Tsunade: You've All Misunderstood, You've All Misunderstood

Tsunade's unspoken implication was, I didn't even graduate early, and Watanabe is so weak, how could he possibly graduate early?

"Yeah," Osaka Rukawa said with a bright smile.

"Yesterday, after I reported the sparring situation in class to the Hokage, someone from the Hokage found me last night and asked for Watanabe's file information, saying he wanted him to graduate early."

Tsunade was instantly flustered, her mind buzzing.

"Watanabe's absence this morning was likely because the Hokage summoned him," Osaka Rukawa continued.

He felt gratified, believing he had helped Watanabe. After all, Watanabe was his student, and being valued by the Hokage could only be a good thing. He hoped the boy would go further and higher in the future.

Tsunade couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, how did you report the sparring match between Watanabe and me?"

Osaka Rukawa replied, "Of course, I reported it truthfully. Although Watanabe's strength isn't as good as yours, he did manage to exchange blows with you, and his spirit of never giving up is the most valuable quality."

Tsunade: "..."

She really wanted to say, What a load of crap about exchanging blows!

Yesterday, I didn't want Watanabe to lose too badly, so I deliberately held back and prolonged the fight. If I had truly wanted to defeat him, it would have taken just one move.

Osaka Rukawa: "I'm sure the Hokage, like me, also appreciates Watanabe's tenacious spirit. Furthermore, since he could exchange blows with you, based on strength alone, Watanabe indeed possesses the qualifications for early graduation."

Tsunade: "..."

They've misunderstood, you've both misunderstood.

Watanabe is very weak! Other than being able to take a beating, Watanabe is still a weakling at the bottom of the class, he's not strong at all.

Tsunade realized the gravity of the situation. She had sparred with Watanabe and knew his strength all too well.

She hadn't expected her well-intentioned holding back to have such a significant impact on Watanabe.

If Watanabe truly possessed the strength for early graduation, then graduating early would be fine, but the problem was that Watanabe was a weakling. Wasn't pushing a weakling to graduate early like throwing him into a fiery pit?

"Teacher, where does Watanabe live? I want to go see him," Tsunade asked.

Osaka Rukawa nodded. He had just retrieved Watanabe's file information last night and still had a clear memory of it. He immediately stated Watanabe's address.

In a residential building in the commoner district.

Watanabe woke up feeling stuffed. The feeling of fullness in his stomach was too intense, as if he had just binged.

[Hunger: Fullness +4, Stamina +2, Weakness -3...]

"It's already twelve o'clock!"

Seeing the clock on the wall, Watanabe was suddenly startled.

Good heavens, I closed my eyes and opened them, and the whole morning was gone. If I were to close my eyes and not open them again, wouldn't my whole life be over?

Watanabe suddenly realized that sleeping was a dangerous thing. Others became more awake the more they slept, but due to the reversal of cause and effect, he became more drowsy the more he slept.

"I need to set an alarm from now on. Two to three hours of sleep a day is enough."

Watanabe secretly decided. Then, he went to the kitchen to cook instant noodles. After a large bowl of noodles, the feeling of fullness finally subsided, and he felt a slight hunger.

"Eating instant noodles every day isn't a solution. I need to find a way to get some money..."

"Bang bang."

The knocking sound from outside the door interrupted Watanabe's thoughts. He guessed the visitor was likely Osaka Rukawa.

After all, he had skipped class all morning, and Osaka Rukawa was a responsible teacher, likely coming to inquire about the situation.

"Coming."

Watanabe responded and went to open the door.

Standing outside was a completely unfamiliar middle-aged man, dressed in black, with a cold and stern expression. His gaze fixed on Watanabe as if interrogating him.

"Who are you looking for?" Watanabe asked in surprise. The man's sharp, piercing gaze made him uncomfortable.

"My name is Kitahara Jo, a member of Konoha's 'Root'."

Kitahara Jo said indifferently. He had seen Watanabe's file photo beforehand and recognized him as his target at a glance.

Root?

What a strange name.

Watanabe only knew that Konoha had the Anbu and the Police Force. As for what Root was, he had never heard of it.

"You've got the wrong person."

Watanabe watched him warily and made a move to close the door. However, Kitahara Jo stuck his foot in the gap, an action that instantly made Watanabe hostile towards him.

"Didn't anyone at the Ninja Academy tell you? You've already graduated early." Kitahara Jo frowned.

This kid in front of me is too wary. It's difficult to even have a few words of conversation.

Graduated early?

Watanabe was half-believing, half-doubting. I was already planning to drop out, and now you're telling me I graduated early?

"I had something this morning, so I didn't go to school," Watanabe shook his head.

Kitahara Jo pondered, So that's why he wasn't prepared for my arrival.

After thinking for a moment, Kitahara Jo patiently explained, "You've earned Lord Danzo's approval. Lord Danzo has decided to make an exception and recruit you into 'Root,' allowing you to finish your studies at the Ninja Academy early. I'm here to escort you to meet Lord Danzo."

Watanabe was no stranger to the name Danzo. He knew he was one of the core high-ranking officials of Konoha, a truly important figure.

Watanabe had seen Danzo from afar a few times before, and he didn't have a good impression of him. He felt the man was sinister and seemed very cunning.

"Why does Lord Danzo approve of me? And what does Root do?" Watanabe posed two questions in quick succession.

He wasn't intimidated by Danzo's name, nor did he believe Kitahara Jo.

If Kitahara Jo had come to invite him to join the Anbu or the Police Force, Watanabe might have gone to see, but Root? He'd never even heard of it, and the name alone made it sound shady.

"When you meet Lord Danzo, your questions will naturally be answered," Kitahara Jo replied indifferently.

"If that's how you put it—"

Watanabe's voice trailed off hesitantly. Kitahara Jo's face was full of confidence, certain that the little brat in front of him would obediently fall in line.

"Then I'm not going with you."

"Huh." Kitahara Jo froze.

"What did you say?"

Watanabe repeated firmly, "I'm not meeting Danzo, and I'm not joining Root!"

Kitahara Jo's expression stiffened. It took him a while to react.

This little brat... why isn't he playing by the rules?

If other elementary school students were summoned by the renowned Lord Danzo, they'd be ecstatic. But Watanabe just flat-out refused??

"Do you know what you're saying!"

After recovering his senses, Kitahara Jo questioned him with a chilling tone.

Watanabe countered strangely, "What's wrong? Can't I just not go? Are you going to kidnap me?"

Kitahara Jo: "..."

He suddenly didn't know what to say.

What's with this little brat?

He felt communicating with him was harder than interrogating a foreign spy.

"Lord Danzo's summons will greatly benefit your future prospects..." Kitahara Jo tried to explain.

"I don't need that kind of benefit. You can leave!" Watanabe refused decisively.

He firmly believed that no good deeds come without reason.

If a stranger approaches you offering benefits, the first thing you should do is clutch your wallet.