Despite the various ways to obtain Achievement Points, their great difficulty made them feel incredibly precious.
In the two and a half years since Ayane had first unlocked her panel, the points she had earned through daily cultivation barely topped a thousand. In contrast, her only two lonely white titles had provided a combined total of 1300 points!
Academy Top Student Title — 500 points!
Rain Genin Title — 800 points!
It was glaringly obvious which method of acquisition was more efficient.
Looking at the three traits on the panel that were ready for evolution, the girl pondered for a moment. She didn't rush to make a choice, deciding instead to wait until the graduation assignment results were out the following day before finalizing her plan.
The next morning, Ayane made a point to wake up early. She packed her ninja tool pouch and headed toward the Academy.
The rain, which had been falling for a full day and night, showed no signs of stopping. She donned her waterproof cloak, burying her face beneath the deep black hood. Most pedestrians were dressed similarly, hurrying along like a gathering of dark ghosts wandering through the city.
Overnight, an atmosphere heavier and more suffocating than the clouds above seemed to have settled over the village.
'The atmosphere is so tense... has news of the frontline failures already spread?' she wondered.
The instigator of the Second Great Ninja War wasn't one of the traditional Five Great Villages. It was her own leader, the "Demi-God" and the "First Amekage"—Hanzo of the Salamander!
Technically and legally speaking, Hanzo wasn't the original founder of the Hidden Rain, so he wasn't truly the "First" Amekage.
However, the title of "Kage" isn't just a self-proclaimed rank for a village leader; it's a mark of recognition from the shinobi world.
For instance, while the leader of the Hidden Waterfall might call themselves the Takikage, few ninjas from the Five Great Nations would take such a title seriously.
Hanzo, however, had used his peerless strength to shatter the world's stereotypes about small hidden villages.
Through word of mouth, he became known as the First Amekage. The weight of that "First Gen" status only bolstered his reputation as a Demi-God, earning him the respect of shinobi everywhere.
After all, the legends who survived the Warring States period to found villages were all monsters in their own right.
The logic was simple: Hashirama Senju founded Konoha and became the God of Shinobi... so it stood to reason that Hanzo, founder of the Rain, was a Demi-God.
Three years ago, this Demi-God grew restless. Perhaps he wanted to shed the "Demi" from his title, or maybe he was simply sick of the endless rainy season and wanted to expand his borders.
Regardless, Hanzo had boldly invaded the Land of Iron, forced the samurai into neutrality, and then declared war on the Five Great Nations simultaneously, announcing the Land of Rain as the Sixth Great Power.
Single-handedly, he ignited the Second Great Ninja War.
However, reality proved much harsher than his ambitions. The ambitious Hanzo first struck south, launching a surprise attack on the Hidden Sand. Initially, the Rain saw great success due to the element of surprise.
But as time wore on, Hanzo's pride and joy—his poison—was neutralized by Lady Chiyo of the Sand's upper echelons. The Rain's shallow resource pool was exposed, and their front lines were pushed back until they were forced to retreat empty-handed.
Seeing the failure in the Land of Wind, Hanzo turned east toward the fertile, temperate Land of Fire. But Konoha was the world's premier hidden village.
The two sides had been locked in a bloody stalemate at the border for over a year. Hanzo's forces had suffered heavy casualties, yet they hadn't gained an inch of ground.
The Academy, despite the name, was a factory for producing wartime replacements. News reached the students much faster than the civilians. Everything Ayane knew had been gleaned from her teachers—firsthand village intel.
She bit her lip, realizing the peaceful days for the civilians were likely over.
The future plot was familiar to anyone who had seen the anime: Hanzo would eventually defeat the young Sannin at the border, but his poison would be countered again, and his campaign would crumble.
His ambition shattered, Hanzo would lose his spirit and become a "caged dog," allowing his nation to be trampled by war over and over while he hid in the capital, obsessed with maintaining his own power.
He would eventually conspire with Danzo to kill Yahiko, only to die silently at the hands of the Six Paths of Pain—a tragic end for a legend.
Arriving at the school, she found the small classroom already packed. Her classmates were buzzing with excitement, huddled in groups discussing where they might be stationed.
'The pass rate for this exam is remarkably high.'
A quick glance revealed that almost everyone had passed; there were no repeaters. Ayane's heart sank at the implication. She quietly took her usual seat.
The chubby boy sitting next to her brightened up immediately, leaning in eagerly. "Morning, Ayane!"
Ayane glanced at him and nodded slightly. "Morning, Nikaido-kun."
The boy's face fell into an awkward grimace. He balled his fists. "Amamiya-san, look closer! I'm Nagano Keiji! I'm not that sickly Nikaido Ryoto who falls over if the wind blows too hard!"
"Ah! Is it Nagano-kun? I'm so sorry, I remembered incorrectly again..." Ayane turned her head, blinking with zero actual remorse. "You and Nikaido-kun look so much alike, I always get you confused. My apologies."
Being stared at by those clear, bright amber eyes, the chubby boy immediately turned beet-red. He lowered his head, stammering, "I-It's okay! It's my fault for not being more distinctive. Next time I'll wear a name tag on my chest..."
Ayane: "..."
Seriously, dude? You fell for that? She was just making excuses to brush him off, but he seemed to take it as gospel. Shinobi children were a strange mix of precocious and incredibly naive, constantly swinging between the two. Having spent two years here, she was well aware of it.
"Alright, everyone, settle down."
The homeroom teacher, who looked fifty despite being under thirty due to a receding hairline, clapped his hands.
"I will now announce the assignments based on the master list. Remember, these assignments are unified by the village and have Lord Hanzo's personal approval.
If anyone is dissatisfied, you may talk to me or the Dean for a transfer, but you cannot refuse, and private swaps are strictly forbidden! Understood?"
Despite the tyrannical nature of the terms, the students cheered at the mention of Hanzo. Such was his prestige. "Understood!" they shouted in unison.
"Then, listen carefully..."
"Nikaido Ryoto: Regular Combat Force, 6th Battalion, 4th Squad..." "Nagano Keiji: Regular Reconnaissance Force, 1st Battalion, 2nd Squad..."
Reconnaissance... Combat... And no mention of the Chunin or Jonin squad leaders. Ayane's brow furrowed. This naming convention suggested that most of them were being sent directly to the front lines as reinforcements, rather than being placed in traditional mission cells.
Though she had prepared herself mentally, she still felt a surge of nerves. Am I really going to the front? And out of these noisy kids... how many will actually come back?
Nagano Keiji seemed oblivious to the grim reality. He was currently pressing his hands together, whispering a foolish prayer: "Great Sage of Six Paths, please put the cool and cute Amamiya-san in the Recon Force with me. Please!"
"Amamiya Ayane..."
After a while, the teacher finally reached her name. He paused for emphasis, raising his voice: "Assassination Tactics Special Force!"
The classroom went dead silent before erupting into an uproar. Assassination Tactics Special Force? Isn't that the Anbu?
All eyes snapped toward her like spotlights. The chubby boy pumped his fist. "As expected of Ayane-san! Always so elite!"
The reed-thin Nikaido Ryoto, sitting behind him, couldn't help but scoff. "Hey, fatty, what does that have to do with you?"
"What do you mean 'nothing'?!" Nagano spun around, indignant. "Are you saying you don't want Ayane-san to succeed? Or do you hate her?"
Nikaido lowered his head, hiding his secret glance toward Ayane, and fell silent. Ayane was the top student of their year—strong, composed, and impossibly beautiful.
More importantly, she wasn't like the other girls; she didn't look down on them or avoid them. There was a comfortable aura about her.
What boy wouldn't like a girl like that? But unlike the dim-witted Nagano, Nikaido knew the distance between them and kept his feelings buried.
"Congratulations, Amamiya-san," the normally cold-faced teacher offered a kind smile. "As the top graduate of this year, you have been specially recruited into the village Anbu. Your specific assignment will be delivered privately by Principal Ichii."
He added, "The Principal is waiting for you in his office. Don't keep him waiting."
Under the envious gazes of her peers, Ayane stood up calmly. "Understood, Sensei. I'll go now."
The Principal of the Ninja Academy was a man named Ichii Kei. Though he was one of the village's few Elite Jonin, he was already over fifty. He was two decades older than the village itself, and his strength had long since faded. He was on the verge of retirement.
In the current shinobi world, fifty was considered a ripe old age. Combined with his position as Principal, Ichii Kei was a high-ranking figure with significant influence.
More importantly, he had been Ayane's father's master, having taught the "Old Man Amamiya" swordsmanship and Taijutsu.
After her parents died, Ayane—an orphan—had been able to keep her inheritance, enroll in the Academy, and graduate peacefully largely because of this old man's protection.
The office door was wide open. Before Ayane could knock, the old man behind the desk waved her in. "Ah, little Ayane. Come in!"
"Principal," she acknowledged.
"I told you, don't use the title," the old man said, pouring tea. "You've graduated, and this isn't work hours. No need for formalities."
Ayane didn't argue. Strictly speaking, she should call him "Grandpa," but they weren't quite that close. She preferred "Principal" or "Senior." She let him ramble about domestic life for a bit before he got to the point.
"It's a good thing your exam scores were so exceptional. Otherwise, I wouldn't have found the leverage to get you into the Anbu."
The old man pulled out Ayane's written exam from a drawer. "Compared to that line about 'Offering your heart to Lord Hanzo,' this little story at the beginning... hm.
'Chief Hanzo of the Salamander using a kunai to shoot the Tsuchikage Ohnoki out of the sky.' While vivid and entertaining, the logic is a bit... flamboyant."
Ayane remained expressionless, her face as cold as a professional killer's. In reality, her toes were curling inside her boots. She hadn't thought much of it when she was writing the answers, but hearing them read aloud by someone else was excruciatingly embarrassing.
"This kind of self-aggrandizing storytelling is usually Konoha's style. We don't usually go for that in the Rain," Ichii Kei continued, seemingly oblivious to her internal cringe.
"However... that 'Offer your heart' line has already been sent to the front. It might actually be used as a new rallying cry for the troops to boost morale."
"Which is why your score for the written exam is the first 'S' in the school's history!" The old man winked. "How about that? Surprised?"
Surprised? I'm mortified. Ayane's composure cracked slightly as her lip twitched. "Senior... I assume when they promote it, they won't mention the author's name?"
Ichii Kei chuckled. "The average ninja won't know. But the Anbu 'Owl' Squad you're joining? Hard to say..."
Great. I haven't even started the job, and I've already suffered social death.
Ichii Kei's expression turned serious. "Regarding the Owl Squad—they are one of the Anbu's ace intelligence units. But they took heavy losses on the Sand front recently. Lord Hanzo only just allowed them to recruit to restore their numbers, which is why they're making an exception for a Genin."
He advised, "Once you're there, remember to listen more, watch more, and learn more. It's best to get on the good side of the squad leader."
Someone specifically mentioned by a high-ranking official like Ichii Kei was usually a ninja with a bright future. Ayane pondered this. "Are they a special Bloodline Limit user?"
"No. He's the son of the village's Finance Minister."
Wow. So he's a legacy hire.I hate people who use connections!Wait...Am I also a legacy hire?Never mind, then.
"Also, even though the Anbu is technically 'safer' than the front lines," Ichii Kei rubbed his forehead, his tone grave, "it doesn't mean you can lower your guard. Once you're out there, you must be prepared for death at any moment."
Anbu? Safe? Ayane blinked, the two terms feeling contradictory. But before he could explain, she worked out the logic. It sounded counter-intuitive since Anbu were elite units performing high-difficulty missions. But given the current situation, it made sense.
The Rain and Konoha had been fighting for a long time with no victory in sight. Combined with the losses against the Sand, even Hanzo's absolute authority was starting to face internal murmurs of dissent.
Unless Hanzo was a completely selfless saint, he had to consider post-war power distribution. Naturally, he wouldn't want to see his most loyal elite forces wiped out in meat-grinder battles.
Realizing how much thought the old man had put into her placement, Ayane nodded sincerely, her voice tinged with gratitude. "Senior, I will be careful."
"You'd better be." The old man gazed at her, sighing. "At the very least, don't leave me without a single relative to attend my funeral when the time comes for me to return to the earth."
He said no more, standing up to retrieve a green-hilted ninja sword and a black scroll from a secure cabinet.
"The time has come. The things your father and mother entrusted to me are finally going back to their rightful owner."