A Year

At Tsunade's house.

When Genma and Shizune returned with lunch, Tsunade was biting the end of her brush, brows furrowed as she stared at the scroll on the table.

Hearing their footsteps, she slowly looked up. "Huh? Why are you two back?"

Genma sat down across from her. "We came back so you wouldn't miss lunch."

Tsunade pouted. "Hey, you two are the brats!"

Genma didn't answer. He looked at the scroll. "You look troubled. So the reason you're not going to the hospital is that you're researching a new book?"

Tsunade gave a dissatisfied snort. "Kid, you're sticking your nose into too much."

As she set out the food, Shizune spoke up on Genma's behalf. "Lady Tsunade, Genma's just worried about you."

Tsunade glared at Shizune, then pouted. "You skip class every day. You might as well graduate early."

Genma smiled, perfectly at ease. "If I graduate, where will I find so much time to train?"

"I'm still a kid, after all."

"Lady Tsunade, can you bear to send a child like me to the battlefield?"

"That goes against the original intention behind the First's founding of the village. It's not very Will of Fire!"

Looking at that innocent, pitiful smile, Tsunade wanted to punch him. Annoyed, she set down her brush and practically roared, "Shut up! I'm the First's granddaughter. No one understands the Will of Fire better than me!"

What other kid could have surpassed her at eight years old in Yang Release nature transformation?

What other kid could beat her at their bets every single day at eight years old?

What was she doing, cooped up at home and forgetting to eat or sleep?

Wasn't it all for this infuriating little monster?

Tsunade was so furious she was breathing like a bull, her chest rising and falling.

Genma wiped his face and said earnestly, "Lady Tsunade, I think you need to solve the problem of your chakra reserves first."

"With enough chakra, your Yang Release abilities will naturally improve."

Tsunade gave a soft snort and relaxed. "I've already started training in the Yin Seal, but it'll take time."

Genma shook his head. "I mean the Wood Release Chakra Mode."

Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm trying, but I haven't figured out how to do it yet."

"Your constitution might be special. Maybe no one else can master it."

Shizune came over and agreed. "I think Lady Tsunade is right, too."

"Genma, didn't you say Kakashi couldn't do it either?"

Genma looked a little helpless. "Theoretically, it should be possible."

After letting off some steam, Tsunade was in a better mood. She answered lazily, "In theory, everyone should be able to train their Yang Release to its absolute peak. But talent and all sorts of other factors make that obviously impossible."

"Constitution is a kind of talent, too."

Genma nodded.

For now, he accepted the revised setting that no one else could learn it.

Kakashi could turn into a giant bird now, but he still couldn't fly.

Maybe I can add more hand seals to help?

The thought flashed through Genma's mind, but Shizune called him over to eat.

It wasn't that he was such a good person that he absolutely had to teach others his techniques.

His instincts simply told him it would work.

After lunch, Genma and Shizune left.

He still hadn't found a way to bring up Tsunade's Hemophobia.

Besides, once he brought it up, he would need to find a psychological anchor or trigger for her to address her mental trauma. At the moment, there didn't seem to be any good options.

It felt like he wouldn't be able to reap any more benefits from Tsunade for now.

Should he try someone else?

Genma thought of Nohara Rin.

But he'd have to separate Nohara Rin from Uchiha Obito so they wouldn't end up on the same team.

Uchiha Madara was keeping an eye on the Uchiha Clan, but he probably hadn't taken an interest in Uchiha Obito yet.

But the moment Uchiha Obito awakened his Sharingan and showed off his astonishing talent, he would definitely attract attention.

Even so, Genma couldn't interfere with team assignments, not even for Nohara Rin.

"Genma, is something bothering you?"

Shizune's voice suddenly brought him back to his senses.

He turned to look at Shizune, who was concerned about him. Suddenly, all his worries disappeared, and he smiled. "I was a little troubled, but feeling your concern made it all go away."

Shizune's face turned red. She quickly turned away. "That's good, then."

"Come on. Let's go to the hot springs first and relax, then we'll train. You still need to work on your chakra control, Shizune."

Taking Shizune by the hand, Genma changed course.

"Huh? To the hot spring inn? Just the two of us?"

"Do you want to invite anyone else?"

"No, no~"

In the days that followed, Genma stopped trying to alter the characters' fates and change the storyline.

There was only so much he could do without graduating.

And Genma had no plans to graduate too early.

Besides, he wasn't limited to getting stronger by changing the setting.

There were plenty of ways for him to improve: Wood Release Ninjutsu, Lightning Release, Medical Ninjutsu, knowledge of Sealing Techniques...

Just like that, a year slipped by.

April 3, Year 45 of Konoha.

Inside the examination room, Genma looked up as he waited for the test to begin. He saw Uchiha Obito rush in, panting.

As expected of someone born with a talent for being late—even the exam was a close call.

Today was their graduation exam.

It wasn't just them. Shizune, Kakashi, Nohara Rin, Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, and Might Guy—everyone in their class—had chosen to graduate early at this time of year.

Genma's birthday was in March, and he had already turned nine.

Kakashi's birthday was in September.

Soon, the examiner entered the classroom. After announcing the exam rules, he handed out the papers.

Once Genma received his test, he skimmed the questions and smiled to himself. This is easy!

He picked up his pen and wrote without hesitation.

Not long after, Genma frowned slightly, feeling as if someone were watching him.

He thought it over, then cursed inwardly with a smile. It's got to be Hyuga Sorai spying on me with his Byakugan.

Uchiha Obito was probably scratching his head over the questions, right?

Like Naruto, he never paid attention in class and hated written exams.

As the thought crossed his mind, Genma quickly finished the test, then stood up, handed it in, and left.

Kakashi was a little faster than him.

A little over ten minutes later, Shizune and the others finished too, and everyone gathered together, chatting and laughing.

Uchiha Obito was the last one out. He immediately rushed over to Nohara Rin to thank her.

Nohara Rin had tossed him a crumpled note.

Kakashi, ever the sharp-tongued one, immediately taunted him. "You'd better not be late for this afternoon's exam, or you won't graduate!"

Uchiha Obito flared up at once. "Kakashi, I'll definitely graduate. Hmph! Then Rin and I will be on the same team, and I'll never have to see your dead-fish face again."

Genma almost laughed out loud.

When Kakashi acted cold, he really did look a bit like a dead fish.

But would Uchiha Obito's wish come true?

At two in the afternoon, the second exam began in the classroom.

This one tested the Three Body Technique: the Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, and Substitution Technique.

For Genma, it was a breeze. He didn't even need to use hand seals.

Kakashi completed the test with his hands in his pockets.

When it came to acting cool, Genma thought Kakashi was only a little worse than him. No wonder Nohara Rin's eyes were practically sparkling.

Uchiha Obito was consumed by envy and jealousy. The moment he stepped up, his emotions got the better of him, and he couldn't control his chakra properly. His Clone Technique produced nothing but a set of clothes that dropped to the floor.

The classroom burst into laughter.

Uchiha Obito was so frantic he nearly cried.

Nohara Rin looked worried.

Genma was speechless.

Uchiha Obito had definitely mastered the technique. His emotions had gotten in the way, throwing off his chakra control.

The teacher had noticed, too, so he gave Uchiha Obito another chance.

This time, Uchiha Obito calmed down and passed on his first try.

Might Guy, who wasn't good at Ninjutsu, passed as well.

As one classmate after another finished, Genma sighed to himself. My student days are over!

He just didn't know how many of his classmates would still be around five or ten years from now.