Three days later, all fifth-year S-class students who were going to participate in the Anti-Monster Combat Evaluation gathered at one of the academy's grounds, waiting for the head of the Anti-Monster Combat Division to hand over their test contents.
Naturally, Seimei, Uchiha Reina, Ishimori Haneda, Uchiha Touma, and Uzumaki Keiko were also present.
The head of the division chatted with the other teachers and reviewed the test details for a while before focusing his gaze on the students.
His name was Senju Sakamoto—an Elite Jonin of Konoha.
Although his appearance was rather plain, the three claw marks that ran from his jaw to the side of his left neck made him look rather fierce.
Once he sorted everything out, he announced, "Since every student participating in the Anti-Monster Combat Evaluation is here, I will go straight to the point."
"The test is nothing complicated. We have designed it based on the real chakra beast extermination missions that many Konoha ninjas perform every single day to keep Konoha and the Land of Fire safe from the maws of the vicious chakra beasts."
"Of course, to facilitate that, we will hand over the test details just as the real Missions Department does."
"The goal of the test is simple."
"Once you get the test content, you must track your designated chakra beast according to the maps and details you receive, and then exterminate it."
Of course, you'll set the test format like a real chakra beast extermination mission because we are participating in actual chakra beast extermination missions without getting paid.
This way, we complete our test, and Konoha also makes us accomplish some of the key chakra beast extermination missions without having to pay. All the money will just go into your pockets.
No, no, it will all go into the packets of the Konoha higher-ups. And since the Academy teachers are in cahoots, they will also receive some compensation.
Damn it, just look at them spout nonsense without a hint of shame. They deserve an Oscar, all of them.
Seimei thought as he was listening to the announcement.
"...And do not worry. We have chosen the test content for each team based on the overall strength of each participating student." Senju Sakamoto continued, "If nothing unexpected happens, you should be able to complete your practical test and report back to us within three to five days."
"Of course, to ensure your safety, every student group will have at least one instructor following them."
"These instructors will only act if your life is in mortal danger. Otherwise, they won't act."
"Remember, if the instructors are forced to act because of your foolish combat tactics or carelessness, your points will be deducted. The amount will be left to the instructors' discretion."
Senju Sakamoto paused for a while before saying, "Alright. That's all I needed to announce about the test."
"Now, we will call the teams' names. When we call your team's name, all the pre-registered students belonging to the team must step forward and receive your test content and other relevant details from me."
"First, Team Itsuki. Step forward…"
Sakamoto called the teams' names one by one. And the students from the teams also stepped forward to receive their practical test details.
As for how the teachers knew about the teams and the students who were a part of them…
Well, that's because all the students who were participating in the Anti-Monster Combat Evaluation were told to form a team consisting of two to four students at their own convenience and report their names and the team names to the Academy two days before the test officially started.
This way, the Academy teachers could analyze the team's strengths and weaknesses to assign them to the most suitable chakra beast extermination missions as their official test content.
Simple and clean.
"Next, team…"
Senju Sakamoto paused for a moment after seeing the team name on the paper. His lips couldn't help but twitch slightly as he wondered which bastardly students came up with something like that.
Then he looked at the students' names listed under the team name, and his lips twitched even more.
Forget about it. Sakamoto signed as he debated whether to call out the team's name.
He had no other choice but to call it out, since he was the one who gave the students full right to pick their team names.
"... Team 'My Respected Ancestors'. Step forward."
"Present." x2
As soon as Sakamoto called out the team name, two cheerful voices echoed in the division. At the same time, hearing the team name, the jaws of both students and teachers almost dropped to the floor.
Soon, a snow-white-haired boy and a raven-black-haired girl stepped out of the crowd of students and walked to Senju Sakamoto.
Seeing the heir of the Senju clan and the genius Uchiha girl walking toward him, Sakamoto said, "Okay, Uchiha…"
But before he could say another word, Reina interrupted him and said, "Teacher. Please call us by our team name."
Seimei chimed in, "Yes, teacher. Since we are treating the test like a real mission, it's only natural to follow the regulations and call us by our team names."
With that, Seimei and Reina looked at him intently. Their not-so-innocent eyes seemed to shoot stars at him.
Sakamoto was speechless.
Sakamoto: Σ(っ °Д °;)っ
Seimei and Reina: (★‿★)
These bastards were really not leaving him any way out.
The teachers and official Konoha ninjas, standing beside Sakamoto, were equally stunned.
They only had one thought: Shameless, absolutely shameless.
But at the same time, all the teachers and students also stared at Senju Sakamoto playfully, waiting for him to call out the team name again.
Anyway, they weren't the ones who were being embarrassed, so they might as well enjoy the show.
If only they had a bowl of popcorn, it would have been even better.
Noticing the anticipation in the eyes of his colleagues and other students, Senju Sakamoto was dumbfounded once more.
Sakamoto: (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
He really had the urge to smack his forehead in exasperation and then knock the daylight out of everyone present here.
Of course, he couldn't do that. And the evaluation must move forward.
"Sigh."
Sakamoto sighed again, and this time, he sighed openly.
Let's get this over with. First, I spent the first half of my life amidst blood and gore, and after the end of the Warring States Era, the young ninjas fucked my brain up. I shouldn't have signed up as a teacher at the Academy.
Although the number of dangerous combat missions I must take on has decreased a lot, managing these children hardly leaves me with any free time.
I haven't even slept properly for who knows how many months. No, no, this can't go on.
Sakamoto lamented inwardly.
He was tired.
He snapped out of random thoughts and took a couple of scrolls.
He looked at Seimei and Reina and announced, "Team…My Respected Ancestors, these scrolls here contain the mission requirement, chakra beast details, and a specific map that will help you locate your target."
Although Sakamoto prepared himself mentally, his expression still became somewhat peculiar as he said Seimei and Reina's team name out loud.
"Take them."
He handed the scrolls to the duo, who accepted them and waited for further instructions.
Seeing this, he continued, "The rest of the rules are the same. You must locate the targets, exterminate the chakra beasts, and come back to report the mission completion within five days."
"Delaying without a proper reason will have significant consequences."
"Prepare yourself and depart within the next two hours using the North-West Exit. An instructor will wait for you there, who will follow you silently and assess your performance."
"Once again, if your lives are in mortal danger, the hidden instructor will act. But that will reflect poorly on your overall performance in this practical test."
"That's all. Move on."
"Understood." x2
Seimei and Reina replied simultaneously.
With that, Sakamoto retracted his gaze from Seimei and Reina before looking at the list in his hand again.
"Next, Team…"
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"Your naming senses are truly notorious. Now, we have completely angered Sakamoto-sensei," said Seimei as he walked out of the Academy building holding the scrolls along with Reina.
"Heh, isn't it fun, though? Besides, we are following regulations. We didn't break any rules. Wasn't it great to witness his ugly face? I loved seeing his expression that screamed that he wanted to scold us, but he couldn't."
"That helpless expression on his face was exhilarating," said Reina enthusiastically.
Hearing this, Seimei couldn't help but look at Reina strangely. Sometimes, he didn't know what was going on in this little girl's head.
She really had the talent to frustrate people to death.
Well, as long as one in the receiving end wasn't him, it was fine, probably.
But he still clicked his tongue and complained, "Tch! What do you know? That teacher is from my clan. The one who will bear the infamy will be me."
Reina glanced at him discreetly from the corner of her eyes and replied, "It's not like you aren't infamous in your clan already. I heard that because of your habit of late-night Ninjutsu experiments and explosions, many of your clan members hardly get any sleep at night. The next day, they would have dark circles under their eyes."
She continued, "Compared to you, I can be considered a proper lady."
What proper lady? You are still wet behind your ears. Forget about your antics that no proper lady would do; you, a twelve-year-old girl who hasn't even entered her teens yet, still need a few years of growing up to be considered a lady.
Hehe…just wait six more years until we become adults. Then I will show you who the boss is. For now, you are still a brat.
Seimei thought inwardly as he looked at Reina meaningfully.
Although Reina didn't know what Seimei was thinking, seeing the way he looked at her, it felt like she was being underestimated.
An inexplicable urge to beat someone up rose in her heart.
But now was not the time to get physical. They had a practical test to complete.
So, she changed the subject.
She said, "Alright. We will talk about other things later. Let's see what kind of chakra beasts we will be facing in this combat evaluation."
Seimei paused and nodded. "Right. Let's see the details of the chakra beasts. We will prepare accordingly then."
With that, Seimei and Reina went to a secluded place and opened one of the scrolls they had received from the head of the Anti-Monster Combat Division, Senju Sakamoto.
The two pairs of eyes fell on the name of the key chakra beast.
[Target #1: Rending Earth Bear]
[Danger Rating: A+]
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