Although there were many ways to obtain Achievement Points—
Their high difficulty made them exceedingly precious.
At the very least, in the two and a half years since Amamiya Ayane had unlocked the panel, she had earned just a little over a thousand points through daily training…
Yet her two lonely white-tier Titles alone had granted her a full 1,300 points!
Ninja Academy Top Student — 500 points!
Amegakure Genin — 800 points!
It was obvious which method was more efficient.
Looking at the three Traits currently available for advancement on her panel, Ayane thought for a moment and decided not to make a hasty choice. She would wait until tomorrow's graduation assignment results before deciding.
——————
Early the next morning.
Ayane deliberately woke before dawn, strapped on her ninja tool pouch, and headed for the Academy.
It had been raining nonstop for an entire day and night.
And it still hadn't stopped.
She pulled on a waterproof cloak, burying her face beneath a dark hood.
Most pedestrians were dressed the same way, walking briskly. From afar, they resembled a group of black phantoms drifting through the city.
Overnight, it felt as though an atmosphere heavier than the clouds themselves had settled over the village.
'This heavy mood… Has news of the frontline defeat already spread?' she wondered.
The instigator of the Second Shinobi World War was not one of the traditional Five Great Villages.
It was their own leader—the "Demigod of the Shinobi World," the so-called First Amekage—Hanzō of the Salamander.
Strictly speaking, Hanzō wasn't the actual founder of Amegakure, and thus not truly its "First Amekage."
But the title of "Kage" was not only self-proclaimed—it was also a recognition granted by other shinobi.
For instance, the leader of Takigakure in the Land of Waterfalls might call himself "Takikage," but few among the Five Great Villages would take such a title seriously.
Hanzō, however, had single-handedly overturned the preconceived notions about small villages through sheer, overwhelming strength.
Through word of mouth, he came to be known as the "First Amekage."
And because of the weight those three words carried, his title as the "Demigod of the Shinobi World" grew ever more widely acknowledged.
After all, those who had survived the Warring States Period and founded villages were monsters among monsters.
The logic was simple.
Senju Hashirama, founder of Konohagakure, was hailed as the God of Shinobi…
Then Hanzō of the Salamander, founder of Amegakure, being called the Demigod of the Shinobi World… seemed only natural.
Three years ago, this "Demigod" grew restless.
Perhaps he wanted to remove the "half" from his title once and for all.
Or perhaps he had grown tired of the endless rain and sought expansion.
In any case, Hanzō first invaded the Land of Iron. After defeating the samurai and forcing them into neutrality, he declared war simultaneously on the Five Great Villages—publicly proclaiming that the Land of Rain would become the Sixth Great Shinobi Village!
With his own hands, he ignited the Second Shinobi World War.
But ideals were beautiful. Reality was harsh.
Hanzō, brimming with ambition, first launched a southern surprise attack against Sunagakure.
Thanks to the element of surprise, Amegakure achieved considerable success in the early stages.
But as time passed, Hanzō's proud poison techniques were countered by the Suna elder Chiyo. Meanwhile, Amegakure's weak foundation became increasingly exposed. The front lines were pushed back again and again, until they were forced to withdraw empty-handed.
Failing in the Land of Wind, Hanzō shifted eastward, targeting the fertile and temperate Land of Fire.
But Konoha, the strongest of the Five Great Villages, was no easy opponent.
The two sides had been locked in bitter stalemate along the border for over a year. Casualties among Hanzō's forces were heavy, and they had yet to advance even an inch.
Though it was called a "school," the Ninja Academy trained reserve shinobi. Information flowed more freely there than among ordinary civilians.
Everything she knew came from instructors—firsthand village intelligence.
Ayane pressed her lips together.
The villagers' peaceful days were likely over.
The next developments were well-known to anyone who had watched Naruto.
Though Hanzō would defeat the young Sannin at the border—
His poison would once again be countered. His campaign would once again fail.
With his ambitions shattered, Hanzō would lose his drive, retreating into defensive stagnation while the Land of Rain suffered repeatedly under the flames of war.
He would hole up in the capital, indulging in comfort and maintaining his authority.
Ignoring external threats, cracking down internally.
Eventually collaborating with Shimura Danzo to kidnap Konan and drive Yahiko to his death—
Only to die silently at the hands of the Six Paths of Pain.
Thus would end the legend.
Lost in thought, Ayane arrived at the classroom.
It was already full.
Her classmates, buzzing with excitement, gathered in small groups, chattering about their assignments.
'The graduation rate is high this time…'
A single glance told her that nearly everyone had passed. No repeaters.
Her heart sank.
She returned to her seat.
Her deskmate—a chubby boy—lit up upon seeing her.
"Ayane, good morning!"
She glanced at him and nodded politely.
"Good morning, Nikaido."
The boy stiffened, clenching his fists.
"Amamiya, look carefully! I'm Nagano Takayuki! Not that sickly Nikaido Ryoto who'd fall over in a breeze!"
"Oh! So it's Nagano? I'm sorry, I mixed you up again…"
She turned slightly, blinking innocently.
"You and Nikaido look so alike. I always get confused. My apologies."
Under her clear amber gaze, the boy flushed red.
"N-no problem! It's my fault for not thinking ahead. Next time I'll pin a name tag to my chest…"
Ayane: "..."
Brother, that excuse was obviously fake.
And he believed it.
Children in the shinobi world were strange—mature and naive at the same time.
After two years, she had learned that well.
"Alright, quiet down."
Their homeroom teacher, not yet thirty but already balding, clapped his hands.
"I will now announce your squad assignments according to the list."
"These assignments are decided by the village and approved by Lord Hanzō."
"If anyone is dissatisfied, you may request reassignment through me or the dean—but you may not refuse, nor privately exchange with classmates!"
"Understood?"
Though the terms were domineering, at Hanzō's name, the students responded enthusiastically.
Such was his prestige.
"Yes, sir!"
"Very well…"
"Nikaido Ryoto, Regular Combat Unit, Sixth Company, Fourth Squad…"
"Nagano Takayuki, Regular Reconnaissance Unit, First Company, Second Squad…"
Recon unit.
Combat unit.
No mention of team leaders.
Ayane frowned.
Such naming conventions meant one thing—
They were being sent to the front lines.
Not assigned to ordinary mission squads like previous graduates.
Even having prepared herself mentally, she still felt a surge of tension.
So this is it…
She was going to war.
How many of these chattering classmates would survive?
Nagano, oblivious to the future's cruelty, clasped his hands and whispered:
"Great Sage of Six Paths, please assign cute and cool Amamiya to recon with me…"
"Amamiya Ayane—"
The teacher paused deliberately.
"Assassination Tactical Special Unit!"
Silence.
Then an uproar.
Wasn't that—
The ANBU?
All eyes turned toward her like spotlights.
Nagano pumped his fist.
"As expected of Ayane! Always outstanding!"
Behind him, thin-as-straw Nikaido muttered, "Idiot, what does that have to do with you?"
"What do you mean?" Nagano shot back. "Are you jealous? Or do you dislike Amamiya?"
Nikaido lowered his head, withdrawing the glance he'd secretly cast toward Ayane.
Ayane was at the top of their cohort.
Strong. Composed. Beautiful beyond reason.
More importantly, unlike other girls, she neither lorded over them nor kept them at arm's length.
Being around her felt… comfortable.
What boy wouldn't like someone like that?
But unlike fools like Nagano, he knew the distance between them.
So he buried his feelings quietly.
"Congratulations, Amamiya."
Even their stern teacher smiled gently now.
"As a top graduate, you've been specially recruited into the village's ANBU. Your specific assignment will be conveyed directly by Principal Ichii."
"The principal is waiting for you. Don't keep him long."
Under countless gazes, Ayane rose calmly.
"Yes, Sensei."
——————
The principal of the Ninja Academy was Ichii Kei.
One of the village's few elite jonin.
I am over fifty years old.
Older than Amegakure itself by decades.
His strength had long declined, and retirement loomed.
In the present shinobi world, fifty was already considered a ripe old age.
Combined with his position, Ichii held considerable influence.
More importantly—
He had been Ayane's father's mentor, once teaching him kenjutsu and taijutsu.
After her parents passed away, it was largely due to Ichii's quiet protection that Ayane, an orphan, could enroll and graduate safely.
The office door stood open.
Before she could knock, the elderly man waved.
"Little Ayane, come in."
"Principal."
"I've told you, no need for titles."
He poured tea.
"You've graduated. And these aren't work hours."
Ayane didn't argue.
By rights, she should call him "Grandfather."
But they weren't that close.
After some casual conversation, he got to the point.
"Thanks to your excellent exam results, I was able to secure you a place in the ANBU."
He pulled out her written exam.
"As for this essay… 'Hanzō-sama striking Tsuchikage Ōnoki from the sky with a single kunai'—colorful, but perhaps overly exaggerated…"
Ayane's face was expressionless.
Under the desk, her toes curled in mortification.
It didn't feel embarrassing while writing it.
But hearing it read aloud—
Excruciating.
"These self-aggrandizing stories are more Konoha's style. Not ours."
He continued, oblivious.
"However, the line 'Offer your heart to Lord Hanzō' has already been sent to the front. It may become a new rallying slogan."
"Your cultural exam received the first S-grade in school history!"
He blinked.
"Surprised?"
Surprised where?!
Ayane twitched.
"Principal… they won't credit the author publicly, right?"
He chuckled.
"Ordinary shinobi won't know. But your future squad—the ANBU Owl Squad—might…"
Wonderful.
She hadn't even started, and she'd already socially died.
Ichii grew serious.
"The Owl Squad is one of ANBU's ace intelligence units. They suffered heavy losses at the Suna front, so Lord Hanzō permitted temporary recruitment—even genin."
He advised gently:
"Listen more. Observe more. Learn more. And build rapport with your captain."
"Is he a special kekkei genkai user?"
"No. He's the son of the village's Minister of Finance."
…Ah.
A nepotism hire.
I hate nepotism.
Wait.
So am I?
Then never mind.
"Though ANBU is relatively safer…"
He rubbed his forehead.
"Once on the battlefield, always be prepared to die."
ANBU.
Safer?
Strange words together.
Then she understood.
Hanzō, locked in stalemate and facing internal dissent, would never allow heavy casualties among his most loyal force.
ANBU were his blade—and his shield.
He would preserve them.
Realizing the depth of Ichii's planning for her, Ayane bowed her head.
"I'll be careful."
"See that you are."
He sighed.
"At least… don't make it so that when I'm laid to rest, there's not a single relative left to attend."
He rose, unlocking a secure cabinet.
From it, he retrieved—
A green-hued ninja blade.
And a black scroll.
"Today," he said quietly,
"It's time to return what your parents entrusted to me."