After waking up, Tachibana Kenji casually glanced at the calendar.
He suddenly realized that the Ninja Academy graduation examination had actually taken place the day before yesterday.
His days had been so routine lately that he hadn’t paid much attention to the date.
Besides, it had already been more than three months since he left the Ninja Academy, so he hadn’t really been keeping track of the graduation examination.
He had marked the date on the calendar back when he had first crossed over into this world.
At the time, he had literally been counting the days, and it had felt just like a countdown to the college entrance examination.
Thinking about it, Tachibana Kenji couldn’t help smiling.
But now that the graduation examination is over, Zabuza should have officially become a genin, right?
All sorts of jumbled thoughts swirled through Tachibana Kenji’s mind as he ate breakfast.
He wondered whether he should go to the Shinobi Registration Office later and ask about his squad assignment.
“Lan, do you think they’ll put me in the same squad as Zabuza, or will they happen to form a squad out of clan shinobi who just became genin?” The little frog was still half-asleep.
It hadn’t even understood what its master had said and simply responded on instinct.
Tachibana Kenji had only been making conversation while eating anyway.
He hadn’t actually expected an answer.
After breakfast, Tachibana Kenji arrived at the hospital for work, only to be summoned to the office by Saigyōji Keiko.
“Tachibana, the village has made arrangements for you.
I heard you’ll be assigned to a squad led by a jōnin.” That was good news.
Normally, there were far too many genin graduating in each class, so ordinary squads were led by chūnin.
It seemed he actually had Zabuza to thank.
However, Saigyōji Keiko’s expression didn’t look anything like someone delivering good news.
Instead, she looked worried.
Tachibana Kenji immediately had a guess as to why.
Sure enough, Saigyōji Keiko briefly explained what had happened during yesterday’s graduation examination.
“That Zabuza Momochi will be in the same squad as you.
You…
be careful around him.” “Don’t worry, Auntie Keiko.” Tachibana Kenji gave Saigyōji Keiko a reassuring smile.
“I believe you.
Get yourself ready this morning and report to Training Ground Nine this afternoon.” That morning, Tachibana Kenji first went to say goodbye to Kisame Hoshigaki, who was still hospitalized.
At noon, he had lunch with Saigyōji Keiko.
Only after that did he arrive at Training Ground Nine, somewhat nervously.
Unlike Training Ground Eleven, which he frequently visited before, Training Ground Nine wasn’t particularly large, but its facilities were much more complete.
There was a lake, a wooded area, artificial rock formations, and all sorts of other features.
The moment Tachibana Kenji entered the training ground, he discovered that three people—one adult and two children—had already been waiting there for who knew how long.
More interestingly, all three were people he knew.
“Sorry, Captain.
I’m late.” Tachibana Kenji apologized to Ao, whose eyes were still perfectly intact and had yet to be replaced with the Byakugan.
Beside him, Mei Terumi didn’t act the least bit reserved when she saw Tachibana Kenji arrive.
Instead, she stuck out her tongue at him and gestured toward the left.
Zabuza, standing on the left, showed no expression.
Well, technically, his expression couldn’t be seen.
The lower half of his face was wrapped completely in bandages, leaving only his cold, emotionless eyes visible.
At this point, Zabuza Momochi already looked remarkably similar to his future appearance.
His forehead protector was tilted to one side, with the strap hanging loosely down the right side.
White bandages covered his neck and the lower half of his face.
He was dressed in the same sleeveless shirt he would wear in the future.
However, instead of the massive Kubikiribōchō strapped to his back, he carried an ordinary short sword.
Given Zabuza’s current height, it was just the right size for him.
Ao didn’t seem displeased by Tachibana Kenji’s greeting.
Instead, he spoke gently.
“You’re not late.
This morning, Mei and I took Zabuza to complete his shinobi registration, so we came here together.” “All right.
Since everyone is here, we’ll be working together on missions from now on.
Let’s start by introducing ourselves.” Ao clapped his hands, signaling the three of them to focus.
Seeing all three look toward him, Ao simply began with his own introduction.
“My name is Ao.
I’ll be your jōnin leader from now on.
I’m proficient in Water Release, Wind Release, and sensory ninjutsu.
I dislike people who don’t follow the rules.” After finishing, he looked at the other three.
All of them wore completely indifferent expressions, and none seemed inclined to speak first.
Ao already had a feeling that this squad was going to be difficult to manage.
Young Ao wasn’t particularly good at dealing with awkward silence, so he repeatedly glanced at Mei Terumi, trying to get her to speak.
However, Mei’s attention was entirely focused on Tachibana Kenji and Zabuza.
She hadn’t noticed her captain’s predicament at all.
Seeing the expression on Ao’s face as though he were about to roll his eyes right out of their sockets, Tachibana Kenji—who had originally intended to wait for Ao’s longtime subordinate Mei to speak first—decisively broke the awkward silence.
“My name is Tachibana Kenji.
I’m proficient in Water Release and medical ninjutsu.
I like the feeling of becoming stronger, and I hate anything dangerous.
My dream is to live happily until I die of old age.” “What kind of dream is that?
No matter how many times I hear it, I still can’t accept it!” Mei Terumi, who hadn’t even bothered to relieve Ao’s awkwardness a moment ago, couldn’t help complaining now.
After teasing Tachibana Kenji, Mei seemed to feel that she had to prove the point herself and began her own introduction.
“My name is Mei Terumi.
I’m one year ahead of you two, and I’ve already been a genin for a year.
That makes me your senior.” She paused slightly.
However, when she saw that neither Tachibana Kenji nor Zabuza reacted in the slightest, she had no choice but to continue.
“I’m proficient in Water Release and Earth Release.
What I like?
I’m not telling you.
And my dream is to become Mizukage!” Looking at Mei, who had raised her chin proudly, Tachibana Kenji cooperatively gave her a thumbs-up.
Finally, under the gazes of all three others, even Zabuza couldn’t remain silent any longer.
“Zabuza Momochi.
I’m proficient in taijutsu, kenjutsu, and…
and Water Release.” Zabuza sounded somewhat uncertain when he said the last part.
He wasn’t sure whether being capable of using a B-rank technique like Water Dragon Jutsu was enough to count as being proficient in Water Release.
Good grief.
The entire four-person squad uses Water Release.
So every village except the protagonist’s Konoha is just a single-element village?
Tachibana Kenji silently complained to himself.
Though Mei said she’s proficient in Water Release and Earth Release.
Does that mean she hasn’t developed her Kekkei Genkai yet?
She’ll eventually become the first person with not just one, but two Kekkei Genkai.
As expected of a genius.
On the other side, seeing that Zabuza had fallen silent after saying only that much, Ao had no choice but to ask another question.
“What about your dream?” “My dream…” Zabuza’s eyes seemed somewhat lost.
“To change this village, perhaps.” Everyone present noticed the uncertainty in his voice and expression.
But no one said anything more about it.
Ao thought for a moment before speaking.
“Although everyone has already introduced themselves, the main purpose of gathering here today is to let everyone get to know their future teammates better through actual combat.” “Mei, Zabuza, and Ju—you three will be the attacking side.
You have three minutes to formulate a strategy.
I’ll be the defending side.” Before the three children could ask another question, Ao Body Flickered away and headed straight into the forest in the training ground without even looking back.
The three of them stared at Ao’s agile retreating figure.
They hadn’t even fully processed what had happened when they exchanged glances with black lines practically hanging over their heads.
Tachibana Kenji looked at Mei Terumi somewhat speechlessly.
“Captain Ao…
is this always how he leads a squad?
This…
efficient?” Although Zabuza’s face remained expressionless beneath his bandages, a trace of doubt also appeared in his eyes as he looked at Mei.
Mei raised a hand to her forehead, feeling that she had lost a little face on behalf of her captain.
But verbally, she simply changed the subject.
“Let’s follow orders and make a plan first.
Although Captain Ao rarely had to step in during our missions over the past year, I do have some information I can share.”