Graduation

Konoha Year 44.

Konoha.

"Who would have thought that White Fang would actually commit suicide?"

"That man who abandoned his mission caused enormous losses to the village. He should have died to atone for it."

"But Lord White Fang was a great hero of the war! He killed countless enemies on the Land of Wind battlefield and rendered tremendous service to the village!"

There were still rational people in the crowd voicing their opinions, but they were quickly besieged and attacked by those around them.

After all, people would not admit their mistakes, even when those mistakes had already been laid bare before them.

On the bustling, noisy streets, people resting beneath the roadside trees were discussing the recent major event.

In the distance was a young man dressed in a white tracksuit. He stood about 1.7 meters tall, with thick brows that tilted slightly upward in defiance. Beneath his long, lightly curled eyelashes were a pair of pure white eyes, along with a straight nose and fair skin.

His pure white eyes, in particular, marked him as a member of Konoha's prestigious Hyūga Clan.

He walked slowly over from afar, like an immortal banished from the heavens.

When the villagers beneath the tree saw a member of the Hyūga Clan approaching, they all stopped their criticism. After all, in this harsh world, there was still an enormous divide between the world of ninja and theirs.

Especially when it came to a renowned great clan like the Hyūga Clan.

Those who did not know their place had long since vanished from this world.

Hyuga Kazuya paid no attention to the people as he passed through the crowd. Ordinary people in this world generally received little education, lacked refinement, and were limited by underdeveloped communication and narrow horizons.

There was no need to get angry with them. He merely listened casually to the discussions around him.

These people are truly laughable. They might not even understand what they did, nor do they think they helped push White Fang to his death.

Come to think of it, perhaps even the person behind this never expected things to turn out this way.

This was Hyuga Kazuya's own analysis, based on information he had found through online discussions and Baidu in his previous life.

No one wanted White Fang dead, at least not within Konoha.

So, from beginning to end, this had been an unforeseen incident.

The mastermind behind it must have had a very interesting expression on his face right about now.

What could he do? He was merely a Branch Family ninja still attending the Ninja Academy. His voice carried little weight, and even after coming to this world, he could not change anything.

Hatake Sakumo had still died.

It was rather ironic. A powerful ninja like Hatake Sakumo had not died on the battlefield, but during peacetime.

And the reason for his death had been so absurd and inexplicable.

To those who studied history, this might have been merely one stage in its course. But for Hyuga Kazuya, it was something he had personally experienced.

Hyuga Kazuya had clearly noticed that whenever he returned to the clan these past few days, everyone moved about in haste. The expressions of the clansmen had become exceptionally solemn, making the entire clan's atmosphere heavy and oppressive.

Even a figure as important as Hatake Sakumo could die inexplicably for such a ridiculous reason. So who would die next? What absurd reason would they die for? And how would they die?

No one could say.

But great clans had to possess the vigilance of great clans.

Thus, because of Hatake Sakumo's death, every clan in Konoha had become extremely cautious over the past few days.

It was as though a volcano on the verge of eruption lay hidden beneath the calm surface of a lake.

Other than erupting, perhaps only time could gradually wear away at them.

Hyuga Kazuya stopped his train of thought and composed himself, no longer dwelling on these matters, because he had something more important to do today.

Today was the day he graduated from the Ninja Academy.

It was rather speechless, really. Hatake Kakashi had been only six years old last year, yet he had already passed the Chunin Exams and become a Chunin.

Meanwhile, he was a transmigrator who had come to this world twelve years ago, and only this year was he taking the Ninja Academy graduation exam.

He had come to this world twelve years ago and had been a member of the Hyūga Branch Family for twelve years.

It was honestly a little embarrassing for a transmigrator.

He was already twelve and still attending the Ninja Academy. But there was nothing he could do about it. Hyuga Kazuya understood that his days at the Ninja Academy were among the few peaceful times he would ever have.

Once he graduated and became a Genin, he would have to take missions and work for the village, entering the grind of 996.

Worse still, he might have to face the threat of death. It would both hinder the growth of his strength and waste his time.

Time passed quickly, and Hyuga Kazuya soon arrived at the gates of the Ninja Academy.

The Ninja Academy needed little introduction. In a sense, it was Konoha's only formal institution for training ninja, as well as one of the main sources of combat power and cannon fodder sent outward.

"Kazuya-kun, Kazuya-kun, look over here! I'm here!"

Before he even reached the gates, he spotted a girl dressed in a white tracksuit.

She had a fair face, faint willow-leaf brows, and eyes that were not large but revealed her inner world completely. Her small nose and mouth were exquisitely delicate. Her high Ponytail added several touches of sweetness to her appearance. Though still young, she was already a budding beauty.

The girl stood before the Ninja Academy gates, smiling as she waved to Hyuga Kazuya.

"Momona, why did you come so early today?"

"Today is the graduation exam, so of course I had to come earlier."

"Do your best, Momona."

Hearing Hyuga Kazuya encourage her in such a gentle tone, and seeing his handsome face made even more sharply defined under the sunlight, how could she not lower her head in shy embarrassment?

She had heard that graduation season was the peak time for confessions. Would Kazuya-kun confess to her?

When the time came, how should she agree so that she would seem more reserved?

"Big Brother, you have to do your best too." Her face, red as an apple, offered him the same encouragement.

Hearing Hyuga Momona's intimate form of address, Hyuga Kazuya merely smiled. He pinched her blushing cheek, then took hold of her fair, jade-soft hand and walked with her into the Ninja Academy.

Hyuga Momona was from the same clan as Hyuga Kazuya and was likewise a member of the Branch Family. They were in the same class and even shared a desk, so their relationship was especially close.

Perhaps she would become his wife someday?

After all, the Hyūga Clan did not marry outsiders. Once Hyūga boys and girls reached a certain age, the Main Family would arrange matchmaking events for them.

If they still failed to find someone they liked after a long time, then to preserve the clan's prosperity, the Main Family might even directly arrange their marriages.

So rather than waiting for the Main Family to hold matchmaking events, Hyuga Kazuya might as well secure someone in advance at the Ninja Academy.

Having played together since childhood, it carried something of the feeling of raising her.

It was better than finding a girl he did not know at all through matchmaking.

As for looks? Sorry, but since the Hyūga Clan had also descended from the Otsutsuki Clan, and with the blessing of the miraculous energy known as chakra, none of them were unattractive. Naturally, that included Hyuga Kazuya himself, a transmigrator.

However, Hyuga Kazuya played with Hyuga Momona while harboring the mindset of raising a wife. Whether Hyuga Momona knew that or not was another matter.