In the two years right after Ninja World War II, all the ninja villages in the ninja world were recovering and working hard to train their ninjas.
The end of the war brought new tasks and opportunities, making the demand for ninjas grow.
As the winner of the war, Konoha Ninja Village took on a large portion of the ninja missions. Now, every ninja in the village was eager to use shadow clones to handle more tasks.
Konoha Ninja Village, which had suffered during the war, was slowly getting back to normal and resuming various activities.
However, the high number of war orphans at the ninja academy showed that the effects of the war, including the lingering hatred, were still present.
Kagetsu couldn't remember the exact timeline, but he vaguely recalled that the gap between World War II and World War III seemed short, and World War III would have even greater destruction.
He needed to make the most of this rare peaceful period and quickly gain the skills to protect himself.
Recently, Inuzuka Yama's father had visited the Nara clan to discuss a new dog food formula and supply of medicinal materials created by Kagetsu.
The deal was quickly made, and a few days later, Kagetsu received money and materials from his clan.
Although his clan took most of the profit, Kagetsu could still earn some from this business. His plans, which had been revised many times, were finally moving forward with a real chance of success.
Kagetsu used the money to buy some essential instruments and set up a basic laboratory in an empty house.
At night.
"Is he still in his lab?" Yuno Nara asked her husband with concern as she looked at the backyard.
"Hasn't he been there for a long time?" Nara Shikakichi responded lazily, looking helpless.
"What's the matter?" Yuno Nara's eyes grew sharp as she stared at her husband.
"I'm just going to check things out!" Nara Shikakichi, sensing the dangerous aura around him, immediately got up, stretched, and walked towards the Kagetsu laboratory in the backyard.
Although he didn't interfere with Kagetsu's so-called research, he always had concerns in his heart.
As a strategist for the Hokage, he had helped three generations of Hokage with many affairs and reviewed numerous classified documents.
He might not know all the details about confidential experiments related to human and biological research, but he could piece things together from the information he had.
Despite his cold and indifferent demeanor, he always kept a close watch on Kagetsu's activities.
Nara Shikakichi felt a bit frustrated. Why did the usually lazy and trouble-averse Nara clan produce someone like Kagetsu who actively sought out work?
"Are you done with your research for today?" Before he reached his destination, he saw Kagetsu approaching with a flower pot in hand.
"Yes, I'm finished," Kagetsu replied.
"Can you tell me what kind of research you're doing?" Shikakichi asked casually as they walked towards the main house's bedroom.
"It's just some preparation for tomorrow's practical exam," Kagetsu said openly.
Shikakichi nodded and didn't press further. As long as it didn't involve those life-draining human experiments, Kagetsu's research was just a personal interest.
---
Ninja academy Playground.
Fumito, Kagetsu's class teacher, was holding a battle sheet and announcing the assessment of each item and the opponents for the final practical battle to all the students standing on the playground.
First up was shuriken and kunai throwing.
Second was the release and performance of ninjutsu.
Almost immediately, there was a noticeable difference between the clan ninjas and the civilian ninjas in the second assessment.
Civilian ninjas, who only learn basic skills at ninja academy, lack the advanced training that clan ninjas receive from a young age. Clan members, even those from less prominent clans, have access to more advanced ninjutsu training as needed.
For example, Uchiha Obito, who wore goggles, used the Great Fireball Jutsu—a technique not taught in the ninja academy—during the second assessment.
Civilian ninjas who want to learn such jutsu often have to become Genin to earn merit points and trade them for jutsu from the village. Alternatively, they might get the chance to learn one or two jutsu if they graduate and find a generous teacher willing to teach them.
After the two practical assessments, the final test is a one-on-one combat match. This assessment is crucial and closely watched by at least Chunin level ninjas.
Performing well in this test can attract the attention of a Chunin, who might offer to take him/her as a student.
Historically, this was how Sarutobi Hiruzen and others became disciples of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. Later, Hiruzen, who became the Third Hokage, took on the Konoha Sannin as his students.
Even those who aren't aware of these histories are eager to show their abilities in front of their teachers and peers. For instance, Uchiha Obito, with intense eyes, challenged a silver-haired boy.
"Kakashi, come and fight me!" Obito shouted as he stepped out of his team and into the fighting area, pointing at the silver-haired boy. His loud voice silenced the playground, drawing everyone's attention.
"This idiot," Kakashi, wearing his mask, said with a sigh.
"Go back!"
The loud shout from Fumito cooled Uchiha Obito's excitement instantly. Obito looked at Kakashi, who seemed uninterested, with a hint of reluctance, then moved back to his original spot as everyone watched.
"In the first round, Nara Kagetsu vs. Aburame Aoshi." Fumito, after briefly watching Obito and returning to the team, cleared his throat and announced the first match according to the battle chart.
"The Aburame Clan and the Nara Clan?" On the viewing platform, several Chunin-level ninjas looked at the arena with curiosity. Konoha is well-known for these two clan's secret techniques: one controls shadows and the other controls insects.
Even though it's not a battle between the two clans, it still caught their interest.
As the two competitors took their places on the battlefield and prepared their stances, the battle began when the teacher, Fumito, stepped back.
A swarm of black insects flew out from under the wide sleeves of Aburame Aoshi's robe, silently spreading out like two black arrows heading straight for Nara Kagetsu.
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