It was a new week, Monday. Only two weeks remained until the final exams in early April.
At ten in the morning, Kitazawa arrived at the ANBU Base.
"Kitazawa." Konan stood up, handed him a document, and said, "This is a list of Ninjas who meet your requirements."
"Thank you." Kitazawa took the document and sat beside her to read it.
He planned to select eighteen Ninjas from this list to participate in the Genius Class's final exams.
There were three requirements for selection.
First, their strength couldn't be exceptionally high. Jonin like Kakashi, Itachi, and Might Guy definitely couldn't join.
Although the students of the Genius Class were strong, they were still too young. Moreover, a crushing defeat would defeat the purpose of sparring.
Second, they needed a certain level of fame. The fastest way to become famous was to defeat a well-known Ninja.
Third, their personalities couldn't be too problematic; they needed to be Ninja with good reputations.
Some Ninjas who had lived on the edge for many years were gloomy or unstable—no need to scare the Genius Class.
And if they retaliated after losing, that would be troublesome. Of course, Kitazawa didn't think they would dare, considering Konoha's emphasis on the Genius Class.
"There are quite a few people."
Kitazawa skimmed the list and saw that there were over three hundred names. Selecting eighteen out of three hundred was a big task.
He began reading carefully.
Soon, he saw many familiar names, such as Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane. Kitazawa thought for a moment and circled their names—they were selected.
Izumo and Kotetsu both had Chunin strength, and with the Cursed Seal of Earth, they could reach Special Jonin level.
After more than an hour, Kitazawa had arranged suitable Ninja for all but the top seven students of the Genius Class.
The reason was simple: the top seven were on another level.
Naruto, Kurama Yakumo, Sasuke, Kimimaro, Hinata, Hyuga Neji, and Shino Aburame.
Hinata and Neji were slightly behind before, but with their bows, they had caught up. And Shino had improved greatly after learning the Kamizuru Clan's Secret Technique.
Kitazawa pondered for a moment and decided these seven should spar with Special Jonin or Jonin.
First, their strength was already at that level. Second, defeating Special Jonin or Jonin would help their fame spread more quickly.
Perhaps even before the New Konoha's Three Sannin emerged, a new title akin to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist would appear.
"It's time for lunch, Kitazawa." Konan looked at the clock and reminded him.
Kitazawa snapped back and put down the documents.
"I have a bento here." Konan took out a bento box.
"You made it yourself?" Kitazawa asked, noticing it wasn't from the ANBU cafeteria.
"Mhm." Konan nodded.
"Thank you." Kitazawa smiled and opened it, revealing grilled fish, rice, and vegetables.
He took a bite.
"It tastes good." He genuinely praised—it was indeed better than he expected.
Konan said nothing, simply removed her ANBU mask, and ate quietly.
After lunch, Kitazawa returned the bento box to her and continued selecting Ninja opponents. Konan put away the box, stood behind him, and began massaging his shoulders.
"Thank you." Kitazawa paused and said.
"Mhm," Konan responded softly, continuing her massage with earnest focus.
Half an hour later, Kitazawa had finished selecting the remaining six Ninja. Now all they had to do was wait for the final exam in April.
"Konan." Kitazawa handed her the document. "Go notify them to be at the Ninja Academy at nine in the morning on April tenth."
Konan nodded, took the document, and left.
After watching her leave, Kitazawa returned home.
---
Half a month passed quickly.
On April 9th, the Genius Class had their theoretical final exam.
At eight thirty in the morning, even though there was still half an hour before the exam, most of the Genius Class had already arrived.
"Shikamaru, are you planning to get first place again this time?" Sakura asked, seeing him sprawled across his desk.
"I'll do my best," Shikamaru said lazily. "I might not get first place."
"You're doing your best and still saying you won't get first place?" Sakura pouted.
"Rankings don't matter much." Akimichi Choji said while munching on potato chips. "The final ranking won't beat Neji and Sasuke anyway."
"I don't have many demands." Ino turned to Sakura. "As long as my final ranking is higher than yours."
"I was higher than you last time, you know," Sakura said smugly.
"Last time was last time! This time is this time!" Ino put her hands on her hips. "Bringing up the past is meaningless!"
"Sasuke-kun?!" Before Sakura could retort, she saw a familiar figure walk in and immediately stood up.
"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted energetically.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura rushed toward him.
"You're finally back," Kiba said emotionally. "I thought you wouldn't make it for this final exam."
"I came back to take first place," Sasuke said calmly as he walked forward.
"Sasuke-kun has awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan! He'll definitely get first place!" Sakura echoed proudly.
"You really haven't changed at all." Kiba twitched his mouth and grumbled.
"They're back… they're all back." Shikamaru shook his head and said.
"This is… too arrogant!" Tayuya, seated in the back row, felt irritated.
"He really does have that strength," Jugo said, looking at Sasuke.
Even after receiving the Eight Trigrams Cursed Seal of Earth, he still couldn't defeat Sasuke. After all, Kimimaro hadn't managed to win even after activating Cursed Seal: Level Two.
"Strength is everything. It's normal." Kimimaro agreed. He still retained part of his Otogakure mindset.
"Sasuke, does that mean you basically have Jonin-level strength now?" Tenten asked curiously.
"More or less." Sasuke nodded and admitted it.
Many students in the Genius Class gasped in shock. An eight-year-old Jonin — that was unheard of.
Although Sasuke and Naruto's strength often stunned them, Jonin were on an entirely different level. Jonin, without exaggeration, were the pillars of a clan.
"As expected of my lifelong rival!" Naruto gave a thumbs up. "Tomorrow I'm challenging you to a youthful showdown!"
Since he had lost to Sasuke while he was possessed by Satori last time, he initiated the rematch himself.
"You'll lose," Sasuke spoke with absolute confidence.
After saying that, he glanced at Kurama Yakumo. Besides Naruto, she was also his target.
With his Three-Tomoe Sharingan opened, he was sure he could surpass her in Genjutsu. After defeating Naruto and Yakumo, taking first place in the Genius Class would be only natural.
With the Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated, he felt invincible. Thinking this, he couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising.
Yakumo fell into thought. She had heard the reputation of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. She wondered how it compared to her Bloodline Genjutsu.
Neji could feel Sasuke's dismissive attitude. But it was understandable.
Under normal circumstances, he probably couldn't defeat Sasuke with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated.
But… the bow Kitazawa gave him filled him with hope.
He named this bow Unmei-hashō — "Fate-Breaking Bow", symbolizing a bird flying out of the cage of destiny.
"Jonin, huh…?" Kimimaro felt a faint frustration.
To defeat Sasuke, he needed his Shikotsumyaku to advance further. But his age limited him; he couldn't progress too quickly.
"What are you all talking about? Why so lively?" A familiar voice sounded.
Hinata instinctively turned toward the classroom door.
"Kitazawa-sensei! Good morning!" Ino greeted him with a bright smile.
"We were talking about tomorrow's practical exam," Naruto said excitedly. "When the time comes, I'm gonna battle Sasuke in a fiery clash of youth!"
"You can fight, but it'll have to be postponed." Kitazawa wasn't surprised at all. If Sasuke came back and didn't challenge Naruto or Yakumo, he wouldn't be Sasuke.
How should he put it? His wish probably wouldn't come true.
Although the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was powerful, Sasuke was too young and lacked the foundational experience to unleash its full potential.
Even if he could, he might not necessarily defeat Naruto or Yakumo.
As for Yakumo, he absolutely could not defeat her. As for Naruto, it would depend on timing and reactions — the odds were about fifty-fifty.
"Why postponed?" Naruto asked, completely confused.
Normally, they didn't participate in practical exams — they just completed missions.
"Because this time, the exam won't involve missions." Kitazawa smiled. "The top eighteen students of the Genius Class will face mysterious challengers."
"Mysterious challengers?" Sakura blinked. "Are they students from other classes?"
"How could students from other classes be our opponents?" Ino looked at Kitazawa with sparkling eyes. "Don't tell me… they're actual Ninjas who've already graduated?"
"Correct. But don't imagine any prizes." Kitazawa raised his hand and patted her head.
Ino instantly flashed a triumphant look at Sakura.
Hinata looked like she wanted to say something, but hesitated. She had realized it too, but was just a moment too late.
"Actual Ninja…?" Shikamaru was stunned.
Even with his intellect, he never imagined Kitazawa would arrange for official Shinobi to spar against a class of students. It sounded completely unbalanced.
"Does that mean Guy-sensei will be there?!" Rock Lee asked, eyes shining.
"How could there be a Jonin?" Tenten facepalmed.
Given Might Guy's strength, it would be a complete annihilation. In her mind, even if Kitazawa invited official Ninja, they would only be Chunin at most.
"I'm not afraid of Jonin," Sasuke said coolly.
"…" Tenten fell silent.
Arrogant, yes — but not wrong. After all, theoretically, Sasuke with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan really had Jonin-level ability.
"Sasuke is right!" Naruto grinned. "No matter who the opponent is, just give it your all — that's youth!"
"You'll find out tomorrow," Kitazawa said with a smile. "For now, it's a secret."
"Kitazawa-sensei, whisper it just to me." Ino leaned forward and hugged his arm.
"Ino, we all heard that!" Sakura complained.
"Alright, everyone, return to your seats." Kitazawa raised his hand and flicked Ino on the forehead as he spoke.
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei…" Ino held her head and returned to her seat. The other students followed suit.
The bell rang. It was nine in the morning — the written exam officially began.
Kitazawa left a Shadow Clone behind and departed the Ninja Academy.
After mastering Wood Release: Serial Pillar Houses Technique, the next Wood Release he learned was Wood Release: Four Pillar Prison.
Though it differed from Four Pillar House by only one character, the effects were completely different.
Wood Release: Four Pillar House created a wooden residence. Wood Release: Four Pillar Prison, as the name implied, formed a massive wooden prison cell. Naturally, it could also be used in battle to trap enemies.
At eleven in the morning, the written exam ended. Kitazawa also wrapped up his training and returned to the office.
The written exam rankings hadn't changed much — they were practically fixed. Unless someone secretly took extra tutoring.
But they were Ninja; most of their energy went into strengthening themselves, so few bothered to improve their written exam scores.
Time moved to the next day.
"Izumo, why do you think Lord Kitazawa wants us at the Ninja Academy?" Kotetsu Hagane asked as they walked.
"I don't know." Izumo Kamizuki shook his head. "Lord Kitazawa's thoughts are always deep and hard to predict."
"That's true." Kotetsu chuckled. "Just like back then — none of us expected Lord Kitazawa to let us join the Cursed Seal Unit."
"Indeed." Izumo sighed.
Since joining the Cursed Seal Unit, they had risen from Chunin to Special Jonin. They also served as captains of their respective squads — their status had skyrocketed.
"Asuma-senpai!" Kotetsu spotted a familiar figure and called out.
"Oh, it's you two." Asuma turned and smiled.
"Asuma-senpai, why aren't you in the Anbu today?" Kotetsu asked curiously.
"I have something to do at the Ninja Academy," Asuma replied.
"We're going there too." Kotetsu's eyes brightened. "Lord Kitazawa called us over."
"You two as well?" Asuma raised a brow. "What in the world is that mysterious Kitazawa planning?"
"Asuma-senior, if you don't know, how could we?" Izumo shook his head.
"Let's go. We'll find out when we get there." Asuma continued forward.
Soon, the three arrived at the Ninja Academy.
"Why are there so many people here?" Izumo asked in surprise.
"What's happening?" Asuma was also stunned.
Because almost all high-ranking officials of Konoha were present, including the heads of many major clans.
"It looks like we're here to observe the practical exam." Kotetsu guessed.
"It must be." Asuma had a sudden realization.
Tsunade, Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, Nara Shikaku, and others were already seated at both sides of the Training Ground.
"Asuma." Kakashi walked over.
"Kakashi." Asuma smiled. "How's life as a teacher treating you?"
"Not bad." Kakashi nodded, then raised a hand and pointed. "Your positions are over there."
"The Combat Ninja Area?" Asuma blinked. "What does that mean?"
"Didn't Kitazawa tell you? You're here to spar with the students of the Genius Class." Kakashi replied casually.
"What did you just say?" Asuma suddenly raised his voice. "How could your students possibly be my opponents?!"
"That's not necessarily true." Kakashi thought carefully before answering.
"...?" Asuma was completely bewildered.
No matter what, I can't be so weak that I lose to a bunch of eight- and nine-year-old kids, right?!
"You'll understand soon enough." Kakashi didn't elaborate. "Head over now."
As a teacher, Kakashi himself wouldn't be sparring.
"Hmph, don't get mad if I end up beating your students." Asuma scoffed as he walked off.
He, Izumo, and Kotetsu moved to the Combat Ninja Area.
Asuma looked around and recognized many faces.
The young man with a black dot on his forehead was Uchiha Tekka, a Jonin a year younger than himself. Beside him was Uchiha Inabi, also a Jonin.
There was Hyuga Hizashi as well. And the long-haired young woman carrying a katana was Uzuki Yugao.
Asuma's mouth twitched.
A lineup like this could attack a small hidden village…yet it was being used for a Ninja Academy exam? Absurd.
"You two came as well." A young man wearing sunglasses approached.
"Ebisu-senpai, long time no see." Izumo and Kotetsu greeted him.
"I don't deserve to be called senpai. You two are far stronger now." Ebisu said enviously.
He had also applied to the Cursed Seal Unit, but failed to obtain the Cursed Seal of Earth. mm