Tsunade: You've Got It All Wrong

The unspoken meaning behind Tsunade's words was, I didn't even graduate early. Watanabe is so weak—what makes him think he can graduate early?

"That's right." Osaka Rukawa smiled brightly.

"After I reported the sparring in class to Lord Hokage yesterday, Lord Hokage sent someone to find me that evening and asked for Watanabe's file. He said he wanted Watanabe to graduate early."

Tsunade was instantly thrown into confusion, her mind buzzing.

"Watanabe was probably called away by Lord Hokage this morning. That's why he didn't come to class," Osaka Rukawa continued.

He was pleased, feeling that he'd helped Watanabe. After all, Watanabe was his student, and being noticed by Lord Hokage could only be a good thing. He hoped the boy would go far in the future.

Tsunade couldn't help asking, "Teacher, how did you report my spar with Watanabe?"

"Just as it happened, of course," Osaka Rukawa replied. "Watanabe may not be as strong as you, but he managed to hold his own against you. And, most importantly, his refusal to give up is admirable."

Tsunade: "..."

She wanted to say, Hold his own? What a load of crap!

Yesterday, she hadn't wanted Watanabe to lose too badly, so she'd deliberately held back and dragged out the fight. If she'd really wanted to beat him, one move would've been enough.

"Lord Hokage probably admires Watanabe's tenacity just as I do. Besides, if he could hold his own against you, then based on his strength alone, he really is qualified to graduate early."

Tsunade: "..."

You've got it all wrong. All of you.

Watanabe is weak! Aside from being able to take a beating, he's still a weak, dead-last nobody. He isn't strong at all.

Tsunade realized how serious the situation was. She'd fought Watanabe herself and knew his strength better than anyone.

She hadn't imagined that holding back out of kindness could have such a huge impact on Watanabe.

If Watanabe really was strong enough to graduate early, then so be it. But he was weak. Letting a weakling graduate early was like pushing him into a fire pit.

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

Osaka Rukawa nodded. He'd looked up Watanabe's file just last night, so the details were still fresh in his mind. He immediately gave her Watanabe's address.

In a house in the civilian district.

Watanabe woke up feeling stuffed, his stomach so full it was as if he'd just gorged himself.

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

"It's already twelve!"

Watanabe was startled when he saw the clock on the wall.

Good grief. Close your eyes, open them, and the whole morning's gone. If he closed them and never opened them again, would his whole life be over?

Watanabe suddenly realized that sleeping was dangerous. Other people felt more refreshed the longer they slept, but because of Karma Reversal, the more he slept, the sleepier he got.

"I'll have to set an alarm from now on. Two or three hours of sleep a day should be enough."

Watanabe made up his mind, then went to the kitchen to cook instant noodles. After finishing a big bowl, his stomach finally felt less full, and he was even a little hungry.

"I can't keep eating instant noodles every day. I need to find a way to get some money..."

"Knock, knock."

The knocking outside interrupted Watanabe's thoughts. He guessed it was probably Osaka Rukawa.

After all, he'd skipped class all morning, and Osaka Rukawa was a responsible teacher. He was likely here to ask what was going on.

"Coming."

Watanabe called out and went to open the door.

A completely unfamiliar middle-aged man stood outside. He was dressed in black, his expression cold and stern, and his gaze fixed on Watanabe like an interrogator's.

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

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

Kitahara Jo spoke indifferently. He'd looked at Watanabe's file photo beforehand and recognized him at a glance as the target of his visit.

Root?

What a strange name.

Watanabe knew that Konoha had the Anbu and the Police Force, but he'd never heard of Root.

"You've got the wrong person."

Watanabe eyed him warily and started to close the door. But Kitahara Jo wedged his foot into the gap, and the move immediately made Watanabe hostile toward him.

"Didn't anyone at the Ninja Academy tell you? You've graduated early," Kitahara Jo said with a frown.

The kid in front of him was so wary that even getting a few words out of him was a struggle.

Graduated early?

Watanabe wasn't sure whether to believe him. I was planning to drop out, and now you're telling me I've graduated early?

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

Kitahara Jo understood. So that was why the other boy hadn't been prepared for his arrival.

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

Watanabe was familiar with the name Danzo. He knew Danzo was one of Konoha's most powerful leaders, an unquestionably important figure.

Watanabe had seen Danzo from a distance a few times before. He hadn't liked him. Danzo seemed sinister, as if he were full of schemes.

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

He wasn't intimidated by Danzo's reputation, nor did he trust Kitahara Jo.

If Kitahara Jo had come to invite him into the Anbu or the Police Force, Watanabe might actually have gone with him to take a look. But Root was out of the question. He'd never even heard of it, and just hearing the name made it sound shady.

"Once you meet Lord Danzo, you'll get answers to your questions," Kitahara Jo replied coolly.

"If that's how you're going to put it—"

Watanabe drew out his words hesitantly. Kitahara Jo wore a confident expression, certain that the kid in front of him would obediently do as he was told.

"Then I'm not going with you."

"Uh." Kitahara Jo froze.

"What did you say?"

Watanabe repeated firmly, "I'm not going to meet Danzo, and I'm not joining Root!"

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

What was wrong with this kid? Why wasn't he playing along?

Any other elementary school student summoned by the renowned Lord Danzo would be thrilled. But Watanabe had flat-out refused?

"Do you know what you're saying?" Kitahara Jo demanded coldly once he'd recovered.

Watanabe asked in surprise, "What's the problem? Am I not allowed to refuse? Are you going to kidnap me?"

Kitahara Jo: "..."

He was at a loss.

What was the matter with this kid?

Talking to him was harder than interrogating a foreign spy.

"Being summoned by Lord Danzo will do wonders for your future prospects..." Kitahara Jo tried to explain.

"I don't need those benefits. Leave!" Watanabe refused decisively.

He firmly believed that good fortune didn't fall from the sky for no reason.

If a stranger came to your door and offered you something good, the first thing you should do was clutch your wallet tight.