Chương 118: One Step Forward

I let Shizuru bawl her eyes out for a few minutes without saying anything. I knew she needed to get it all out before she could really hear what I wanted to say. Those tears would've just stayed in the way otherwise. Eventually, the crying softened into quiet sobs, and a few minutes later, she seemed to settle down. Her breath was still shaky, but I figured it was time to talk.

"Shizuru, it's not your fault that you met a good counter." She answered in a low voice, laced with pain and shame.

"But I was so weak. I couldn't hold out long enough. I got injured and still needed Genta's help just to survive the test." I sighed.

"That's true. But realizing your weaknesses is part of learning. Honestly, it's a blessing we figure these things out during the Academy and not during a real mission where someone could've died. Don't you think?" She hesitated, but nodded slowly. Good sign.

"This is the kind of thing that gives you a reason to improve. You can work around it. Use clones to bait enemies into shaded areas or smoke bombs to block vision while you close in and connect the shadows." Her eyes lit up a bit. Progress.

"You could also ask your father. He's been training you, and he strikes me as the 'fighter' type. I doubt he'd hold back his own experience from you." Shizuru wiped her face and gave a small nod.

"The important thing is to never give up on your goal. You keep working at it. It's a constant process." She looked down again, quieter now.

"Do you think I can survive real missions?" I nodded and smiled.

"Someone as smart as you aren't going to fall for the same trap twice. I'm sure you'll be a great shinobi." A small smile crept across her face.

"You think I'm the strongest in the class. I am…" Before I could finish, she threw a pillow at my face and groaned in pain from the movement as I laughed.

"But I still train the hardest. I make sure every moment of my day is used to get stronger. If I find a weakness, I try to fix it or find a workaround. You just need to stick with it, and eventually, it'll pay off." She smiled through her pain, her mood noticeably better. That eased something in my chest.

"You ready to become a glorified Hidden Leaf shinobi and the strongest Nara alive?" I asked with a grin. Her gaze grew serious, but there was a spark behind it now.

"I'll do my best." I nodded, satisfied.

"That's more than enough. The willingness and spirit to go for it. That's what matters." Suddenly the room's door slid open. A tall man stepped in, blonde hair tied back neatly. His pale blue eyes scanned the room with practiced sharpness, like someone used to reading the mood at a glance. His flak vest was spotless. His posture was sharp. Too sharp for someone just casually passing through. Sena followed him in, walking like she owned the entire building.

Genta trudged behind her, clearly still bitter about having to file the optional mission report.

"Is this him, Lady Sena?" the medic asked politely. She nodded.

"Yes. Please take a look." Shizuru sat up slightly in bed.

"Thank you again, truly." He gave her a warm smile.

"Glad you're up already. Take it easy for a few more days, alright?" She nodded. Then his face changed the moment his eyes landed on me. The warmth vanished. Not from confusion, but from professional concern. He crouched beside me, hands already glowing with green chakra.

"Let's take a look at the legs." His tone had gone flat. Focused. His fingers hovered, then pressed gently near the joints. I clenched my jaw. His brow furrowed.

"This isn't just new damage. There's old trauma in the muscle tissue. Deep internal scarring. Low-grade lightning burns, spread wide." I realized instantly what he was seeing. My early experiments with lightning chakra circulation. I hadn't even known the damage was that bad.

"Have you been experimenting with nature transformation?" he asked, voice sharp.

"Be honest." Sena, Genta, and Shizuru were all looking at me now. I glanced away.

"... Maybe." He sighed, long and heavy.

"Then we're going to be here for a while." The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. After sometime Sena and Genta left. Shizuru drifted to sleep, worn out. The medic spent the next few hours running his chakra through my body, healing what he could and examining the rest. The more time passed, the more horrified he looked. Meanwhile, his chakra control stayed perfectly stable. No wasted motion. No slips. It was clear.

This guy was top tier, the kind of medical nin people in high positions kept close. It was actually kind of funny watching his face twist every time he discovered something new. His eyes got wider the further he went, especially around my chest and head. The real comedy was watching him try not to ask how I was still alive. By nightfall, he sat back with a sigh.

"That's all I can do for today. I'll continue treatment at your house in the Senju compound over the next few days." He stood, turned to leave, then paused.

"Those internal injuries… they're old. For your own sake, I hope you don't repeat whatever caused them." I smiled faintly. I'd already figured out how to stabilize my lightning chakra circulation. That part of my training was no longer a threat. Still, it was a bit unnerving learning I'd been walking around with damage this whole time.

"I won't," I said. He nodded once, stepped out, and shut the door behind him. I was asleep before the sound faded. The next day, Shizuru woke me up with a jab to the ribs, claiming I was a heavy sleeper. That was a lie. I had just kept my eyes closed to avoid her annoyingly chipper morning attitude. After a quick round of prep, we headed out. The medical nin building felt oddly empty to my senses. Most of the students were probably well enough to crawl their way into the final class. I felt better. A lot better.

Legs stiff, but functional. Thank you, Sena, and your overpowered private med-nin.

"Nice to have friends in high places," I muttered. The advanced classroom was packed. Everyone buzzing. Kaen wasn't there. A part of me wondered if I'd gone too far with him. Sena and Genta had saved our seats. She waved mid-conversation, while Genta gave a dramatic thumbs-up like we were survivors returning from war. I slid into my seat. A few seconds later, the door opened again. Seiji-sensei entered.

His steps were steady, his usual stoic presence in full force, but there was something else too, a trace of amusement.

"You lucky brats have a treat today," he said. The room fell silent. He stepped aside. And with no introductions, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, just walked in. Like this was a normal part of his day. Robes crimson and flowing, the Hokage insignia embroidered on the back. A pipe in hand. His eyes sharp, but kind. Two ANBU flanked him. One wore a dog mask with a swirl over the eye. The other, a smooth white falcon mask. That one's gaze landed on me. Just for a second.

I met it head-on, pretending I didn't feel the pressure sinking into my spine.

"Good morning," Hiruzen said, smiling warmly.

"It's a pleasure to stand among Konoha's future protectors." We didn't dare move.

"I've kept a close eye on this class. You were part of something new, an experiment to prepare you for the shinobi path earlier than most. You succeeded." He looked each of us in the eye.

"You endured harder lessons, stricter expectations. And you're still standing." Then his tone deepened.

"Konoha is more than a village. It's a legacy. A home built on sacrifice, loyalty, and vision. Each of you now carries that forward." The air changed. Every word seemed to weigh more.

"This is your first step. Missions. Squads. The real world. You'll see beauty and cruelty. Hope and loss. And you'll learn what it really means to protect something you believe in." He paused, looking across the room one last time.

"When that moment comes, and the world tries to take something from you, remember this place. These classmates. This feeling." His smile returned, gentler now.

"Let the Will of Fire guide you. And if you hold it close, Konoha will never fall." He nodded once, then turned and left. The ANBU followed. I still felt the falcon's stare even after they were gone. Seiji returned to the front, arms crossed, smirking. The room erupted with chatter. Who would team up with who? What kind of missions were waiting? Even the quiet students were leaning forward, energized. The door opened again. Two chunin entered, carrying boxes. One had a clipboard tucked under his arm.

The other gave Seiji a nod.

"Time to make it official," Seiji said, his voice cutting through the buzz.

"When your name is called, step forward." One by one, students walked up to receive their items, a sealed envelope, a forehead protector, and for a few, something extra. Shizuru took hers with quiet grace. Sena smiled like a seasoned politician greeting the press. Genta jogged forward with a grin like he'd just won the lottery. Then came my name.

"Noa." I got up. My legs still ached, but I walked steady. The chunin handed me the headband first. The metal felt cool and solid, like it carried a weight beyond its size. Then he handed me a dark gray tactical vest. I wasn't expecting a flak jacket. This one felt sleek, light across the shoulders. Yet the material was dense, like it could take more punishment despite its weight. I ran my fingers along the reinforced seams, and before I could ask, the chunin spoke.

"This is a special issue," he said with a small nod.

"Personal request from the Hokage himself. A gift for your exemplary performance and feats during the advanced program." That shut me up for a second. This wasn't mass-issued gear. This was recognition. And maybe a hint of expectation. A symbol of the path I was now on. Last came the envelope. Thick. Heavy. Sealed with the Hokage's mark. I turned it over in my hand, feeling the weight of whatever was inside. Team assignment, maybe a map. Orders. Probably instructions on where to report.

Whatever it was, it felt like the real beginning. Not a lesson. Not a trial. Something official. The kind of step you don't come back from.

"Your assignment is inside," he said quietly.

"You report in a week. Rest until then." I nodded and went back to my seat. The headband felt heavier than I thought it would. Not physically. Something else. A kind of weight that only comes with responsibility. I looked around. Some students were still waiting. Some were already running their fingers over the Leaf symbol like they couldn't believe it was real some overexcited students even started to open their envelopes to check on their assignment. This was it. No more simulations. No more pretend battles.

This was the line. We'd crossed it. Sena clapped once, smiling brighter than usual.

"We need to celebrate." Genta looked like he was about to cry.

"I'm broke." Shizuru fidgeted awkwardly. I pretended I wasn't there. Sena laughed.

"It's fine. My treat." We all looked at her and said in unison, "Thank you, Sena-sama." She laughed once more. It was a good sound. Light. Easy. Unusually normal for her. I was excited for the outing, but deep down, I knew this might be our last carefree moment before the shinobi world carved its mark into us, one way or another, for better or worse. ***A/N: And that marks the end of the Academy arc.

From the orphanage to graduation, from chakra control drills to root recruitment attempts to the assassination, Noa's time as a student is officially over. But let's be honest, that was just the warm-up. The real shinobi world doesn't hand out warnings or second chances. What comes next is a new chapter in every sense. Real missions. Real danger. A world that won't hold back. Noa's journey is just beginning. See you in the next arc in a week.