Early Graduation

Leaf Village Ninja Academy.

At the school entrance, Hyuga Setsuna lightly patted his own face and forced himself to calm down before walking into the academy.

The moment Kurenai Yuhi saw Hyuga Setsuna enter the classroom, her eyes lit up. She stood up and waved both hands.

"Setsuna, over here, over here."

Seeing Hyuga Setsuna again after several days, Kurenai Yuhi felt as though a little deer were crashing wildly around in her heart.

As Hyuga Setsuna came over and sat beside her, Kurenai Yuhi's face grew even redder.

Meanwhile, Asuma Sarutobi beside them sank into his usual cycle of envy, jealousy, and resentment, unable to free himself.

Seeing Kurenai Yuhi's flushed face, Hyuga Setsuna asked curiously.

"Kurenai, what's wrong? Are you sick?"

"No, no, I'm fine. Setsuna, you don't need to worry about me."

Hearing Hyuga Setsuna's question, Kurenai Yuhi hurriedly shook her head and replied in a fluster.

Obito Uchiha beside them turned around with an excited look and cut in with a shout.

"Ah, what could be wrong with her? Isn't she like this every time she sees you? But I heard from Teacher Omino that you, Kakashi, and Gyo Uchiha are all graduating early?"

Hearing Obito Uchiha's words, Kurenai Yuhi, whose face was still red, instantly changed expression. She looked at Hyuga Setsuna with reluctance and sadness on her face.

"Setsuna, are you really graduating early?"

"Yeah. At my current level, it's hard for me to improve any further at the academy. My clan also allows me to graduate early."

Hyuga Setsuna looked at the saddened Kurenai Yuhi and spoke with a trace of apology.

"Come to think of it, Setsuna, you're really strong now. You'll soon get your ninja forehead protector and become a ninja."

"Damn it, I'm so jealous of you guys."

Just as everyone was discussing the matter heatedly.

Teacher Omino walked into the classroom from outside. Looking at Hyuga Setsuna surrounded by everyone, he spoke kindly.

"Setsuna, come with me to the office. There's something I need to tell you."

"All right, Teacher Omino."

Hyuga Setsuna replied modestly with a gentle smile.

Watching Hyuga Setsuna leave, Kurenai Yuhi suddenly felt an illusion rise in her heart, as though the distance between them was growing farther and farther.

Ninja Academy, teachers' office.

Omino looked at Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi before him with satisfaction. After all, the two had graduated early after only one year at the academy, which fully proved that geniuses could not be treated like ordinary people.

When Teacher Omino had first learned that the two were graduating early, he had been strongly opposed to letting them graduate. He had even gone to the Third Hokage, hoping he would revoke the order.

Having retired from the battlefield, Omino knew all too well how terrifying and cruel a ninja battlefield was. It was a meat grinder that slaughtered ninjas.

That was why he had been so resistant upon learning that they would graduate early. No matter how gifted they were, they were only five years old.

But there was nothing he could do. This was an order personally issued by the Third Hokage, and even the clans behind the two boys had agreed.

What Teacher Omino did not know was that Kakashi truly was a genuine genius.

As for Hyuga Setsuna, he was merely an "unremarkable cheater."

"I called the two of you here today for two matters."

"First, congratulations on graduating and becoming ninjas capable of standing on your own. But after becoming ninjas, you must never become arrogant. You must work even harder than you do now. Only then can you survive in the ninja world and on the battlefield!"

"Second, the Third Hokage wishes to see you. So, you will need to make a trip to the Hokage Building shortly."

"Now that I've said what I needed to say, hurry over there. Don't keep the Third Hokage waiting too long."

After saying that, Teacher Omino picked up the materials needed for class and headed out the door.

Watching Teacher Omino leave, a complicated look flashed through Hyuga Setsuna's eyes.

Other than Otsutsuki Kaguya and Kurenai Yuhi, he was the second person to care about him so much.

Although they had only known each other for a year, Teacher Omino had truly taken good care of him.

After staring deeply in the direction Teacher Omino had left, he spoke softly.

"I'll definitely survive. Thank you, Teacher Omino."

"Let's go. We still need to see the Third Hokage."

Kakashi said as he looked at Hyuga Setsuna beside him.

"Yeah, let's go."

The two walked along the streets of Leaf Village when Kakashi suddenly spoke.

"Setsuna, where do you think we'll be assigned?"

"I don't know. Something like that depends on the Third Hokage's arrangements."

Hyuga Setsuna looked into the distance, unable to stop himself from guessing. His arrival had changed the course of this world. Although the original story had not explained Kakashi's assignment after his early graduation, it could be guessed that he had likely been placed in some ninja team.

However, since he had come to this world, the course of events had inevitably changed. Since Sarutobi Hiruzen had called the two of them over now, he must have made different arrangements.

But based on the information he had received so far, no ninja team seemed to be short on members. Therefore, the two of them would either form a two-man team or enter the Anbu.

He just did not know whether they would enter Sarutobi Hiruzen's direct Anbu or Shimura Danzo's Root.

But since Sarutobi Hiruzen had summoned them, they would most likely be entering his direct Anbu.

As for why Gyo Uchiha, who had also graduated early with them, had not been summoned, it seemed to be the Uchiha Clan's arrangement. After all, that clan had always been so proud and self-assured.

The two soon arrived before the Hokage Building. Only after the ninja on duty confirmed their identities did they enter.

The security really was tight. Hyuga Setsuna sensed the deployments within the Hokage Building with his spiritual perception and good-and-evil sensing, secretly startled.

Not to mention the guards in plain sight, there were already many ninjas hidden in the shadows that he could sense. Several Elite Jonin were even among them.

Otsutsuki Kaguya, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke.

"So this is where the one called 'Kage' resides?"

"I can indeed sense a somewhat powerful Chakra within. Although it is not very strong, among humans, he can barely be considered a strong one."

After hearing Otsutsuki Kaguya's words, Hyuga Setsuna continued walking through the Hokage Building with an unchanged expression, replying quietly in his heart.

"Grandmother, besides that Hokage, have you sensed anyone else comparable to him?"

"No. I only sensed a Chakra somewhat weaker than his concealed near the Hokage. As for anyone comparable to him, there is no one."

Is that so? Then there are only two people in the room. It seems Leaf Village's two advisors and Shimura Danzo aren't there.

As for the slightly weaker one, it was either Kakashi's father, the White Fang, or some hidden Anbu captain. After all, there were only a few people who could be slightly weaker than Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Hokage's Office.

"Third Hokage, I'll be leaving first."

Sakumo Hatake wore a Jonin vest, with a short blade called White Fang strapped to his back.

"Won't you stay a little longer? Kakashi should be arriving soon. Aren't you going to see him?"

"No. This mission is important and must be handled immediately. As for Kakashi, I'll be able to see him when I return."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the man before him, who regarded missions with such importance.

"All right, go ahead. Don't worry about Kakashi."

Sakumo Hatake nodded calmly, then his figure instantly vanished from the Hokage's Office.

At that moment, a knock and faint movements suddenly came from outside. After taking a drag from his pipe, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly spoke.

"Come in."

Second update!

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I checked the Naruto timeline today and suddenly realized that its chronology is really a mess!