Unconsciously

The sharp blade sliced through Vega's skin. Warm blood flowed from the shallow wound. Held hostage, Vega did not dare move at all, terrified that the other person might take his life in an instant.

"Is this as far as I can go?"

Without even seeing who his enemy was, Vega thought gloomily.

At that moment, he could not think of any way to escape danger. As long as he made the slightest movement, he had no doubt that the other party's kunai would slit his throat.

However, after a while, Vega suddenly saw seven or eight Anbu Ninja from Konoha appear around him. One of them was even an "old acquaintance," and he had the corpse of the man Vega had just fought slung over his shoulder, its Source of Life still draining away.

Seeing his "old acquaintance," Vega's tense heart finally eased by half. He also guessed that the person holding him hostage was likely an Anbu Ninja from Konoha as well.

"Vega Koshima, why are you here?"

When the Anbu Ninja wearing a Monkey Mask saw Vega, he immediately began interrogating him, the corpse still on his shoulder.

Vega quickly replied, "I-I came here to train."

"Captain, you know him?"

The Konoha Anbu Ninja holding Vega hostage spoke up and asked the monkey-masked Anbu Ninja.

"He is a student at the Ninja Academy. I was the one who notified him to take the entrance test there."

After explaining, the monkey-masked Anbu Ninja said again, "The mission is complete. The target has been confirmed dead."

Then he turned to Vega and said, "Since you were involved in our mission, and we cannot yet determine whether you are the enemy's accomplice, we will hand you over to Lord Hokage for judgment."

Hearing that he would be handed over to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the other half of Vega's anxiety finally subsided.

The next moment, Vega felt a sharp pain in his neck, and then he lost consciousness.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

The unconscious Vega was slung over the shoulder of the Anbu Ninja who had just held him hostage, and then they vanished from the surface of the river.

"Ah!!!"

The unconscious Vega suddenly jolted awake with a cry, as though he had just had a nightmare, and sprang up from his chair.

Only then did Vega notice Hiruzen Sarutobi sitting across from him. He was currently in the Hokage's Office within the Hokage Building.

At the same time, Vega noticed that he had actually been lying face-down on Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk just moments ago.

"Lord Hokage, I..."

Vega wanted to say something, but he did not know what to say.

Seeing that Vega had awakened, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been handling official documents, set down the file in his hand and asked, "Vega, can you tell me why you appeared at the scene where the Anbu were carrying out their pursuit mission?"

Vega said anxiously, "Lord Hokage, I really was planning to train at the time."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled kindly. "I believe you. There is no need to be nervous. I merely wish to understand what happened."

"After all, you are an inheritor of the Will of Fire. I believe even more strongly that you would never betray Konoha."

"Tell me how you were injured."

Vega immediately replied, "Yes!"

"It began three days ago..."

Vega truthfully recounted everything in one breath: how he had quit his job at the slaughterhouse three days earlier, how he had gone there every day at four in the morning to train, how he had encountered the enemy today, fought him, and been injured.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was very satisfied with Vega's answer, because everything Vega said completely matched the information the Anbu had given him after their investigation.

At the same time, from Vega's account, Hiruzen Sarutobi gained a clear understanding of Vega's strength. He then asked, "Vega, do you know what kind of person the one you encountered today was?"

Vega shook his head and replied, "I don't know."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "He was a Chunin spy from the Sand Village of the Land of Wind. If not for you today, a very important piece of intelligence might have been stolen from the village."

"So, thank you for preventing the village from suffering a loss."

Hearing that, Vega immediately replied solemnly, "It was what I should have done."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, then continued asking, "Vega, have you ever considered Early Graduation?"

At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already decided to let Vega graduate early from the Ninja Academy and bring him under his command as soon as possible.

After all, he had just concluded that Vega possessed strength close to that of a Chunin and was already qualified to graduate from the Ninja Academy.

Unaware of Hiruzen Sarutobi's intentions, Vega asked in surprise, "Early Graduation? Can I?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded again and said, "Perhaps even you do not realize that you now possess strength close to that of a Chunin."

"To avoid wasting your talent, I want you to graduate early, become a Genin of the village, and inherit the Will of Fire."

Upon hearing that he already possessed strength comparable to a Chunin, the shock on Vega's face was impossible to hide. He could hardly imagine that he, who had always trained quietly, had already become so "strong."

After thinking for a moment, Vega replied, "Lord Hokage, I am willing to graduate early from the Ninja Academy."

"But could we wait a little longer?"

Hearing that Vega was willing to graduate early, Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile became even kinder. However, when he heard that Vega wanted to wait for a while, he asked in confusion, "Why wait for a while?"

Vega replied with a smile, "Because I have a ninjutsu that is nearly complete. I want to apply for graduation after I successfully master it."

The ninjutsu Vega spoke of was the Body Strengthening Technique, but he had no intention of revealing that to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not pursue the matter further. After all, Veigar's father had been a somewhat renowned Chunin, so it was not strange for him to have left Veigar one or two ninjutsu techniques.

On top of that, the talent Veigar had displayed was worth waiting for.

So, after giving it some thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed. "Alright, then I'll wait for your Early Graduation application."

"I'm looking forward to the day you become an official ninja."

Veigar replied happily, "Yes, thank you, Lord Hokage."

A while later, Veigar walked out of the Hokage Building. As soon as he reached the entrance, he saw Kaoru Iwabe hurrying over.

"Good morning, Teacher Kaoru!"

The moment he saw Kaoru Iwabe, Veigar immediately greeted her with a smile.

Kaoru Iwabe stopped in front of Veigar and asked worriedly, "Veigar, are you alright?"

"How did you get hurt?"

Veigar still replied with a smile, "I'm fine. It's just a minor injury. I'll be alright after it's bandaged."