Chapter 10
"Tetsuya Fujiwara!"
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
On the high platform, Tetsuya Fujiwara and Uchiha Mikoto knelt side by side before Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He hadn't felt it when he was down below, but now, standing in the presence of Sarutobi Hiruzen—along with Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya—Tetsuya felt a suffocating pressure.
This is what it means to be in front of true power!
These were the absolute elites of the ninja world!
Even though Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya weren't yet at their peak, they were already standing on the cusp of Kage-level strength.
"Congratulations on passing the Genin exam!"
"As the Third Hokage of Konoha, I hereby declare! Tetsuya Fujiwara, from this day onward, you are officially a Genin of Konoha!"
"I expect you to carry the honor of the Fujiwara clan."
"Yes, Lord Hokage! I won't let you down!"
At some point, amidst Tetsuya's determined gaze, the storm suddenly ceased. The blazing sun broke through the thick clouds, casting its rays upon Tetsuya's body.
It felt like the rebirth of life itself.
---
About an hour later, as Tetsuya Fujiwara stepped out of the Hokage's office, a new headband adorned his forehead—the symbol of a Konoha ninja, with the engraved shape of a leaf.
"I say, Mikoto!"
"Could you stop staring at me like that?"
"If you keep it up, I won't be able to sleep tonight!"
As he walked out the door, Tetsuya sighed, turning to face the girl behind him.
Fate, indeed.
After Sarutobi Hiruzen's "casual" explanation, Tetsuya finally understood.
So this is why Uchiha Mikoto, who was always depicted as gentle and kind in the original story, was so cold at the age of twelve!
She had recently lost her teammate and best friend on a mission, and the weight of that tragedy had transformed her.
But this... this was the fate of a ninja.
And as for why Tetsuya paid special attention to this?
Well, he had now taken their place!
Tetsuya Fujiwara had become the third member of Uchiha Mikoto's Team 13. Once their Jonin leader, Yūhi Shin, returned from his mission, Tetsuya's peaceful days at the Academy would be over.
"Hey!"
"Brat from the Fujiwara clan!"
"Don't call me Mikoto like we're close! We're not!"
"And next time, add the word 'senpai.' Call me 'Mikoto-senpai!'"
Before Tetsuya could react, a pale fist flew toward him, making him yelp in pain!
When he turned around again, Uchiha Mikoto had already brushed past him, her long black hair flowing behind her as she disappeared into the crowd.
Quite the fiery personality, huh!
Watching her vanish, Tetsuya wrinkled his nose.
Just a moment ago, a few strands of her hair had accidentally brushed against his nose.
And honestly?
There was a faint, pleasant fragrance to it. Way better than how he smelled, that's for sure.
Uchiha Mikoto! Yuhi Shin! Aburame Muto!
The Uchiha clan, the Yuhi clan, the Aburame clan!
The days ahead were bound to be anything but boring!
---
"Tetsuya!"
Around the corner ahead, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in Tetsuya's line of sight.
Before he could even process what was happening, he was pulled into a tight embrace.
Feeling the soft fullness pressing against his head, Tetsuya immediately knew.
Sanjodou Suzuko had been waiting for him here on purpose!
Damn it! This short stature of mine!
Looking at the ten-centimeter gap between their heights, Tetsuya's frustration nearly reached its breaking point.
"Sanjodou-sensei! Steady, steady!"
Breaking free from Sanjodou Suzuko's soft embrace, Tetsuya awkwardly coughed twice, gesturing toward the curious stares they were attracting from passersby.
"Tetsuya! You did great!"
"Congratulations! You're officially a Genin of Konoha!"
Flicking his new headband, Sanjodou Suzuko couldn't hide the wide grin on her face.
Who would've thought!
In only her second year of teaching, she had successfully helped a student become a Genin!
"Sanjodou-sensei! Thank you so much!"
Her words triggered a wave of memories in Tetsuya, and his expression turned serious.
Unbothered by whether the moment was appropriate or not, he bowed deeply in front of Sanjodou Suzuko.
It was her selflessness! Her trust!
That made all of this possible!
Without her help, he would never have had the chance to take the early graduation exam!
He wouldn't have been able to wear Konoha's headband ahead of time!
The fate of the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans might have gone down an entirely different, uncertain path.
"Tetsuya! Lift your head!"
"Although your words make me very happy..."
"The truth is, there's only so much I could do for you!"
"Tetsuya, you made it happen yourself!"
Despite the honesty in her words, the expression on Sanjodou Suzuko's face showed just how much she enjoyed the praise.
Such a two-faced woman!
Tetsuya's eyes darted around, silently making a mental note.
"Tetsuya!"
"To celebrate you becoming a Genin!"
"Your teacher has decided! I'm treating you to yakiniku today!"
"You can eat as much as you want!"
Sanjodou Suzuko had witnessed Tetsuya's borderline insane appetite several times before. But after patting her very full wallet, she felt more confident than ever.
Yakiniku!
"Grrr..."
Just as Tetsuya gulped down his saliva, his stomach let out a loud growl.
Yakiniku... the top-tier delicacy in all of Konoha!
Whenever he passed by the yakiniku restaurant, he had only ever been able to catch a whiff of the mouthwatering aroma.
But then, he remembered the prices listed outside the restaurant!
Tetsuya had no choice but to try his best to distract himself.
"Tetsuya, I'll treat you to a meal today." Just as Tetsuya turned his head to look at the person next to him, he saw Sanjodou Suzuko standing next to him.
"Forget it, Sanjodou-sensei! As for yakiniku…"
With someone as extravagant as Sanjodou Suzuko, if they really let loose, she'd be eating dirt long before her next paycheck!
"I'm not really interested!" After a while of the delicious aroma coming from yankinku, Tetsuya changed his mind.
"If you're going to treat me, how about some ramen instead? Today, I'm having not three bowls, but four!"
In the end, Tetsuya Fujiwara and Sanjodou Suzuko still ended up at the yakiniku joint! Against Suzuko's overpowering big-sister energy, Tetsuya's thin, scrawny self had no chance of resistance.
Besides, Tetsuya was still a man. His mouth could protest all it wanted, but his body couldn't lie!
They gorged on yakiniku for a full two hours. By the time Tetsuya was burping contentedly and bidding Suzuko farewell, he had no idea..
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