"News?"
Hearing Uchiha Obito's words, Uchiha Yue raised his eyebrows slightly and asked in confusion, "What news?"
"You really don't know?"
Seeing that Uchiha Yue seemed genuinely unaware, Uchiha Obito draped an arm familiarly around his shoulder. "Yue, it's about Hatake Kakashi. You remember him, right? That guy's so full of himself. It's just a Genin graduation exam, but he's made sure everyone at the Ninja Academy knows about it. And it seems Teacher Shinsuke is going to personally assess him and test his strength!"
As he spoke, Uchiha Obito turned his head in surprise and continued, "I say, Yue, if you didn't know Hatake Kakashi was graduating, what are you doing at the Ninja Academy?"
"Me?"
Uchiha Yue smiled slightly. "I came here specifically to apply for graduation. I just didn't expect Hatake Kakashi to beat me to it."
"Yue, you came to apply for graduation too? That's great!"
As soon as Uchiha Yue finished speaking, Uchiha Obito suddenly grew excited for some reason. "Hey, I've never liked Hatake Kakashi. Now that you're back to apply for graduation, Yue, we can finally teach him a proper lesson! Come on, let's go find Teacher Shinsuke and have him arrange your graduation exam!"
With that, Uchiha Obito didn't give Uchiha Yue a chance to say anything. He simply dragged him toward the Ninja Academy Training Ground.
But by the time Uchiha Yue arrived at the Ninja Academy Training Ground with Uchiha Obito, the fight between Hatake Kakashi and Sarutobi Shinsuke had already begun. Since Hatake Kakashi had always performed exceptionally well at the Ninja Academy, Sarutobi Shinsuke, one of its instructors, had decided to personally assess him and see whether he was ready to graduate.
Ordinary students only needed to fight a regular Chunin to graduate. As long as they performed well in the fight, they could pass the exam. But Sarutobi Shinsuke was an elite ninja of the Sarutobi Clan, and he probably already had the strength to rival an elite Jonin. Passing a graduation exam under him would undoubtedly be much harder.
Still, Hatake Kakashi wasn't an ordinary student. He was a genius of the Ninja Academy, so naturally his exam would be a little different.
After Uchiha Yue and Uchiha Obito entered the training ground, Yue glanced at the spectators' stands, where everyone was waiting for Hatake Kakashi's graduation exam to begin. He quietly told Uchiha Obito that he was going to the stands to watch the fight. He also wanted to see how much Hatake Kakashi had improved over the past six months.
Then...
At Sarutobi Shinsuke's nod, Hatake Kakashi's graduation exam finally began.
However, Hatake Kakashi was a little too eager to show off at the start of the fight. The moment Sarutobi Shinsuke finished speaking, he drew the White Fang Blade and prepared to attack. Against an ordinary Genin, an opening like that would certainly have given Hatake Kakashi an immediate advantage. Unfortunately, Sarutobi Shinsuke wasn't an ordinary Genin.
Sarutobi Shinsuke might not use his full strength during a graduation exam, but he couldn't afford to look too weak in front of all those students, either. As Hatake Kakashi closed in, Sarutobi Shinsuke didn't rely on his superior strength to overwhelm him. Instead, he engaged Kakashi in close combat.
To the students at the Ninja Academy, the fight between Hatake Kakashi and Sarutobi Shinsuke was probably thrilling.
But to Uchiha Yue, it was clear that Hatake Kakashi was being suppressed the whole time. Sarutobi Shinsuke was simply toying with him.
If Sarutobi Shinsuke had wanted to defeat Hatake Kakashi, Kakashi would have lost countless times already. Sarutobi Shinsuke was trading blows with him only to assess his abilities and determine whether he was ready to pass the Genin graduation exam. Fortunately, Hatake Kakashi had mastered the Hatake Sword Style. After fighting him for a dozen or so exchanges, Sarutobi Shinsuke nodded slightly and pretended to be forced back by Kakashi's relentless attack. "Hatake Kakashi, you've passed!"
"Teacher Shinsuke, thank you for your guidance!"
Clearly, Hatake Kakashi knew he was no match for Sarutobi Shinsuke. When Shinsuke announced that the exam was over, Kakashi bowed to him.
"Kakashi, there's no need to be so formal."
Hearing Hatake Kakashi's words, Sarutobi Shinsuke smiled. "As an instructor at the Ninja Academy, it's my responsibility to train you. But Kakashi, remember that once you officially register tomorrow, you'll be a Genin of Konoha. As a real ninja, you can't behave as recklessly as you did at the Ninja Academy. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
Hatake Kakashi nodded firmly, though a hint of regret suddenly flashed in his eyes.
He regretted that he was about to become a Genin without ever having settled things with Uchiha Yue.
But just as Hatake Kakashi let out a regretful sigh, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him. Kakashi's expression turned serious at once.
The figure who had suddenly appeared in front of Hatake Kakashi was none other than Uchiha Yue!
"Teacher Shinsuke, it's been a long time!"
Standing in front of Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Yue paid no attention to the boy behind him and simply greeted Sarutobi Shinsuke.
Seeing Uchiha Yue, Sarutobi Shinsuke's eyes lit up. He hurriedly asked, "Yue? Aren't you training under Lady Tsunade? What brings you to the Ninja Academy?"
Uchiha Yue smiled as well. "Teacher Shinsuke, I've completed my training under my mentor. I came today to apply for graduation. I just didn't expect someone to finish the graduation exam before me. If you don't mind, why not test me now too?"
"Of course!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Sarutobi Shinsuke nodded. "You've been training under Lady Tsunade for so long, Yue. With your strength, you'll surely pass the graduation exam. Kakashi just finished his, so I might as well assess you too and see whether you're ready to graduate!"
"Okay!"
Uchiha Yue nodded lightly, then prepared to take his graduation exam under Sarutobi Shinsuke.
But when Hatake Kakashi saw that Uchiha Yue was about to take the exam, just as Kakashi was about to leave the training ground,
Uchiha Yue's voice suddenly rang in Hatake Kakashi's ear!
"Hatake Kakashi, congratulations on becoming the youngest Genin in history."
"Too bad that I'm about to take that record away from you!"
Before you continue