Second Shinobi World War

On Konoha's side, Jiraiya, who had been traveling abroad, was recalled to Konoha because of the tense situation.

The various factions were poised for conflict, preparing large-scale military actions. War was about to break out.

Finally...

In Year 37 of Konoha, the Second Shinobi World War erupted in full.

The Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Wind bore the brunt of it, while a large number of Konoha's forces poured into the Land of Rain, which lay between the three countries.

Under these circumstances, Konoha Academy was naturally affected as well.

Students were specially allowed to apply for their graduation exams early. Those who passed could graduate immediately.

At that moment, in a fourth-year classroom.

"Nagi, I'm planning to graduate early." Namikaze Minato wore a determined expression.

"Hm? Didn't you like keeping a low profile? Why do you suddenly want to graduate?" Uchiha Nagi asked, though he already knew the answer. He knew Minato was graduating this year.

"Because I want to become Hokage. At a time like this, I don't think I should keep hiding away here." Determination showed in Namikaze Minato's usually gentle gaze.

"I see." Uchiha Nagi nodded, unsurprised.

"In that case, I'm graduating too!" Kushina's eyes widened. "I'm going to become Konoha's first female Hokage!"

"Don't be ridiculous." Uchiha Nagi tapped Kushina on the head.

"Why?" Kushina covered her head, looking a little indignant.

"I'm really strong. I've already mastered the Three Basic Techniques, and I know lots of Sealing Jutsu. Maybe even you aren't a match for me anymore, Nagi!"

She was used to Uchiha Nagi tapping her on the head. Ever since they'd grown closer, she'd noticed that he seemed to enjoy doing it more and more.

She had tried to fight back, but had never succeeded.

Eventually, she'd come to see it as a way of showing their closeness.

Still, Kushina pursed her lips. Something about it felt off.

He seemed to treat her like a child, even though they were the same age!

"That's not the reason. I don't think Tsunade would let you graduate early," Uchiha Nagi said casually.

Although Uzumaki Kushina still wasn't the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Konoha had been raising her to become one for a long time.

If she died on the battlefield, Konoha would have to raise another Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

That wasn't really the problem. The real question was whether Uzumaki Mito had enough time left for them to train a suitable successor.

"Hmph. How would we know without asking?" Kushina snorted. If Tsunade and Grandma disagreed, she'd find a way to change their minds.

Only this time, her plan might not work.

Uchiha Nagi was also a little distracted just then.

Over the past few years, his condition had improved somewhat. His mental energy was still growing, but its growth had indeed slowed quite a bit, and his physique had caught up as well.

Lately, he only felt a little sleepy now and then. He no longer suddenly fell into a deep sleep because of it.

At that moment, he was wondering whether he should graduate early along with Namikaze Minato.

He had considered graduating early before, but as time passed, the idea had gradually faded.

His life had settled down. With the income from the barbecue restaurant, Uchiha Eri no longer had to work nonstop.

Uchiha Eri was spending more and more time at home now, though she still couldn't sit still for long and continued to go out on missions every few days.

As long as Uchiha Nagi didn't graduate early, he could keep living this way for another two years.

That was undoubtedly what Uchiha Nagi wanted.

But...

Even if he put it off for two years, he'd still have to take part in the war. The Second Shinobi World War would last far longer than just two years.

Who would his teammates be then? They couldn't be Kushina. He'd probably just end up with two random people.

Wouldn't going to war with two random teammates be even more dangerous?

But if he graduated now, he could probably get assigned to the same team as Namikaze Minato by going through Tsunade.

Then, since they'd only just graduated as Genin, the missions they received during the war shouldn't be too difficult.

With Namikaze Minato's ability, he could definitely carry Nagi, even though Nagi might be stronger than him now.

But if he planned to coast, how could he go around stealing the spotlight?

As long as nothing unexpected happened, having Namikaze Minato as a teammate should make things very easy for him.

That was undoubtedly what he wanted, too.

One choice focused on the present, while the other focused on the future.

"Nagi, what are you thinking about again?" Kushina asked.

"I'm thinking about whether I should graduate early." Uchiha Nagi didn't hide it.

At that, Namikaze Minato and Kushina both widened their eyes and stared at Uchiha Nagi in disbelief.

"What? Are you really that shocked?" Seeing their expressions, Uchiha Nagi felt a little annoyed.

"Ahem, no. It's just that the way you've acted all these years doesn't make you seem like someone who'd graduate early," Namikaze Minato replied in his usual gentle tone.

Kushina nodded beside him, clearly agreeing with what Namikaze Minato had said.

"I was just thinking that if I graduated early, I could be put in the same class as Minato. With him around, missions and everything would be easy," Uchiha Nagi said.

Namikaze Minato froze, then gave a helpless, wry smile.

Although he knew Uchiha Nagi was probably very strong, if they ended up on the same team...

Nagi might really dump the missions on him.

Even so, having such a powerful teammate at his back wasn't a bad thing.

Uchiha Nagi was just lazy. It wasn't as if he couldn't fight.

"But aren't team assignments random?" Namikaze Minato suddenly asked.

"Don't worry. I have a way," Uchiha Nagi said, raising an eyebrow.

Kushina stuck out her tongue. She could more or less guess what Uchiha Nagi had in mind. Wasn't he just going to ask her sister?

Thinking of Tsunade, Kushina looked down at herself gloomily. Why hadn't she grown yet?

Every time she saw Uchiha Nagi looking at Tsunade, his gaze would inevitably drift downward. It was infuriating!

"In that case, I'd like to be teammates with you too, Nagi." Namikaze Minato smiled as he spoke.

Uchiha Nagi looked at Namikaze Minato, fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "Minato, when you put it like that, I have no choice but to graduate early."

Namikaze Minato just smiled without replying.

"Hmph, save the third spot for me!"

Kushina declared confidently. She was still very sure of herself at that age.