Uchiha Itachi Graduates

"Itachi, although I'd rather you didn't become a ninja so soon, congratulations on graduating from the Ninja Academy in just one year."

"Hm?"

Uchiha Itachi looked at Hyuga Gen in confusion.

"Being a ninja is a high-risk job, after all. As your friend, I just don't want you facing danger too soon."

Hyuga Gen explained.

There was no doubt that being a ninja was extremely dangerous. One careless mistake could get you killed on a mission. He didn't know the exact figures, but he figured the death rate had to be high.

Uchiha Itachi had graduated early partly because he was genuinely talented, but another reason, in Hyuga Gen's eyes, was that Konoha really was short on ninjas—at least for now.

Uchiha Itachi was a universally recognized prodigy, and there was no doubt about his strength. There was hardly anyone at the Ninja Academy who didn't know him.

"If you're so good, are you better than Uchiha Itachi?"

Whenever someone bragged, asking that was guaranteed to leave them speechless. Hyuga Gen had heard that exchange plenty of times at school.

Uchiha Itachi had practically become the idol of their generation. Whether it was his strength or his looks, he had it all.

In this world, becoming a ninja and protecting the village was unquestionably a great honor. In Konoha, almost everyone wanted to become a ninja.

Although being a ninja was a high-risk job, danger and opportunity went hand in hand. Missions could earn you plenty of money. Complete them well, and you could also build a good reputation, boosting your popularity and influence.

With both fame and fortune in hand, weren't those the two things most people spent their lives pursuing?

If you were strong enough, well-known, and influential, and had earned people's recognition and respect, then you might have a chance to become the Hokage.

The Hokage stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world. Once you became Hokage, you had everything—the whole village was yours to command.

"Thank you, Gen. I'll be careful."

Uchiha Itachi thanked Hyuga Gen for his concern.

"Come on, let's raise our tea in place of wine and have a toast! To Itachi becoming a ninja, and to our getting together this time. Cheers!"

As he spoke, Hyuga Gen was the first to stand and raise his teacup. Seeing him, the others stood up too.

Hyuga Gen couldn't help smiling at Hyuga Natsu's puffed-out cheeks and grease-smeared mouth. She looked like a little kitten—or rather, like three little kittens.

This world had alcohol too, but only sake. Hyuga Gen had snuck a few tastes before. It wasn't very strong, and some of it even had a hint of sweetness.

Of course, they weren't allowed to drink at their age, so they had no choice but to use tea instead. Tea with barbecue felt like an odd combination, but it actually worked well; the tea cut through the grease.

Looking at Uchiha Itachi's still-youthful face, Hyuga Gen thought that although Itachi seemed mature for his age, he was still only a seven-year-old child.

Perhaps in this world, seven was old enough to be called a young man? Hyuga Gen thought of Kakashi, who had graduated from the Ninja Academy and become a Genin at just five years old.

Sending a five-year-old child to the battlefield would have been unthinkable in his old world. What could a five-year-old even do? Probably just play in the mud.

Even after graduating from the Ninja Academy, they were only twelve. At twelve, they became Genin and had to fight other people, taking on missions where they could lose their lives at any moment. It was a tragic story.

But that was simply how this world was. It wasn't just Konoha; things were much the same elsewhere, because the entire Ninja World was like this.

"Cheers!"

Everyone clinked their teacups together and drained them.

At first, Hyuga Gen had only invited Uchiha Itachi and Izumi, since the three of them were classmates. He hadn't invited anyone else.

Later, Natsu came to see Hyuga Gen. He wasn't particularly surprised, but he hadn't expected Zhihui to be at her house too, so naturally he invited her along.

Hyuga Gen introduced Yu Zhihui. As for Hyuga Natsu, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi already knew her, so there was no need for an introduction.

After all, Hyuga Natsu and Hyuga Gen always walked to school together, and they had run into Uchiha Itachi and Izumi at the school gate before, so they knew each other.

Hyuga Gen knew that it would be hard to get together with Uchiha Itachi in the future. Now that Itachi had become a ninja, countless missions awaited him.

According to the story in Shippuden, about a year after Itachi became a Genin, the Masked Man, Obito, would kill his two teammates during a mission, causing Itachi to awaken his Sharingan.

From what Hyuga Gen knew of Itachi, he was sure Itachi would blame himself terribly for his teammates' deaths and work even harder to improve his strength, leaving no time for anything else.

"Big Brother Gen, is this what you were talking about before?"

Hyuga Natsu looked at Hyuga Gen with admiration, but she didn't stop eating the barbecue.

"Mm-hmm, that's right. What do you think? It should make money, right?"

Hyuga Natsu and Zhihui nodded emphatically without hesitation. Aside from ice cream, they thought it was the best thing they had ever eaten.

"Make money?"

Uchiha Izumi asked, confused.

Hyuga Gen explained everything to Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi.

"So you're the one who made the ice cream. I've tried it before too. It's really good."

Uchiha Izumi looked at Hyuga Gen curiously, as if she were seeing him in a new light.

"Gen, are you planning to go into business in the future?"

Although he attended the Ninja Academy, Uchiha Itachi knew that not everyone became a ninja. If they didn't want to, they could do something else.

"I haven't decided yet. Maybe, but I'll probably still become a ninja."

Hyuga Gen gave a noncommittal answer. He really hadn't made up his mind, but there was a good chance he would still choose to become a ninja.

"I think going into business instead of becoming a ninja would be pretty good."

Hyuga Natsu offered her opinion. Perhaps because of Hyuga Gen's influence, she didn't think being a ninja was all that great.

In fact, her mother didn't want Hyuga Natsu to become a ninja either. She only wanted her to live happily as an ordinary person. When Hyuga Natsu first said she wanted to attend the Ninja Academy, her mother had refused.

Hyuga Natsu had gone to a lot of trouble to persuade her mother. As for how she did it and what she said, no one knew.

The sun sank in the west, night fell, and all good things had to come to an end.

"Itachi, could you take Izumi home? You're going the same way anyway. I'll take Zhihui home in a bit."

Hyuga Gen said, patting Uchiha Itachi on the shoulder.

Hyuga Gen watched Uchiha Itachi and Izumi walk away, staring after them in a daze, lost in thought.

"Zhihui, come on. I'll walk you home."

"Zhihui's staying at my place tonight. Come on, Zhihui. Let's ignore this guy who had delicious food and didn't even think to invite us."

Hyuga Natsu seemed a little annoyed. She took Zhihui by the hand and left without looking back.

Hyuga Gen was taken aback. He supposed he hadn't actually invited Natsu himself, but if she hadn't come to see him, he wouldn't have thought of having a barbecue either.

It was only after they showed up that he remembered the pepper and other seasonings he'd gotten the day before. He'd gotten carried away and started cooking. How was he supposed to explain that?

Still, it wasn't a big deal. He could just make it up to her tomorrow.