Graduation Alone

At the end of October, Konoha Year 42, the first-year students had recently been buzzing about Hatake Kakashi's individual examination.

On the way to the Ninja Academy that morning, the boys who met up along the road loudly praised him. As members of the same class, they felt proud to witness the rise of a genius.

"Kakashi only turned five last month. He's amazing!"

"He finished six years' worth of classes in half a year. Maybe he'll become a Chunin soon?"

"No way! Becoming a Chunin can't be that easy."

"That's what geniuses do—they break the rules. Shu already skipped ahead to the advanced Medical Corps class. They say Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin, personally approved it!"

"My head hurts just looking at those books. Shu is incredible..."

"..."

As everyone filed through the school gates, the conversation grew more animated. Perhaps because Shu Furukawa was so well-liked, Kakashi benefited as well, and all the hostility from the start of the school term had completely disappeared.

Amid the crowd, Obito Uchiha wore a gloomy expression. There were still some scrapes on his left cheek from getting beaten up when he challenged Kakashi yesterday. He really did not want to hear that guy's name.

Kakashi, who was preparing to graduate early, had not hidden it. He had publicly announced it right after his birthday.

The Ninja Academy's lessons were simply too easy for him. More importantly, graduating early meant winning another round!

"Kakashi, how are you feeling? It seems Lord Third Hokage is the chief examiner..."

Rin Nohara moved over to Kakashi with admiration in her eyes and asked him. Behind them, Obito had wanted to greet her, but in the end, he lowered his arm halfway through.

I really want to be the person she admires.

"Huh?!"

Obito suddenly heard the thought in his own head and jumped in fright. Then he angrily turned toward Shu Furukawa, who had silently appeared beside him, and shouted:

"What are you talking about?! What admiration..."

His face gradually reddened as Obito looked ahead and saw that Rin Nohara did not seem to have noticed what was happening here. He sighed in relief, only for a hint of disappointment to rise within him afterward.

"Everything you're thinking shows on your face. Want me to remind Rin..."

Shu Furukawa had only said half of it when Obito hurriedly moved in front of him, looking nervous.

"Don't! What if she rejects me..."

"How old are you? You actually have thoughts like that already!"

With a deliberately disgusted look on his face, Shu Furukawa strolled past Obito. Realizing that he had been tricked into blurting out his true feelings, Obito stomped his feet in anger.

"You're just as awful as Kakashi! I'll beat both of you up someday."

"..."

Shizune, who had little presence beside Shu Furukawa, lowered her head and held back a laugh. She had studied alongside him for half a year and skipped ahead to the advanced class last month. The girl greatly enjoyed her current life.

"This afternoon is herb extraction class, right? At this pace, it'll take another two years to finish all the courses."

Before coming to this world, Shu Furukawa had not been a medical student. After learning the basics of medical ninjutsu, he suddenly remembered a saying from his hometown:

"Trying to persuade someone to study medicine..."

Medical ninja were extremely difficult to train. Making children this age diligently chew through books was simply too hard, and people with Shu Furukawa's discipline were rare.

Shizune nodded, admiration appearing on her little face as well. Whenever she slacked off, Shu Furukawa would help her. Now, hearing a trace of regret in his voice, she immediately comforted him:

"Shu is already amazing. Even Lady Tsunade praised your studies and chakra control!"

"Thanks, Shizune. Don't worry. I'll be satisfied if we can graduate together."

A gentle smile appeared on Shu Furukawa's face as he turned to thank her. Besides his outstanding talent, receiving the attention of one of the Sannin was also thanks to the girl's support outside school.

Unable to stop herself from imagining them working together at Konoha Hospital after graduation, Shizune smiled happily and replied without thinking:

"I'll keep up with you, Shu!"

At noon, many students gathered at the Ninja Academy entrance. When Kakashi appeared wearing a ninja forehead protector, the boys quickly burst into exclamations.

"He really did it!"

"That's amazing..."

"Graduating at five years old—he must have broken the Ninja Academy record!"

"As expected of Kakashi..."

At the outer edge of the crowd, Obito watched Kakashi being surrounded by their classmates with envy on his face. Then he heard Shu Furukawa, Might Guy, and the others loudly discussing a celebration, and he quietly left in loneliness.

Sitting alone on a stone bench, Obito thought of Rin Nohara's smiling face from earlier and covered his face with both hands in frustration.

After an unknown amount of time, he heard a familiar voice again and instinctively looked up.

"Are you okay, Obito? Class is about to start."

A trace of concern showed on Rin Nohara's face. Obito was the only one in class who had not gone to congratulate Kakashi, and she was worried that he had been left out.

"Rin, you said you'd watch me, right?"

"I'll catch up to him soon, then surpass him and become Hokage!"

Seeing Obito pull himself together again, Rin Nohara quickly nodded at his expectant gaze and replied with a smile:

"Mm. I'll watch you closely."

"Great! Let's go!"

Obito Uchiha sprang to his feet and shouted happily, instantly regaining his motivation. But Rin Nohara's next words left him dejected again.

"Shu and Shizune already skipped ahead to the advanced class! I can't keep up with their progress at all. Obito, after school, I want to ask Shu for some guidance..."

The moment Obito thought of those textbooks that made his scalp tingle, he completely lost heart. When it came to studying from books, he truly could not help.

"Damn it! Why is everyone so outstanding?"

After night fell, Konoha's commercial street remained bustling. Colorful lights shone on people's smiling faces, while the shadow of war had yet to reach this place.

At the barbecue restaurant, many ninja who had finished their missions came to congratulate Hatake Sakumo.

Graduating from the Ninja Academy at five years old, Kakashi had earned endless praise from even the Third Hokage for his talent. Everyone present praised the White Fang of the Leaf for how he had raised his son.

Even ninja from the great clans came to offer their congratulations. Hatake Sakumo drank heartily for once, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

"Kakashi, you'll be taking missions next, right? I heard C-rank missions pay thirty thousand ryo..."

Might Guy's eyes shone as he stuffed himself with barbecue and spoke of mission earnings. Worried that the silver-haired boy might say something inappropriate, Shu Furukawa took over.

"You have to start with D-rank missions that pay five thousand ryo, and you still have to share some with the captain. It's definitely not as simple as earning six times as much."

"Even if the village encourages early graduation, it won't assign too many missions to a Genin this young."

Genma Shiranui and Ebisu nodded along. They knew about Might Guy's family circumstances. The "eternal Genin" sometimes could not even get D-rank missions, so life really was difficult for him.

"Even so, that's an incredible income! I'll definitely graduate early too..."

Eager to improve his family's circumstances, Might Guy set his goal. He quickly received everyone's encouragement. Kakashi had originally wanted to say something, but after seeing Shu Furukawa's look, he changed the subject.

"By the time you graduate, I'll probably be a Chunin! Remember to call me Captain."

"There's no way you'll get promoted that fast!"

Might Guy loudly retorted. As the group noisily bickered, the quieter Shu Furukawa responded with a timely smile. Seeing this, Hatake Sakumo felt greatly comforted.

When the meal ended, the barbecue restaurant owner grabbed Hatake Sakumo and insisted on waiving the bill. This made the White Fang of the Leaf show a wry smile for the first time that night.

After stepping outside and seeing off the Chunin and Jonin, Hatake Sakumo finally patted Shu Furukawa on the shoulder and thanked him with a smile.

"Shu, thanks to you, Kakashi was able to make so many friends. Honestly, I didn't want him to graduate so soon. After all, ninja need companions."

"It's what I should do. Kakashi is actually very popular!"

The White Fang of the Leaf laughed heartily at Shu Furukawa's praise. His son possessed extraordinarily outstanding ninja talent, and that made him immensely proud.

Under the night sky, everyone laughed and chatted. Seeing Hatake Sakumo affectionately rub Kakashi's head as he spoke with the boys, Shu Furukawa could only sigh inwardly.

What kind of mission could lead to what happened in my memories?

"..."