Time passed quickly, fleeting like a shuttle.
Years always add the marks of time to each person's body without them noticing.
Moving his fingers, he flipped through a few pages.
In the blink of an eye, Ryoma had also been training under Orochimaru for over a year now.
And his time at the Ninja Academy had passed a full two and a half years.
Finally, it was time to graduate.
At this point, the Ninja Academy exams were naturally nothing to Ryoma. Over this year, under the careful guidance within the Nara family and from Orochimaru, Ryoma's strength had grown by more than just one level.
As for the theory exams, don't look down on Ryoma's ability from his previous life to cram at the last minute, a special skill unique to earth students where just one night of cramming before the exam could smoothly pass all kinds of final tests, hey!
If he couldn't even pass a Genin exam, Orochimaru said: Don't go out and say you're my disciple.
Too embarrassing!
Our Asuma was truly happy today.
Three years! A full three years!
That's 1,095 days and nights!
Do you know how Asuma spent these three years?!!
Finally, perseverance paid off and the clouds parted to reveal the moon.
Asuma had also gotten his wish and become....
A proper...
Genin!
Ah, and you know what?
Ryoma felt quite excited when he received his own ninja forehead protector.
After all, this also represented Ryoma officially beginning to step into this world as a ninja.
Besides, that's a Genin...
A Konoha Genin...
You all know how much weight that carries.
A saying still circulates in the ninja world to this day:
When fighting a Konoha ninja, if you find he is a Chūnin, then you can relax slightly; basically, you can defeat him with your strength.
If he is a Jōnin, then you need to be a bit more careful.
Also, remember to try not to face off against that white-haired, mask-wearing emo youth, because no matter how strong you are, he can trade a few blows with you.
And definitely don't face off against that green spandex-wearing, teeth-flashing youth of springtime, because he is the only one in this cheat-filled ninja world who worked himself into being a cheat through sheer effort.
But if you encounter a Konoha Genin...
Don't hesitate, don't look back, just run!
If you don't run by the time the BGM starts, you're dead for sure, my friend.
Jōnin fights involve pots and pans, Genin fights sink Konoha!
...
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office,
The Third Hokage was looking at the information of this year's Ninja Academy graduates placed on his desk.
Asuma, Yūhi Kurenai, Shiranui Genma, Ebisu, Shizune...
Truly a generation of talented individuals, whether from famous major clans or excellent ninjas from civilian families,
The quality of this class could be said to be unusually high.
Not to mention Hatake Kakashi, who graduated from the Ninja Academy at age 5 and was promoted to Chūnin at age 6.
And also... Nara Ryoma.
The Third Hokage picked up the photo of Nara Ryoma,
And fell into contemplation.
Who should he put Ryoma on a team with?
To be honest, he was well aware of Ryoma's talent.
The Third Hokage's understanding of Ryoma was considerable.
Moreover, Ryoma had become the disciple of his favorite student—Orochimaru.
As his own disciple's student, the Third Hokage would often ask Orochimaru about Ryoma's various circumstances.
After all, as the first Kekkei Genkai user to appear in the Nara clan, the Third hoped to firmly keep Ryoma within the Hokage faction.
A Nara clan Kekkei Genkai user, disciple of Konoha's Sannin Orochimaru, combat ability far surpassing his peers...
Previously, Nara clan ninjas basically always teamed up with Yamanaka and Akimichi clan ninjas, facilitating synergy between their abilities.
Naturally, the strongest from these three clans would form Konoha's "Ino–Shika–Chō" combination.
For example, this generation's "Ino–Shika–Chō" was composed of Ryoma's uncle Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Chōza, and Yamanaka Inoichi.
According to custom, to foster the special bond between the three clans, a member of the Sarutobi clan would act as a witness and present earrings to members of the three clans.
Taking an oath upon the earrings was a tradition passed down through generations of the three clans.
Back then, the earrings for Nara Shikaku and the others were personally presented and witnessed by the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
But Ryoma was different.
Not to mention Ryoma possessed an extremely unique Kekkei Genkai ability, there really weren't any suitable ninja members from the other two clans of the "Ino–Shika–Chō" combination in his year to pair with him.
The Third Hokage currently felt a splitting headache.
He had actually suggested that Orochimaru act as the Jonin Instructor leading Ryoma's team,
As for the other team members, Orochimaru could pick.
If Orochimaru could serve as a Jonin Instructor, not only would Ryoma's team assignment problem be solved, but the pressure of Jōnin allocation in Konoha would also lessen considerably.
After all, Konoha really didn't have much manpower to spare right now.
Friction at the village borders was constant, and the ninja world situation was gradually becoming severe.
The Third couldn't be sure how long the superficial peace between the various villages could still be maintained.
But Orochimaru refused without a second thought.
His reason was that he didn't want to spend too much effort on leading Genin; teaching Ryoma alone already took up a lot of his research time.
(Ryoma remarked: "You don't mention the experiments you conducted using me at all!")
If he became a Jonin Instructor, wouldn't he have to spend every day doing boring D-rank missions with three brats.
Orochimaru said: I refuse.
Sending three kids over to help with odd jobs would be more like it.
The Third Hokage felt the cool air on his already thinning scalp increase a bit more.
"Since that's the case, then let's arrange it like this..."
Ninja Academy.
Ryoma arrived at the academy early; today was team assignment day.
Looking at Asuma's excited face in the classroom, Ryoma helplessly shook his head,
This little brother was still so unable to keep his composure.
Ryoma walked over and patted Asuma's shoulder.
Asuma was currently chatting animatedly with his sweetheart Kurenai, and couldn't believe someone dared to interrupt his conversation with Kurenai.
"I, Asuma, will see today just who is so blind as to dare interrupt my precious time alone with cute Kurenai baby!"
Asuma turned around with a fierce demeanor, only to see Ryoma's harmless face wearing a faint smile as he looked at him.
Asuma stood up, Asuma sat down.
The momentum he had mustered instantly deflated.
"Ry... Big Brother, you're here, please sit, please sit!"
Ryoma looked at Asuma, who had gotten angry only to immediately curb his anger, smiled and shook his head, speaking to Asuma earnestly:
"Asuma, how many times have I told you, you must always be steady. Understand? The kind of steady where if Mount Konomi (Mount Tai Of Ninja World) collapses in front of you, your expression doesn't change! That's how you accomplish great things, understand?"
Asuma smiled obsequiously, "Yes, yes, Big Brother Ryoma is right, I still can't compare to you in this aspect, you're always so steady!"
Kurenai, watching the two living treasures in front of her from behind, couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle softly.
Asuma usually acted fearless towards everyone at the Ninja Academy,
The only one he was afraid of was Ryoma.
The moment Ryoma came over, Asuma immediately transformed from a fierce tiger into a little lamb.
Lives by the Konoha pond, skilled at turning Asuma into a lamb~
Mainly because Ryoma really did beat him up, sometimes even summoning a group of big men in black to gang up on him.
Asuma thought to himself secretly: "Just you wait, Ryoma, after teams are assigned today, I will never be oppressed under your tyranny again. Then I'll live a happy ninja life with Kurenai, just the two of us, while you, you can wait to grow old alone!!!"
Ryoma didn't know Asuma was mentally drawing circles cursing him,
And he wouldn't care if he did.
Women would only slow down my pace of devouring snakes!
Just then, Itō Makoto walked into the class with light steps and told everyone to quickly sit down and get ready for team assignments.
Asuma looked on with anticipation, waiting for the team assignment results. He had told the old man he must be placed in the same team as Kurenai!
If Ryoma knew, he would surely scold Asuma: Even this requires connections?!
Ryoma was naturally also very curious about who he would be teamed up with.
Teacher Itō opened his roster and began calling out names one by one.
Until,
"Team Six: Sarutobi Asuma, Yūhi Kurenai,"
"Yes!"
Asuma cheered inwardly; he could finally go on missions with cute Kurenai.
"And... Nara Ryoma."
Hearing the last name,
Asuma, who had just been excited, instantly petrified.
At this moment, Asuma didn't seem all that happy anymore.
Turning to look at Ryoma, who was gazing at him with a smile on his face, the expression seemed to say:
"You can't escape! Asuma."
At this moment,
Asuma began to miss his mother a little...
---