Graduation time, the rookies' little cliques, and Naruto and Sasuke's happy family of three

Although only the ninja villages of the Five Great Nations knew what had happened to Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo, everyone tacitly agreed not to stir up any more trouble, especially where Hyuga Seigo was concerned.

Their consensus was simple.

He was death incarnate.

He was powerful enough to destroy an entire country.

He had no limits. What decent person killed people over a disagreement, then ground their bones to dust and scattered the ashes? What decent person stayed up in the dead of night, running around the Ninja World blowing up villages to watch the fireworks...?

He openly dared to attack his own Kage and High Command.

He used sinister techniques to turn men into women.

Just thinking about it sent chills down their spines.

He feared nothing, and rules couldn't restrain him.

He apparently had Space-Time Ninjutsu.

He did whatever he pleased and came and went freely.

They couldn't beat him or catch him.

He was too dangerous.

Fine. If they couldn't afford to provoke him, they could at least avoid him.

And just like that.

The Ninja World enjoyed a rare stretch of peace.

Time flew by, and more than two years quietly passed in the blink of an eye. A married couple had joined the Hyuga ancestral residence, and the Hyuga Great Elder finally let go of his obsession.

"Yay~ We're finally graduating." Naruto and the others were about to graduate, while Qingwu had received an exceptional promotion to Jonin after that operation, ending his school days early.

They had been itching to leave for ages.

But early graduation wasn't allowed in peacetime.

More importantly, their families wouldn't let them.

Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee, the trio from the year above them, had all become Chunin. Their strength had improved significantly compared with the original story. They