Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Squad Assignments and the First Hokage’s Necklace

Friday morning.

Still deep in sleep, Natsuki heard Nawaki’s voice.

He instinctively sat up and glanced at the window.

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

Natsuki changed his clothes and left the room.

"Good morning, Natsuki."

Seeing him in the living room, Kushina greeted him with a face full of smiles.

Sitting next to her was her friend, Uzumaki Kae.

"Why are you four here so early today?"

Natsuki asked, confused.

"Nawaki said he wanted to come over and eat the breakfast you make."

Kushina replied immediately.

"It was clearly—"

Nawaki only managed to say three words before receiving a warning glare from Kushina.

He stopped immediately and nodded vigorously at Natsuki.

Natsuki couldn’t help but smile.

Blink if you’re being threatened.

Right at that moment, Nonou walked out of her room.

Nawaki’s voice was very loud just now, so she woke up too.

But even if Nawaki and Kushina hadn’t come, she and Natsuki would have woken up soon anyway.

As ninjas, with few exceptions, none of them slept in.

"What do you guys want for breakfast?"

Natsuki glanced at Nonou.

"Ramen!"

Kushina said immediately.

"Anything is fine."

Nawaki and Uzumaki Kae said in unison.

"Me too."

Minato followed closely.

"Then ramen it is."

Natsuki nodded, turned, and walked into the kitchen.

Soon, the six of them gathered around the dining table in the living room.

"I wonder if Kae will be teammates with Minato."

Kushina took a sip of ramen broth and said with narrowed eyes.

Previously, Tsunade only told them that Natsuki, Nawaki, and Nonou would be teammates—but didn’t mention Minato and Uzumaki Kae.

"It’s highly likely."

Natsuki nodded. "Kae’s strength is not bad, and she’s in the same class as Minato. She’ll probably be prioritized for his team."

Of course, there was another reason he didn’t mention.

He felt Sarutobi Hiruzen would treat Uzumaki Kae as a backup Nine-Tails Jinchuriki for Kushina.

After all, besides Kushina, she had the highest talent among the Uzumaki clan members in Konoha.

Making her a ninja of the Hokage’s faction would be even more beneficial for establishing a bond with her.

"I have no objections."

Minato said carelessly.

He actually wanted to be teammates with Natsuki and Nawaki.

Because he had the best relationship with them.

But the overall situation was already decided, so he could only settle for the next best thing and team up with Uzumaki Kae.

At least with her strength, she wouldn’t hold him back.

"Could the remaining teammate be from our class?"

Nawaki looked up.

"Are there any geniuses in your class besides you?"

Natsuki asked with some curiosity.

In Class 6-A, he only knew Nawaki.

"In front of you, they can’t be considered geniuses at all."

Nawaki paused. "But there are a few whose strength is pretty good. They’ll definitely pass the graduation exam."

"It’s fine."

Minato smiled. "We’ll know who it is soon enough."

After the graduation exam ended, the squad assignments would be announced.

After breakfast, the group arrived at the Class 6-A classroom.

There weren’t many students in the Ninja Academy who could graduate early.

This year, it was only Natsuki and a few others, so they were arranged to take the graduation exam together with the Class 6-A students.

Their arrival sparked a lot of discussion.

But Natsuki and the others didn’t take the initiative to get to know them.

The reason was simple.

Many of the students here might not graduate.

Even if they did, they might be sent back by their Jonin instructors.

For example, Hatake Kakashi.

Before becoming the Jonin instructor for Team 7, he sent many graduated Genin back to the Ninja Academy.

Of course, willful Jonin instructors like Hatake Kakashi were relatively rare. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

At 9 AM.

A young ninja walked into the classroom.

He was the teacher of Class 6-A and also the examiner for this graduation exam.

"When your name is called, go to the classroom next door to take the graduation exam."

The young ninja said. "The content of the exam is to randomly draw one of the Three Basic Jutsu."

After he finished speaking, he went to the classroom next door.

The graduation exam officially began.

While waiting, Natsuki looked at a line of text before his eyes.

[Congratulations, Host. You have unlocked Gordon Template Ability 3: Violet Umbrella.]

This was the result of his hard work this semester: learning Water Release: Water Formation Wall.

Besides that, he also mastered Hanzo’s kenjutsu.

He was only one kenjutsu style short of unlocking Ability 4 of the Sasaki Kojiro template.

Natsuki planned to make another trip to the Land of Iron when he had time.

He intended to use Hanzo’s kenjutsu to exchange for Mifune’s kenjutsu.

Just a month ago, Hanzo led a sneak attack on the Land of Iron and fought a battle with Mifune.

Just like the result in the original story, Mifune lost to Hanzo.

Fortunately, Jiraiya brought reinforcements in time, sparing the Land of Iron from disaster.

"Uzumaki Kushina!"

The young ninja’s voice rang out.

"Do your best!"

Nawaki clenched his fists.

"I’ll definitely get a perfect score!"

Kushina said with full confidence.

She could even learn sealing jutsu—let alone the Three Basic Jutsu. It wouldn’t stump her at all.

A special dead last case like Uzumaki Naruto was truly rare.

In less than five minutes, Kushina returned.

She said with a face full of smiles. "Perfect score!"

"As expected of you!"

Nawaki gave a thumbs up. "I have to get a perfect score too!"

Kushina looked at Natsuki.

"Very impressive!"

Natsuki praised.

Kushina instantly became even happier.

"Yakushi Nonou!"

The young ninja’s voice rang out again.

Natsuki looked at Nonou and nodded.

As a medical ninja, the Three Basic Jutsu posed no difficulty for her either.

Soon, it was Natsuki’s turn.

He stood up and went to the classroom next door.

There were two examiners for the graduation exam, but he didn’t know either of them.

He walked forward and drew the Transformation Jutsu.

Natsuki inexplicably thought of the Sexy Jutsu from the Uzumaki Naruto template.

But if he used the Sexy Jutsu here, his lifelong reputation would be ruined—and even Orochimaru’s reputation would be affected.

Natsuki formed hand seals and used the Transformation Jutsu.

His appearance shifted, transforming into Nawaki.

"Perfect."

The young ninja took a couple of glances. "Congratulations on passing the exam and becoming an official ninja."

"Thank you."

Natsuki dispelled the Transformation Jutsu and left the classroom.

"How was it?"

Nawaki asked impatiently.

"How else could it be?"

Kushina said without hesitation. "Natsuki definitely got a perfect score."

"I drew the Transformation Jutsu. It was pretty simple."

Natsuki nodded and said casually.

"Are you saying the Substitution Jutsu and Clone Jutsu would be difficult for you?"

Nawaki complained.

"Namikaze Minato!"

The young ninja’s voice timely interrupted their chat.

Time slowly passed, and the graduation exam came to a close. Many ninjas appeared outside the classroom.

They were the Jonin instructors selected by Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Natsuki saw Tsunade and Jiraiya.

As the battlefield commander, Orochimaru couldn’t leave the Land of Rain, so Tsunade would temporarily take his place.

"I will now announce the squad assignments. Team 1: Natsuki, Nawaki, and Yakushi Nonou."

The young ninja picked up the squad assignment list and read. "The Jonin instructor is Orochimaru."

Besides Nonou, Natsuki and Nawaki were very famous in the Ninja Academy.

Although the Class 6-A students were surprised, it wasn’t by much.

The young ninja, however, felt very emotional.

Because he knew very well the value of this Team 1.

Perhaps a new Konoha Sannin would emerge.

But the value of Team 2 wasn’t bad either.

"Team 2: Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kae, and Inuzuka Suzume."

The young man said in a deep voice. "The Jonin instructor is Jiraiya."

As his voice fell, a commotion broke out in the classroom.

"Who is Inuzuka Suzume?"

Nawaki scratched his head. "She’s not a student in our class."

"Could it be a student from another class?"

Kushina guessed.

"No."

Minato pondered for a moment. "Her name didn’t appear among the students taking the exam."

"Indeed."

Natsuki nodded. "I didn’t hear her name called either."

"She is a student of the medical ninja training class."

Nonou suddenly spoke up. "In our medical ninja training class, she ranks second."

"I see."

A look of realization appeared on Nawaki’s face, and he asked curiously. "Who is first?"

"Who do you think?"

Natsuki glanced at him.

"How would I kno— Oh, it’s Nonou."

Nawaki finally realized the problem and smiled embarrassedly.

"Why didn’t she come to take the graduation exam?"

Kushina asked, confused.

"Students of the medical ninja training class originally don’t need to come take the graduation exam."

Natsuki explained. "Nonou is an exception."

"No wonder."

Kushina nodded.

"Let’s go find our Jonin instructors."

Natsuki stood up.

The group left the classroom and arrived in front of Tsunade and Jiraiya.

After exchanging pleasantries, Jiraiya took Minato and Uzumaki Kae away.

They still had to go to the Konoha Hospital to find Inuzuka Suzume.

"Congratulations on your successful graduation."

Tsunade looked at Natsuki’s group of four and smiled.

"Sister, I heard there’s some kind of bell-snatching test?"

Nawaki asked impatiently.

"There is—but it’s unnecessary. I know your strength very well."

Tsunade said casually. "Self-introductions are also waived, since I already know your situations."

"Sister, you’re being so perfunctory!"

Nawaki said with some dissatisfaction.

"I prepared a gift for you."

Tsunade reached out and took off the First Hokage’s necklace she was wearing.

"Sister, you’re giving me Grandfather’s necklace?"

Nawaki instantly became excited.

"Haven’t you always wanted it?"

Tsunade handed it to him and said with a serious blessing. "Nawaki, I hope you become a Hokage as strong as Grandfather soon."

"Thank you, Sister!"

Nawaki took the First Hokage’s necklace and said with a face full of excitement.

Natsuki glanced at the First Hokage’s necklace, feeling a subtle sensation in his heart.

In the original story, the First Hokage’s necklace was known as the necklace of death. Whoever took it died—even Uzumaki Naruto died once.

Fortunately, the forehead kiss from the original story didn’t happen.

Otherwise, with double the death flags, Natsuki couldn’t guarantee whether Nawaki would survive.

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