I Don't Need Pity!

Handing it directly to Tsunade would only cause even bigger trouble and might even earn Tsunade's displeasure. It would be much better to have someone else pass it along, such as the Third Hokage or Teacher.

"What?! Lord Hokage rejected it?"

When Hiko learned about it from Teacher, he was immediately left helpless. Wasn't it said that as long as one did not apply for early graduation with some messy ulterior motive or overestimate oneself, the application would generally be approved?

Why had his application been rejected?

Applying for early graduation required an assessment. The assessment was simple, mainly testing whether the applicant had what it took to graduate early. Aside from a written test, there was actual combat. As long as they could withstand a Genin's attacks for the specified amount of time, they would pass.

Hiko was certain and confident that he could pass every part of the assessment, no matter what it was, yet his application had been rejected.

"Yes, Lord Hokage rejected it."

Teacher looked at the gloomy Hiko and could not help but laugh. "Kid, just stay in school and attend your classes properly from now on. Forget about applying for early graduation. Lord Hokage will never agree to it."

"..."

Hiko felt helpless and somewhat speechless. He could see the gloating in Teacher's eyes, as if he had been the one who made it all happen.

"Oh, right. This is for you. Consider it a loan from your teacher. Once you graduate and start taking missions, you can pay me back."

Teacher took out some money and prepared to give it to Hiko. Afraid that he would refuse, he deliberately called it a loan and told Hiko to return it later.

I really...

Looking at Teacher's smiling face, Hiko felt like cursing, yet he was also somewhat moved. The Uchiha had no popularity in the village, but Teacher had not looked at him through tinted glasses and had helped him at every turn.

However, what left Hiko helpless was that he was certain Teacher had something to do with his rejected application for early graduation.

"Thank you, Teacher, but I don't need it."

Hiko did not need anyone's pity or sympathy. Naturally, he would not accept Teacher's goodwill, whether it was given outright or lent to him.

"This kid!!"

Hiko left the office directly, leaving Teacher speechless. He could not understand where a five-year-old child had gotten such strong pride. It made Teacher sigh while also feeling helpless.

Aside from Teacher and the Third Hokage, no one else knew about Hiko's attempt to apply for early graduation. Hiko would not bring it up himself, and Teacher would not tell anyone else.

It seemed his training would need to be temporarily eased.

As time passed, Hiko's training had steadily intensified. That was the biggest reason he had applied for early graduation. Now that his application had been rejected, Hiko could only find another way. His training could not stop, but it could be temporarily slowed and relatively lightened.

He would intensify his Taijutsu and Ninjutsu training and make up for the rest after graduation.

Stopping his training was impossible, and his application had been rejected, so Hiko chose to change his training approach. He would focus mainly on Taijutsu and Ninjutsu training, while the rest would have to wait until after graduation, when he had more time.

Hiko did not know why the Third Hokage had rejected his application or what his purpose was. Teacher must have had a hand in it, and whenever Hiko thought of Teacher, he did not know whether to laugh or cry.

It was a typical case of good intentions leading to bad results. Hiko had nothing to say about it. From his perspective, it was a bad thing, but from Teacher's perspective, he had only been trying to help.

The training continued, but what puzzled Hiko was that the clan members gradually seemed to stop paying attention to him. This was a good thing for Hiko. The best outcome was for no one to notice him now.

What Hiko did not know was that all of this had been brought about by the Third Hokage stepping in.

Moreover, in the Third Hokage's eyes, Hiko had been placed in the same category as Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, listed among those receiving the same level of special attention.

Only the Third Hokage and a small number of Anbu knew about this. As for the Uchiha High Command, they were rather baffled. The Third Hokage had personally approached them under the pretext of Kagami Uchiha, asking that Hiko be given a quiet environment in which to grow.