Naruto: From Novice to Grave

Surrounded by the Third Hokage, several teachers, and many classmates, the ninjutsu assessment officially began.

Everyone lined up and took turns going forward to display their work.

Someone demonstrated the one they had mastered best among the three body techniques in a very proper manner.

Some people demonstrated the techniques of creating clones and transforming, but fewer people used the technique of using a substitute, probably because they didn't prepare the substitute props in advance.

Each person took turns demonstrating the Three Bodies Technique, immediately winning the admiring glances of their classmates.

Some people may not have a strong enough mentality and are too nervous when facing the Third Hokage. When they use their clones, they create a huge, limp, unidentified creature on the ground.

This caused the students in the audience to burst into laughter, and the large multi-purpose classroom was instantly filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Even the Hokage, with a pipe in his mouth, was all smiles. When facing the village children, he always had an approachable demeanor, making it hard for anyone to associate him with the powerful figure known as the "Hero of the Ninja."

Some people may have been influenced by the previous students who failed, and their minds were a bit confused. Their transformation techniques, which they performed with hand seals, were full of flaws, and it was obvious at a glance that they were imposters.

Higashino Makoto knew this person; it was his classmate, Unno Iruka.

I don't know how his grades were before, but today he's obviously nervous and affected by his environment. The more he tries to perform well, the more problems he makes. He definitely won't be able to graduate in this situation.

No wonder he pretended to be stupid at school to gain attention after the Nine-Tails' attack; it's remarkable that he could become such an excellent ninja academy teacher later on.

So just because someone isn't good at fighting doesn't mean they don't have other talents. Iruka is probably one of those people. Because he's not a genius, he pays extra attention to and is very patient with those students who seem a bit silly.

Unlike some teachers, such as Funano Daikoku, who only likes exceptionally talented students like Itachi and never looks up to or even dislikes those who are underachievers.

When it was Uzuki Yugao's turn, this girl was not the type to be easily intimidated. She calmly went on stage and performed the Three Bodies Technique in a proper and almost perfect manner.

Having trained under Higashino Makoto's tutelage for several years, if I still couldn't do this well, I would have been beaten to a pulp by him long ago.

When it was Higashino Makoto's turn to go on stage, he first bowed respectfully to the Hokage and teachers, just like the other students, and then quickly and obediently formed hand seals.

With a soft "thump," an exact replica of myself appeared beside me, with no difference in details of hair and clothing.

At the same time, he formed hand seals and transformed into the appearance of his teacher, Inoue Kuroiwa, perfectly mimicking her appearance. There was no way to tell the difference from her.

At that moment, the clone Higashino Makoto raised his hand and shot a shuriken at the main body. The main body, transformed into Inoue-sensei, exploded into a cloud of white smoke. A blackboard eraser fell from the sky, was caught by the clone, and then put back into the chalk tray.

"Wow! That's amazing! So that's how... how did they do it? I don't understand at all!" The students in the audience didn't understand, but they were greatly shocked.

Even the teachers conducting the assessment were completely baffled; clearly, they hadn't figured it out either.

Inoue Kuroiwa muttered, "How is that possible? The clone technique only creates an illusion, not a shadow clone. How could it shoot out a real shuriken?"

The clone even caught the blackboard eraser; could the clone be the original? When did they switch places?

"Oh ho ho, what a wonderful performance! Really, I never thought that the basic Three Body Technique could be used like this. Even I have gained some inspiration from it."

The Third Hokage nodded happily. With his strength and discernment, he was naturally not as easily fooled as those Chunin teachers.

He then explained to the examiner, "The moment Higashino Makoto raised his hand to make the movement, he had already switched places with the original body."

Another examiner exclaimed in surprise, "How is that possible? If it were a teleportation technique, we should have been able to detect it."

The Hokage tapped his head with his finger: "It's an illusion. The real clone raising its hand to attack was just to attract everyone's attention. The real body used a simple illusion to deceive your vision, which is why you overlooked the important details of the positional switch."

"Is that so? That's amazing. We didn't even notice the effects of the illusion."

The Third Hokage stopped arguing with the examiner and said kindly to Higashino Makoto, "Makoto, your talent has indeed not disappointed me. Not bad, not bad. Alright, go down now."

"You flatter me, Lord Hokage."

Higashino bowed again, stepped down from the stage, and gave his seat to the candidates behind him.

Actually, his playstyle was inspired by his friend Shisui's fighting style. How did Uchiha Shisui get his nickname, "Shisui of the Body Flicker"?

It involves creating a bunch of ordinary clones that can only move but have no real offensive capabilities, and then using one's superb teleportation and illusion techniques to freely switch positions among the clones.

Each clone could transform into the original body and stab you at any moment when attacking you; without sufficient eyesight and strength, it's impossible to tell them apart.

The Hidden Mist ninjas were so traumatized by the attack that Shisui earned a resounding reputation among them.

Keep in mind that Qing had the ability to roll his eyes back then, but he was still beaten so badly he was completely disoriented.

So Kakashi was right, the essence of ninja combat can be summed up in one word: deception.

Even those immortals who aren't exactly ninjas can be easily fooled if they're not careful.

Madara Uchiha was tricked by Hashirama Senju's wood clone.

Kaguya Otsutsuki was even more embarrassed; a single reverse harem technique left her completely bewildered.

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After the assessment, some people were happy, while others were disappointed.

But Higashino really thinks that those who fail to graduate should not be discouraged. In fact, it is a good thing. Graduating later means they can miss the war.

"Seriously, from now on, you'll be a full-fledged Konoha ninja. I hope you'll continue to work hard and grow into a reliable force to protect the village."

"I will, Hokage-sama."

After receiving the headband from the third generation, Higashino Makoto thought for a moment and, like Uzuki Yugao, tied it to his forehead.

This thing is just for identification; as for its protective function for ninjas? It's actually negligible.

But it also has a hidden "strongest" authentication function, such as making a horizontal cut on it?

Higashino thought about it and still didn't dare to do something so exciting. He was afraid that the Hokage was too old and might get so angry that something bad might happen to him.

In the afternoon, after a brief graduation ceremony, they received their graduation certificates from the Third Hokage and were officially declared to have graduated from the school and become proud Konoha genin.

After a photo is affixed, the ninja registration certificate is handed over to the village for safekeeping; it is classified.

It contains the students' basic personal information and ninja numbers.

Uzuki Yugao's ninja registration number is 012161.

Higashino's ID number is 012160, which is adjacent to hers.

The graduation certificate does not have a photo, only a descriptive text, and is not considered confidential; it is kept by the student.

After all this, the students who successfully graduated immediately returned to their respective classes to await class assignments, and then it was time to lead their teams of Jonin.

Uzuki Yugao began to worry: "Shin, we'll probably be in the same class, right? I guess so? I don't want to team up with anyone else."

"It's not up to us." Although Higashino really said that, he felt that it was highly likely that they would be in the same class. The Hokage's class division was ostensibly based on the consideration of balancing strength, but the key point was actually the bonds.

Just then, Inoue Kuroiwa announced, "Third class, Higashino Makoto, Uzuki Yugao."

"Yay!" The little girl gave Higashino a big victory sign, then realized something was wrong: "Wait, why are there only the two of us? Shouldn't there be three?"

Higashino scratched his head, a bad feeling creeping over him. He thought to himself, "No way, could some powerful family be trying to screw me over? I've already given Shisui two tomoe, and they're still not satisfied? Do they have to use me as expendable material for their kaleidoscope?"

They really are an inherently evil clan. If that's the case, then I won't even have to wait for Itachi Uchiha to grow up; I'll do it myself...