Chapter 33 – Farewell to the Orphanage and Job Transition
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the exams. Students gradually filed out of the exam hall. As always, some left happy, some left disappointed. On his way back to the classroom, Taichi ran into his friends coming out of the hall and greeted them cheerfully.
"Hey, how did everyone do?" Taichi asked, looking at Shizune walking ahead.
"We did pretty well, but…" Shizune covered her mouth and smiled softly, glancing back at Obito, who looked dejected.
"What's wrong? It's not like it's your first time not doing well," Taichi said, puzzled. Previously, Obito had failed exams without looking so distraught.
"Obito got caught cheating. The teacher said he has a home visit! He's scared his grandmother will find out," Rin chimed in.
"Ah~~~ no way!" Obito's expression was as if the sky had fallen, radiating a heavy, gloomy aura.
"Don't give up, Obito. Youth isn't for giving up so easily! Come on, I'll go with you to plead with Teacher Yamada later—maybe he'll let it slide this once," Guy encouraged, trying to spark Obito's fighting spirit.
"By the way, Taichi, how did your assessment go? Did you pass?" Shizune asked.
"Yeah, everything went smoothly. I'll come in tomorrow for class placement."
"Congratulations!"
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While Taichi chatted with his friends, Sarutobi Matsuya was reporting the assessment results in the Hokage's office.
"Oh? He defeated Nagashima in just one minute?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage. While Nagashima underestimated him, Taichi Matsushita's abilities are already far beyond an ordinary Genin," Sarutobi Matsuya reported, recalling Taichi's precise jutsu and fierce sword techniques.
"I underestimated him… the young seedlings of Konoha are growing fast. Soon, the ninja world may face unrest again," Hiruzen Sarutobi thought.
"All right, you may leave now."
"Yes, sir."
After Sarutobi Matsuya left, Hiruzen stepped out onto the balcony, lit his pipe filled with tobacco, and gazed at Konoha through the drifting smoke. Thinking of the younger generation—Kakashi, Taichi; the youth—Minato; and the adults—the Sannin and Sakumo Hatake—he felt a renewed sense of reassurance. Talent in Konoha was endless, easing some of his worries about future wars.
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Taichi then returned to the orphanage. As soon as he pushed open the gate, seven or eight children sprang out from under the trees like popcorn, muddy little hands grabbing at his pant legs.
"Taichi-nii! You promised to teach me to throw shuriken!" Yami, with crooked pigtails and a sugar-streaked face, was the first to tackle him, leaving a smear on his jacket.
"Watch me first!" Jouta shouted, fumbling with a wooden kunai and nearly tripping over himself. Their laughter startled the sparrows under the eaves. Taichi lifted the smallest boy onto his shoulders, and instantly three or four warm little bodies pressed against his sweaty back.
The scent of caramel drifted from the kitchen. Nonō, wearing a faded floral apron, stepped out and saw Taichi buried under a heap of children under the old locust tree. She let out an exaggerated howl, making the children giggle as blades of grass caught in their hair sparkled in the sunlight.
"Everyone, come eat!" Nonō called loudly.
The children clustered around Taichi in the dining hall. The sound of more than twenty chopsticks tapping bowls was like a meeting of woodpeckers. When he brought out the tri-colored dumplings wrapped in greaseproof paper, Jouta nearly tipped over the stool. Nonō quietly watched Taichi being surrounded as the children shared snacks.
"This one's red bean!" "I want the matcha one!" Amid the noise, Taichi looked up and smiled at her, the youthful curve of his eyes still present. Nonō tightened her grip on the ladle, stirring the hot miso soup.
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By moonrise, the children had been sent to bathe, leaving only sheets swaying gently on the lines in the evening breeze. Taichi sat cross-legged on the porch, cleaning his ninja gear, the metallic clinks drawing Nonō's attention as she gathered herbs nearby.
"Tomorrow… you'll be a real ninja?" she asked softly, the sound lighter than honeysuckle petals drifting in the wind.
"Haha, you already know," Taichi said, awkwardly scratching his head. He hadn't told Nonō about his early graduation.
"You're only seven years old," Nonō interrupted sharply. The bamboo sieve in the sun clinked crisply against the stone mortar. From the drying yard came the splashing of water as Jouta dashed through puddles, with Yami in hot pursuit, a chaotic symphony from another world.
As the whetstone rasped in the night, Taichi bowed his head. "Do you remember the day I first came to the orphanage? I was a three-year-old hiding in the wardrobe, trembling, thinking no one would ever want me…"
Nonō's hand gently rested on his head, the herbal scent masking the iron rust smell. Her fingertips, smeared with melted beeswax, warmed the sweat-soaked temples of the boy.
"That little one who cried under the covers… now going to be a hero for the children?"
"Yes. Back then, you protected us. Now, I'll protect you, and everyone else."
The children's footsteps approached, water dripping off Jouta as he barreled in like a cannonball. Yami chased after him, scolding and laughing. Taichi's deliberately straightened posture slowly overlapped with the memory of his younger self huddled in the rain.
When the last child was tucked into bed, Taichi quietly closed the door.
At the orphanage gate, ready to depart, he reminded Nonō, "Sister Nonō, I'm a ninja now. The orphanage won't have financial problems, so take fewer missions and take care of yourself."
"You cheeky brat, giving your elder advice… if I hadn't asked, you wouldn't have told me this…"
Looking at her, Taichi stepped forward, hugged her tightly, then resolutely turned and disappeared into the darkness.
The next day at the Ninja Academy, the classroom for graduating students was buzzing with chatter.
Taichi arrived as instructed, and the moment he stepped in, all eyes turned toward him.
"Who's that? I don't recognize him!"
"Did he walk into the wrong classroom?"
"No way… is he a graduate? He's way too small!"
The whispers and murmurs never ceased. Taichi paid no attention, walking straight to an empty seat and sitting down.
"Your information is outdated," someone muttered. "Don't you remember the big news from before? The kid who applied for early graduation?"
"That's him? He doesn't even look eight yet."
At that moment, a Chūnin instructor entered the classroom. Standing at the podium, he called out, "Quiet! The fact that you're here means you've all passed your assessments. Soon, you'll officially be ninjas. Stop chattering everywhere without discipline!"
"I'll introduce myself. My name is Miyamoto, and I'm responsible for your graduation and class assignments."
"Now, I'll call out names. Come forward to receive your headbands and ninja identification cards."
"Yusuke Inada." A student from the back walked up, and the teacher handed him his forehead protector and ID card, adding a word of encouragement: "Do your best!"
"Murayama Itsu."
…
"Taichi Matsushita."
Hearing his name, Taichi immediately stood and walked up, excitement radiating from him. "Finally… I can transition to a proper ninja profession!" When he received his headband and ID card, his system panel flashed with notifications. Back at his seat, he focused and checked it carefully:
Ninja Apprentice Level: Lv10 (Max)
Job Advancement Requirements:
1. Strength ≥ 15
2. Agility ≥ 15
3. Three-Body Technique Lv6
4. Master at least one ninjutsu
5. Attend Ninja Academy for full two years
All conditions met. Promotion available.
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Job Advancement Successful!
Experience converted.
New profession: Genin Lv1 (45/100)
Stats increased: Vitality +1, Strength +1, Agility +1, Spirit +1
New Talent Acquired: Enhanced
Enhanced: All jutsu power increased by 50%
Attribute points +1, Skill points +1
Taichi felt the sudden surge of power coursing through him and grinned inwardly. Once the energy settled, he looked up at the teacher, while all his classmates had already received their headbands and ID cards.
Miyamoto-sensei stood on the podium and addressed the newly minted Genin:
"First of all, congratulations! From today onward, you are officially ninjas."
He led the applause, and the students joined in, clapping with excitement.
After the applause died down, Miyamoto-sensei signaled for quiet.
"I'm sure your teachers already told you: today isn't just about receiving your headbands and IDs. You'll also be assigned to teams."
"Team assignments mean you'll be grouped in threes, led by an experienced Jonin. You'll undertake missions together, and these teammates will become your closest partners and most trusted comrades in battle."
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