up in the special, unforgettable moments of the year's conclusion, each person savoring their own unique reflection on the past and hopes for the future.
…
As winter faded and spring blossomed, time continued its quiet march forward. The snow melted away, giving way to the vibrant greenery of the Land of Grass once more.
And before long… the long-awaited graduation ceremony had finally arrived.