There were 37 days left until the Early Graduation Exam.
The news spread.
Like the wind, it swept through the Hyuga Clan estate.
It also spread throughout all of Konoha.
Among the Branch Family Members closest to Hyuga Sho,
especially Hyuga Suetsuchi, when he heard the news, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
He had not even entered the Ninja Academy yet.
And Hyuga Sho had already utterly crushed Hatake Kakashi, the strongest genius boy?!
Thinking back to how he had mocked Hyuga Sho in the past,
and how smug he had been about entering the Ninja Academy later and getting to attend school with Hyuga Natsu...
he had even arrogantly believed that his talent surpassed Hyuga Sho's, and that he could crush him easily.
All of it was shattered to pieces at that moment.
"Sho-kun, congratulations."
In sharp contrast to Suetsuchi was Hyuga Natsu.
Hyuga Natsu gazed at Hyuga Sho, the joy in her eyes nearly overflowing.
To Hyuga Natsu,
if Hyuga Sho was doing well, then she was doing well.
She was sincerely proud of Hyuga Sho.
"These past few days, the villagers have all been talking about you."
There were so many students and teachers at the Ninja Academy.
If every one of them told their friends and family, then practically all of Konoha would know.
"Mm."
Hyuga Sho accepted Hyuga Natsu's congratulations.
Yet he did not relax in the slightest.
What would happen when his Doka Degree reached 100%?
How could he break free from the Caged Bird restraint imposed on the Branch Family?
And there was the threat of death from a Shinobi World War that could begin at any moment.
All these concerns forced Hyuga Sho to consider what he should do next.
*Right now, within the Ninja Academy, aside from Hyuga