Saving the Uchiha clan starts with becoming the clan leader.

"What I taught that little girl was a technique I developed myself, not knowledge from the village. According to the rules, as long as I don't teach the techniques I create to the village's enemies, I am free to teach them to whomever I want. Konoha... is not an enemy of Kirigakure now, so even the Mizukage cannot blame me for this."

"A self-created technique? No wonder!"

Zongxian nodded.

"You know what you're doing. I'm just a little worried about unnecessary misunderstandings between Konoha and Kirigakure. As long as things are cleared up, that's fine. So... how do you feel? What do you think of that child's talent?"

"Acceptable!"

Foam answered succinctly.

It's clear they don't intend to have much interaction with this Hokage.

"Is it alright? Could you elaborate?"

Zongxian pressed for an answer.

He chose to ignore the resistance to the bubble.

Foamface twitched, inwardly muttering "No way," but aloud said, "Being born with water-style chakra isn't really anything special. What's truly outstanding is that child's control over chakra. To be honest, even ordinary Chunin might not be able to do what she does. That delicate manipulation of chakra, just in terms of chakra control alone, she's already at the level of a top Chunin, and that child is still constantly improving."

"The techniques I created are not yet qualified to be called secret techniques, but to be honest... not everyone can master them. I just thought that the child was working a little too hard, so I thought I would teach her a couple of basic water jutsu. I didn't expect... she would learn the bubble technique that I developed. Her talent is only slightly inferior to mine."

Speaking of last,

Even Bubble felt a bit sentimental.

He was really just bored and sitting on a tree blowing bubbles when he saw Sakura Haruno sweating profusely on the training field. On a whim, he struck up a conversation with the girl while she was resting and demonstrated the power of his bubble-blowing technique. That's how their master-disciple relationship began.

Of course, Bubble doesn't actually intend to take Haruno Sakura as his apprentice.

Teaching a child from Konoha who isn't even a ninja yet is a different matter from taking a formal Konoha ninja as a disciple. Although, given the close relationship between Konoha and Kirigakure, it's not impossible for him to take a Konoha ninja as a disciple if he really wanted to.

But he really couldn't be bothered with such trouble.

It was just a whim.

He didn't want this to become a real problem.

“Having mastered my Bubble Technique, given that child some time, and with guidance from a reliable Jonin, becoming a Jonin in the future shouldn’t be too difficult,” Bubble said confidently. “However, Hokage, let me state in advance that I will never take on any disciples. I just find that child quite pleasing to the eye, like the cherry blossoms in spring. That’s all. I’m a lazy person and don’t intend to change my current lifestyle.”

"I would never force someone to do something they don't like."

Zongxian said with a smile.

It's a good thing that Bubbles doesn't want to take on disciples. After all, it would be quite controversial if a Konoha ninja were to become a disciple of a Kirigakure ninja, even if he could do it. Moreover, the Kirigakure ninja might have some thoughts about it, and they might even think that he's plotting to become the Six-Tails Jinchuriki!

although,

It's not that he has no ideas at all.

The tailed beasts... will eventually gather together.

[Chapter 334. A Calm Graduation Exam]

The graduation exam at the Ninja Academy is not difficult; in fact, it's almost too easy. The content of the exam is not a secret. It's just one of the three body techniques: Shadow Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, or Substitution Technique. They will randomly choose one of these as the content of the graduation exam.

The exam questions are completely public.

Even so, many people still fail the exam every year.

Difficulty is always relative.

For ordinary students whose elders are not ninjas at all, the ninja academy is the only place where they can acquire relevant knowledge. If they are not diligent and hardworking enough, then... passing the graduation exam will not be so easy.

The exam process is also very simple.

They were called out one by one to take the exam in the examination room. Those who passed were given headbands on the spot, and they had to come to the school the next day to confirm their teammates and the identity of their instructor ninja. As long as they passed the instructor ninja's test, they would be considered to have truly become a Konoha genin.

"Listen up, everyone! This year's graduation exam will cover the technique of creating clones. Those whose names are called, go to the next classroom in order."

On the podium,

Teacher Iruka reiterated and emphasized the exam rules once again.

He wasn't worried at all that his students wouldn't pass the exam. What he was more worried about was that these geniuses would cause some completely unexpected trouble. So-called geniuses are just eccentric and do things their own way, always causing unexpected events. It's precisely because they are unpredictable that they are geniuses!

Iruka has learned this lesson the hard way in recent years.

Teaching a group of geniuses is certainly something to be proud of, but it is also exhausting.

He looked at the list in his hand and shouted:

"First one, Nara Shikamaru!"

"Huh? I'm the first one? That's fine, I can finish the exam early and get some rest."

The boy with the pineapple-shaped haircut yawned, looking lazy as if he hadn't slept enough. He didn't mind being the first one called out; in fact, he thought it was good that it was over early so he wouldn't have to worry about it. Even when he was dozing off, he had to be careful.

He and Iruka walked together to the next classroom.

Just as Iruka's figure disappeared through the doorway, Yamanaka Ino, sitting in the second row, turned around and called out in a low voice, "Fujika, Fujika, do you have any information?" Not only her, but the boys and girls around her also looked over, turning their gazes toward the Hokage's sister.

Sakura Haruno is one of them.

She knew what information they were talking about.

The day before yesterday, Ino, that idiot, somehow got hold of information that the group assignments and even the supervising ninjas for their graduating class had been arranged. When she told her classmates, many were curious about who their teammates and supervising ninjas were, and so—

A heavy responsibility fell on the Hokage's sister.

Peeking at the group list.

"I do not know!"

The wisteria flower pouted.

"I secretly searched my brother's office, but I couldn't find any group list at all. Ino, are you sure there really is such a thing? The graduation exams aren't even over yet, where would a group list come from?" As she spoke, the girl questioned Yamanaka Ino's information.

"It's absolutely true."

The blonde girl with her ponytail said confidently.

"Then tell me, where did you get your intelligence from?"

"The day before yesterday, when I was practicing the Mind Transfer Technique, I possessed a pigeon and overheard my father and Shikaku talking. They were saying that the Hokage had already arranged for us to be mentored Jonin. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to hear who it was before I was discovered."

"But I searched my brother's office and his bedroom, and I couldn't find the list you mentioned!"

Fujika thought Ino didn't seem to be lying, but the problem was, she wasn't lying either!

"Perhaps, your plans have already been discovered by your master, Teng Hua."

After listening for a while, Yakumo chimed in, "Fujika, it's one thing to make a ruckus at home, but to even sneak into the office and rummage through things... After the exams are over today, you'd better be careful when you go home. This time, I don't think anyone's opinion will matter. Master is the Hokage now, and his office has countless confidential documents."

He said this.

In her heart, she was thinking that Teng Hua probably hadn't even gone into her master's office to rummage around. Given her master's mastery of illusion magic, Teng Hua probably just stood guard at the door for a while and then leisurely went home. Of course, she would never say this out loud.

It would be good to scare the wisteria blossoms a little.

This girl is getting bolder and bolder.

If we don't find a way to manage this, who knows what big things they might do in the future!

"Huh?"

Fujika's eyes widened. "No way! I didn't see anything! Really, I was so focused on finding our group list that I didn't notice anything at all!" These words made Yakumo even more convinced that Fujika had been fooled by an illusion.

"If we're teaming up, Ino, you'll definitely be with Shikamaru and Choji!"

Ying spoke up at this moment.

"I've heard of the Konoha Ino-Shika-Cho trio; they're incredibly famous in the ninja world. Our class happens to have Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji. It would be strange if we didn't put the three of you together!"

Hotaru Tsuchigumo's words were reasonable and well-founded, causing everyone around her to nod subconsciously, clearly having all heard of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio from Konoha.

"・・・"

Ino instantly became withdrawn.

She pouted.

Looking at Choji Akimichi sitting not far away eating potato chips, and then at Sasuke talking quietly to Naruto by the window, a surge of grievance welled up inside her. The difference... was just too big.

Sakura Haruno didn't participate in the gossip. She just listened while thinking about what happened that morning. When she went out that morning, she encountered a masked ANBU. As she hesitated whether to shout for her parents, the ANBU told her that if she wanted to go to the Kirigakure embassy, ​​she could go without worrying about any problems.

finished,

It will disappear immediately.

However, the girl was still somewhat worried.

The girl, who excelled in her academic studies, vaguely sensed the problem behind this matter. Contacting ninjas from other villages... could very well lead to being mistaken for a spy, and the students of the ninja academy knew what the fate of spies was. The most important aspect of academic education was to cultivate students' sense of belonging to the village.

Even if that ANBU member said those things this morning,

But it's impossible to say that the unease in one's heart has been eliminated.

However, she did not regret her contact with her senior. If it weren't for his guidance, she probably would never have had the chance to learn such a unique ninjutsu in her entire life. The Bubble Technique is not a single technique, but a series of techniques with many uses. Even she could understand the preciousness of this technique.

If it were in Konoha

This technique could very well support another family.

It was something that a ninja from a small clan, who was not much different from ordinary ninjas, could not possibly come into contact with. His parents were also the kind of ordinary Chunin who rose through the ranks by accumulating experience and merits. They were basically proficient in C-rank ninjutsu and did not know any high-rank ninjutsu, so they could not provide her with any decent help.

If you want to be as dazzling as Fujika, Yakumo, and Ino.

In her opinion,

The guidance from senior Bubbles was perhaps her only chance to stand in the same world as Fujika and the others. Even though she knew at the time that senior was a Kirigakure ninja, she would not have given up such an opportunity.

The changes brought about by Zongxian

It is everywhere.

Just like Naruto didn't fall for Sakura, but became best friends with Sasuke, almost like they were inseparable. Sakura and Ino weren't smitten by Sasuke's looks either. Although Sasuke still doesn't smile much, he's not the reclusive boy burdened with a blood feud. Not smiling doesn't mean he can't smile. If you're lucky, seeing Sasuke smile isn't anything to be surprised about.

Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka, Hinata Hyuga, Fujika Uchiha, Yakumo Kurama, and Hotaru Tsuchigumo formed a group of girls in the class. While they weren't exactly separated from the boys, they mostly did their own thing.

Sakura Haruno, this girl,

Her personality remains strong, but the difference lies in the fact that the girl doesn't have much longing for romance. What she wants more is to stand with Yakumo, Fujika, and the others, appreciating the same scenery. Furthermore, if she wants to turn her vague feelings for Sasuke, the handsome guy, into reality, she needs to have the corresponding confidence.

Sasuke is also one of the top geniuses in the class!