Applying for Early Graduation

Early the next morning, the four met at the school gate and headed to the teachers' office together.

Akashi Kishimoto was sitting at his desk grading assignments. When he heard a knock, he looked up, and the pen in his hand paused when he saw the four neatly lined-up figures at the door.

"You four... what is it?"

"Teacher Kishimoto," Mirai Uzumaki stepped forward and placed four early graduation application forms on the desk. "We're applying for early graduation."

Akashi Kishimoto froze for three seconds. Then he lowered his head to look at the four forms, suspected his eyes were playing tricks on him, and looked again—

He repeated this twice, confirmed that he had not misread them, then slammed his pen onto the desk with a smack.

"Nani? The four of you? Graduating early together?"

"Yes."

Akashi Kishimoto's mouth fell open. He felt as though his blood pressure was becoming rather unstable.

He had taught for over a decade. It was not as though he had never seen students graduate early, but four students applying as a group was truly a first.

He opened his mouth, intending to say something and ask them to reconsider,

but after looking at Mirai's expression, then at Minato and Naori's unwavering eyes, his gaze finally landed on Kushina— even this normally most laid-back redhead had a serious look on her face.

He sighed and rubbed his temples. "...Wait here. I can't make this decision. I need to report it to Lord Hokage."

He stood and hurried out.

Mirai Uzumaki had expected as much. Now that he was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Anbu surveillance around him had increased over this period.

A Chunin teacher naturally could not make the call on something like early graduation.

What he had not expected was that Akashi Kishimoto soon returned to the office with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The little ones were stunned. Minato in particular looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with open admiration and solemnly bowed.

"Lord Hokage!"

"Oh, it's Minato!" The Third's face was all smiles.

Minato grew even more excited. "You actually know my name?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Not just yours. You are all Konoha's young shoots, the future of the Shinobi World. I keep an eye on all of you."

Those words moved even the normally calm Izumi Uchiha somewhat.

Mirai Uzumaki could not help nodding. As expected of the Hokage—he was born for this sort of thing.

Danzo would not do. That guy would only treat the village's geniuses as expendable materials.

After winning over the crowd a little, Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile gradually faded.

"You wish to graduate early. So long as you pass the assessment, I agree in principle."

"However, there are still a few issues. Since it is not graduation season, there are only four of you, and a ninja squad generally consists of three Genin and one instructor, so—"

"The four of you will be split up!"

Kushina and Izumi's pupils contracted. Mirai and Minato, on the other hand, did not particularly mind.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of smoke, then spoke slowly. "I have considered it and decided on the following arrangement—Mirai, Minato, and Izumi, the three of you will form a team under Jonin Jiraiya."

The moment he finished speaking, Kushina's eyes widened.

"Then what about me?"

"Kushina..." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at her. "I intend to have you study under Tsunade. She will personally train you, with Medical Ninjutsu as your main focus."

Kushina's face went pale with a whoosh, then red with a rush—her red hair rose without wind, and her clenched fists crackled.

The thing she had feared had still happened.

No! I don't want to be separated from Mirai! Kushina roared inwardly.

"Why?! I don't want to be separated from Mirai!" Even facing the Hokage, she would resist.

The office fell silent for a moment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not intimidated by her forcefulness. He merely tapped his pipe calmly. "Kushina and Mirai, stay. The rest of you, leave first."

"Yes!" Akashi Kishimoto barely dared breathe. He hurriedly led Minato and Izumi out of the office.

Only after they had gone far away and Anbu had surrounded the office did Hiruzen Sarutobi speak again:

"Kushina, this is not the time to act on impulse. Tsunade is the best medical ninja in the entire Shinobi World. Having her train you is the most suitable arrangement."

"Besides—eggs cannot all be placed in one basket. You and Mirai both carry the blood of the Uzumaki Clan. If something were to happen while you were assigned to the same team... separating you is also a precaution."

At that, he lowered his voice slightly. "There is one more thing. The outside world is currently unsure whether you or Mirai is the Jinchuriki.

"If you act separately, and you are the one openly surrounded by the village's protection, spies in the shadows will only assume that you are the Jinchuriki, reducing the attention they pay to Mirai—this protects both of you."

Kushina's lips moved. She wanted to argue, but could not find the right words.

She felt that the Hokage seemed to have a point, but she simply could not suppress the fire in her heart.

She turned to look at Mirai, and her eyes began to redden again—

They had clearly agreed to graduate early together. They had clearly agreed to stay together. So why were they being separated in the end?

And... and that Izumi Uchiha obviously had improper intentions toward Mirai!

If she were put on a team with Mirai, would that not make her a wife right in the making?

"No, I still—"

"Kushina."

The anger that had just flared up in Kushina seemed to be gently pressed down, and she paused.

Because the one calling her was Mirai.

Mirai Uzumaki walked up to her, looked down at her reddened eyes, and reached out to rub the red hair standing on end atop her head.

"Lord Hokage is right. You should stay in the village! Study Medical Ninjutsu properly, and don't slack off like you used to."

Kushina pouted so hard that Mirai could only continue smiling as he comforted her. "Maybe one day, I'll have to rely on your Medical Ninjutsu to save me!"

That was, of course, impossible. Mirai's powerful Uzumaki physique had already given him the passive ability of Seal-less Self-Healing. He had no need for a medical ninja at all.

Mirai rubbed Kushina's hair again. "Besides, it's not like we won't be in the same village anymore. We can meet whenever we want."

Kushina stared at him for a long while, her lips pursing and pursing again before finally relaxing. "...Then promise me you won't get too close to her."

"Who?" Mirai was a little confused.

"Who else could it be?" Kushina's gaze drifted toward Izumi, and she lowered her voice further. "Izumi Uchiha, obviously!"

Mirai paused, then could not help laughing. "Fine, I promise."

Kushina still did not seem reassured. She glared at him, then finally nodded reluctantly. "Th-then... all right."

Her voice was muffled, as though she had a sour plum in her mouth.

Once everything had been settled, Hiruzen Sarutobi left in satisfaction.

Mirai led Kushina over to join the other two.

"It's settled. Kushina will study Medical Ninjutsu with Sister Tsunade. The three of us will report to Teacher Jiraiya in Classroom Seven tomorrow."

Kushina still looked sour, her cheeks puffed up high, but she said nothing more. Minato Namikaze smiled, his face carrying a trace of anticipation.

Izumi Uchiha, who stood beside them, had not said a word throughout. Her long, straight black hair hung down and covered half her face, making her expression impossible to see.

But if anyone had looked closely, they would have noticed the faintest curve at the corner of her lips.

Being on Mirai's team! It... feels pretty good.