Borrow Me Some Money

"I really like it."

After playing with it for a while, Yan seemed to notice Rin's gaze and quickly put the Jade Pendant away.

It was something Miyoshi-kun had given her. She couldn't let anyone else see it.

"I'll ask someone to turn it into a necklace when I get home."

Yan hurriedly put the Jade Pendant away. Beside her, Rin reluctantly looked away.

Everyone liked pretty things, especially children.

She had never seen jewelry like this before, and for once, it had caught her interest.

"I'll ask my uncle to buy me one when I get home."

Rin glanced at Yan and huffed.

The bell rang, and Sakurai Utsugi walked in. When he saw Yan, he smiled approvingly.

What a good child. She even knew to help the class's struggling students study.

This was the Will of Fire.

"Today, I have an announcement.

"The village has introduced a new policy this year. Anyone who finishes the school curriculum early and has a good record in class and meets the academic requirements may graduate early."

Before the teacher had finished speaking, the students erupted.

"Yoshi! I can become a Ninja!"

"The path of a Ninja starts now!"

"I'll become the next Ninja God!"

Their boasts came one after another. They were sick of boring theoretical lessons and couldn't wait to become Ninjas and contribute to the village.

Graduating, becoming a Genin, and then setting out on the path of a Ninja—this was the dream of so many children.

Now that they had heard the village was allowing early graduation, they were all fired up, as if they wanted to become Ninjas and make a name for themselves that very moment.

Yayoi wasn't the least bit swept up in the excitement. He pushed up a pair of nonexistent glasses and spotted the catch.

The Ninja Academy's standard graduation period was six years. Students who met the academic requirements and performed exceptionally well could apply to graduate in their fourth year.

The Second Hokage had established this rule. Children entered the Academy at six, so even if they graduated on time, they would be at least ten.

But now, with the front lines apparently under pressure, the village was recruiting cannon fodder.

The Land of Whirlpools had been destroyed, and the Second Ninja World War had begun.

Even the Hokage's students had gone to the battlefield. Now that the village had suddenly announced a new policy, Yayoi could work out what was going on with his spine.

He curled his lip in disdain.

Excellent grades and good behavior?

There was no way he'd ever get excellent grades. He'd settle for being mediocre and use that as an excuse.

Did they think Yayoi would go to the battlefield before spending six years at the Ninja Academy?

Not a chance!

Besides, of all these excited children who could hardly wait to go, probably 99 percent were from civilian families.

The children from the Ninja clans, on the other hand, looked calm and kept quiet.

Yan aside, Rin was a member of the Hyuga Clan. She listened to the teacher calmly, even with a trace of indignation.

If she went to the battlefield, she would have to have the Caged Bird seal carved into her as a member of the Branch Family. There would be no room for discussion.

So she had made up her mind to put it off for as long as she could.

"Everyone, settle down."

"You all have the opportunity to graduate early. Besides, finishing the entire curriculum isn't easy. You still need to study hard."

After calming the restless classroom, Sakurai Utsugi announced another policy.

"The Hokage has ordered the formation of a training class for medical Ninjas. Anyone in the class who's interested may join.

"Tsunade will even be teaching some of the lessons herself.

"Oh, and Yayoi, you should join too. I have faith in you."

When announcing this, the teacher made a point of calling Yayoi out by name.

Yayoi daydreamed in class and read books outside the curriculum every day. Of course the teacher had noticed. But if they were actually just ordinary books, that would have been one thing.

Those books were legitimate reference books, and they were about medicine. Some of them even covered subjects Sakurai Utsugi had never encountered, areas outside his expertise.

Yet Yayoi read them with great interest.

Clearly, he was a genius who didn't follow the usual path.

Sakurai Utsugi had noticed all of this. Every teacher hoped their students would succeed.

In his eyes, Yayoi might not have the makings of an outstanding Ninja, but becoming an excellent medical Ninja would be just as worthwhile.

This time, the students weren't as excited as before. After all, medical Ninjas just weren't as cool as Ninjas who fought on the front lines.

At most, they'd serve as support staff behind the lines.

"Teacher—"

Yayoi stood up, about to say something, but the teacher cut him off firmly.

"Yayoi, becoming an excellent medical Ninja can contribute just as much to the village as being a Ninja.

"The village is short on medical Ninjas right now, and your talents make you a perfect fit for this path."

The teacher continued with another long speech. In the end, Yayoi had no choice but to sit down.

He hadn't even said he was refusing. So why did he still have to listen to a sermon?

Once everything had been settled, Sakurai Utsugi nodded and began the day's lesson.

"Yan, could you lend me some money? I'll pay you back once I start earning."

After school, instead of going to the forest to train with Yan, Yayoi bought her a skewer of Tricolor Dango and invited her to his house.

"This is delicious."

Looking at the gluttonous girl beside him, Yayoi couldn't help smiling. She was so easy to win over.

Next came showing her the results and pitching the investment.

"This is the first time I've seen your house, Miyoshi-kun."

Yan looked around Yayoi's home curiously.

It was a three-story villa, understated yet classical. A huge bookcase stood inside, packed with books that made Yan feel like she had to look up at them.

That was one good thing about the Senju: they were well-read. There were very few books on Ninjutsu, though. Perhaps his parents had been afraid he'd try to learn it on his own.

The only thing Yayoi had found was Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, and that technique was less useful than his Word Spirit. It also consumed more chakra.

That was another discovery Yayoi had made: Word Spirit could be powered with chakra.

But when he thought about what chakra was made of, it no longer seemed strange. Chakra combined physical and spiritual energy, and Word Spirit had originally consumed his stamina.

Chakra clearly contained both physical and spiritual energy, which was why he'd discovered that Word Spirit consumed less than Ninjutsu.

"Yan, you know I like reading all kinds of strange books.

"By chance, I discovered a huge secret hidden in the bloodlines of the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan."

Yayoi opened the bedroom door, showing Yan the extent of his expertise.

"So much medical equipment!"

Yan covered her mouth. She was very well-mannered and knew to pretend to be surprised, so Yayoi would feel a sense of accomplishment.

"Wait, Miyoshi-kun mentioned the Senju. Does that mean you found the blood of a member of the Senju Clan, or...?"

Yan voiced her question.

And Yayoi answered without holding anything back.

"That's right. I'm a member of the Senju Clan. I discovered that there seems to be a similar gene in the bloodlines of the Senju and the Uchiha. It's what makes both clans so powerful."

"So what exactly are you trying to tell me, Miyoshi-kun?"

Yan was genuinely astonished by Yayoi's identity, but she still wanted to know why he was telling her all this.

"The genes of both clans contain a huge secret. But I've run out of money for my research. Lend me some."