Watergate looked at the tadpole he had summoned using the Summoning Technique and could only smile helplessly.
"...Ahaha, it's pretty bad."
"I talked to it for a long time and had to find a bunch of caterpillars before it agreed to form a contract with me. Looks like it's going to throw a tantrum again."
"..."
Uchiha Tatsumi glanced at Mikoto, who was still chatting with Kushina nearby.
"Mikoto, what did Oshamaru teach you?"
"Hm... let me think. Oshamaru-sama explained some of his ninjutsu theories. He also talked about the combination of elemental chakra—how the five nature transformations can be used in synergy. He covered trap detection and evasion too. Basically… a lot of life-preservation tactics."
Tatsumi looked at Mikoto thoughtfully, then shifted his gaze back to Watergate. These two were cunning in their own ways.
But thinking about it seriously, Tatsumi had to admit—when it came to survival, Uncle Snake was unrivaled. As a genius who mastered forbidden techniques and cutting-edge ninjutsu, he was one of the few who lived to the very end. And the older he got, the more dangerous he became.
Tatsumi realized something then—the three of them had inherited the legacies of the Sannin.
He had received Tsunade's teachings and learned her monstrous strength and chakra control.
Watergate had formed a contract with the Toads of Mount Myōboku, just like Jiraiya.
Mikoto had gained insight from Orochimaru's unique ninjutsu and battlefield strategies.
---
Their second class of the day was still with Uncle Nishimura.
Though a bit old, Uncle Nishimura had been entrusted with the Academy by the Third Hokage himself. That meant he had to have some talent—at least as a teacher.
In his own words, he was a literary man. If he weren't a ninja, he might have been a writer.
He may have even published a few novels on the side.
"All right, everyone, back to your seats."
Teacher Nishimura walked into the room with a thick stack of papers in hand.
"Eh? Another test? Didn't we just finish one?" Uchiha Ryo immediately protested after spotting the forms.
Typical slacker logic, Tatsumi thought. A true top student gets excited by tests—the more, the better.
"No," Uncle Nishimura shook his head.
"Second grade is nearly over. There's still time before the final exams, so today we'll be doing our last outdoor training session. Everyone, follow me to the training field."
Again? Why do teachers love dragging us outdoors? Tatsumi sighed. He'd just returned from training under Tsunade, and now it was back to more training.
It was the same old training field—same air, same scorched earth.
Tatsumi could still see the marks left behind by Tsunade's punches and Orochimaru's ninjutsu.
"Ahem." Uncle Nishimura raised the roster in his hand.
"Today's session will test everyone's shuriken-throwing skills."
He flipped through the forms.
"This test will count toward your overall evaluation. Whether you're top of the class or struggling, you'd better take this seriously. I don't want to be calling parents during the summer."
He shot a meaningful glance at Nara Shikaku, who was holding his head like it was the end of the world.
Shikaku flinched. His mom had scolded both him and his dad last time, accusing them of being lazy slackers. That trauma ran deep.
"First student—Uchiha Ryo. Step forward."
"Oh."
Ryo walked to the front with pride.
He pulled four shuriken from his leg pouch, flicked his wrist—and the projectiles flew swiftly and cleanly, nailing the bullseye ten meters away.
The class gasped. His two lackeys clapped extra hard.
"A."
Nishimura gave him a quick glance, then marked the grade.
The highest rating was A+, then A, A-, B+, and so on.
The Uchiha really were a different breed when it came to shuriken.
Tatsumi silently nodded. Maybe it was genetics.
---
As the test dragged on, Tatsumi—still waiting for his turn—chatted with Yushu and the others off to the side.
Most students who hadn't gone yet were doing the same, scattered around and chatting.
Tatsumi noticed that Kushina looked tense.
"Kushina, are you bad at shuriken throwing?"
"Uh... maybe? I haven't practiced much."
Tatsumi thought back. Naruto had always been terrible with projectiles.
Maybe this really was a genetic thing.
Just like the Uchiha were naturally gifted at it.
"Next—Uzumaki Kushina!"
"Go for it, Kushina!" Tatsumi cheered.
"Right. I'll do my best!" Kushina replied, pumping herself up as she walked forward.
Before Kushina had transferred to the Academy, the Third Hokage had spoken with Nishimura privately.
"She's a war orphan from Uzushiogakure," Hiruzen had said. "She'll be living in Konoha from now on. I want her to grow attached to the village, so please make sure she feels welcome."
Nishimura took the request to heart. Even if he didn't always show it, he tried to be extra considerate toward Kushina.
That's why he moved her name to the middle of the roster—so she wouldn't feel isolated by being called last.
But from what he'd observed, Kushina's shuriken throwing was... not promising.
Even her stance was all wrong.
Nishimura sighed. Another problem child.
"Well... since Hokage-sama personally asked, I guess I can fudge the score a little. I'll just give her an A and move on..."
Tatsumi nearly facepalmed. Should I report this guy to the Hokage?
Kushina glanced around. Everyone was watching her.
She looked back at Tatsumi and the others—they were cheering her on.
She rubbed her eyes, straightened her sleeves, and took a deep breath.
"Yaaah!"
Kushina shouted, then hurled the shuriken with all her might.
Tatsumi had to admit—her voice was nice and spirited.
But the accuracy? Absolutely tragic.
If Nishimura hadn't used a Body Replacement Technique right then, he might've ended up looking like a pin cushion.
The teacher's eye twitched.
He hesitated.
The score was objectively bad. But...
"Still, Kushina is under Hokage-sama's care... I can't fail her, right? I'll give her an A. That's... passable."
Tatsumi stared blankly.
Sensei, please wake up. If this continues, Konoha's future is doomed—at the hands of the Chūnin, no less!
Kushina walked back, her energy drained.
She had been excited just moments ago. Now she looked quiet and downcast.