In the east, the sun had just risen over the horizon, casting a gentle glow.
Inside a house of the Hatake Clan, Mirai sat on the wooden floor with a two-year-old baby in his arms. He gently stroked the little girl's cheek with a finger, teasing her now and then. His eyes were full of affection.
"Giggle..." The girl in his arms was clearly very close to Mirai. Her large black eyes curved into crescents as she let out a lively, childish laugh.
After patting the little girl's head twice, Mirai stood and handed her to Takeuchi Chiyokichi nearby. "Auntie, I'm going to school. I'll leave Rin to you today."
Takeuchi Chiyokichi smiled softly and nodded. "All right, go on. Today is an important day. Don't be late."
After answering with a hum, Mirai headed for the door, changed into a pair of wooden sandals, picked up his bag, and hurried away.
"Almost two years have passed before I even realized it!" Mirai sighed inwardly as he walked down the street.
That was right. Mirai had been at the Ninja Academy for nearly two years, though he had only spent the first two months there normally. Now, at the end of the school year, this day carried a special meaning for him.
Over the past two years, Mirai had smoothly skipped from the first grade to the fourth within the first two and a half months. During that time, he had gradually come to know Minato, and the two became friends. But after that, things had not gone quite as smoothly.
After entering the fourth grade, both the difficulty and intensity of the curriculum rose significantly. Unlike the first three years, theory classes became far more important, and theoretical exam results could even affect a student's advancement. At the same