Chapter 51: Graduation

"Shadow Dance Leaf!"

Inside the examination hall of the the Hidden Leaf Village Ninja Academy.

A relatively short figure launched an attack against the opponent.

"Oh! You're going to use the move I just used against me?"

In this match, the examiner Mizutani Hirozane spoke for the first time. The Uchiha examinee opposite him used the same move he had just used and launched an attack at himself, somewhat surprised.

However, he did not slacken his hand movements, clasping his hands together in front of his chin. Relying on his height advantage, he easily caught Dong Shilang's attack.

"Leaf Strong Wind!"

He did not respond to the other's words.

Taking advantage of his short, agile stature, he exerted force with one leg, leaping to a position level with Mizutani Hirozane's head.

He launched a spinning low kick at him, but due to the height, the effect was the same as his earlier Leaf Whirlwind.

He raised his right arm to block, deflecting the opponent's attack aimed at his head. Mizutani Hirozane then seized the opponent's attacking right leg, exerted force with his waist, and lifted Dong Shilang whole body up. After spinning three or four times, he flung him far away.

With a light turn, his feet landed, his body leaned forward, dragging a long scratch across the ground.

In the field at this moment, a large circle of hand swords and kunai were scattered around Mizutani Hirozane, the traces left from his and the opponent's battle just now.

In the close-quarters kunai combat, the opponent did not let him gain any advantage, and furthermore, using his rich experience, he repeatedly slashed his outer garment. Had it not been for his keen senses, he might already have been bleeding.

"Alright! Exam time's up; both sides, make the reconciliation seal!"

Hearing this, Dong Shilang also couldn't help but sigh in relief. Although in the recent match he had held back in ninjutsu, genjutsu, strength, and speed, in taijutsu and kunai close combat, the opponent made him suffer greatly.

【Indeed, being a ninja is not a profession that can be easily mastered.】

This was merely an old Chunin from the the Hidden Leaf Village. Even so, relying on his rich combat experience, he gave him a vivid lesson!

In the recent match, aside from the few tentative moves at the start, Mizutani Hirozane did not display significantly greater strength or speed than him.

Instead, he suppressed him with strength and speed slightly greater than what he had shown, plus rich experience, using the basic the Hidden Leaf Village taijutsu and the Three-Body Technique taught at the ninja academy.

Next, he was arranged to wait in an empty classroom. As time passed, the students who had passed the exam came here one after another.

"Kakashi, your guy is really aloof!"

"……"

"How come, you don't remember me? Not even calling me senior, really rude!"

"……"

Inside the classroom, Dong Shilang was idly teasing Kakashi Hatake. Although the other is now considered an employed Genin of the the Hidden Leaf Village, he is still just a five-and-a-half-year-old brat. Teasing this future Sixth Hokage, he never tires of it.

"By the way, Kakashi, why do you cover your face with a mask? I remember your original appearance was quite beautiful."

Staring with dead fish eyes at the annoying chatterbox beside him, Kakashi finally recalled who that person was.

I recall that two or three years ago, I once bumped into him while playing on the street. Afterwards, my father chatted with him, and my mother even forced me to apologize to him.

He also asked some annoying questions.

"Hey! Really? Dong Shilang, does this guy really have a pretty face under his mask?"

Hearing this, the nearby Yuzhibo Yan couldn't stay seated. She turned her head, stared with her big, shiny black eyes, and examined Kakashi Hatake's face up and down, looking incredulous.

The little girl also graduated successfully; at this moment she sat beside Dong Shilang with a smile. Obviously, being able to graduate early and become a ninja made her very happy.

Even the several classmates in the neighboring seats all perked up their ears, looking at Kakashi with curious expressions. After all, as the youngest graduate present, he truly drew everyone's attention.

"Not just handsome! Let me tell you, under this guy's mask..."

While saying that, he also placed his hands together near Yuzhibo Yan's ear, looking mysterious.

"Shut up!"

Even if his mood was as low as could be, upon seeing Uchiha Dong Shilang about to reveal his secret, he couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his eye and hurriedly interjected to interrupt.

"Forget it! Since the person involved doesn't want to say it, let's just forget it!"

Before he could even relax, he again heard Dong Shilang speak.

"However, not seeing Kakashi's gorgeous looks is truly your regret!"

"Really?"

"You're kidding, right?"

"What gorgeous looks? You're exaggerating too much!"

Listening to Dong Shilang's words and seeing the curious, inquisitive gazes from all around, even someone as cool-headed as him was momentarily filled with exasperation.

【How did such a talkative guy become a ninja?】

【Indeed, my initial impression was correct; this guy is really annoying!】

Not knowing what Kakashi was thinking, Dong Shilang smiled, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the exasperated Kakashi Hatake.

He wasn't intentionally teasing; he simply felt that Kakashi at this moment needed some emotion other than grief, so he wouldn't immerse himself solely in the pain of his father's death.

Not long after, everyone had mostly gathered. The classroom door was pulled open, and the first to enter was someone wearing a Hokage robe, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"First of all, congratulations to everyone here for becoming an official the Hidden Leaf Village ninja in service..."

"……"

"In short, where leaves dance, fire never ceases; the flame will continue to illuminate the village and let the new leaves take root and sprout."

【No matter where, leaders' speeches are always like this……】

Watching the Third Hokage ramble on for half an hour on the podium, Dong Shilang couldn't help but mutter to himself.

After the Third Hokage had conducted over an hour of 'monkey tutoring', seeing the enthusiastic new ninjas below, he felt satisfied.

Even Dong Shilang had to join everyone in clapping with excited faces. He wouldn't be stubborn at this moment, voicing a different opinion on the 'Will of Fire,' just casually brushing off the leadership with perfunctory remarks……

Without lingering, after giving the students a gentle smile, the Third Hokage turned and left.