The Graduation Exam

"Tomorrow's the graduation exam..."

"I heard from Teacher Yuhi that in addition to the regular tests, the Third Hokage will arrange for three Genin to take part in a survival combat exercise."

At dusk, the setting sun dyed the forests around Konoha red. Beneath its fading light, Yu's lips curled into a disdainful smile.

"Hmph. With my current strength, three Genin won't be a problem..."

"I just wonder if Shisui can handle them."

It wasn't that Yu's confidence had swelled with his improved strength. With his current perspective and experience, three Genin simply weren't worth worrying about.

"I hope tomorrow won't be too boring..."

Night fell.

The Konoha Orphanage, where everyone would normally be getting ready for bed by this time, was suddenly filled with excited chatter and exclamations.

"What?!"

"You're applying for early graduation?!"

Yakushi Nonō had just returned to the Konoha Orphanage, exhaustion written all over her, when she saw Yu standing before her. In his hand was a confirmation form for early graduation.

"Since applying for early graduation requires parental consent, I..."

Yu showed little reaction as he looked at Yakushi Nonō, who stood before him, astonishment on her face.

In this life, he didn't even know who his parents were. So the only person who could confirm and sign the form was Yakushi Nonō, the director of the Konoha Orphanage who had taken him in.

"Th-that's so cool!!"

"Yu, you're graduating early after just one year at the Academy?!"

At that moment, in the wooden building's main hall, the children had gathered around Yu and Yakushi Nonō.

Urushi, always so boisterous, stared wide-eyed, envy and amazement plain on his face.

"So that means... Yu's about to become a real ninja?"

"He really is a bona fide genius!!"

The other children around them stared at Yu in disbelief.

Momoka, Mayuna, and the other girls were especially wide-eyed, their eyes brimming with admiration and awe.

"He's only a year older than me... and he's already graduating from the Ninja Academy?"

"Yu... I'm so jealous!"

Watching Yu surrounded by admirers, as if he had everything in the world, even Yakushi Kabuto, standing in the farthest corner, felt a yearning and hope stir behind his thick black glasses.

"But, Yu..."

Unlike the other children, whose admiration was untempered by doubt, Yakushi Nonō looked at the six-year-old boy before her with deep concern and worry on her gentle face.

"You're only six, and you're about to become a real ninja... Isn't it too soon?"

"Don't worry, Headmistress."

Understanding Yakushi Nonō's concern, Yu smiled easily. "I still have to pass tomorrow's exam, personally designed by the Third Hokage..."

"Only then can I graduate from the Ninja Academy and become a real ninja."

"Besides, Headmistress, you gave your glasses to Kabuto..."

Yu paused for a moment.

Then he reached into the black-and-white kimono he had recently changed into, pulled out a brand-new pair of black-framed glasses, and handed them to Yakushi Nonō. "I bought these for you with the money I earned treating the village's ninjas. They're a gift."

"What's this?"

Yakushi Nonō stared at the gift Yu had handed her, stunned.

When she opened the box, she found a pair of black-framed glasses Yu had bought for her.

After putting them on, the smiling white-haired boy before her came into sharp focus. Yet her eyes began to blur.

"Yu, you sweet boy..."

Night settled over the wooden building, and candlelight gently warmed the late-autumn air.

Early the next morning, the Ninja Academy's Training Ground was packed with people.

Besides the ninja students and instructors who normally watched the graduation exams, many other ninjas and ordinary villagers had come too.

After all, ever since the genius ninja Hatake Kakashi, two more talented boys had applied for early graduation from the Ninja Academy at the age of six. Naturally, this had drawn widespread attention throughout Konoha.

Everyone wanted to see what kind of performance these two young geniuses, the talk of Konoha lately, would put on.

Even the Third Hokage, though he wasn't there in person, watched everything from his office through a crystal ball using the Telescope Technique.

The day's tests consisted of ninja theory and practical application of the Three Body Technique.

Neither posed any difficulty for Yu or Shisui. They both passed with perfect scores in no time. Next came the survival combat test everyone had been waiting for.

"Yakushi Yu, Uchiha Shisui."

"These six Genin will be your opponents in the combat survival exam."

"Each of you must face three Genin and hold out for five minutes. If you survive, you pass."

In the spacious Ninja Academy Training Ground, Kurenai Yuhi's Father announced the rules to the two boys, Yu and Shisui.

As the strongest instructor at the Ninja Academy, Kurenai Yuhi's Father had been promoted to jōnin the day before. Naturally, he was the examiner for this highly anticipated graduation exam.

Behind him stood six adult ninjas in a row, wearing green flak jackets and Konoha Forehead Protectors.

Judging by their seasoned, capable bearing, all six were elite Genin with extensive experience, each having completed more than a hundred missions.

"So..."

"Which of you will go first?"

Now a jōnin, Kurenai Yuhi's Father fixed his sharp gaze on Yu and Shisui, the two boys standing before him.

"Yu, you've always ranked ahead of me at the Ninja Academy."

"Let me go first this time!"

Just as Yu was about to step forward, Shisui beat him to it. He turned and flashed Yu a mischievous smile.

As an unprecedented genius of the Uchiha Clan, Yu wasn't the only one whose strength had improved by leaps and bounds over the past year.

From the glint hidden in Shisui's dark eyes and the aura he unconsciously gave off, it was clear that Shisui's strength had already surpassed that of an ordinary Genin!

"Go ahead, then... Shisui."

"But don't let me catch you crying if you fail."

Seeing Shisui step onto the Training Ground ahead of him, Yu merely smirked and teased him.

Though they were rivals at the Ninja Academy, the two were the closest of friends in private.

"Tch. If I can't even pass a test like this..."

"Then I'll use my Sharingan to force one of my eyes into a cross-eyed squint!"

Hearing Yu's teasing words behind him, Shisui strode onto the Training Ground, full of confidence.

He faced the three Genin before him, a confident smile on his lips.