Black hair tied in a bun, eyes curved like crescent moons brimming with laughter.
A single glance was enough to leave a lifelong impression.
Shiki walked over and asked, "How come you're here?"
Tenten took Shiki's hand. "Master Guy heard you were graduating today, so he rushed back from his mission early just to celebrate with you!"
Shiki felt a bit awkward. "It's just a graduation exam. It's not that big of a deal."
"It's only us a few people—what's so grand about that?" Tenten stuck out her tongue playfully as she countered.
Graduation marked the end of their days at the Ninja Academy.
Of course, those who failed the first graduation exam would have to take second and even third retakes.
They would remain on campus.
In class, students who had already passed made plans to go out for dinner together, celebrating—and mourning—the end of their academy lives.
Shikamaru and Choji played shogi, waiting for Ino Yamanaka, the last member of the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, to finish her exam.
Only Naruto remained alone in the corner, still lost in gloom. Shiki intended to invite him along.
But then he hesitated. If they went, surely Tenten and Lee would make him the center of attention. The marginalized Naruto might feel even more ignored and hurt.
"Come on, Shiki! Otherwise Lee and Master Guy might seize this chance to do something terrifying for training again, which could take forever," Tenten complained while pulling Shiki toward the door.
"Alright, alright," Shiki agreed without delay, following Tenten outside.
Half an hour later, although the sky hadn't darkened yet, with most children leaving the campus amid joy and bittersweet farewells, the empty campus unavoidably felt a little desolate.
Yuuma Akimoto ran cheerfully into Iruka's classroom.
Her small hand clutched a forehead protector bearing the Konoha symbol.
"Shiki! Look what I did—I passed!"
Her voice echoed through the hollow classroom, and happiness suddenly turned into lonely silence.
Chapter 78: Sword's Guardian
"Yeah, good, smile more brightly."
The photographer kept adjusting Shiki's posture one point at a time.
Right now, Shiki no longer wore red bangs across his forehead; instead, he wore a Konoha forehead protector.
Shiki cooperated and showed a smile, so the photographer quickly pressed the shutter button.
Click!
"All done! Here's your registration book."
The man handed the ninja registration document to Shiki, who thanked him before accepting it.
As long as he submitted this registration document to the relevant personnel, he'd officially become a registered Genin of Konoha Village.
Thinking about it, two days from now would be the day when team assignments begin.
And
Today should've been the day when Naruto failed his third graduation exam—also the day when Mizuki tricked Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals.
Shiki's gaze sharpened. Even though he wasn't planning to interfere directly in this incident,
he decided to observe quietly from the sidelines to prevent dangerous outcomes.
Still, thinking back, this situation was quite strange.
Naruto actually managed to take the Scroll of Seals from the Hokage Office. What's more, he encountered absolutely no resistance along the way.
He even had time to learn the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"What exactly are those ANBU doing?" Shiki sighed helplessly.
After thinking it over, Shiki could only come up with two possible explanations.
Firstly, maybe the Third deliberately allowed Naruto to learn the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu. After all, it was written on the very first page of the Scroll of Seals, so Naruto would certainly see it.
Moreover, Naruto, who carried the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan, also possessed extraordinary vitality. He could minimize the ninjutsu's side effects.
Therefore, this technique was indeed the most suitable ninjutsu for him.
Secondly, at that moment there truly wasn't any direct subordinate ANBU guarding around the Hokage Office. Considering many of the Third's ANBU might have been out on missions beyond the village.
However, Shiki knew these were merely his own simplistic guesses, regardless of which one.
Perhaps the truth was more complicated than he imagined, or—like in the original story—it might be just that simple.
"Shiki, Shiki! Look at my photo!"
Yuuma Akimoto waved her ninja registration document in front of Shiki.
"Mm, it's pretty," Shiki nodded in agreement.
Yet Yuuma showed a bit of sadness on her face, "But you didn't even look yet."
Kids always got under your skin no matter how patient you were.
Shiki muttered to himself again and forced a smile as he replied,
"Looking at Yuuma herself, I can already tell how amazing that photo must be!"
As expected, Yuuma—who had kept her head down—lifted her face and hesitantly asked, "Really, Shiki?"
"Mm." He nodded firmly, wearing an expression unshakable even if the sky itself collapsed.
Deep down, though, he felt like he'd somehow fathered a daughter after a wild night somewhere far away—a memory he'd rather forget.
The problem is—I'm still young, at least by standards in this world.
Wasting his time worrying over a little girl's feelings felt like a luxury he just couldn't afford.
Thinking about this, Shiki couldn't help but recall Tenten. Although they got along extremely well, she never bothered him with trivial matters like this.
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