"You should know why you started raising butterflies at ten. You should also know what the consequences would be if you started too early."
Shiraishi Eizawa hung his head and said nothing.
Only Shiraishi Yoshijo knew about his condition. He hadn't told anyone else.
He'd wanted to wait until Shiraishi Yoshijo turned ten, too, but his body couldn't hold out, and there simply wasn't enough time.
At ten, even if Shiraishi Yoshijo's talent was terrible, he'd have enough Chakra to raise butterflies.
But starting at six wasn't just a matter of Chakra. The worst part was the toll it would take on his life force.
It was precious knowledge bought with the blood of their clansmen.
Takemoto Shuichi suddenly appeared in front of him and slapped him. "I could tell something was wrong with you ages ago. You get drunk every day and pass out. Do you really want to die?"
"Honestly, I don't think this Secret Technique should be passed down at all. Maybe your father thought the same."
As soon as Takemoto Shuichi finished speaking, he vanished.
Shiraishi Eizawa sighed and went back to his room. He had a feeling he wouldn't sleep tonight, either.
Night fell completely, and the Hokage Building lit up.
Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, staring at the three files on his desk as he fell into thought.
The first was a report Kawano had submitted about Shiraishi Yoshijo.
The second was a file Shiraishi Eizawa had sent through an intermediary. It contained information about Shiraishi Yoshijo's application to join the hospital.
The third had been submitted by someone in Anbu and included the profiles of two ninjas.
Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated. As Hokage, he naturally wanted Shiraishi Yoshijo to join a ninja squad and serve the village.
But these ninja clans were difficult to deal with, and there were historical issues to consider. It was all giving him a headache.
The office door suddenly swung open, and Danzo walked in with a sword strapped to his back.
"Danzo, weren't you in the Land of Rain?"
"Something came up. Hanzo attacked my unit. We suffered heavy casualties and had no choice but to retreat."
This wasn't the later era when the two men would be at odds. At present, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō were on good terms.
Unless something unexpected happened, things would stay that way for several more years.
Danzo had a sharp eye. He spotted Shiraishi Yoshijo's file on the desk.
"That kid wants to graduate early. Is he really a genius?"
"Heh. It's hard to say whether he's a genius. He wants to join the hospital, though. What do you think?"
"A ninja joining the hospital? Is he afraid to die?"
"I don't know. The Shide Clan has always been a little strange. Besides, only two clan members are left now. Maybe they just want to protect the boy."
Danzo sneered. "That guy Shiraishi Eizawa brought more than a dozen jonin with him the last time he fought me. That's not what you'd expect from a family with only two members."
"I know what you're getting at. But these are matters our teacher already dealt with. Are you asking me to reopen old wounds?"
Danzo snorted and turned to leave. Watching his back, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly said, "Danzo, there's something I want you to answer honestly."
"What?"
"Were you the one who killed this child's parents?"
Danzo had already opened the door. He abruptly turned around and stared hard at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "The Hokage's seat isn't so easy to occupy!"
With a bang, Danzo slammed the office door shut.
Sarutobi Hiruzen silently smoked. Before long, the office was completely filled with the smoke rings he'd exhaled.
The next day, when Shiraishi Yoshijo woke up, he still felt dizzy.
So that was how bad Chakra exhaustion could be. Shiraishi Yoshijo slapped his cheeks and struggled out of bed.
He went outside, saw Shiraishi Eizawa, and greeted him weakly.
"Good morning, Uncle Eizawa."
Shiraishi Eizawa nodded and held out a hand. "If you're really feeling awful, absorbing some of my Chakra should help. Want me to ask the Ninja Academy for a day off?"
"No, I'm not that weak. I should be better by tomorrow."
"Suit yourself. I made breakfast. Eat, then head to school."
"Okay."
After breakfast, Shiraishi Yoshijo felt much better.
Before leaving, he paused, then turned back. "Uncle Eizawa, Teacher Kawano will bring his daughter to our house for dinner in two days. Make sure you're home."
"Got it."
When Shiraishi Yoshijo arrived at the Ninja Academy, he found that he'd somehow become the center of attention.
Students passing by kept pointing at him and whispering. The same thing continued even after he got to class.
What was going on?
Hiruko came over from behind him and spoke in an exaggeratedly loud voice. "Well, look who it is! A dead-last who suddenly thinks he can graduate early."
Shiraishi Yoshijo blinked. "So you're jealous of me?"
"How could I possibly be jealous of you? It's just the Substitution Technique and the Transformation Technique. Just watch. I'll learn them in a few days."
"You're jealous of me."
Hiruko flew into a rage. "You bastard! Why don't we have a ninja spar right now?"
"Sorry, I wouldn't dare spar with the great Hiruko."
After teasing him a little, Shiraishi Yoshijo slumped over his desk, looking listless.
"You little—damn you!"
After a morning of theory lessons, Shiraishi Yoshijo noticed that quite a few classmates were eager to challenge him during the afternoon's practical training.
He was at a loss. How had he never realized before that he was so popular?
When it was his turn to spar with someone, Shiraishi Yoshijo simply gave up.
He wasn't in good shape anyway. Even if he beat his classmates, what would be the point? Why do something so exhausting for no gain?
When he gave up, his classmates looked disappointed and started jeering.
"He just gives up like that. Is he afraid someone will teach him a lesson?"
"Who knows? He's always been a pain."
Fortunately, Teacher Kawano noticed that something was wrong and stopped them.
After school, Shiraishi Yoshijo was kept behind again.
"You seem a little out of it today. Is something wrong?"
"I just overused my Chakra. I'll recover soon."
"That's good."
Teacher Kawano picked up a file from his desk and continued, "Lord Hokage approved your application to graduate. You don't have to come to school starting tomorrow."
That was it?
Shiraishi Yoshijo gave him a strange look. "What about the graduation test?"
At that, Kawano's expression turned strange, too.
"I don't know what your clan arranged, but Lord Hokage told me to say that if you want to take the test, he'll arrange it. You can also graduate without taking it."
Shiraishi Yoshijo was left with nothing but questions.
What was all this? Why wasn't anything going according to the rules?
"I'll talk it over with my uncle when I get home. I'll give you an answer when you bring Mei here in two days."
"Okay."
Still full of questions, he went home. Before he'd even opened the front door, he could faintly hear an argument inside.
The argument stopped the moment he opened the door.
Takemoto Shuichi and Shiraishi Eizawa sat facing each other, drinking tea.
Shiraishi Yoshijo immediately realized that these two had something to do with the Third Hokage's strange attitude.
A girl stood behind them. Hmm, an eighty-five.
After giving her a score, Shiraishi Yoshijo obediently bowed.
"Grandpa Shuichi, Uncle Eizawa, is this pretty big sister one of Grandpa Shuichi's clan members?"
"Mm. She's my granddaughter, Takemoto Anna. She's three years older than you."
"Hello, Big Sister Anna. It's nice to meet you. I'm Shiraishi Yoshijo. I hope we get along."
Shiraishi Yoshijo copied Jiraiya's manner and reached out with a wandering hand.
After shaking hands and exchanging greetings, they stepped back behind their respective elders.
Takemoto Shuichi and Shiraishi Eizawa exchanged a glance, then went back to drinking tea.
The atmosphere was a little odd. Shiraishi Yoshijo figured he should be the one to speak.
"Uncle Eizawa, Teacher Kawano told me today that I can graduate."
Shiraishi Eizawa breathed a sigh of relief. "What about the graduation test?"
"Lord Hokage said I could graduate without taking it."
Takemoto Shuichi immediately stood up. "How could that be? My son—"
I knew you were behind this, Shiraishi Yoshijo thought, looking as if he'd seen through everything.
Takemoto Shuichi realized he'd let something slip and immediately reacted, grabbing Shiraishi Yoshijo by the ear.
"Trying to trap me, huh? You've got some nerve."
To save his ear, Shiraishi Yoshijo reluctantly told him the truth.
"Lord Hokage said he'd arrange a test if I wanted one, but I could graduate without taking it, too."
Only then did Takemoto Shuichi and Shiraishi Eizawa understand. They cursed the Third Hokage for being an old fox.
They'd been waiting for the Third Hokage to make a decision, but he'd kicked the problem back to them. Now the two of them were at odds again.
After thinking for a while, Takemoto Shuichi decided he still had to find a way to convince Shiraishi Yoshijo.
"Yoshijo, why do you think the Third Hokage made this decision?"
What else could it be? Shiraishi Yoshijo sighed. "If I graduate without taking the test, I'll definitely end up at the hospital. If I take the test and graduate, I'll definitely join a ninja squad."
Takemoto Shuichi asked, "So do you think you should take it?"
"I shouldn't. Grandpa Shuichi, don't glare at me. You know as well as I do that I don't really have any talent as a ninja. The hospital's a better choice."
"Nonsense!" Takemoto Shuichi scolded him. "Your Taijutsu and Chakra reserves may be terrible, but you're definitely a genius when it comes to learning Ninjutsu."
I'm a genius now?
Shiraishi Yoshijo's mouth twitched. You'd say anything to make me into a tool, wouldn't you?
Shiraishi Eizawa smiled. "There's nothing wrong with working at the hospital. I thought the Medical Ninjutsu you told me about sounded great."
"Medical Ninjutsu, my foot! You're trying to fool us with something that doesn't even exist. Eizawa, I watched you grow up. You're not going to outsmart me."
Takemoto Shuichi's attitude made Shiraishi Yoshijo think. Could it be...?
He looked at his good uncle and caught him giving a signal.
Shiraishi Yoshijo groaned inwardly. You're really putting me in a tough spot, Zhu Bajie.
Shiraishi Eizawa clearly hadn't told Takemoto Shuichi the truth. At the very least, he hadn't mentioned his condition. Otherwise, Takemoto Shuichi wouldn't be so opposed.
Wasn't Shiraishi Eizawa supposed to find him a teacher?
This didn't look like finding a teacher at all. It looked like finding trouble!
Before you continue