Graduates of the Same Year (Seeking Reads QAQ)

At the end of March, the cherry blossoms in Konoha bloomed once again, and the annual graduation ceremony was fast approaching.

With his two-month "cleanup" mission concluded, Shu Furukawa had recently returned to the Medical Corps, much to the delight of Shizune.

After the Medical Corps finished their work for the day, Tsunade, who rarely attended classes, caught sight of the "tag-along" once again seeking out Rin Nohara and couldn't help but sigh to herself:

He's nothing like the brats of the Uchiha Clan!

Having shed his "dead-last" title in Class A through sheer hard work, the kind-hearted and enthusiastic Obito was on the verge of graduation, and the young boy was filled with anticipation.

"It's going to be totally fine, Rin! I'll definitely pass tomorrow's exam!"

"..."

With eyes only for Rin Nohara, Obito immediately crowded beside the girl, loudly recounting all the effort he had put in.

"Good luck, Obito! Let's graduate together!"

"Just make sure you don't oversleep for the exam. Leave early, and don't get distracted if you run into any old ladies along the way."

"This is the first step toward our lives as ninjas!"

Without a hint of annoyance at Obito's shouting, Rin Nohara offered her kind encouragement, prompting the other girls in the Medical Corps to tease her:

"Rin, Kakashi is going to be heartbroken if he sees this."

"Are you giving up on Kakashi? If so, Rin, we're going to have to make our move..."

Rin Nohara, who had been cheering Obito on with clenched fists, blushed at the teasing, then blinked her large eyes and replied generously:

"Kakashi is a role model for all of us..."

"Isn't he the object of your affection?"

"Rin is so cute, it's actually surprising how well she matches with 'Cold Kakashi'!"

"..."

Ever since Kakashi had turned down a string of confessions, the nickname "Cold Kakashi" had begun to circulate around the school.

As the girls giggled and teased, Obito felt stifled; he was standing right there next to Rin Nohara.

So Rin's kindness doesn't belong entirely to me!

"Huh?!"

Suddenly hearing his inner thoughts, the thick-headed Obito jumped in surprise. He turned his head, only to discover Shu Furukawa and Shizune standing right behind him.

"You guy, stop spouting nonsense! I never thought anything like that..."

His voice trailed off as he turned away in embarrassment. Seeing this, Shu Furukawa couldn't help but roll his eyes and retort, just as he had for the past few years:

"Rin is only turning nine in November, you know! Why don't you go turn yourself in to the Uchiha Police Force?"

Shizune burst into laughter, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she thought of her own secret feelings.

"What are you talking about! The Uchiha Police Force isn't what you think it is; it's an important department that only the most elite Uchiha ninjas are qualified to join!"

"One day, I'll be able to join them too. When that happens, not only will I be able to help more people, but I'll finally earn everyone's recognition!"

Whenever the Uchiha Police Force was mentioned, Obito's expression turned uncharacteristically serious, his tone filled with genuine longing.

Rin Nohara managed to break away from the girls and returned to Obito's side. Upon seeing Shu Furukawa and Shizune, she beamed with surprise, greeted them, and asked with a smile:

"Are you done with your mission? Shu, will Kakashi be coming to the graduation ceremony?"

Their homeroom teacher, Ryosuke Kimura, had declared them the best class he had ever taught in his career and hoped that Class A could all be together for a group photo at graduation.

Shu Furukawa naturally wouldn't refuse such a request; he understood his teacher's sentiment, given that the entire class was graduating early.

"Of course he'll be there. He's had plenty of free time lately, and even when you're on missions, you need to balance work and rest."

The moment Shu Furukawa spoke, a radiant smile bloomed on Rin Nohara's face. She hugged her textbooks to her chest and replied happily:

"That's great! I haven't seen Kakashi in almost three months! Everyone is really looking forward to taking a photo together!"

The brilliant smile on the girl's face made it impossible for Obito to look away, yet the fact that this happiness didn't seem to be directed at him made his heart ache with jealousy.

Deciding not to tease Obito any further, Shu knew that a childhood friend rarely stood a chance against a fated arrival...

"Shu, will we be able to take a photo together in the future, too?..."

Once the two had left, Shizune asked in a low voice while trailing behind Shu Furukawa. The girl seemed a bit nervous, but she quickly received the answer she had been hoping for:

"No problem. We can take photos whenever we want, though the only photo studio in the village is the one owned by Genzo."

"It would be great if there were more portable cameras. Photos can capture so many wonderful memories..."

Clasping her hands together in delight, Shizune squeezed in beside Shu Furukawa, becoming uncharacteristically lively as she added:

"Lady Tsunade would probably like that, too. She always says she wants to maintain her most beautiful self, and photos would be a great way to do that..."

"..."

As she spoke, Shizune suddenly felt a chill down her spine. Tsunade had been following them, and before Shizune could explain herself, she was immediately pulled into a tight embrace:

"Shizune, are you trying to remind me that I'm getting old?"

"Ugh... I'm suffocating, Lady Tsunade!"

On the last day of March, the Ninja Academy held a grand graduation ceremony, with the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, personally presenting certificates to the graduates.

Every youth who stepped onto the stage wore an expression of excitement, save for Sarutobi Asuma, who turned his head away to display his rebellious side.

Dressed in a loose purple jacket, Rin Nohara looked around, but she could not spot Obito anywhere, and a sense of anxiety grew in the girl's heart.

Regrettably, by the time the graduation ceremony concluded, Obito had still not appeared...

"Mr. Genzo, please wait a moment longer; there is still one student who hasn't arrived."

The homeroom teacher, Ryosuke Kimura, pleaded once more, but most of the students were growing impatient. It was not until the other classes had all cleared out that Class A finally prepared for their group photo.

Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, and Ebisu had all specifically changed into new clothes, laughing and sharing their ninja experiences.

Kakashi was no longer carrying his short blade, and like Shu Furukawa, he was wearing a blue long-sleeved training outfit.

Sarutobi Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi chatted and laughed together, while Shizune, dressed in a loose blue jacket, stood beside Shu Furukawa with a smile on her face.

Many of the youths gathered around Tobitake Tonbo, who had suddenly wrapped a few layers of bandages around his head, giving him an exceptionally stylish look...

Ibiki Morino, wearing his headscarf, also grinned broadly, looking toward the camera along with everyone else.

Rin Nohara's mood was somewhat low, yet she still offered a sweet smile while standing next to Kakashi.

"Alright, everyone look at me!"

Following the reminder from the bald Mr. Genzo, Class A completed their group photo, and their homeroom teacher, Ryosuke Kimura, did not forget to pull everyone aside one by one for a final reminder.

"You are the most outstanding students I have ever taught. To my shame, as a mere chunin, I haven't actually been able to teach you much."

"Promise me, no matter where you are or what mission you are on, you must take care of yourselves. A ninja is not a tool."

Might Guy, dressed in his green spandex suit, agreed immediately and did not forget to give a thumbs-up; his aura of hot-blooded youth made Ryosuke Kimura smile with relief.

By nearly noon, Obito Uchiha arrived fashionably late, slowing down only to trip and fall on flat ground.

With no peers or teachers around, Obito sat upright and looked at the girl waiting for him, nearly shedding tears.

"Are you alright, Obito? Don't worry, I picked up your certificate for you!"

Rin Nohara leaned over, asking with a face full of concern. Obito, overcome with emotion, rubbed his eyes and replied with a choked voice:

"Rin, only you... only you have always been by my side..."

"..."