As time passed, Kizaru's first year of school gradually drew to a close.
The final exams were coming up, and the mood in class had grown a little tense. After all, no one wanted to go home with the worst grades and get a loving lecture from their parents.
For Kizaru, the approaching finals also meant that his school days were coming to an end.
Thinking that his education would be frozen at the first-grade level, Kizaru felt a little melancholy.
His classmates also knew that Kizaru would be graduating early and challenging a Jonin from the Uchiha Clan.
They were all looking forward to the exam.
After spending more than half a year together, they had realized that the Great Demon King Kizaru was actually a good person. They weren't nearly as afraid of him as they had been when they first started school.
Quite a few classmates had privately approached Kizaru to cheer him on.
Uchiha Inabi was among them.
One day after school, the boy secretly sought Kizaru out and handed him a small note.
On it was information about Uchiha Kensuke that Uchiha Inabi had managed to find out.
After handing over the note, Uchiha Inabi added, "Good luck, Kizaru! In the future, I'll be the only one who can beat you!"
Without waiting for Kizaru to reply, Uchiha Inabi quickly ran off.
Holding the note and watching Uchiha Inabi's retreating figure, Kizaru could only shake his head and laugh.
The atmosphere in the village was even more intense than it was at school.
With the Uchiha Clan, the Shimura Clan, and the Hokage's office all driving things forward, Kizaru's early graduation exam had become the hottest topic in the village.
The villagers eagerly awaited Kizaru's battle with Uchiha Kensuke.
Thanks to all the attention, Uchiha Kensuke, who had previously been an obscure and low-profile member of the village, became a local celebrity as soon as the Uchiha Clan announced their choice of examiner.
Even when Uchiha Kensuke went to buy something on the Commercial Street in the clan district, plenty of enthusiastic clan members cheered him on.
Unused to all the attention, he felt a little uncomfortable. He just wanted the exam day to arrive so this wave of excitement would finally end.
Kizaru received even more exaggerated treatment than Uchiha Kensuke.
With his outstanding physique and build, unconventional clothes, and signature brown-tinted sunglasses, the villagers recognized Kizaru easily whenever he went out.
They weren't as fanatical as the fans of celebrities in Kizaru's previous life, but they always watched him with excited, curious expressions. In the end, Kizaru had no choice but to use the Transformation Technique whenever he went out.
In Kizaru's courtyard, a lounge chair sat beneath the shade of a tree.
Kizaru lay sprawled on it in a lazy, boneless pose.
Beside the chair stood a small tea table about half his height, set with tea and snacks.
His graduation exam was tomorrow, but Kizaru was nowhere near as nervous as outsiders might have imagined.
Sipping hot tea and nibbling on pastries, his eyes contentedly narrowed, Kizaru was completely relaxed.
"Little Monkey!"
An elderly voice called from outside the courtyard.
With half a pastry still in his hand, Kizaru stayed where he was and merely turned his head slightly. He used his free left hand to push his sunglasses up onto his forehead.
"Old Man, what brings you here?"
Only the Great Elder in the whole family called Kizaru Little Monkey.
So Kizaru remained perfectly casual, watching the entrance as he waited for the Great Elder to come in.
Wearing a kindly smile, the Great Elder walked into the courtyard.
Seeing Kizaru lounging lazily in his chair, the Great Elder's expression stiffened for a moment.
He gave Tsunade, standing just behind him, an apologetic smile, then spoke up.
"Little Monkey, get up! Your senior, Tsunade, is here to see you."
But before the Great Elder had even finished speaking, Kizaru, who had been watching the entrance, had already seen Tsunade.
Not the least bit flustered, Kizaru lazily tossed the half-eaten pastry into his mouth, slowly sat up, and picked up the teacup from the table.
He blew away the steam rising from the tea and took a sip. Only after swallowing the pastry did he smile, get out of the chair, and stand.
"Senior Tsunade, you're the last one to come by! That really hurts," Kizaru teased with his trademark cheeky tone.
The last one?
Tsunade thought about it for a moment and quickly understood what Kizaru meant.
"Jiraiya and Orochimaru have already visited you?" Tsunade asked as she walked toward Kizaru.
"Senior Orochimaru gave me a scroll of Fire Release Ninjutsu analysis. The material in it is really good!" Kizaru replied with a smile.
"As for Senior Jiraiya, he didn't bring a gift. He just said that after I graduate, he'll take me somewhere fun!" When Kizaru mentioned Jiraiya, he put extra emphasis on the word "fun," being a little wicked about it.
Just as Kizaru had expected, when Tsunade heard about Jiraiya and somewhere fun, she immediately jumped to the right conclusion.
She gritted her teeth quietly. Remembering the Shimura Clan's Great Elder was beside her, she held back the urge to swear.
She decided to find Jiraiya later, have a good spar with him, and ask what this "fun place" was.
That unreliable Jiraiya had actually wanted to lure his not-yet-seven-year-old junior, Kizaru, off to some place of ill repute. What a bastard!
After cursing Jiraiya once more in her mind, Tsunade looked at Kizaru and spoke.
"The hospital's been busy lately. That old man dumps everything on me while he goes off and enjoys himself. What a bastard!" Part explanation and part complaint, Tsunade explained why she was only visiting today.
Then she continued, "How are you preparing for tomorrow's exam? I've seen Uchiha Kensuke. He's strong, so don't underestimate him."
"An Uchiha Jonin. Terrifying!" Kizaru said with a sigh. But he immediately changed his tune and added, "Still, I'm at least a tiny bit confident!"
A tiny bit, huh? Then this was as good as settled!
Already somewhat familiar with Kizaru's way of speaking, Tsunade understood what he meant.
"Since those two have prepared gifts for you, I'll give you one too, as your senior!"
"Oh! I can hardly wait," Kizaru said with a beaming smile.
"You! Watch your mouth!" Tsunade raised her voice, familiar with his antics but not used to them.
"How scary, Tsunade." Seeing Tsunade starting to roll up her sleeves, Kizaru promptly fell silent, considering how much effort he'd put into arranging his courtyard.
Tsunade glared at Kizaru in annoyance, then continued.
"You lot are all so irritating. What a pain!" After complaining, Tsunade went on, "The old man told me you're interested in Sealing Technique. After you graduate, come back with me to meet my grandma."
"You're in such a hurry, Senior Tsunade!" Kizaru said, putting on a very fake, bashful expression.
Tsunade froze for a moment before catching his meaning. Her right hand clenched into a fist, and she shouted, "You bastard, are you asking to die?"
"Little Monkey, don't talk nonsense," the Great Elder hurriedly interjected, trying to ease the tension. "Princess Tsunade, I'm truly sorry! He's still a child and doesn't know any better."
What kind of child was six years old and looked like that?
Tsunade shot the Great Elder a scornful look, then turned back to Kizaru.
"Don't let that bastard Jiraiya rub off on you. Honestly!" Tsunade scolded him before continuing, "My grandmother was born into the Uzumaki Clan, a clan famous in the Shinobi World for its Sealing Technique. If you can get her guidance, you'll make a lot of progress in learning it."
"Thank you, Senior Tsunade!" Faced with Tsunade's gift and kind intentions, Kizaru grew serious and thanked her sincerely.
"Anyway, give it your all tomorrow. Don't lose to those Uchiha bastards!" Tsunade said, giving Kizaru a firm pat on the shoulder as she cheered him on.
"Sure."
"Hmm?"
"Got it!"
Satisfied, Tsunade lowered her sleeves.