Sasuke was practicing ninjutsu alone in a corner of the training field when he heard the news. He raised an eyebrow slightly.
He stopped what he was doing, and a complicated look flickered across his eyes.
On one hand, he had to admit that Menma really was that capable. He knew he still had a lot of work to do before he could reach the same level.
Sasuke had always been proud of his clan and held himself to extremely high standards. Menma's excellence put an invisible pressure on him, but it also motivated him to keep moving forward.
On the other hand, he was quietly determined to compete. I need to work even harder. I can't let Menma leave me too far behind.
Naruto was horsing around with his friends in the classroom. When he heard the news, his eyes widened and his mouth fell open.
"Menma's graduating early? Does that mean we won't be able to play together at school anymore?" His voice carried a hint of disappointment.
Scenes of him and Menma playing pranks at school and sharing little ninja gadgets flashed through his mind.
Naruto and Menma had been together since they were little and had hardly ever been apart. They had shared so many happy times that he couldn't imagine what school would be like without Menma by his side.
Kuaiyu was reading in the library. When he heard the news, he opened his mouth in surprise, and the book in his hands nearly slipped to the floor.
"Menma's amazing, but that means he'll have to leave us." He was happy for Menma's success, but sad about the coming separation.
Kuaiyu was a thoughtful person who treasured his friendships with his classmates. To him, Menma's departure felt like losing an important friend.
Shikamaru was lying