Konoha Ninja Academy Training Grounds
Mr. Tanaka's class was orderly pairing up for the assessment.
To everyone's surprise—and relief—Jin wasn't paired with anyone for the combat test.
They collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
None of them had the guts to face Jin in a combat assessment.
What if Jin got drunk enough to really cut loose and sliced them down?
Even Kakashi Hatake—the prodigy hailed as one of the strongest since the academy's founding, inheriting the "White Fang's" swordsmanship—had been severely injured by Jin.
More recently, Jin had nearly cut down Asuma Sarutobi, the Third Hokage's own son.
Never mind small fries like them.
In their eyes, Jin was practically a demon lord.
Thankfully, this test didn't require fighting Jin.
After the orderly pairing, the tests proceeded quickly.
Soon, the structured combat assessment concluded.
Clap— Clap—
Just as everyone was excitedly discussing the combat test they just finished—
Mr. Tanaka clapped his hands, drawing their attention.
"Alright, the first round of testing is complete. Now, we begin the second round of the combat assessment."
Mr. Tanaka pulled out a new grading sheet and announced loudly.
"Huh? There's a second round?"
"No way! My older brother graduated ages ago, and I never heard of a second round of testing."
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Mr. Tanaka's announcement threw the class into an uproar.
A sense of foreboding crept into their hearts.
"The second round's content is: King of the Hill."
Mr. Tanaka quickly quelled the chatter and began announcing the next test's details.
"King of the Hill, as the name suggests, involves one person defending the 'hill' while the others challenge them. And for this test, there is only one defender."
Mr. Tanaka looked at the list in his hand, his eye twitching slightly.
"Jin will be the defender for this test!"
Mr. Tanaka declared loudly.
"Huh?!!!!!!!"
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Whoosh—
Gulp— Gulp— Gulp—
The training grounds fell silent. In that moment, only the sound of the gentle breeze could be heard—
And the sound of Jin drinking heartily.
"Hah— Who called me?"
Jin exhaled a breath heavy with alcohol, looking around in a bit of a daze.
Nearby, Kurenai's cute nose twitched slightly, her eyes filled with fascination.
Rin quickly started explaining Mr. Tanaka's words to Jin.
"Are... are you kidding me?!"
"We... challenge Jin?"
"Isn't this sending us to our deaths?"
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Drops of sweat trickled down the foreheads of the other students, their eyes wide with terror.
Just as expected. No one wants to die.
Mr. Tanaka noted silently, looking at the silent training grounds.
Forget these kids; even he wouldn't dare fight Jin himself.
This was the kid who, two years ago, could severely injure his colleague with a single slash.
Two years had passed; who knew how strong Jin had become?
Besides, in normal tests, everyone held back.
They were all villagers, after all; they wouldn't normally go for the kill.
But could you expect a drunkard to show mercy?!
If Jin slipped up and actually killed someone, there'd be nowhere to even complain!
"Well then..."
"Wait!"
Just as Mr. Tanaka was about to continue, an angry voice interrupted him.
"I'll challenge Jin!"
Obito Uchiha's eyes were slightly bloodshot as he glared fiercely at Jin, shouting loudly.
"Huh? Obito challenging Jin?"
"The dead-last dares to challenge Jin, who's even more of a genius than Kakashi?"
"Who gave this guy the courage?"
"Is he trying to get himself killed? That idiot!"
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The dead-last, standing up now to challenge Jin.
In contrast, just moments ago, they hadn't dared utter a peep, keeping their heads bowed low, terrified of being chosen to fight Jin.
Obito's challenge felt like a slap in the face to them!
Mocking their lack of courage.
Thus, they vented all their frustration onto Obito.
"Obito Uchiha, is it?"
Mr. Tanaka looked at the class's dead-last, his eyes flickering.
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"How to relieve sorrow? Only alcohol can..."
Jin paid no attention to Obito's glare, muttering words far beyond his age, while continuing to enjoy the fine liquor Kurenai and Rin had brought him.
Everyone was already used to Jin mumbling incomprehensible things.
And no one found it strange.
After all, it was perfectly normal for a drunk person to say things that didn't make sense.
"Bastard! How dare you look down on me!"
Seeing Jin completely disregard him, Obito seethed with anger.
What made it even more unbearable for Obito was that Jin, being slightly drunk and unsteady—
Rin was actually letting Jin lean on her for support.
This made Obito's eyes turn red with fury.
"Obito Uchiha."
Mr. Tanaka found Obito's name on the grading sheet in his hand.
He wrote down... the word: Fail!
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