Childhood Arc: Growth

Nothing particularly important happened that year. If I had to name something, it was that my pushing Kakashi had kept him from graduating on schedule. Naturally, he did not become the youngest Chunin like he had in the original story.

This also meant that Might Guy, who should have graduated that year to chase after Kakashi, chose not to graduate either. Instead, he remained in school to train alongside us.

The Third Shinobi World War had yet to begin. Everything was still in its latent stage. Naturally, the village would not force students to graduate early.

But things were different behind the scenes. Different Jonin instructors and Academy teachers often came to give us psychological preparation.

Between the lines, they were all trying to persuade us to leave school early and begin taking missions.

The reason was simple: the village was short on manpower. It could not let us comfortably remain in school until we turned twelve.

The year passed quickly, and my Battle Aura grew considerably. Although there were still no signs of Armament Haki or Conqueror's Haki, my Observation Haki had improved quite a bit as well.

As for swordsmanship, I was currently training in all three styles, and each of them was at a critical point of breakthrough.

Battles between ninja had to be fast, precise, and ruthless, so Sword God Style was absolutely my primary combat style.

Powerful long-range ninjutsu also needed to be guarded against. Water God Style, which excelled at parrying and counterattacking, could pull off moves that would make people's jaws drop.

There was always the possibility of encountering a troublesome opponent. If Sword God Style could not break the deadlock, then North God Style—with its endless strange tricks, complete disregard for fair play, and formidable strength—would be the means to turn things around.

For example, using marbles to pin down two kings.

Training in all three styles at once was somewhat difficult, but with Hill's help, everything progressed fairly smoothly.

I had also tried teaching Kakashi these sword techniques, but he did not seem to have much talent in that area.

After all, he was a ninja. It was perfectly normal for him not to be suited to this kind of head-on swordsmanship.

When I turned seven, it was Konoha Year 45. This was the year Sakumo Hatake would commit suicide after being condemned by thousands.

At the same time, it was the graduation year for most of our classmates.

"Kakashi Hatake, Qingyue, both of you come to my office."

After class, the teacher called Kakashi and me into his office for a private talk. It did not take a genius to guess that he probably wanted to persuade us to graduate.

Obito and Rin's grades had not yet reached the passing standard, so the teacher had not called them in. From my perspective, I also hoped they could stay in school for a few more years.

"Ahem, how should I put this? Qingyue, you are first in the grade. Your overall abilities have long surpassed those of an ordinary Genin. Kakashi, you are a genius second only to Qingyue, and you have long possessed Genin-level strength. You also know that the village is badly short on manpower and needs inheritors of the Will of Fire like you to step forward... Wherever leaves dance in Konoha, fire endures. It is time for the young flames to reveal themselves."

This teacher... the Third Hokage had really brainwashed him thoroughly. He had quite the spiel; in my previous life, he could have been an "expert."

"Teacher, perhaps my learning ability is sufficient, but I personally am not prepared to graduate yet. Life outside is too cruel. I still need a few more years of training at school."

Seeing me say this, the teacher turned to Kakashi.

"Until I defeat him, I will not graduate. If I cannot even defeat him, then I cannot become a good ninja."

The teacher was probably having a breakdown inside. The two of us were kicking the ball back and forth—so long as I did not graduate, Kakashi had something to say, and I could come up with two thousand completely different excuses.

After all, I was a qualified corporate slave. Without this kind of rhetoric, there was no way to survive the brutal workplace of society.

"I mean, one of you is first in the grade and the other is second. If neither of you chooses to graduate, the other students will follow your lead and remain in school too. The village truly is short on manpower now. Our admirable and beloved Third Hokage has even started losing his hair recently!"

Playing the emotional card, huh? Interesting.

It was already good enough that the old Third was not smoking his pipe and using his crystal ball to watch Danzo bathe... no, to watch beautiful women bathe.

"As Konoha ninja, we naturally have to share the Third Hokage's burdens. He is the strongest Third Hokage, after all. He created such a suitable living environment for us and shielded us from every danger!"

Hearing that, the teacher nodded in satisfaction. Hmph, go on and nod. Just wait.

"But, Teacher, sob... it is not that I do not want to graduate, sob. It is just that, as you know, both my parents are ninja. They are always in danger, so they hope that I can have a happy and carefree school life.

You know, Teacher, filial piety is always the most important thing, so I cannot go against them! I also know that wherever leaves dance in Konoha, fire endures, but the parents who raised and protected me first hope that I can grow up in a quiet and peaceful environment. As their only son, I cannot defy their wishes. That would violate filial piety.

Of all virtues, filial piety comes first. To be a person of great righteousness, one must put filial piety first. There must be a small family before there can be a nation. If I cannot even follow my parents' wishes and set their minds at ease, then I definitely cannot protect Konoha either. Don't you agree, Teacher?"

The teacher narrowed his eyes and smiled bitterly, his mouth twitching.

Good grief, you great thief. Was this really the level of the upper ranks in the ninja world? If it were a boss from my previous life, he would have already manipulated me with a round of PUA and empty promises into going.

"Qingyue... then what about you, Kakashi?"

"I think Qingyue is right. Since he has chosen to continue building himself up in school, I will stay with him until I defeat him."

In the end, the teacher still failed to persuade us to graduate and could only give up helplessly.

"Why are you so unwilling to graduate?"

"Aren't you the same?"

"Isn't it because you still have not graduated, so I still have a chance to defeat you? Once you graduate, there will be no chance."

"You're that determined to defeat me? How badly do you want to become top of the class?"

"It has nothing to do with that kind of thing. I just want to see how much potential I truly have."

In the original story, Kakashi had always been a proud genius. He had grown up surrounded by praise, and his father was Sakumo Hatake, Konoha's White Fang, whose fame overshadowed even the Three Sannin.

At this time, the Three Sannin were only comparable to Demigod Hanzō alone, while Sakumo Hatake held a title that placed him above the Three Sannin.

Even saying that Sakumo Hatake could trade blows with Hanzō would not have been hard to accept.

And now that I was keeping Kakashi down, the pride in his heart was naturally not as high.

"So why have you always been unwilling to graduate? A genius like you could become a Chunin already, right?"

"Kakashi, I suspect you might be a little stupid..."

"Huh?"

"Why would you give up such comfortable days and insist on graduating early? Your family is not struggling, and you do not need to graduate early to earn money and support them. Don't tell me you want to become Hokage?"

"I am not a brainless idiot like Obito. Becoming Hokage is not that easy, and I am not interested in that stuff either."

"That does suit your personality. Then why are you so eager to graduate?"

"I..."

After holding it in for ages, Kakashi still did not say anything. Ah, as expected, he had originally chosen to graduate because he felt that everyone around him could not keep up with him and he was bored.

Now that I had been keeping him suppressed, he was no longer in such a hurry.

"Anyway, that is how I see it. It is better to take things slowly. This world is too dangerous; it is better to honestly develop for a while longer."

"Develop?"

"It means grow."