Preparations for Early Graduation

After school that morning.

A delighted Uchiha Obito came over to chat with Hyuga Sho.

"Hehe, sorry, Obito. I practiced the Clone Technique today and used up all my Chakra, so I can't spar with you."

Hyuga Sho spoke with "deep apology."

But in truth, Hyuga Sho had already lost interest in Uchiha Obito.

Over the past half month at the Ninja Academy, Hyuga Sho had beaten... no, defeated Uchiha Obito more times than he could count.

At first, he had gained plenty of experience points, but later, the experience points had stopped increasing.

Hyuga Sho understood.

There was no longer any point in farming this little monster.

He had to find stronger opponents.

Thus, Hyuga Sho unhesitatingly abandoned his former experience fodder and turned his attention to the Three Body Techniques.

"Is that so? Then next time, I'll let you witness the Uchiha Clan's Great Fireball Technique. See you!"

Uchiha Obito showed no disappointment at all. He waved goodbye to Hyuga Sho.

Hyuga Sho had yet to see the Great Fireball Technique Obito mentioned.

Rustle...

As Hyuga Sho waited in the corridor, he saw the office door slide open.

Hyuga Mami walked out.

Their homeroom teacher, Funano Daihoku, wore a complicated expression before offering one final reminder. "Mami, I suggest you give it some serious thought..."

"?"

Hyuga Sho had no idea what Funano Daihoku had said to Hyuga Mami.

All of this was because Hyuga Mami had used the B-rank Ninjutsu, Shadow Clone, in class.

The rooftop of the school building.

Hyuga Mami gazed at the scenery before her. "In another five months and fifteen days... I'll be able to graduate early."

Hyuga Sho: "..."

Early graduation.

It was a privilege reserved for genius students.

Ordinary students...

Had a graduation cycle of six years.

During wartime, it would be shortened to three to five years.

Graduating after only half a year at the Ninja Academy... meant that...

Hyuga Mami's talent could rival that of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi's three disciples.

Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade had all graduated from the Ninja Academy at the age of five.

From then on, the three of them had risen rapidly through the ranks.

During the previous Shinobi World War...

The young trio had fought the "demigod," Hanzo of the Salamander.

In the end, they earned the title of the "Legendary Sannin."

They became known as the "Legendary Sannin."

"Do you know what that means?" Hyuga Mami asked without turning around.

"It means... if I don't graduate alongside the Young Lady, I may lose my position as her protector..."

Hyuga Sho said "with difficulty."

If Hyuga Mami graduated early while he remained where he was...

The Main Family would assign another Branch Family Member to protect Hyuga Mami.

By then, Hyuga Mami would already be a "Genin," and only a protector who was likewise a "Genin" could protect her.

"..."

Hyuga Sho frowned inwardly.

This was both good and bad news.

Lying low and steadily developing sounded wonderful, but it was merely a helpless choice made when one was weak.

To improve quickly, he had to temper himself constantly and take on difficult challenges.

After weighing everything...

Graduating quickly and becoming a ninja would allow him to grow faster.

After all, what he excelled at most was fighting to the death.

The enemies outside were fiercer, and they would yield more experience points.

"Young Lady! I'll learn the Three Body Techniques as soon as possible!"

Hyuga Sho appropriately showed a hint of anxiety, pretending that he did not want to lose his position as protector.

"Learning only the Three Body Techniques won't be enough..."

Hyuga Mami shook her head.

"Even if you add classes like ninja tool throwing, Theory Class, Sketching Class... it still won't be enough."

Early graduation...

Was not such a simple matter.

Hyuga Mami said, "Many children of the Uchiha Clan have mastered the C-rank Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, yet they still cannot graduate early."

"Young Lady... then, then what exactly are the requirements for early graduation...?"

Hyuga Sho put on a miserable expression, looking as though he wished he could graduate on the spot.

"Master a B-rank Ninjutsu, or..."

"..."

Hyuga Sho's brow furrowed slightly.

It was not difficult to tell from Hyuga Mami's words that she believed he could not learn a B-rank Ninjutsu.

"...Defeat me, or defeat Hatake Kakashi."

So Hatake Kakashi also received a spot for early graduation...

It was not difficult for Hyuga Sho to guess.

Since Kakashi and Hyuga Mami were both top students...

It meant that defeating either one of them would likewise allow him to graduate early.

"Young Lady... I'll defeat Hatake Kakashi!"

"Then do your best."

After saying that, Hyuga Mami jumped down from the rooftop.

More than ten minutes later...

Sitting in the classroom, Hyuga Sho ate the Heart Bento Hyuga Natsu had made while pondering how to defeat Kakashi.

"The Hyuga Clan excels at Taijutsu. If Kakashi fights me in Taijutsu, he'll most likely be at a disadvantage."

Use his own strength to attack the enemy's weakness.

The slogan, "Our Hyuga Clan is Konoha's strongest clan," sounded laughable...

But in terms of Taijutsu, the Hyuga Clan did indeed possess an innate advantage.

"But ninjas also have powers like Genjutsu and Ninjutsu, as well as ninja tools. If Kakashi uses those, I'll inevitably get caught off guard."

After thinking for a moment...

Hyuga Sho devised two plans to proceed with in parallel.

1. Train diligently in the Three Body Techniques.

2. Before confronting Kakashi, gradually defeat the others one by one.

After finishing the Heart Bento...

Hyuga Sho, sitting in the classroom, began practicing the Clone Technique with complete focus.

Three days later.

[Doka Degree: 8.4%]

"Clone Technique!"

Hyuga Sho formed hand seals.

Smoke rose.

A clone appeared.

Hyuga Sho dispelled it, then formed hand seals again.

He repeated the process over and over.

More and more students in the classroom noticed Hyuga Sho's intense training.

Nohara Rin said, "Haven't you noticed? Hyuga Sho has been working incredibly hard lately."

Uchiha Obito said, "Of course! He's my worthy opponent! He must be working so hard to defeat me."

"Idiot..."

Kakashi was rendered speechless by Obito's words.

"Hyuga Sho really is working hard. He doesn't even waste break time, but so what... he's only a 'Branch Family Member'..."

All sorts of positive and negative whispers...

Fell into Hyuga Sho's ears without missing a word.

He did not care in the slightest.

Maintaining the image of being "hardworking" before everyone...

Was partly related to his training progress.

And partly so that, when he defeated Hatake Kakashi, it would not seem too abrupt. It was groundwork, a process of gradually getting everyone to accept it.