[Haku! You're already studying A-rank ninjutsu this early? Pretty impressive!]
Orochimaru looked at the child they had brought back to the village six years ago and marveled at how quickly time had passed. Haku was already starting to learn the Shadow Clone Technique.
[Lord Orochimaru, don't tease me! I just wanted to give it a try. If I can learn it, I'll save myself a lot of time. Then I'll be able to help you sooner, too. Things outside the village aren't looking too good right now, are they?]
[Oh? What makes you say that?]
Haku's reply piqued Orochimaru's interest.
[Over the past two years, your team has been sent out on missions more and more often, Lord Orochimaru. And there are fewer and fewer shinobi around the village. I figure most of them have gone outside the village to carry out missions.]
[Haku, you're very observant and analytical.]
As he spoke, Orochimaru handed Haku the ninjutsu scroll.
[How about applying for early graduation? I could be your Jonin instructor, Haku!]
Orochimaru's suggestion tempted Haku for a moment. The situation in the Shinobi World hadn't yet become as dire as it would during the Third Shinobi War.
The conflicts between the various villages weren't that intense yet. With Orochimaru watching over him, Haku could probably safely gather some energy points. He could also arrange to get seriously injured a few times, knowing Orochimaru and the others would protect him and keep him safe. That way, he could use his bloodline to rapidly improve his strength.
[I think I'll pass for now. I haven't even learned the Three Basic Jutsu yet, and I still need to study Medical Ninjutsu with Lady Tsunade. There isn't enough time.]
After thinking it over, Haku declined. His strength was still a little lacking, and going out to take risks now didn't seem very safe. After all, Nawaki had met his end by going out on missions with Orochimaru.
[How about I study with you after I've learned Medical Ninjutsu, Lord Orochimaru? Right now, I'd only be holding you back.]
[Oh, Haku! You've got it all figured out, don't you? Then I'll give you two years. When you think you're ready, apply for early graduation, and I'll be your Jonin instructor.]
After saying this, Orochimaru left.
Looking at the ninjutsu scroll in his hands and thinking about Orochimaru's suggestion, Haku admitted that he was tempted. Still, he decided to wait until he had learned the Eight Gates and Medical Ninjutsu before making up his mind.
After that, Haku's life returned to its usual routine. He studied basic ninjutsu and general knowledge every day, and taught himself medical knowledge whenever he had the time. At the training ground, he practiced Taijutsu, the Eight Gates, and the Shadow Clone Technique.
He occasionally sparred with Yu and Duy, holding back enough to stay roughly on par with Yu. Duy, on the other hand, had fallen far behind.
The war outside the village had nearly come to an end. Considering how much he had grown over the past few years, Haku was thinking about whether it was time to venture out.
After two years of practice, Haku had become very proficient with the Three Basic Jutsu, and he was fairly skilled with the Shadow Clone Technique, too. Perhaps because of his limited Chakra, though, his Shadow Clones didn't last very long. Clones that didn't fight could last half a day, but ones that did couldn't even hold out for half an hour.
His Clone Technique wasn't particularly impressive, but with the help of Shadow Clones, he had finished studying all the medical knowledge. He had also barely managed to get started on the most basic C-rank Healing Technique.
Because of the war, Lady Tsunade said she wouldn't have time to teach Haku Medical Ninjutsu for a while. She gave him the B-rank Delicate Illness Extraction Technique and the A-rank Mystical Palm Technique to practice on his own.
With Duy's instruction, Haku had also learned the Eight Gates and could open the Gate of Life, the third gate. But he still hadn't figured out how to open the Gate of Pain. Duy had been drafted to the battlefield because of the war, too.
Perhaps because he could open three of the Eight Gates, his Combat Power rating had climbed close to the lower limit for a Chunin: 50 points.
[Yu, what do you think about us graduating early?]
Haku went over to Uchiha Yu and asked.
[Oh, can't you wait any longer? I'm already at Chunin level. There's nothing left for me to learn at school, so early graduation sounds good.]
[All right, let's do it. We'll apply for early graduation tomorrow.]
[What about Duy? Should we graduate together with him?] Yu didn't object to applying the next day. Instead, she asked about Might Duy.
[Duy? Let's not. He can stay at school for another two years. He's at Genin level now, but that's only in ninjutsu. It's not quite enough.]
After thinking it over, Haku made his decision. He discussed it with Duy, who agreed. Duy knew that if he graduated early and formed a team with Haku and Yu, he would only hold them back.
Early the next morning, Haku sat in a corner with the steamed buns he had made, lost in thought. He wasn't actually daydreaming; he was thinking about a small problem he'd run into while practicing the Healing Technique the day before.
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