The next day, at the Ninja Academy's training grounds.
Namikaze Minato felt a little uneasy. The first level of that sealing technique had indeed been easy — he had effortlessly completed the so-called "Foundation Stage" of the sealing technique overnight.
But now, none of his ninjutsu worked. As soon as his chakra extended beyond his skin, the seal forcefully absorbed it back into his body, making ninjutsu completely ineffective.
However, as chakra accumulated inside the seal, his body's external sensitivity drastically increased, and his taijutsu naturally improved a lot — just without the ability to use ninjutsu.
He wasn't sure whether this was considered an enhancement or a weakening.
Compared to before, he wasn't nearly as confident for today's ninja combat class.
His gaze couldn't help but drift toward Uchiha Gin.
Gin-senpai was actually lying sideways under a tree!
The dappled shade covered his body, and with his slow, steady breathing, he looked incredibly peaceful.
Peaceful, my ass!! Gin-senpai, hurry up and wash away your past disgrace!!
On the other side, Instructor Inoue's face was already darkening!
Get up already!!
Minato cried out in his heart.
"I really hate problem students," Inoue Satoru muttered through gritted teeth, his face practically coal-black. The pen he was using to record student performance snapped between his thumb and forefinger.
With a sigh, he quickly pulled a new pencil out of the ninja pouch on his leg.
For problematic students, the most important thing to prepare... was stationery.
He couldn't take his anger out on the students, after all.
That would be the mark of a disgraceful teacher.
Looking at the name on the paper, and the evaluation he needed to write, Inoue really wanted to just cross out Gin's entire battle test.
But his professional responsibility as a teacher stopped him.
Glancing at the other adorable students, his heart relaxed a little.
Still... why was a flunked-out student being sent back to redo school in Class A of all places!?
He just couldn't understand.
But no matter how confused he was, class had to go on.
"Today's training: one-on-one battles. Find your own opponent. I'll be scoring your performance."
Inoue announced the lesson for the day.
More accurately, it would be an all-day activity.
It was not only a test of combat skills but also endurance, limits, and physical condition. After fighting for an entire day, most students would reach their limit.
As for the idea that young bodies could be harmed — that wasn't something ninjas could afford to worry about.
The current Academy exams were nowhere near as gentle as they would be years later.
"Begin!"
As soon as Inoue's voice fell, everyone immediately started looking for opponents.
Several Uchiha clan members cracked their knuckles and started walking toward a certain someone, eager to teach him a harsh lesson.
Minato had no time to worry about Gin anymore — someone else had their sights on him.
"Hyuga Kiyoshi of the Hyuga Clan. Please, let's fight."
Hyuga Kiyoshi locked eyes with Minato.
Being at the top of the rankings for years had naturally earned Minato a few rivals. Always stuck in second place, Kiyoshi had long harbored ambitions of surpassing him.
The nickname "eternal second place" wasn't exactly flattering. Today, Kiyoshi intended to wash away his shame.
Minato scratched his face awkwardly. Although he wasn't sure exactly how much he'd improved, someone like Kiyoshi — relying solely on Gentle Fist — was definitely no match for him now.
Frankly, he had wanted to spar with Gin-senpai instead.
He hesitated for a moment and tried to advise sincerely:
"Maybe... you should pick a different opponent. You won't be able to beat me right now."
Minato genuinely meant it. But the Hyuga clan was too stubborn — they could use ninjutsu, but simply chose not to, out of sheer pride.
In pure taijutsu... Minato had improved significantly.
Kiyoshi coldly took his stance, and a flash of anger quickly appeared on his face.
"You, Namikaze Minato!!"
"I cannot forgive you!"
Meanwhile...
Gin lazily half-opened one eye. Several Uchiha boys had already surrounded him.
Crew-cut Uchiha Hiruma looked down at him condescendingly.
"Uchiha Gin. If you still have any pride left as an Uchiha, fight me. The loser drops out of the Academy."
The Uchiha Clan could not tolerate disgrace among their own.
Gin casually dug into his ear with his pinky finger. These Uchihas were truly brainless.
Drop out? He had tried before. It was immediately rejected.
Being a rich man, a tycoon — wasn't that way better than being a damn ninja? Who the hell actually wanted to be a ninja?
It wasn't like he had a choice.
Forget the Uchiha Clan — even Konoha wouldn't let a chakra-capable Uchiha live as an ordinary civilian.
"Actually..." Gin said with a shy smile toward Hiruma, "I could marry into the Hyuga clan and change my surname."
Hiruma froze for a second — and then exploded with rage.
"You! @#$%^&* GO DIE!!"
If not for the two other Uchihas holding him back, it wouldn't have been a spar — it would've been a life-and-death fight.
Saying you'd change your surname to Hyuga in front of an Uchiha was like calling Hashirama garbage in front of Madara.
The other two Uchihas didn't look too pleased either.
"Carry him off. Next!" Gin yawned.
Long-haired Uchiha Wado silently stared at him, while the other Uchiha, Itsuki, desperately held back Hiruma.
"You know... for someone like you, your parents must—" Wado started to say but couldn't finish.
Gin's eyes opened fully — and in that instant, his gaze changed completely.
Those black pupils were like a bottomless abyss.
Wado involuntarily stepped back.
And that single step back... filled him with regret.
Because right in front of him, Gin had vanished.
Cold air brushed against the back of his neck — Gin was behind him, blowing on it.
What the hell is wrong with this guy!?
Before Wado could react, a kunai was already at his throat.
"You...?"
In that instant, it felt like a venomous snake had coiled up behind him, ready to strike.
"AAAHHH!!" Wado screamed in terror, drawing everyone's attention.
After all, screams like that were rare during training.
Gin casually placed his left hand on Wado's shoulder.
"Play around if you want," Gin said quietly, voice like a blade, "but don't joke about parents. You don't want to die here... do you?"
"That's enough," Inoue said, placing a hand on Gin's arm, looking helplessly at this problem student.
"Don't show killing intent toward your classmates."
He had immediately noticed it — the momentary surge of murderous intent. Real killing intent wasn't just about killing; it was born from years of fighting beasts. Even though Gin had no human kills yet, the aura was unmistakable.
It was enough to paralyze an entire class of students.
This problematic kid... is actually trying really hard.
"I'm just joking, Teacher Iguchi," Gin said with a bright grin.
Inoue's forehead veins popped out.
"It's Inoue!!"
"Got it, Teacher Mizukuchi."
He's doing it on purpose!!!
Meanwhile, Minato stood over Hyuga Kiyoshi, who lay flat on the ground, clenching his fist.
"What an incredible boost in strength," Minato thought.
Kiyoshi, staring up at the blazing sun, was questioning his very existence.
His Hyuga Gentle Fist — completely crushed by brute force.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this..."
Even though Kiyoshi had performed above his usual level, Minato's punches had been devastating — just a few hits had swollen his arms terribly.
Naturally, Kiyoshi was defeated almost instantly.
"Why... is there such a huge gap?"
Minato even felt like he was fighting a clan chunin.
"Sorry, I was a bit rough," Minato apologized with a bright, sunny smile, extending a hand to help him up.
Kiyoshi looked at that hand, and Minato's radiant face—
—And burst into tears.
Congratulations, Namikaze Minato, on unlocking the Heartbreaking Defeat achievement.
On another side of the training ground...
"I crushed those weaklings in just a few moves! Ahahaha!" Kushina Uzumaki stood by the creek, laughing wildly, hands on her hips.
Gin, however, looked at Minato in confusion.
Seriously, what do you even see in this girl?
Her brutal temper? Her casual violence?
Minato understood the look — his cheeks reddened, and he turned his head away.
"Why the hell are you blushing!?" Kushina snapped, whipping around to glare at Gin.
She had felt him badmouthing her — even if she didn't hear it, her sixth sense screamed it.
Gin's gaze shifted awkwardly. Damn that woman's sixth sense. Even if Kushina was still a little girl, her instincts were ageless.
Kushina gave a disgusted glance at the blushing Minato.
Why is my little underling such a wimp?! Man up and punch that annoying Uchiha in the face!!
Sensing the atmosphere turning weird, Minato quickly changed the subject.
"Tomorrow's the ninjutsu class... What are we gonna do?"
He was seriously worried — right now, he couldn't use a single ninjutsu technique.
Kushina, having also barely completed the first stage of the sealing technique, wasn't worried at all.
Like hell Inoue-sensei would dare pick on her.
"Relax," Gin said, patting Minato's shoulder. "Most of the last year's classes are theory — chakra control, stealth, intelligence gathering, that kinda stuff. Unless you're dumb enough to volunteer, no one's gonna notice anything."
The theory lessons were all official curriculum, but the practical skills were secret survival techniques taught unofficially by the instructors.
There was barely any need to actually use ninjutsu. The final year's lessons would serve even into their Chunin years.
Although reassured a little, Minato still couldn't shake his worries.
As a top student — a "teacher's favorite" — the odds of being picked for demonstrations were pretty damn high.
Unlike the peaceful Academy...
At the frontlines of the war, screams and explosions shook the earth.
Dazzling ninjutsu lit up the mountains, and the air was thick with the scent of gunpowder from endless exploding tags.
And among it all, a heart-wrenching scream tore through the battlefield.
"Stop the bleeding!"
"Quick, stop it!"
"I said STOP IT!!"
Tsunade's voice cracked in pain as she desperately used Medical Ninjutsu, refusing to give up.
Other ninjas nearby tried to persuade her.
"Stop it, Tsunade... He's already... dead."
Tsunade froze.
It was as if something was tearing apart her heart.
Unable to hold back, she screamed to the sky—
"AAAAHHHH!!!"
Like a mourning bird's final cry.
Standing atop a tree, Orochimaru watched his fallen student, his devastated comrade.
And he didn't even know what expression he should wear.
It felt like not just his student had died—
—but a part of himself had died too.
Humans were... such fragile creatures.
The grandson of the First Hokage, elite jonin, disciple of Orochimaru, and brother of Tsunade—
Nawaki.
Declared dead.