Chapter 127: Training Ground Twenty-Three
Pakura's eyes stared blankly ahead, as though recalling a bleak past, a time when she had to struggle just for a single piece of food.
Her face, which usually bore a cold and unshakable expression, now revealed fleeting traces of pain and a yearning that words could not capture. The hands resting on her lap briefly clenched into fists, then slowly loosened again, as if wrestling with memories too heavy to hold.
Masamichi, upon hearing this, fell silent once more. At that moment, he became certain that the members of his squad this time were truly remarkable. Once again, Masamichi felt there was something different about these students.
His hardened heart began to tremble—not out of weakness, but because of a growing respect that slowly took root within him.
He realized that the children standing before him were not just fledgling ninjas. They were individuals with stories, with scars, and with burning resolve.
They did not merely carry their own determination and conviction—they were also unique. Each of them bore a different light, and although those lights were small, Masamichi knew that if combined, their brilliance could become something extraordinary.
"Very well, I want all of you to gather at Training Ground Twenty-Three tomorrow morning." Masamichi spoke with a grave face.
His voice was deep, filled with authority, instantly silencing the room. His sharp gaze revealed how important this order truly was.
"Training Ground Twenty-Three? Where is that?" Makima asked with a puzzled face.
Her brows knitted together, her eyes widened slightly—it was clear that she truly had no idea. The sound of her voice carried an innocent tone, yet beneath it lingered a faint trace of embarrassment at her ignorance in front of the others.
"You don't know?" Souta asked in confusion, staring at her. His head tilted slightly to one side, his lips parting just a little.
His tone carried both surprise and disbelief, as though it was hard to fathom how someone living nearby could be unaware of such a place.
"No." Makima shook her head. Her hair, falling loosely at the sides, swayed gently with the motion.
She let out a short sigh before turning her face away, as though she didn't want the others' eyes to linger on her for too long.
"And you, Pakura? You don't know either?" Souta asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. His eyes darted quickly, searching for an answer. His expression showed strong inquisitiveness, his brow lifting slightly as he waited.
"I don't know either." Pakura shook her head. Her voice was flat, but firm. Her silver-like hair caught the glow of the lamplight, swaying slightly with the movement.
Her gaze seemed calm, but her eyes betrayed a sense of indifference—as though such a matter was too trivial for her to care about.
"You really don't know? Training Ground Twenty-Three is not far from Makima's house—how could you not know, Makima? That place is right near your home." Souta asked again in astonishment.
This time, his tone carried more weight, as if even he couldn't comprehend it. His eyes locked onto Makima with intensity, while his hand lifted slightly, pointing forward as though to emphasize his words.
"Eh? Really? I… I've never wandered around asking about every place I saw, so I didn't know." Makima replied in an annoyed tone.
Her voice carried a stressed inflection, her cheeks flushed faintly pink—an awkward mixture of embarrassment and irritation. She averted her gaze once more, her lips pressing into a small pout, like a child trying to defend herself.
"I don't go asking about every place I visit either. It's just that it's clearly written on the wooden signboard placed right above the entrance." Souta said calmly.
He shrugged his shoulders lightly, then glanced at Makima without any exaggerated expression, as though what he said was nothing more than a simple fact—something everyone should have already known.
...
Chapter 128: The Test to Truly Become a Ninja
Makima fell silent upon hearing that. Her face flushed slightly, and her gaze dropped to the floor. She could not refute the words, yet inside, a faint irritation stirred—an annoyance at being reminded in such a direct and blunt manner.
Her fingers, resting quietly on her lap, shifted ever so slightly, fidgeting with a subtle restlessness she tried hard to conceal.
"As Souta has said, I want the three of you to gather there tomorrow morning, at seven o'clock sharp," Masamichi spoke, his eyes fixed firmly on them.
His voice once again carried that heavy, serious timbre, making the three of them instinctively sit up straighter. His gaze swept from one student to the next, pausing long enough to ensure each of them was truly paying attention.
"Why?" Makima asked, curiosity flashing across her features. This time her voice came out softer, but it carried a tone of genuine inquiry. Her brows arched slightly, and her eyes glimmered with a restless shine, as though she hoped the answer would reveal something of great importance.
"Because we're going to face a test," Souta said calmly. His head dipped a little before he lifted his eyes again, meeting Makima's gaze with unwavering confidence. His voice was steady, carrying the weight of someone who already knew the truth.
"A test?" It was Pakura who spoke now. Her eyes narrowed, her voice low yet tinged with intrigue. Tilting her head ever so slightly, she fixed her gaze forward, as if weighing the information carefully in silence.
"Yes, a test," Souta continued, explaining slowly and deliberately. "Even though we've already passed the graduation exams and the interview, we still have to undergo a test from our squad leader. It's a test of teamwork. If we succeed, we'll officially be recognized as a team. If we fail… then we'll be forced to repeat another year at the Ninja Academy."
Souta stressed each word, as though he wanted to make absolutely sure Makima and Pakura understood the gravity of what lay before them. His tone remained calm, but the sharp glint in his eyes betrayed his vigilance.
Without realizing it, Souta's left hand clenched into a fist—an unconscious gesture that revealed the burden he felt, even though he had known about this test all along.
Upon hearing Souta's explanation, both Makima and Pakura fell silent. Neither of them had expected such a trial to await them.
Makima's face paled slightly, her eyes widening in shock, while Pakura's gaze only narrowed further, calculating in the silence. The air around them seemed to grow heavier, pressing against their chests as though the very atmosphere itself sought to remind them of the challenge ahead.
"So, you already knew…" Masamichi said, nodding his head as his eyes settled on Souta. His tone was flat, yet beneath it lingered a faint note of satisfaction—that at least one of his students had the foresight to understand.
"I knew," Souta replied with a firm nod. His tone was calm, devoid of hesitation. His gaze remained straight ahead, and though the gesture was simple, it radiated quiet determination.
"Yes," Masamichi said, his voice deepening, every word landing with deliberate weight. "You will face a test—against one of my Kugutsu. If you succeed, then you will pass, and you will truly become ninjas. One more thing—you'll need to prepare lunch, because you will certainly need it tomorrow."
The moment the word Kugutsu left his lips, the air seemed to thicken. The mere mention of it conjured a vague shadow of both power and danger, hanging heavily around them like a silent specter.
"We understand," Souta, Pakura, and Makima answered in unison. Their voices resonated together, blending into one firm, unified note that rang like an unspoken vow.
The force behind their words carried their seriousness, yet deep within each of their hearts, doubts lingered—faint, shadowy doubts that refused to be dispelled so easily.
Their eyes met, one after another, holding each other's gaze in the heavy silence that followed. No further words were spoken, but within that moment hung a shared understanding: come tomorrow morning, their bond would face its truest trial. It would no longer be about training or promises—it would be the test that decided whether their unity was strong enough to endure.
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