C40 The Higherups Are Gathered Here

On this glorious day, the sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky.

From dawn, the Ninja School was festooned with colorful lanterns and banners, teeming with a sea of people. Students weren't the only attendees; villagers who had heard the news also flocked to the spectacle.

This was a momentous event for the Grass Ninja!

"The school anniversary! It's been ages since we've had such a celebration. It's all thanks to Lord Masheng's exceptional leadership that the Grass Ninja have flourished like this!"

"This is an extraordinary occasion. Not only will Lord Grass Kage grace us with his presence, but other elusive high-ranking officials will also emerge to offer their congratulations and participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony!"

"I can hardly wait. It's been three years since I last saw Lord Grass Kage, at the onset of the Ninja World War. He's been so busy, but just to catch a glimpse of him now, even from a distance, would be enough!"

The villagers buzzed with excitement, their anticipation palpable.

"Organizing a celebration for the Ninja School is no small feat. Besides Lord Grass Kage, other Grass Ninja dignitaries will be there, like Takenaka Jun, intelligence team leader Chuan Shangyi, and patrol team leader Gaoyuan Zhou. We underestimated Gekka Ming's connection to Lord Grass Kage last time, but we won't make the same mistake. This time, we four must demonstrate our prowess and dazzle everyone at the celebration!"

Meanwhile, the students were diligently rehearsing their performances, eager to seize this rare chance to showcase their talents.

These future graduates of the Ninja School would eventually join the ranks of the Ninja Forces, embarking on various missions. While not all would engage in combat, their unique skills could lead them to become medical ninjas, join the medical corps, or excel as intelligence specialists.

For the high-ranking officials to assemble was an opportunity not to be missed.

Oka Seita addressed Katsura Atsuhiro and the others. Now a cohesive unit, they rallied together for any major event, especially after the setback dealt by Yang Ming. They were more united than ever.

"Indeed, this is our moment. Last time, Lord Grass Kage might not have anticipated encountering Gekka Ming. Perhaps due to their acquaintance, he overlooked us, which is understandable. But this time, we must flex our strengths before the entire leadership and capture everyone's attention!"

Fujishima Zyun gave a nod, confirming with a simple, "Alright."

Katsura Atsuhiro and Chang Jiaye also nodded, crisply responding in agreement.

Meanwhile, Yang Ming had slipped into a set of black attire and was now making his way toward the school. For everyone else, it was a day of celebration, but for him, it was a time of evaluation, followed by his graduation. It was, in essence, his very own personal commencement ceremony. Yet, this milestone was fated to remain clandestine; the level of talent he had exhibited was astonishingly profound. Should it become public knowledge, it would likely spell doom, as it could attract lethal consequences.

A five-year-old Junior Ninja prodigy—such a revelation would astound anyone. The Ninja World had already seen a Kakashi, who had brought two decades of prosperity to Konoha. They would certainly not stand for the emergence of another.

Yang Ming was well aware of Lord Grass Kage's intentions, but he remained indifferent. With mastery over the intermediate Immortal Body and Strange Strength, along with six Wood Escape techniques, he had no reason to fear. Even a confrontation with a Shadow Level master wouldn't faze him; he could hold his own in battle and potentially emerge victorious. Only the most formidable among the Shadow Level posed a real threat.

But defeat was not the end—escape was always an option. At this point, while Yang Ming couldn't claim to dominate the Ninja World, he certainly had the freedom to traverse it with confidence.

"These must be the top brass of the Grass Ninja," he observed upon reaching the school. The elite had gathered, forming a circle with the Grass Kage at its center, all eagerly anticipating the students' display of prowess.