The Attention of Important People

"Usually, Ninja Academy students only need to demonstrate their progress in the Three Body Technique to graduate."

"Students who graduate early are assigned a match against a Genin. Regardless of whether they win or lose, as long as they demonstrate adequate combat ability, they can graduate early."

"Gong Yi, why did you insist on requesting a Chunin as your opponent?"

Ishii Kawa looked at Gong Yi, his eyes filled with both pride and concern.

Students applying for early graduation didn't need to defeat their opponent in person. They only had to demonstrate the qualities expected of a qualified ninja.

But winning would certainly be best.

The problem was that facing a Chunin was far too risky for an eight-year-old student.

If he lost, the titles Gong Yi had earned over the past three years—the school's top student and a genius—would be stripped away in an instant.

He would even become a laughingstock.

People would call him arrogant and say he had no idea of his own limits.

Gong Yi had his hands in his pockets, looking completely relaxed and composed.

"Teacher, do you think I'm not strong enough to defeat a Chunin?"

Ishii Kawa paused. Thinking of Gong Yi's performance over the past few years, he shook his head almost unconsciously.

In his first year, Gong Yi defeated all the many students who challenged him and earned the title of top student!

In his second year, Gong Yi began sparring with him. He lost more often than he won, but even then, he had shown remarkable combat talent!

And in his third year—this year—

His record against Gong Yi was one win and nine losses!

What was frightening was that in their last few matches, Gong Yi had used fewer and fewer Ninjutsu and combat tactics.

He had practically overwhelmed Ishii Kawa through sheer ability. Whether it was Chakra reserves or mastery of Ninjutsu, even in Taijutsu, Gong Yi was stronger than him—a grown man.

And Ishii Kawa was a Chunin who had carried out all kinds of missions!

Ishii Kawa gritted his teeth, still convinced that Gong Yi was taking too great a risk.

"Gong Yi, you have to understand. I'm only a teacher. I have the strength of a Chunin, but I haven't been on a mission in a long time. My combat instincts have dulled considerably."

"But the ninja assessing you will definitely be an experienced Chunin who regularly goes on missions. They'll have plenty of combat experience. There are simply too many unknowns in a fight against someone like that!"

Faced with his teacher's advice, Gong Yi felt no impatience. If anything, he felt warmed by it.

This was someone who truly had his best interests at heart.

Gong Yi fell silent for a while, then raised his head and looked straight at Ishii Kawa.

"Teacher, do you think there's anything more I can learn at the Academy?"

Ishii Kawa shook his head. He had already taught Gong Yi everything he knew, and there wasn't much more he could offer.

For the past six months, Gong Yi had even begun asking other instructors for guidance.

"Then, teacher, do you think that once I leave the Academy, the village will assign a civilian ninja like me, with no connections, an elite Jonin with great strength and experience as my team leader?"

Ishii Kawa's clenched hand slowly loosened, his expression helpless.

Clearly, that was impossible.

Most civilian ninja graduates were assigned a Chunin as their team leader.

Even if they were lucky enough to get a Jonin, they wouldn't be assigned a particularly powerful one.

Kakashi, for instance, had been able to follow a renowned shinobi like Minato Namikaze not only because he was a genius and the Academy's top student.

More importantly, he came from the Hatake Clan and was the son of Lord White Fang!

Gong Yi smiled. "That's why I need to show the full extent of my talent and prove how strong I am! I need the village to take me seriously and make me one of its hopes for the future. As long as my talent is impressive enough, the important people in the village won't let me die easily on some brutal mission."

"And this graduation match is the best chance I'll ever get to set myself apart from all the other ordinary students!"

Ishii Kawa was convinced. Looking at the confident boy before him, he realized once again that there was truly nothing left he could teach him.

He hadn't even thought of the need to show his talent and earn the village's attention.

It had taken Gong Yi pointing it out for him to understand.

"You're right!" Ishii Kawa said dejectedly. "I only hope that when graduation day comes, you'll do well—and stay safe."

"Thank you, teacher!"

Gong Yi suddenly said it, seemingly out of nowhere.

Ishii Kawa nodded in satisfaction. He did care about Gong Yi, after all.

The sun sank in the west, bathing all of Konoha in golden light.

As he walked along the street, the Third Hokage puffed on his pipe beneath his Hokage Hat. He smiled warmly at the villagers who greeted him.

"The village is getting better and better!"

The Third Hokage was in high spirits and didn't even feel that his daily work was all that tiring.

After returning home and finishing dinner, the Third Hokage suddenly asked the tutor about his son.

"Ebisu Ming, where's Asuma?"

As a member of a small clan friendly with the Sarutobi Clan, Ebisu Ming had been hired by the Third Hokage to tutor Asuma at home.

His son, Ebisu, was even Asuma's good friend at school.

Ebisu Ming pointed to the backyard. "Young Master Asuma is practicing Ninjutsu. He's been working extremely hard lately—harder than ever before!"

The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe. "Did something spur him on? He used to be pretty lazy."

Ebisu Ming hesitated. "It's probably related to the student in his class who applied for early graduation."

"Gong Yi?"

"Ah, Lord Hokage knows that boy?"

The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded.

"He's an excellent boy, and one of the hopes for our village's future!"

Without Gong Yi's knowledge, his efforts had already brought him to the attention of some important people.

***

The protagonist's actions have nothing to do with love or justice, nor are they driven by bonds or loyalty. All he wants is to survive—to keep living as he grows stronger, until he stands above everyone else.