006. Application for Early Graduation

"In one month, I'll graduate from the Ninja Academy. By then, I'll be a true ninja." Sasuke glanced at Yashui. "Even though you're a grade below me, we spar like this every day. I've long considered you my best friend."

Hearing this sent a chill down Yashui's spine. At this point in time, Sasuke should still be deeply influenced by the words Itachi once told him: "Only by killing your best friend can you obtain eyes like mine."

If Sasuke was saying this to Yashui, didn't it mean he might be killed by Sasuke, treated as nothing more than fertilizer for his power?

"Starting tomorrow, I'm going to prepare to become a ninja. If I don't get ready within this month, I might die on a mission." Sasuke finished speaking and turned to leave. "Once I become a ninja, I'll probably be busy with missions every day, so we won't have time to spar anymore."

"Let's just consider this our last meeting. That will be fine." Sasuke spoke to himself as he vanished into the glow of the setting sun.

From his entrance to his exit, every one of Sasuke's movements was incredibly stylish.

Yashui roughly understood what Sasuke meant. From Sasuke's words, he also realized the current timeline.

There was one month left until the graduation of the nine members of the Konoha Twelve, including Naruto and Sasuke, while he was set to graduate a year after them.

But... was there really a month left before graduation in the original story? Yashui was confused.

"I really want to graduate with them." Watching Sasuke leave, Yashui had his first personal thought since arriving in this world.

Wanting to graduate with them wasn't the will of the original owner of this body; it was Yashui's own desire!

"Heh, I suppose that's impossible. I'm not even proficient at hand seals; I'll be lucky if I can graduate smoothly in a year." As Yashui spoke, he began to practice with his hands.

"This..."

Yashui stared at his hands in disbelief. These proficient, standard, and rapid hand seals were clearly not the same clumsy movements he had struggled with earlier this morning!

One had to know that hand seals, while seemingly simple, were harder for a novice ninja than taijutsu. When beginners first practice, they can't even get the movements right. If not corrected in time, it leads to the inability to successfully release ninjutsu during combat later on.

"Is it because of the Sharingan again?" Yashui realized that every time he suddenly gained knowledge, it was after using the Sharingan!

The Clone Technique, the method for sneaking underground, the route to school, the proficiency in hand seals... all these things were acquired after using the Sharingan!

However, it was precisely because of this that Yashui began to entertain the idea of graduating early.

On the way home, Yashui saw the Hokage Rock covered in colorful graffiti. His heart grew more certain of the current timeline. This was the first episode of the first part of Naruto; the Hokage Rock was painted like that because of Naruto's prank.

Yashui activated his Sharingan and saw Naruto hanging from the Hokage Rock, scrubbing away the paint. A wave of warmth washed over him. It felt as if he had returned to his childhood, squatting in front of the television every week waiting for the Naruto anime.

"I'm going to graduate early." Yashui made up his mind. Perhaps only by being in the same class as Naruto and the others could he feel a sense of belonging in this strange world.

But... there should only be one day between Naruto scrubbing the Hokage Rock and the graduation exam... how did it suddenly become a month? Yashui thought about his own existence; there was no Yashui, a descendant of the Uchiha, in the original story. Perhaps this wasn't the Naruto world at all, but a world very similar to it.

Yashui returned home, just in time for dinner.

"I'm home," Yashui called out toward the inner room as soon as he entered, addressing the Third Hokage.

"Yashui, did you spar with Sasuke again today?" A strange voice came from the living room.

"Yes." Yashui nodded and hurried to the living room to see who had arrived.

Upon entering, he saw Konohamaru, just like in the original story, trying various tricks to outsmart the Third Hokage in hopes of defeating him and ascending to the position of Hokage. Watching all this with great interest was a bearded ninja—the Third Hokage's son, Sarutobi Asuma.

"Hello, Uncle Asuma." Yashui greeted him quickly.

"Seeing you so healthy makes me feel a bit better, hahahaha..." Asuma's voice was bold and resonant.

"Grandfather." Yashui suddenly looked serious.

"What is it, Yashui?" The Third Hokage walked over.

"Maybe it's because I'm visiting suddenly. Sorry, I'm used to it; I used to be a member of this family too. Hahahaha..." Asuma scratched his head, mocking himself.

"No, that's not it... Uncle Asuma is still a member of this family." Yashui immediately corrected Asuma's misunderstanding.

"It's like this. I want to graduate from the Ninja Academy early." Yashui stated calmly.

The room went from noisy to silent in an instant. Asuma was too stunned to speak, while the Third Hokage closed his eyes in thought.

"What's wrong? Yashui, are you unhappy at the Ninja Academy?" The Third Hokage asked kindly.

"No," Yashui replied. "I feel I've learned almost everything the Ninja Academy has to offer, and staying there won't lead to any further improvement. Besides, Uchiha Sasuke, who I spar with, is about to graduate. I want to graduate with him so we can improve together."

"If that is your wish, I will consider it." The Third Hokage sat at the dining table and said, "The Ninja Academy is a place for ninjas to learn basic knowledge. Only by passing the written test on academics and knowledge are you eligible to take the graduation exam. A ninja graduating from the academy must master basic taijutsu, basic shurikenjutsu, dispelling genjutsu, the Substitution Technique, the Transformation Technique, and the Clone Technique, while also possessing a certain level of combat proficiency. Only then can a student graduate and become a genin. If a student has already mastered everything taught at the academy, they may apply for early graduation. Every year's graduation exam consists of nothing more than the points I just mentioned."

"Yashui, are you sure you are ready?" The Third Hokage asked again.

"Yes, I am ready." Yashui nodded.

"I'll give you one day to prepare." The Third Hokage sighed. "Asuma has no missions tomorrow, so let him test you. If Asuma thinks you're ready, I will personally submit your graduation application."

Asuma covered his face, feeling like he'd been hit by a stray bullet. Konohamaru looked at Yashui with defiance, seemingly wanting to apply for early graduation himself.

"Okay." Yashui nodded. "Uncle Asuma, please go easy on me tomorrow."

"Heh..." Asuma pulled two movie tickets from his pocket, looked at Yashui, and "smiled" while tears streamed down his face.

Poor guy. Looking at Asuma, it seemed he had no mission tomorrow because he was planning a date with Kurenai Yuhi. The Third Hokage was really setting his son up.