Applying for Early Graduation

Year 41 of Konoha!

Life between heaven and earth is but a fleeting moment, like a white steed passing a crack in the wall!

In just three years, the five-year-old child Gong Yi has transformed into a youth standing one meter sixty tall.

In the world of Naruto, perhaps due to the dense natural energy permeating the world, human growth occurs at an incredibly rapid pace.

For instance, during the Warring States period, children as young as four or five would head to the battlefield, wielding weapons to slaughter others.

Take Kakashi, for example; he graduated from the Ninja Academy and began executing missions at the age of five.

It could be said that Gong Yi, at this moment, is effectively at the stage of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old if he were back in Huaxia.

After finishing another day of arduous training, Gong Yi did not add extra practice, choosing instead to enter the land of dreams.

Early the next morning, feeling refreshed and invigorated, he arrived at the school.

"Gong Yi, you're here! Have you eaten breakfast? I brought you some sushi—I made it myself!"

Seeing the handsome youth walk through the classroom door, Kurenai Yuhi's eyes lit up, and she walked over.

Facing the young girl's intimacy, Gong Yi frowned slightly.

Ever since Kakashi left the school, people had constantly come to challenge Gong Yi in order to vie for the title of top student.

Among them were students from his own year as well as upperclassmen.

The reason was simply that while Kakashi was still in school, he had regarded Gong Yi as his only rival.

Although they had never competed, everyone knew that Gong Yi had earned Kakashi's recognition.

To defeat Gong Yi was to become the school's top student!

This behavior was not only voluntary on the part of the students but also tacitly approved, or even encouraged, by some of their parents.

Everyone understood that showing sufficient talent in school earned one the title of genius.

Once they graduated, they would receive cultivation resources from the village, and it was not impossible to catch the eye of a big shot, or even be taken in as a disciple.

Wasn't the now-famous Yellow Flash Minato Namikaze someone who showed outstanding performance in school, only to be taken as a disciple by Lord Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, after successfully executing a few missions?

However, after countless challenges, all the students fell into despair.

Gong Yi was simply too powerful; no matter what tactics the students employed, they were defeated by him with ease and precision.

So much so that a year later, almost no one dared to issue a challenge to Gong Yi anymore!

Gong Yi had enjoyed two years of peace, but he had also been annoyed for two years.

After his status as the top student was cemented, many young girls cast admiring gazes his way.

Among them was this young lady before him, Kurenai Yuhi, who hailed from a Konoha clan renowned for genjutsu!

Gong Yi smoothed his slightly furrowed brow and took the exquisite lunch box from Kurenai Yuhi's hand.

However, he did not open it.

"Kurenai, you don't need to bring me breakfast anymore."

Kurenai Yuhi froze, and the girl's eyes suddenly turned red.

Did Gong Yi's words mean he didn't like her anymore?

Did he not even want to eat the breakfast she had brought him?

Then what did the breakfasts she had brought him every day for the past two years amount to?

Plop!

Tears suddenly fell, and Kurenai Yuhi hurriedly lowered her head to hide herself.

Just as Gong Yi was about to explain, a gust of wind whistled past his ear.

A fist suddenly smashed toward him.

Gong Yi tilted his head slightly, countered with an elbow, and a cry of pain erupted from behind him.

Gong Yi turned back and shook his head at the youth before him.

"Asuma, launching a sneak attack from behind is hardly an honorable act."

Asuma clutched his stomach and roared angrily, "You bastard, you bullied Kurenai! I'm going to duel you!"

The corners of Gong Yi's mouth curled up, and he asked with a half-smile, "Are you sure you want to challenge me?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Asuma's body stiffened, his face turning a shade of pale green.

Inside the classroom, the other students, drawn by the trio, also fell into silence.

Two years ago, Gong Yi had accepted challenges from countless Ninja Academy students without a single defeat!

His strikes were crisp and decisive; in fact, the last time, he had been so heavy-handed that he left an upperclassman who was about to graduate severely injured!

Since then, no one had dared to challenge him again.

If Kakashi's status as the top student was something touted by word of mouth, then Gong Yi's title was one he had earned by defeating countless people, solidifying it with his own two hands!

Now that two years had passed, no one knew just how far Gong Yi's strength had reached.

Asuma's expression flickered between shadow and light. Beside him, Ebisu whispered into his ear, "I saw him sparring privately with Ishii Kawa a couple of days ago. He's strong—incredibly strong!"

Asuma hesitated, but upon seeing Kurenai Yuhi's delicate, tearful appearance, he gritted his teeth.

"The private tutor my father arranged recently taught me two C-rank Ninjutsu. Even though I'll run out of chakra after using each one just once, that should be enough to defeat him!"

Just as Asuma was about to declare his challenge to Gong Yi, Gong Yi waved his hand with a look of utter disinterest.

"Forget it. It's pointless."

Ignoring the look of humiliation on Asuma's face, Gong Yi turned around, reached out, and ruffled Kurenai Yuhi's hair.

"Why are you crying? The breakfast you made is my absolute favorite."

Faced with Gong Yi's affectionate gesture, Kurenai Yuhi let out a soft gasp before wiping away her tears.

"Then why..."

"I have some things I need to take care of. I won't be coming to the Ninja Academy anymore, so naturally, you won't be able to bring me breakfast."

Kurenai blinked curiously. "What kind of things?"

Gong Yi smiled thinly. "You'll know in a moment."

Kurenai Yuhi nodded, still dazed, but as she felt the gazes of the other students in the classroom, she became incredibly bashful.

How could Gong Yi do something so gentle to me in front of so many people!

Oh my, it's so embarrassing.

But what exactly is this thing Gong Yi mentioned?

As the afternoon arrived, news spread from the teachers' office, leaving every student in shock.

Gong Yi had applied for early graduation!

Furthermore, the school would be assigning a Chunin to serve as his graduation examiner!