Ninja Academy Graduation

As the saying went, practice was the sole criterion for testing truth, while actual combat was the touchstone for testing one's own strength!

Hyuga Iwa had never felt this so deeply before, but after his match with Kakashi Hatake, he suddenly realized that the saying truly made sense.

Take this match, for example. From start to finish, Hyuga Iwa had failed to notice that the one fighting him was merely Kakashi Hatake's Shadow Clone Technique!

And he was a member of the Hyuga Clan, no less!

But he could only blame himself. Because of his confidence, he had not activated his Byakugan even once throughout the entire fight.

In truth, if he had activated his Byakugan, he definitely would have discovered that the Kakashi Hatake before him was not the real one.

Besides that, Hyuga Iwa's combat methods were still too limited, and he had absolutely no means of attacking from range.

Even now, Hyuga Iwa had never seriously practiced with shuriken, which was one reason he lacked any long-range attack methods.

Lastly, and most importantly, his strength simply was not strong enough. If he had been strong enough, how could he have lost?

In short, he still was not strong enough!

Hyuga Iwa was actually very greedy. Though he always looked carefree and indifferent, when it came to something he had set his sights on, he stubbornly wanted to accomplish it and obtain it!

Of course, Hyuga Iwa had not gone all out during the match, and he knew Kakashi Hatake had not used his full strength either.

Lying on Kakashi Hatake's back, he directed Kakashi Hatake through turns and alleys, wandering through the streets of Konoha in utter comfort.

"Kakashi, this way, this way! I spotted a newly opened snack shop. Let's buy something to eat."

"Kakashi, want some too? I have to say, it tastes pretty good. This owner knows what he's doing. I like it. We should come here often from now on."

"Kakashi..."

Unable to endure it any longer, Kakashi Hatake tossed Hyuga Iwa off his back and looked at him helplessly. "If you're going to eat, then just eat. You got it all over me!"

As he spoke, Kakashi Hatake pointed at the seasonings stuck to his clothes and glared furiously.

"Huh? Is there? How come I don't see anything? Where? Where? Kakashi, don't falsely accuse me. My young, fragile heart can't take such a huge blow..."

"..."

With an "innocent" expression, Hyuga Iwa looked around as though nothing had happened. He was blatantly lying through his teeth; anyone could see the huge smear of sauce on Kakashi Hatake.

Kakashi Hatake's mouth fell open, his eyes widening into perfect circles. He opened his mouth several times, but in the end, he could not say a single word.

From childhood until now, he had never met anyone as "shameless" as Hyuga Iwa. He had seen plenty of liars, but this was the first time he had encountered someone who could lie so brazenly with his eyes open!

"What? Was I wrong?" Hyuga Iwa looked at Kakashi Hatake in surprise and continued on his own, "It's fine. Just be more careful in the future. I'm very generous, so I won't hold it against you..."

Before he could finish, an innocent voice came from nearby. "Mommy, Mommy, isn't that sauce on that big brother? Why can't the other big brother see it?"

Hyuga Iwa's body stiffened as though he had been struck by lightning. He turned around mechanically and saw an adorable little girl holding her mother's hand in one hand and a candied hawthorn skewer in the other, happily munching away.

Before Hyuga Iwa could speak, he suffered another critical blow. "Ah, so he's blind! Mommy, that big brother is so pitiful..."

Tears glimmered in the little girl's eyes, making Hyuga Iwa's heart warm involuntarily.

Kakashi Hatake, on the other hand, clutched his stomach and burst into laughter. Hyuga Iwa found it deeply irritating and muttered, "Tch, I won't stoop to the level of someone so ignorant."

"Little sister, I'm not blind. This is the Byakugan, understand? The Byakugan."

Hyuga Iwa pointed to his eyes and explained helplessly.

"Oh, is it an illness? Big brother, if you're sick, you need to go to the hospital. Mommy says the doctors at the hospital are amazing! When I grow up, I want to become a doctor too."

"..."

Hyuga Iwa opened his mouth, yet for a moment, he did not know how to explain himself.

Watching Hyuga Iwa get shut down, Kakashi Hatake's mood improved considerably.

After suffering such a blow, Hyuga Iwa no longer felt like strolling around. After parting with Kakashi Hatake, he headed alone toward the Hyuga Clan Grounds.

As a medical ninja, Hyuga Iwa had a clear understanding of his injuries and had been quietly treating them all along.

Compared to treating others, treating injuries within his own body was much simpler. In fact, while he had been on Kakashi Hatake's back, he had nearly finished healing himself.

If Hyuga Iwa had not suddenly felt like fooling around, he would not have stayed on Kakashi Hatake's back, constantly causing trouble and even picking fights.

Still, Kakashi Hatake really did value his friends.

Hyuga Iwa thought silently to himself.

A few days later, just as Hyuga Iwa arrived at the classroom, he was drawn in by a wave of discussion.

Standing before the podium, the homeroom teacher gave Hyuga Iwa a complicated look and said helplessly, "Hyuga Iwa, you're late again."

"I can't help it. I've got too many things to do!" Hyuga Iwa spread his hands with a helpless expression.

"You! Forget it. Today is your last day in this class anyway. Hyuga Iwa, I've received word from the Third Hokage. He wants you to go to the Hokage's Office to discuss your Ninja Academy graduation."

"Graduation? Teacher, there's still so much I haven't learned. Can't I graduate a few years later?" Hyuga Iwa became anxious as soon as he heard the word graduation. But he quickly saw the anger in his homeroom teacher's eyes and immediately changed his tune. "Forget it. I'll go see the Third Hokage. Goodbye."

After saying that, Hyuga Iwa left the classroom without looking back. Less than a minute had passed from the time he entered the classroom to the time he left.

Yet in that brief span of time, what had happened caused the entire classroom to erupt.

"Hyuga Iwa can graduate already? What about us? When can we graduate?"

"Yeah, Teacher, when can we graduate?"

"Teacher, could there have been a mistake? Hyuga Iwa's medical skills don't seem all that impressive. Why does he get to graduate?"

"Really? Did the Hyuga Clan pull some strings for him?"

"..."

Listening to the noisy discussion in the classroom, the homeroom teacher felt awkward for a moment. But he quickly recovered, coughed lightly a few times, and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Hyuga Iwa was specially permitted to graduate early because of his own abilities."

After thinking about it, he decided it was not really a secret, so there should be no harm in telling the students. It might even motivate them. "I heard from the Hokage that Hyuga Iwa has already mastered the Mystical Palm Technique!"

"The Mystical Palm Technique?"

"The Mystical Palm Technique!"

Their tones were completely different, but it was clear that both were extremely shocked. After all, it was the Mystical Palm Technique!

Even among the official doctors at Leaf Hospital, many had yet to master that A-rank Medical Ninjutsu!

How old was Hyuga Iwa? Could this be false information?

But the news had come from the Hokage. The Hokage would not lie about something like this, would he?

It was too unbelievable. Who would have thought Hyuga Iwa was actually this amazing?

The homeroom teacher took in his students' expressions and knew they needed time to accept the truth before them. He said earnestly, "Don't be discouraged either. As long as you study hard and train diligently, one day you will learn it too. And as far as I know, Hyuga Iwa trains far more than all of you. Don't be fooled by how indifferent he seems usually. After he goes home, he never stops cultivating."

"Really, Teacher?" one student asked in surprise.

"Would I lie to you?" the homeroom teacher said meaningfully, though he added inwardly, Probably?!

Hyuga Iwa ignored the astonishment behind him. After learning the news, he headed straight to the Hokage's Office.

He knocked gently on the door, and a vigorous voice came from inside. "Come in!"

Under the watchful eyes of several assistants, Hyuga Iwa opened the door and walked in.

The office was simply furnished. A long desk was piled high with documents, completely blocking the Hokage from view and leaving only half of his head visible.

The Third Hokage looked up toward the door. There was not a trace of surprise on his face as he smiled and said, "You're Hyuga Iwa, aren't you? You've come."

"Yes, Lord Hokage. My name is Hyuga Iwa." Hyuga Iwa paused before continuing, "I heard that you have already approved my graduation?"

"Oh, that matter. Yes, the approval documents have already been sent out. Your ninja forehead protector has been given to Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi. You can collect it from him."

"Oh." Hyuga Iwa was somewhat surprised. He had not expected to collect his forehead protector from Hyuga Hiashi. Why not get it from the Hokage? Wasn't that an unnecessary extra step?

What Hyuga Iwa did not know was that in Konoha, the Hokage's word was not absolute. The heads of those major clans had always controlled the selection of ninja within their clans, especially the Hyuga Clan and Uchiha Clan. Their clan heads had always made those decisions. Many of their members did not even need to attend Ninja School; after receiving ninja training within their clans, they could obtain ninja status!

Moreover, this batch of Hyuga Clan members attending Ninja School was already the result of a compromise with the Third Hokage. As for confirming ninja status, Hyuga Hiashi would never relinquish control over that!

What Hiruzen Sarutobi did not know, however, was that Hyuga Iwa had not actually wanted to ask about that. He had wanted to ask whether he could study for a few more years. But after hearing the Third Hokage's words, he knew saying it might not help, so he could not be bothered to bring it up.

The Third Hokage put down his pen and looked at the short Hyuga Clan boy before him, recalling the information on him.

Hyuga Iwa, seven years old this year, a member of the Hyuga Branch Family, a student of the Medical Class, already mastered the A-rank ninjutsu Mystical Palm Technique, close with Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy, also on good terms with the other members of Minato Squad, and seemingly had already mastered the Eight Gates!

Family relations...

The information was exhaustive, covering nearly everything about Hyuga Iwa from his birth until now!

According to the intelligence, Hyuga Iwa had a strong sense of identification with the village. But he was, after all, a member of the Hyuga Branch Family and was naturally constrained by the Hyuga Main Family. Otherwise, he would have been a fine candidate for great responsibility.

Hiruzen Sarutobi withdrew from his thoughts and considered for a moment before saying, "I called you here today because I want to ask how you see your future. Or rather, do you intend to join a team, or enter Leaf Hospital?"

Hyuga Iwa glanced at the Third Hokage, thought for a moment, and said, "Then can I join the Research Division?"

"The Research Division?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had never expected Hyuga Iwa to want to join the Research Division!

Though the Research Division had not been established for very long, its importance was beyond question.

Furthermore, many of the things researched within the Research Division could not be exposed to the public!

Hyuga Iwa was a member of the Hyuga Branch Family. Whether he could keep secrets under pressure from his clan was still uncertain.

However, simply refusing him outright would not be a good approach either. It would also damage his sense of identification with the village.

It would be best if he could make Hyuga Iwa back down in the face of the difficulty!

After considering it, Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly, "It isn't impossible for you to join the Research Division, but surely you understand its importance. If you have not made any contribution and I allow you to join the Research Division directly, that would not be fair to others. Do you understand what I mean?"

Hyuga Iwa could not help but scoff inwardly, but he did not show it on his face. Instead, he said firmly, "Yes, I understand, Lord Hokage. I will produce something that satisfies everyone! I hope that when the time comes, you will approve my application."

"Very well." Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Hyuga Iwa a surprised look, and he could not help but feel a little expectant. "But before that, you still need to join a team. I have already chosen one for you. Someone will come to find you tomorrow."

"Alright!"

Having received an answer that satisfied him, Hyuga Iwa left the Hokage's Office and headed toward the clan grounds. His ninja forehead protector was still with Hyuga Hiashi.

Nothing eventful happened afterward. Hyuga Iwa smoothly received his ninja forehead protector from the clan head.

Hyuga Hiashi had originally wanted Hyuga Iwa to become his guard, but after learning that Hyuga Iwa's goal was the Research Division, he abandoned that idea.

He knew the influence of that department. Every person there was among Konoha's finest and was directly managed by the Hokage.

They also possessed a great deal of Konoha's classified information, making it an exceptionally valuable place.

If Hyuga Iwa could join the Research Division, it would be an extremely rare opportunity for the Hyuga Clan—an opportunity for the clan to expand its influence.

Thus, after asking Hyuga Iwa what he wanted, Hyuga Hiashi immediately expressed his support for Hyuga Iwa's decision and decided that the clan would provide certain resources to help Hyuga Iwa complete his work.

After all, Hyuga Iwa's current strength was only that of a Genin. The Hyuga Clan was not lacking a single Genin, but it did need a researcher!

Before Hyuga Iwa, not a single member of the Hyuga Clan had ever considered becoming a researcher!

Not one!

And just like that, Hyuga Iwa finally graduated from Ninja Academy!