Applying for Early Graduation

After Nanaha left, Issui returned to his usual life of arduous training. To him, Nanaha was the spice in his life. Just like the movies based on the original, she offered a way to relieve some of the pressure of a ninja career spent training and studying amid constant tension, so he wouldn't have to sink into the pessimistic world of ninjas. The ninja world was a world of flesh and blood, with a unique charm of its own. Someone who did nothing but kill wasn't a normal ninja, but a madman. Ninjas full of feeling, passion, love, and friendship were powerful and fearless. Every one of Naruto's outbursts in the original had been born from the inspiration of emotion. That made it clear to us that transmigration wasn't about fitting into the world's system and satisfying personal desires, but about experiencing this world full of emotion and moving forward step by step. A transmigrator's halo was random, but emotions were everlasting...

After a day of review, Issui had completely mastered Tree Climbing. Next came Water Walking. Since the New Year was approaching (Japan's New Year fell on January 1 of the Gregorian calendar, and its customs were broadly similar to China's, with some elements from ancient China), the Ninja Academy had closed for the holidays. Issui and Sasuke were still tied for first in the final exam, while Naruto was still dead last. The exam had tested shuriken throwing, and although Naruto had tried hard, his accuracy—how to put it? Eight or nine out of ten throws missed, and the one that hit was a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse—a lucky guess. Naruto's trials continued, and perhaps it was those many years of trials at the Ninja Academy that had given him his never-say-die character.

Compared with Tree Climbing, Water Walking was much harder. Solids and liquids were two different things: when you stepped on a tree, it didn't move, but water was different. The slightest unevenness in the chakra distributed across your feet, and you would immediately fall in. Like a pebble striking the water, once you broke the surface's balance, the water would make way for you, and down you went.

In other words, if you didn't break the balance of the water's surface, you wouldn't sink. An even distribution of chakra would form a boundary with the surface, allowing the person standing on it to float, just like a leaf that had fallen onto the water. Although the principles weren't quite the same, the result was identical.

Issui invited Hinata to join him for Water Walking practice. When they reached the place where they had trained the other day, he had her start with Tree Climbing. To his dismay, Hinata succeeded on her very first try. Girls really were more attentive than boys, practically born with a talent for chakra control. Although Hinata had a few mishaps during her first attempts at Water Walking, she quickly adapted and completed the exercise perfectly. Issui had no choice but to have her continue practicing taijutsu off to the side.

Compared with the speed of Hinata's Water Walking training, Issui's results were downright outrageous. Even his transmigrator's halo was no use; he just couldn't succeed. His fixed way of thinking from his previous life also left him unable to understand Water Walking at all. It had no scientific basis, after all. A modern man who had learned that science and technology were the primary productive forces was completely stumped by something as unreasonable as walking on water.

But repeated failures brought out Issui's stubborn streak. I refuse to believe something as trivial as Water Walking can stump this genius. Even Hinata learned it quickly, so how could I fail? Failure is the mother of success.

Hinata saw Issui's bedraggled state and smiled. Issui is so cute when he's angry. But is Water Walking really that hard? I thought it was so easy. Taijutsu is much harder to practice. I can never get it right. Even though I train hard every day, I can still only perform sixteen strikes of the Eight Trigrams Palm in succession, and I'm still... not very proficient at it. Taijutsu really is hard.

Issui didn't hear Hinata talking to herself. He gradually found his rhythm, managing several times to stand on the water for a few seconds. That excited him greatly. I knew it. I can do it. With each failure and each review of what he had learned, Issui's Water Walking practice steadily improved...

It was another clear night. Issui and Hinata sat in the courtyard, admiring the golden moon in the sky. Even the pitch-black night couldn't conceal its radiance.

"If the Six Paths really made that moon, that's incredible. This world is too crazy. Ninjas really are amazing, don't you think, Hinata?" Issui asked.

"Yes. I believe you'll become a great ninja too, Issui-kun. I... I'll work hard to become a useful ninja too," Hinata said quietly.

"I want to graduate early. With my current strength, there's no point in staying at the Ninja Academy. Only by going through some trials can I grow faster. More importantly, I want to protect everything I hold dear. Before, I didn't have the power to stop disasters from happening, but now it's different. My strength is improving rapidly, and I believe that one day I'll have the power to protect my companions. Of course, Hinata, you're someone I want to protect too. I also believe you'll become a great ninja, and not because of my help. You have every bit of the potential to become a powerful ninja; it just hasn't been brought out yet."

"Huh? Graduate? I understand. Don't worry, Issui-kun. I'm very capable, you know. I won't hold you back." Hinata's smooth face shone with confidence. The little girl was starting to grow up; she was no longer the timid Hinata she had once been, though she still tended to be shy.

"Of course. I have every confidence in you..."

"Then let's work hard together and move toward hope..."

"Of course..."

Early the next morning, Issui went first to Hiashi's room.

"Uncle, I want to graduate early. The Ninja Academy has nothing left to teach me. I want to go out and experience life as a ninja. Only after being baptized in blood can a ninja's strength truly show..." Issui said to Hiashi, who sat across from him writing.

"Mm, go ahead. Remember, you're a member of the Hyuga Clan. There's no need to deliberately hide your strength. Strength is a tool a ninja uses to maintain his own power..." Hiashi's face was expressionless. This child will become a powerful ninja. I just don't know whether the Hyuga Clan can keep him. But it's clear that Issui genuinely likes Hinata, so his heart is with the Hyuga too...

"Yes, Uncle. I won't disappoint you. The Hyuga Clan is my only home. The people I want to protect are here..." Issui knew Hiashi was asking him to declare where he stood. If he said yes, Hiashi would support him with all his might. If he said no, then...

"Good. I'm very gratified. Go ahead and do as you wish. Konoha's Hyuga Clan stands behind you." Hiashi was delighted. This child really does like Hinata...

After leaving the Hyuga Clan, Issui headed straight for the Hokage's office building.

At the Hokage's office, Issui ran into two people: Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy. Presumably, they had come back to report on a mission.

"Kakashi-senpai, you saved my life last time, and I still haven't thanked you properly. Can I treat you to ramen later? Are you free?" Issui took the initiative to approach him.

"Oh? Who's this kid, Kakashi? Could he be your..." Guy said with a sly grin.

"No. This is Issui Kanna, from the Hyuga Clan. You should know him, right? Mm, I have time later, and I'm hungry anyway, so I'll accept your invitation, young man." Kakashi gave Guy a rap with his fist, then gave Issui an affirmative answer.

"That's great! I've heard about you, Kakashi-senpai, and I really admire you!" Issui seemed delighted. He hadn't expected Kakashi to accept his invitation. He had only asked casually, but Kakashi had actually agreed.

Knock, knock, knock... Guy had already knocked on the door.

"Come in, all of you..." The Third's authoritative voice came from inside.

"Yes."

"Lord Hokage, the S-rank mission has been completed. The client is very satisfied..." Kakashi submitted the mission completion report.

"Good. By the way, here's an A-rank assassination mission. Take care of it when you have time." The Third handed Kakashi another mission. Ninjas really were busy.

"Issui, what is it?" the Third finally asked, a glint flashing in his eyes.

"Grandpa Hokage, I want to graduate early..." Issui said loudly.

"Mm, all right. I trust you already have some idea of your own strength. You young leaves are Konoha's hope. Come to Training Ground Three this afternoon, and I'll arrange for a Special Jōnin to be your opponent. Don't worry. As long as you have the necessary strength, I'll allow you to graduate..." the Third said kindly, even patting Issui's little head. Brainwashing.

"Yes, Grandpa Hokage. I'll do my best..." Issui could only respond happily to the Third's divine brainwashing technique.

"Mm, do your best, young man..." the Third said with a smile. I should trust this child, shouldn't I? Konoha needs an infusion of fresh blood. It needs talented youngsters...

After leaving the Hokage's building, Issui and Kakashi headed straight for the Ichiraku Ramen Shop. Issui had invited Guy too, which made him very happy.

"Hey, Issui's here! Kakashi, Guy, you've finished your mission? You just got back to the village, right? You've been away for two weeks. Come and have some ramen with a taste of home, Konoha style." Teuchi was delighted to see the three customers.

"Three large bowls of ramen. I'll have egg, and two bowls for Senior Kakashi and Senior Guy..."

"Miso for me..." Guy said first.

"Anything..." Kakashi said.

"All right, coming right up. Ayame, three bowls of ramen: two with egg and one miso."

"Coming..."

After eating their ramen, Issui said goodbye to Kakashi and Guy and left them his address before returning home. He needed to prepare for the afternoon's test; he would be facing a Special Jōnin, after all.

When he got home, Hinata had already prepared Issui's ninja tools and pouch for him. She really was thoughtful. Issui asked Hinata to come watch as well, and she agreed. Hiashi, meanwhile, went to invite the Hyuga Clan's elders to watch Issui's graduation test together.

By the time Issui, Hinata, and the members of the Hyuga Clan arrived at Training Ground Three, many people were already there. Among them were Akimichi Chōza, Shikaku Nara, and Inoichi Yamanaka of the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans, along with their heirs Choji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara, and Ino Yamanaka; Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki, who had come after hearing the news; Kiba Inuzuka, his older sister Hana Inuzuka, and their mother Tsume Inuzuka; Shino Aburame and his father Shibi Aburame; the Special Jōnin Mitarashi Anko, Ibiki Morino, Ebisu, Gekko Hayate, Aoba Yamashiro, Namiashi Raidō, Genma Shiranui, Tobitake Tonbo, and Uzuki Yugao (personally, I think Yugao should have Jonin-level strength and should be a Special Jōnin; she currently served in the Anbu); the Jonin Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy (also known as Might Guy of the Iron Blood), Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, and others (Konoha couldn't possibly have only this many Jonin, so I wrote "and others"); a number of smaller clan heads; Shimura Danzō of Root; Konoha's two great advisers, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura; and Konoha's Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

This was already the entirety of Konoha's forces, aside from the Anbu, ninjas below the rank of Special Jōnin, ninjas away on missions, Tsunade Senju and Jiraiya, who had left the village and never returned, and the private forces of the various clans.