"Father, what did you call me here for?" Hyuga Riko bowed to the middle-aged man before her.
"Kori, you're here! Sit down. The war is about to end, and the clan wants you to graduate early and build up a reputation on the battlefield."
The Third Elder of the Hyuga clan explained the clan's plans to Hyuga Riko.
"The clan will assign a squad of Jonin to protect you, so there's no need to worry about your safety."
Hyuga Riko fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke to the man before her.
"Father! I don't mind graduating early and going to the battlefield, but I want to form my own ninja squad. I don't want a squad of the clan's Jonin protecting me while I just go sightseeing on the battlefield."
"Hmm? Can you tell me who you want on your squad? Why don't you want the clan's ninjas protecting you?"
Hyuga Valley didn't immediately reject his daughter's idea. Instead, he asked her to explain her reasons.
"Well, I want to team up with Haku. I want to catch up to him."
Hearing his daughter's answer, Hyuga Valley fell silent. He thought about how she'd changed over the past two years. She used to be a frail little girl who hated training, but she'd spent the last two years practicing Jujutsu, never complaining of pain or exhaustion, even when she got hurt. So it had all been because of that boy.
The more Hyuga Valley thought about it, the angrier he got.
"You want to team up with him? Fine! But once your squad is formed, you'll have to pass my test. If you fail, you'll go with the clan's Jonin to gain experience, and stop thinking about forming your own squad."
"All right, you can go."
Seeing that his daughter still wanted to say more, Hyuga Valley impatiently sent her away.
Thinking of the boy he'd met once two years ago, Hyuga Valley grew angrier by the moment. He called in one of his subordinates, gave him a few instructions, and sent him off to make arrangements. Then, left alone, he smiled with satisfaction.
Haku had no idea any of this was happening in the Hyuga clan.
Yu arrived at school later than usual that day. When she entered the classroom, she went straight to the seat beside Haku.
"Hyuga Riko just invited me to form a squad with her. She wants to graduate early too. Do you think we should team up with her?"
"Oh. She's applying for early graduation too? My clan called me back today and brought up early graduation as well."
"Hmm?" Haku immediately sensed something was going on. Two of the village's major clans wanted their children studying at the Ninja Academy to graduate early. There had to be something behind it that Haku didn't know about.
"Fugaku, the Young Clan Head, called me back this morning to talk. I'm the only one from my generation studying at the village's Ninja Academy, and he wants me to graduate early and form a ninja squad with ninjas from other clans. He also said that he'd be joining the village's next force sent to support the front lines. But he didn't explain why he wanted me to team up with ninjas from other clans."
Without waiting for Haku to say anything, Yu went on to describe what had happened when the clan called her back that day.
"The Young Clan Head also said he'd give me a batch of ninjutsu and ninja tools and told me to make a good impression."
"Then that doesn't conflict with our plans. We'll even get a batch of supplies. Sounds good. As for Hyuga Riko, her usual strength is already at the level of an Elite Genin."
"And since her clan is willing to let her graduate early, I think her actual skill is probably close to Chunin level, or even at that level. There shouldn't be a problem teaming up with her."
"Her Byakugan can also help us with reconnaissance. It'll make it easier for us to carry out some of our plans."
After hearing Yu out, Haku analyzed the possibility of teaming up with Hyuga Riko for her.
"Hyuga Riko is also part of the Hyuga Main Family. The village probably won't assign anyone dangerous to her, so we should be relatively safe."
"If you don't have any objections, I'll go talk to her. Then this afternoon, we can submit our early graduation applications to Hamu-sensei."
Yu had no particular requirements for who she teamed up with. After hearing Haku's analysis, she also felt that teaming up with Hyuga Riko would help her keep her Byakugan a secret. So she had no objections to Haku's suggestion.
At noon, Haku told Kori that she could join their squad, but that Yu would be coming too. The three of them would form a ninja squad. Hyuga Riko only wanted to team up with Haku, so she didn't care who the other person was. She readily agreed to meet Hamu-sensei after school that afternoon to submit their early graduation applications.
Hokage's Office
Looking at Hamu before him, then at the early graduation applications in his hands, the Third Hokage sighed helplessly.
"I approve their applications. As for who'll be their Jonin leader, I'll think it over before deciding. Go back and let them know."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
With that, Hamu left.
"Old man, leave it to me."
A cold voice came from a corner of the room.
"Orochimaru, you? Are you up to it now? It hasn't been long since that incident with Nawaki."
Before you continue