Chapter 82: The Special Jonin Assessment
"Why do you eat so much even when you're injured?"
At Liumu's house, Haku, wearing an apron, smiled as she watched the group of young ninjas devour the meal.
Everyone except Might Guy was sitting properly at the table.
Liumu watched, speechless, as Guy next to him shoveled meat into his bowl at a frantic pace.
"I train a lot every day!" Guy mumbled around a mouthful of fish, spraying droplets of white juice as he tried to explain to Liumu.
Watching the spray, Liumu's brow twitched. "Can you finish swallowing before you talk?"
Gulp.
Liumu: That's better.
"I don't know what happened to my dad. A few years ago, he suddenly doubled, then quadrupled my training regimen. My appetite's been out of control ever since." As he spoke, tears welled in the corners of Guy's eyes—not from sadness, but from the sheer, overwhelming joy of abundant food.
Liumu, who knew Guy best, could see the genuine exhaustion behind the bravado. He picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of grilled meat into Guy's bowl. "Then eat more. Don't get skinny from hunger."
"Thank you!"
Liumu: "...You're welcome." I guess.
Old friends reunited at Liumu's table. The girls, Rin and Kurenai, ate with far more decorum than the boys.
Standing behind Liumu, Haku leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Eat something too. Don't just sit there."
"Me? How can I eat?" Liumu pouted toward Guy's ravenous form. "I'm already full just watching."
"Liumu, did you come back to be a proctor for our graduation exams?" Kurenai finally asked the question on everyone's mind after the meal.
"Proctor?" Liumu frowned. "I'm not proctoring any exams. Besides, doesn't the Academy handle their own graduation tests? What's that got to do with me?"
Hearing his denial, the group collectively sighed in relief. After all, they'd all been classmates just a few years ago. If Liumu, who'd graduated early with Kakashi, suddenly showed up as an examiner, the situation would be… awkward. The embarrassment wouldn't be his, but theirs.
"Then why are you back? A mission?" Guy asked, turning around.
"No," Liumu shook his head. "Just came back to visit. I might be staying in the village for a while."
"That's great!" Guy's eyes lit up. "You have no idea, Kakashi is always so busy now, I can never find him for a spar. If you're staying…"
"Guy!" Obito interjected with a wry smile, his eyes darting meaningfully from Guy's face to a point behind him. "Don't get too cocky. What if Liumu develops an even more advanced version of that jutsu?"
The table erupted in nervous laughter.
Afterward, they all chatted, catching Liumu up on village gossip. The news that Namikaze Minato would be a team leader for this year's graduates caused particular excitement. The "Yellow Flash" was a legend. Having him as a sensei would be a point of pride.
Liumu wasn't surprised by the news. Instead, his gaze calmly swept over Rin and Obito.
The Next Day
Liumu reported to the Hokage's Office early.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, slowly rolling up a confidential scroll as Liumu entered.
"I heard you've mastered the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique?" the Third asked without preamble.
Liumu: "..." Here it comes.
He'd used the technique once in front of Minato after secretly learning it from the Scroll of Seals. It was only a matter of time before the Hokage found out.
Bracing for a reprimand, Liumu was taken aback by what followed.
"Ah, well. What's learned is learned. Even if you hadn't, Jiraiya would have taught you eventually."
The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique itself wasn't classified as a high-level secret. Its designation as "forbidden" stemmed from the immense chakra drain, which could be lethal for an average shinobi. The reason it became iconic for a certain future Hokage was his unique, massive chakra reserves—partly his own, partly borrowed. Kakashi had once noted that boy's chakra was ten times his own, allowing him to use the technique on a scale others couldn't.
"Here. This is your next assignment." Hiruzen handed over a mission scroll.
"Assignment?" Liumu's brow furrowed instantly as he took it. A mission already? Right after getting back? That's just cruel.
"Just like your sensei—that same look of utter distaste when receiving a mission." The Third Hokage chuckled, taking a puff from his pipe.
Liumu was speechless. He unrolled the scroll. A single, neat line was written inside:
[Mission: C-Rank. Proctor the graduation assessments at Konoha Ninja Academy.]
[Intel: N/A]
Liumu: "..."
"Old Man Village Chief, what is this?"
"Old Man Village Chief?" The Third was momentarily taken aback by the title, then let out a hearty laugh. "It's just proctoring. It's no big deal. Is there a problem?"
"A problem? It's not just *a* problem. This year's graduates were my classmates. If I show up as their examiner, the pressure on them will be insane."
"Hm," Hiruzen mused, stroking his beard. "I'd forgotten you were an early graduate. However…" He stood up, his tone firming. "The Academy has already been notified. Besides, a little pressure is good. It separates the wheat from the chaff. Carry out the mission with confidence."
"This also serves as your assessment task for promotion to Special Jonin."
"Assessment? Special Jonin?" Liumu's eyes sharpened. That was the very reason he'd returned—to complete the system's mission. He just hadn't expected the Third to have the same idea, and for the "assessment" to be something so… mundane.
"If there are no further issues, you may prepare. You will be summoned when the mission commences."
On the way home, Liumu stuffed the mission scroll into his pouch, his expression one of pure resignation.
The task from the Third was one he couldn't refuse. It wasn't just the Hokage's order; it was the very mission the system had issued three years ago. For the reward of ten additional uses of the Time Room, he couldn't afford to fail.
Sigh. I just said last night I wasn't proctoring, and now the tables have turned.
Two days passed in a flash.
The morning of the exams, before Liumu was fully awake, a gentle knock sounded at his door.
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he shuffled over and opened it.
"Chunin Liumu. Today is the day of the Academy assessments. You are to accompany me."
(End of Chapter)
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