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 the knock, he looked up. Seeing the four neatly lined-up figures at the door, his pen paused.

"You four... what is it?"

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

Akashi Kishimoto froze for three seconds, then lowered his head to examine the four forms. Suspecting his eyes were playing tricks on him, he read them again—

He went over them twice before confirming he had not misread them, then slammed his pen onto the desk with a smack.

"What? All four of you? Graduating early together?"

"Yes."

Akashi Kishimoto's mouth fell open. He felt like his blood pressure was becoming a little unstable.

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

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

but after looking at Mirai's expression, then at Minato and Zhili's unwavering eyes, his gaze finally landed on Kushina— even the usually most laid-back redhead wore a serious expression.

He sighed and rubbed his temples. "...Wait here. This isn't something I can decide. I need to report it to Lord Hokage."

He stood up and hurried out.

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

A Chunin teacher naturally could not make the decision 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, especially Minato. He stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi with admiration and gave a solemn bow.

"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 Konoha's tender shoots, the future of the Shinobi World. I keep an eye on all of you."

Even Izumi Uchiha, who was usually calm, was somewhat moved by those words.

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

Danzo would never do. That guy only knew how to use the village's geniuses as expendable resources.

After winning over his audience, Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile gradually faded.

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

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

"You four will be split up!"

Kushina and Zhili's pupils contracted, while Mirai and Minato did not particularly mind.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe before speaking slowly. "I gave it some thought and decided on the following arrangement— Mirai, Minato, and Zhili, you three will form a team under Jonin instructor Jiraiya."

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

"What about me?"

"Kushina, you..." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at her. "I intend to have you study under Tsunade. She will personally teach you, with a focus on Medical Ninjutsu."

Kushina's face went pale in an instant, then flushed bright red—her red hair stirred without any wind, and her fists clenched with a crackle.

The thing she had been worried about 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 in front of the Hokage, she had to resist.

The office fell silent for a moment.

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

"Yes!" Akashi Kishimoto barely dared to breathe. He hurriedly led Minato and Zhili 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 finest medical ninja in the entire Shinobi World. Having her teach you is the most suitable arrangement."

"Besides—don't put all your eggs in one basket. Both you and Mirai carry the blood of the Uzumaki Clan. If the two of you are assigned to the same team and something happens... separating you into different teams is also a precaution."

As he said this, he lowered his voice slightly. "There is one more thing. The outside world still does not know whether you or Mirai is the Jinchuriki.

"If you operate separately, with you publicly protected by the village, spies in the shadows will only assume that you are the Jinchuriki, reducing their attention on Mirai—this protects both of you."

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

She felt that the Hokage seemed to make sense, yet the fire in her heart simply would not die down.

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. Why were they still being separated in the end?

And besides... that Izumi Uchiha was obviously up to no good where Mirai was concerned!

If she was put on a team with Mirai, would that not make her a wife-in-waiting right in front of Kushina?

"No, I still—"

"Kushina."

The anger that had just flared up inside Kushina seemed to be gently pressed down. 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 her wildly puffed-up red hair.

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

Kushina pouted fiercely, so Mirai could only continue comforting her with a smile. "Maybe one day, I'll have to rely on your Medical Ninjutsu to save me!"

That was obviously impossible. Mirai's powerful Uzumaki constitution had already given him the passive ability 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're leaving the village. We can see each other whenever we want."

Kushina stared at him for a long while, her lips repeatedly pursing 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 Zhili, and she lowered her voice even further. "Izumi Uchiha, obviously!"

Mirai froze for a moment, then could not help laughing. "All right, I promise."

Kushina was still unconvinced. She glared at him before finally nodding reluctantly. "Then... then fine."

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

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

Mirai took Kushina to meet up with the other two.

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

Kushina still looked sour, her cheeks puffed out high, but she did not say anything more. Minato Namikaze smiled, his face carrying a trace of anticipation.

Izumi Uchiha, standing beside them, had not spoken the entire time. Her long, straight black hair fell over half her face, hiding her expression.

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

Being on the same team as Mirai... doesn't seem so bad.