Her consciousness drifted through an endless sea of scorching pain and tearing agony.
Anko Mitarashi felt as though she had returned to that dark, sunless room once again.
Am I… going to die?
After Orochimaru implanted the Curse Mark of Heaven on her, she had been abandoned like a failed experiment—left alone to endure inhuman torment, hovering on the brink between life and death.
That nightmare had carved itself deep into her soul.
Yet just as she felt she was about to be completely swallowed by the pain, the violent energy that had nearly suffocated her suddenly retreated like a receding tide.
In its place flowed an indescribable coolness, gentle and brimming with vitality. It swept through her entire body, dispelling pain and darkness alike, bringing with it an unprecedented sense of peace and comfort.
It was as if she had been dragged back from hell in an instant, bathed in warm sunlight.
She stared blankly at the handsome face so close to hers, her mind unable to process what had just happened.
Inside her chest, her heart pounded wildly—there was the aftershock of surviving disaster, but also something else mixed in.
Something that made her feel inexplicably shy.
What… just happened?
Did this brat do something to me?
Clink.
A crisp sound snapped her out of her thoughts.
Anko subconsciously lowered her gaze.
The bell that had been tied at her waist was now resting against Ruichi's chest.
Her eyes slowly shifted—from the bell, to the boy holding her, and then to the fact that she was practically buried in his arms.
Her mind went blank.
Then—
A wave of heat surged from her neck straight to the top of her head.
She—she was actually being held by a freshly graduated brat, in such an embarrassingly intimate posture?!
Anko's thoughts spun rapidly as she pieced things together.
Her Curse Mark had flared up. She'd collapsed in agony.
And this brat had taken the opportunity to snatch the bell.
At the same time… he'd somehow relieved her pain?
Yes. That had to be it.
Even if he'd taken advantage of the situation, he had helped her.
And… he wasn't bad-looking either.
No matter how she looked at it, this kid had helped her—and he clearly had potential.
Professionally and personally, she should lend him a hand.
Let him pass.
Yes. That was the right thing to do.
"Heh…"
Anko suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
"Not bad, brat."
She didn't immediately get up. Instead, she raised a hand and lightly traced Ruichi's chin with her fingertips, her eyes carrying a teasing curiosity.
"Striking when I was at my weakest… you're quite good at seizing opportunities."
Ruichi: "..."
I didn't. I wasn't. I just wanted to take you to the hospital.
"Congratulations."
Anko's lips curved into a meaningful smile as she stared straight into his eyes, enunciating every word clearly.
"You—passed."
Looking at the way Anko gazed at him, as if she might devour him whole, Ruichi felt only one thing:
My future looks bleak.
---
Inside the Hokage's Office.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk, holding the list of those who had passed the survival exercise.
His eyes calmly scanned the names.
Most were familiar—clan heirs, or Genin who had displayed exceptional performance.
His gaze paused briefly on one name.
Ruichi.
A civilian-born ninja. Average performance at the Academy. Yet he'd obtained a bell during Anko Mitarashi's assessment.
"He picked it up because Anko's Curse Mark flared up… lucky kid," the Third Hokage muttered, exhaling a puff of smoke.
He didn't particularly care whether a civilian Genin passed or not.
Rules were rules. The bell had been taken—so the pass stood.
There were far more troubling matters.
The Uchiha Clan.
Recently, tensions between the Uchiha and the Village had been escalating, inching closer and closer to open conflict.
Just yesterday, the clan had held yet another large-scale gathering, claiming it was for internal affairs.
On the surface, they remained obedient—but gatherings this frequent clearly meant something was being planned.
Hiruzen picked up another document.
It was the latest ANBU surveillance report on the Uchiha compound.
Between the lines was a suffocating sense of pressure—like a storm on the verge of breaking.
"I hope it doesn't come to that…"
He sighed, tapped ash into the tray, and set the report aside, no longer in the mood to read the rest of the assessment list.
---
Ruichi walked home at an unhurried pace, his expression calm.
"The troublesome assessment is finally over."
After dealing with irritating matters, nothing was more comforting than returning to that place filled with warmth and the aroma of food.
"I'm home."
As he lifted the curtain of Ichiraku Ramen, the rich scent of broth and wheat noodles rushed toward him.
"Welcome back, Brother Ruichi!"
Ayame's bright, cheerful voice rang out immediately as she poked her head out from behind the counter, her smile shining like sunlight.
Teuchi, busy behind the counter, also looked up with a gentle smile.
"You're back, Ruichi. How was it? Did everything go smoothly today?"
"Yeah. It's done." Ruichi slumped onto a stool.
"Starting today, I'm officially a Genin."
"Really?!" Ayame exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement.
"That's amazing, Brother Ruichi!"
Teuchi's grin widened, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening.
"I knew you'd be fine. You must be hungry, right? I made a deluxe chashu miso ramen just for you—to celebrate your graduation."
"Yay!" Ayame was even happier than Ruichi himself.
"I want an extra soft-boiled egg!"
"Hahaha, you'll both get one."
Watching the father and daughter in front of him, Ruichi leaned back lazily, a faint smile creeping onto his face without him noticing.
Well… being a ninja is a high-paying job, at least.
Worst case, I'll just keep slacking off during missions.
Soon, a steaming bowl of ramen was placed before him.
Slices of meat piled up like a small mountain, a glossy golden soft-boiled egg, emerald-green scallions scattered throughout—it looked like a work of art.
"Eat while it's hot."
The noodles were springy and smooth, perfectly coated in rich broth.
The flavor exploded across his taste buds.
Pure happiness.
Missions. Ninjas. Kekkei Genkai.
In front of this bowl of ramen, all of it was just passing clouds.
Ayame chattered endlessly, asking about interesting moments from the assessment. Ruichi picked a few harmless anecdotes to tell her, making her laugh nonstop.
Teuchi watched from the side, smiling, occasionally slipping an extra slice of chashu into Ruichi's bowl—his eyes full of warmth and pride.
After dinner, Ayame hummed a tune while washing dishes.
Teuchi wiped his hands, walked over, and placed a firm hand on Ruichi's shoulder.
"Ruichi."
"Hm?"
"You're thirteen this year, and you've officially become a ninja who can stand on his own," Teuchi said gently.
"You're an adult now."
Ruichi's heart skipped.
A bad premonition crept in.
Teuchi took out a key and an envelope and pressed them into Ruichi's hand.
"I bought a small apartment for you nearby. It's not big, but it's enough for one person. The envelope contains the money you earned from your part-time work over the years."
His smile remained warm—but his words hit like a hammer.
"Starting tomorrow, you'll move out and live independently. You've grown up. You need your own space."
…Did I just get kicked out?
Clutching the key and the envelope, Ruichi stood there, completely stunned.