February, Year 36 of Konoha.
The war between Konoha and Sunagakure had been ongoing for two years and showed no signs of ending.
As more and more shinobi were mobilized by both sides, large quantities of medicine and supplies were being transported to the front lines, indicating that the war was far from over.
Students who were in the same class as Shiraishi but chose not to skip grades were now sixth-year students awaiting graduation.
In March, there would be a graduation assessment at the academy. Students who passed would leave the Ninja Academy and become official genin within Konoha's ranks.
However, according to Shiraishi's prediction, the so-called graduation assessment was merely a formality.
The academy teachers surely already had detailed information about the students. Which students could graduate and which needed to repeat a year had likely already been decided.
After all, the front lines were stretched thin at this time, requiring more fresh forces to support them. For example, new-generation medical ninjas like Shiraishi needed to gain experience on the battlefield to better utilize their skills in the medical field in the future.
Therefore, at this time, Shiraishi only needed to follow his usual routine: attend school in the morning, intern at the hospital in the afternoon, and conduct research in the evening.
Graduation would come when it was time; there was no need to rush or wait impatiently. Everything would fall into place naturally.
Almost a month passed quietly, and then it was the morning of graduation day.
The weather was bright and clear, and the crisp chirping of birds echoed in the somewhat empty courtyard. The maids, serene, carried their cleaning tools and were diligently busy early in the morning.
Unlike a certain freeloading boy who had been living there for years, doing absolutely nothing productive, these maids were very dedicated.
Since today was the graduation exam, and to ensure the students were in good condition, there was no need to go to school too early. Arriving at the examination classroom before 9 AM was sufficient.
Shiraishi slept until 7 AM, sensing that life would not be so peaceful from this day forward.
A few days prior, Shiraishi had put his research on hold. The large equipment in the lab had been moved by the ninja cats summoned by Ruri and hidden in a very safe, secret location. Shiraishi only carried scrolls recording his research findings, which he felt safest keeping on his person.
Soon, after having breakfast with Ruri, they set off for the academy.
Sitting in the designated examination classroom, some of the other students were very nervous, while others were quite relaxed. For most, the graduation exam was not a particularly difficult test.
The examiner in Shiraishi's classroom was their homeroom teacher, Fujimura Taiga. Unbeknownst to him, six years of academy life had passed. Shiraishi looked at Teacher Fujimura Taiga, who was still single, and couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.
"The graduation exam consists of the Three Body Jutsu. You only need to pass two of them. No more talking, let's go one by one according to your seating arrangement."
With that, Fujimura Taiga walked into the empty classroom next door, which was the examination room.
Two chunin examiners were also assisting Fujimura Taiga.
Following the seating order, those whose names were called had to go to the next classroom alone to undergo the Three Body Jutsu assessment. These were the three basic ninjutsu they had frequently encountered during their six years at the Ninja Academy.
Theoretically, it was impossible for anyone to fail such an extremely simple exam.
In the quiet atmosphere, it was Shiraishi's turn.
The Three Body Jutsu presented no difficulties, and only two of the three ninjutsu needed to meet the standard to successfully receive the Konoha forehead protector.
Shiraishi stood in the center of the examination room, began forming hand signs, and concentrated his consciousness to perform the Three Body Jutsu.
"Congratulations, Chiba-kun, you passed."
After watching Shiraishi perform the Three Body Jutsu, all of which met or exceeded the standard, it did not surprise Fujimura Taiga.
Shiraishi was one of the few students in his class with a very solid foundation. As long as he performed at his usual pace, the graduation exam was merely a formality.
"Thank you, Fujimura-sensei."
Shiraishi bowed slightly, expressing his gratitude.
Successfully receiving the Konoha forehead protector from Fujimura Taiga at that moment signified that Shiraishi was now a qualified Konoha ninja.
That's what others must be thinking, right?
The graduation exam concluded in such an uneventful atmosphere.
There was nothing to do for the rest of the day, only to wait for the team assignments tomorrow morning.
"I wonder who our squad leader will be tomorrow? I heard that only excellent students are assigned to jonin as squad leaders after graduation. For someone like me, the squad leader might be a tokubetsu jonin."
On the way back, Shiraishi began to speculate about who his squad leader would be tomorrow.
"You're on my team."
Ruri suddenly spoke.
"Huh?"
Shiraishi looked at Ruri, a bit dumbfounded.
"What kind of expression is that? Are you unhappy about being on my team?"
"Ah, well, no, it's just that you never mentioned this."
"Because I didn't think I needed to consult your opinion, and your opinion isn't worth considering anyway. Since you brought it up now, I'll tell you a little about it."
Ruri spoke frankly.
Honestly, that was a bit disheartening.
However, Shiraishi wasn't someone who cared about such minor things.
"If that's the case, then our squad leader will likely be a very powerful jonin."
Shiraishi had a very intuitive understanding of Ruri's strength.
At nearly twelve years old, her strength was already on par with an average jonin.
Coupled with her assertive personality, an ordinary jonin squad leader would likely be unable to control Ruri, leading to severe rifts within the team.
If he and Ruri were in the same squad, then the squad leader certainly wouldn't be an average jonin.
"The clan only told me it would be a very powerful jonin; they didn't reveal who specifically."
"I don't know if this is unfortunate or fortunate."
An excellent jonin squad leader could increase a team's mission efficiency, and their survival rate would also greatly improve.
But relatively, the stronger the jonin squad leader, the more likely their true strength could be perceived.
Good and bad are always relative.
"At that time, you just need to utilize your medical ninjutsu specialty."
"That's true. After all, assigning a medical ninja to a squad is the village's most reasonable team composition now. The first to benefit from medical ninja welfare will naturally be the jonin squads with higher mission efficiency."
Thinking this way, his assignment to Ruri's team also seemed reasonable.
Due to the scarcity of medical ninjas, although the village had devised a perfect team formation with a medical ninja in each squad, the demand for medical ninjas outstripped supply. As a result, only a very few elite squads were qualified to have a medical ninja.
His demonstrated strength was commendable, but as a medical ninja, his importance was no less than that of an average chunin. Being assigned to an elite team was not a strange occurrence.
◎
The next morning.
Students who had successfully graduated and received their forehead protectors yesterday were to gather in their respective classrooms for the final team assignment meeting.
Standing at the front of the podium, Fujimura Taiga's voice carried throughout the entire classroom.
"First, I want to congratulate you. From the moment you received your forehead protectors, you are independent ninjas. Since there's a war going on outside, don't think that becoming a ninja is something to be happy about. Because you are all rookies right now. Remember, do not bring a gaming mindset to the battlefield; that will cost you your life!"
Unlike the usual homeroom teacher Fujimura Taiga, he was very solemn today, his eyes filled with reluctance and worry.
His words silenced them. Even normally lively students who might have wanted to crack jokes to lighten the mood, seeing Fujimura Taiga's stern and cold expression, swallowed nervously and sat obediently in their seats.
Fujimura Taiga realized his words might have been a bit harsh, but he preferred to describe the path of a ninja as bloody and cruel rather than have them die with naive thoughts.
Fujimura Taiga began calling out names, forming teams of three.
Soon, Shiraishi heard his own team being called.
"Team Five: Uchiha Ruri, Hyuga Ayane, Chiba Shiraishi. The three of you are a team."
While Fujimura Taiga continued calling out names, the three of them looked at each other, seemingly reconfirming their future teammates.
"How lucky. Well then, please take care of me from now on, Shiraishi-kun, Ruri."
Ayane wore a white ninja uniform, her long, straight black hair draped smoothly over her shoulders. Her pale eyes held a polite smile that was a little distant.
"Just don't hold me back."
Ruri expressed no dissatisfaction about being teamed with Ayane.
Rather, this was the most perfect pairing.
She had paid some attention to Ayane in the past, after all, like herself, Ayane possessed a kekkei genkai, and the Byakugan was often more functional than the Sharingan.
"By the way, this guy is very weak. Aside from medical ninjutsu, he's useless. You'd better be mentally prepared."
Ruri unceremoniously disparaged Shiraishi's combat abilities.
"Understood. After all, the idea that most medical ninjas are weak is deeply ingrained. Leave the fighting to Ruri and me."
Ayane's meaning was clear: Shiraishi would handle medical work, and they would handle the fighting.
It sounded quite reasonable, but Shiraishi always felt a subtle hint of competitiveness in Ayane's tone.
Was it his imagination?
Putting that aside, another matter also made Shiraishi subtly uneasy.
Byakugan, Sharingan, medical ninja, plus a powerful jonin forming a team… This team didn't look like it would be doing ordinary missions at all.