Early Graduation

Early that morning, Genitsu received an unexpected visitor.

Shiranui Genma, with a senbon needle clenched between his teeth.

He was regarded as the next head of the Shiranui Clan—though only two members of the entire clan remained alive.

"Hmph, you finally stopped wrapping yourself in bandages?" Genma frowned and sneered.

"Oh, my foolish little brother Genma. Instead of focusing on training, what brought you here? And why are you biting on senbon again? What if you shuddered and that huge needle jabbed into your mouth? Terrifying."

Genitsu yawned.

"...Damn it, this is why I hate you. I'm not stupid, and I'm clearly a month older than you... Forget it. Anyway, this is for you."

Genma casually held a senbon between his teeth, then took out a scroll.

"These are some techniques left behind by the clan. Don't expect too much; they're all very common ninjutsu..." Genma shook his head bitterly.

A small ninja clan.

A clan like the Uchiha Clan could casually produce dozens of ordinary ninjutsu, never mind techniques on the level of Forbidden Techniques.

"You awakened a poisonous Kekkei Genkai. If you learn these ninjutsu too, you should grow stronger faster. Graduate as soon as you can, and don't die..."

Genma hesitated, seeming to want to ask something, but certain taboos kept him from saying it aloud.

Genitsu showed a knowing look. "Are you asking about my Kekkei Genkai?"

"That's right, but that's extremely private information..."

"If you don't ask me, how will you know I won't tell you?"

Genma's face lit up with joy. "Oh? Then can you tell me?"

"Of course not, you fool."

"...?"

Genma flew into a rage, threw the scroll onto the ground, and turned to leave.

"Hey, hey, why are you in such a hurry? Don't you want to know whether you can awaken the same Kekkei Genkai as me?" Genitsu sighed.

W-what?

Genma stopped, hesitating. "Then... could your Kekkei Genkai be the Shiranui Clan's hidden bloodline? Does that mean... I can do it too?"

His voice brimmed with intense longing. Could it be... could the Shiranui Clan possess an inheritable Kekkei Genkai, just like the Uchiha and Hyuga Clan?!

"Of course you can't. I'm a genius, while you..."

Genitsu shook his head.

Genma was completely enraged. With a roar, he charged at Genitsu.

The two remaining sprouts of the Shiranui Clan began tearing into each other.

Genma spat every senbon from his mouth as weapons—in the future, he would develop exclusive ninjutsu based on those needles, such as Senbon Clone and Tooth Pursuit Senbon.

But the outcome disappointed him.

Genitsu directly caught the senbon precisely between two fingers, snapped them with ease, then sent Genma flying with a Konoha Whirlwind.

His formidable physical ability was displayed to the fullest at that moment.

"That's Might Guy's taijutsu..."

"Yeah, I hang around him every day. I haven't trained in it, but I can remember bits and pieces... My brain works pretty well, after all."

Battered and bruised, Genma left with snot and tears running down his face.

In the past, he could ignore Genitsu's sharp tongue because Genitsu was terrible in actual combat. But now... how had things suddenly reversed?

"Sorry, Genma. I used you as a shield... Besides, carrying meaningless burdens on your shoulders too early will crush you to death."

Genitsu shook his head.

He picked up the scroll from the ground and opened it. It contained several D-rank ninjutsu and a C-rank Earth Release ninjutsu.

At the same time, Genitsu stood in the doorway and tore off the bandage stuck to his cheek.

The wound Anko had cut into him yesterday had long since healed.

And from afar, the ANBU silently recorded that scene.

"Excellent vitality. Taijutsu comparable to that of a genin. According to his own statement, this Kekkei Genkai is not an inherited bloodline of the Shiranui Clan. Shiranui Genitsu may tentatively be classified as a valuable first-generation Kekkei Genkai user..."

There were actually some acquired Kekkei Genkai in this world, such as Storm Release and Lava Release.

These were formed through the combination of Chakra nature transformations from two attributes.

Generally speaking, Kekkei Genkai such as the Kaguya Clan's bone overgrowth or the Uchiha's Red Eye disease, which were engraved into one's genes and could be inherited reliably, were the most valuable.

"I hope this entirely new Kekkei Genkai can be inherited steadily. Then Konoha will gain another Kekkei Genkai clan."

The ANBU gave Genitsu one deep look. Having observed him through the night, he finally left.

"So they've finally gone?"

Genitsu remained impassive. After making breakfast, he headed straight out for school.

He did not see Might Duy or Might Guy. Those two had probably gone wild all night yesterday and exhausted themselves.

Their tendency to get fired up so easily was truly helpless.

Ninja Academy.

The moment Genitsu stepped through the school gates, he caused a huge commotion.

Having completely removed the bandages covering his body, he revealed a tall, slender figure and extraordinary... looks.

Combined with Anko's defeat yesterday, Genitsu had become completely famous.

"Is that Shiranui Genitsu, the guy who supposedly defeated one of the Three Sannin's disciples?"

"Hmph, I heard about that fight. Senior Anko was just too stupid; she actually went and drank his blood... What normal person drinks blood? Would you?"

"I heard Senior Genitsu has mastered some kind of secret technique. Yesterday was the first time he displayed it, because he wants to graduate early..."

Students from every grade discussed what had happened yesterday.

After a night of spreading rumors, many people learned that Shiranui Genitsu had defeated Lord Orochimaru's disciple.

They did not care how Anko had lost. The important thing was that she had lost. Orochimaru's disciple had been defeated by someone named Shiranui Genitsu!

Within the younger generation's circles, that was enough to cause a small earthquake.

As a result, wherever Genitsu went, countless people pointed and whispered about him.

"Look, that's Shiranui Genitsu!"

"Huh? But I heard he liked wrapping himself in bandages..."

"Idiot! He must have stopped pretending because he defeated Anko!"

"So handsome..."

Genitsu walked through the school gates with a calm expression.

At the same time, many parents were escorting their children to school and were also sizing up Shiranui Genitsu.

"That child is Genitsu? He really is outstanding."

"Wow, Grandma, even you're praising him? He's an incredibly stuck-up guy, only a little less stuck-up than that jerk Kakashi!"

Obito supported an elderly woman as he complained indignantly.

"Hehe, all right, Obito. This is far enough. You've worked hard..."

The stooped old woman gently stroked Obito's head with a kind expression, squinting as she watched him run into the school.

Heh, Obito really was such a simple child...

Something strange flashed across the old woman's kindly smile before vanishing. Then she smiled as she studied Genitsu's retreating figure. After watching for a while, she turned and shuffled away.

Everything looked perfectly normal.

Only after she had gone far away did Genitsu slightly raise his head and give her a thoughtful look.

"That person is Obito's only relative... She really is kind. Obito is always late because he has to help his only grandmother leave the house in the morning."

Genitsu shook his head and walked straight into his classroom.

Fourth-Year Class C.

The moment he entered, he saw Yoshino Masada sneezing desperately.

Noticing Genitsu's attentive gaze, Yoshino Masada immediately put on a solemn expression and nodded approvingly.

Genitsu's defeat of Anko had truly brought him honor. This was the excellent result of his teaching!

"Genitsu, you did very well yesterday. Keep it up, and don't embarrass me." Yoshino Masada looked stern.

Maybe my Class C can produce another genius?

Uchiha Kazue and Shiranui Genitsu had been the students who upheld Class C's reputation in yesterday's contests.

"Understood, Teacher Yoshino. But arriving in the classroom so early to wait for us doesn't seem like your style. Do you have something important to announce?"

"Yes. It's about early graduation."