Obito agreed somewhat dejectedly, then looked at Kakashi again. "Kakashi, now that you're back, you won't be leaving the village again anytime soon, right? I'm coming to challenge you tomorrow! Wait properly at home, and don't go anywhere!"
"Hehe."
Kakashi shoved his hands into his pockets and turned to leave.
"Argh!! I'm so pissed off, you smug bastard Kakashi!"
Obito's face was full of frustrated fury.
Seeing this,
Yuhi Kurenai, who had remained by the roadside, moved closer to Mikami Yu and asked softly, "Are those two always like this?"
"No."
Mikami Yu shook his head and pointed at Might Guy in the distance. "It's the three of them who are always like this. You'll get used to it."
"Well, it's getting late. Everyone, head home. See you at the graduation ceremony in a couple of days."
As Mikami Yu spoke, the few people who had not yet left turned and went their separate ways. Mikami Yu himself also left Barbecue Q, just like Nohara Rin, and went home to rest.
That night.
Deep underground in Konoha.
Inside a vast hollowed-out space.
Candlelight flickered faintly, casting dim yellow shadows across the walls.
A gloomy-looking man sat in the room, reading the report in his hand. Thick bandages were wrapped around his head and body, leaving only one eye exposed. A wolfish gleam flickered in that eye, enough to send chills down anyone's spine at a glance.
This man was none other than Konoha's Hokage advisor, the leader of Root, the future 5.5th Pot Kage, Tobirama Senju's disciple, the Darkness of the Shinobi World—Shimura Danzō!
Suddenly.
The sound of wind came from outside.
Then, a Root ninja wearing an animal mask appeared in the room. Kneeling on one knee, he presented a scroll with both hands. "Lord Danzo, this contains the rankings from this year's Ninja Academy graduation examination, along with detailed information on each student. Please review it."
Shimura Danzō did not take it immediately. "Get to the point."
"Yes."
The Root ninja continued, "The top-ranked graduate this year is named Mikami Yu. He is nine years old and from a civilian background. His academic results are excellent. During the practical examination, he single-handedly defeated Kaimon Hyuga, Nara Zhenyuan, and Sarutobi Asuma in succession. He is proficient in the Three Body Technique, Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu, Wild Water Wave..."
"Oh? A civilian?"
Shimura Danzō was finally interested.
Generally speaking, Root could not casually reach into the Ninja Academy and take people.
After all, the Ninja Academy taught the "Will of Fire." The children who came out of it formed the foundation of the Hokage's faction. The disciples of successive Hokage and members of the Hokage Guard Platoon were almost all selected from there. Others could not be allowed to meddle freely.
However...
Not being able to take them whenever he wanted did not mean he could not take them at all. He merely had to wait for the right opportunity.
For example, Kakashi, the so-called genius from several years ago. Shimura Danzō had approached him in secret, but the darkness in Kakashi's heart had not been sufficient, so he had not immediately accepted Danzo's recruitment.
Now.
Shimura Danzō took the scroll and opened it, scanning it for a few moments.
"Is his background clean?"
"Both of his parents grew up in Konoha. His father is a Chunin and the first ninja of the Mikami Family. He has spent the past two and a half years carrying out border defense duties. His mother works at Konoha Library. Preliminary assessment indicates that his family background is clean, with no unusual connections.
"Furthermore, he has been attending classes at the Medical Training Class in Konoha Hospital recently. Yakushi Nonō is the instructor for that course and may know more information."
The Root ninja answered meticulously.
"Clean... powerful... not yet fully formed..."
Danzo lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingers. "Hiruzen is still as naive as ever, always leaving good seedlings out in the sunlight. A raw gem like this can only be polished in the darkness of Root, where it can reveal its true edge..."
After a pause, Danzo raised his head. "Bring Nonō to see me. Tell her I wish to discuss a few matters with her. As for Mikami Yu... assign someone to watch him and pay attention to his recent movements. If a suitable opportunity arises, I will speak with Hiruzen."
"Yes!"
The Root ninja responded, his figure silently melting into the shadows.
The next morning.
The morning light was faint, and the thin mist had yet to disperse.
As he had during the past few days, Mikami Yu appeared at the village gate on time. Taking a deep breath of the crisp winter air, he began his morning run—ten laps around the village.
Actually, he had originally wanted to rest for two days.
After all, before graduating, he ran around the village every day to become stronger. Now that he had graduated, he was still running around the village... wouldn't that mean he had graduated for nothing?
But the problem was...
[Eight Gates: Wow! You're this fired up so early in the morning? Looks like you really do take my words seriously! I like that drive to follow through on what you say! Keep it up! (She stood with her hands on her hips, grinning wide enough to reveal a mouthful of white teeth, as though a phantom blaze danced around her.)]
"...Heh."
Mikami Yu did not really want to talk to this stingy Taijutsu that only talked big without giving him any favorability.
Very soon.
Sweat soaked through his training clothes.
But Mikami Yu's steps remained steady, and his breathing even. The boost from his 16 Constitution, combined with his hard training during this period, meant he was no longer as bedraggled as before.
Along the way.
Two familiar green figures sprang out from a side path.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Yu! I knew you'd be here! The graduation exam just ended, and you already couldn't wait to start training again. You truly are my lifelong rival!"
Guy ran upside down, his legs swinging alternately. He was barely any slower than someone running normally, and his face wore his signature sparkling smile.
Might Duy followed close behind, also running upside down. His voice boomed like a bell. "Seeing Yu work so diligently has set both Guy's and my youthful blood ablaze! Ah! This is the resonance of youth!"
Mikami Yu twitched the corner of his mouth. "Morning, Uncle Duy. Guy."
"Haha, morning!"
Might Duy continued loudly as he ran, "I heard from Guy that you fought three opponents alone during yesterday's exam and defeated children from the Hyuga and Nara Families, as well as the Hokage's son. Is that true?"
"I just got lucky."
"Haha, that wasn't luck. It was the brightest radiance of youth! Your efforts and sweat have received the finest reward!"
Might Duy declared loudly.
"Mm-hmm, Dad's right!"
Might Guy chimed in before shouting again, "Yu! Yesterday, I was too busy fighting that dead-last Obito, so I didn't get to properly compete with you! After we finish running, let's have a Taijutsu duel filled with burning passion and test each other's youth!"
"...Let's put the duel aside for now. What did you just call me? Your lifelong rival?"
Mikami Yu caught the key point. "Isn't that Kakashi?"
"Kakashi is, of course, my lifelong enemy! One day, I'll definitely defeat him!"
Might Guy gave a thumbs-up, his broad grin making his white teeth sparkle.
"...Fine."
Mikami Yu did not dwell on the issue of titles. They were all just ways of saying things, anyway.
As for Guy's challenge, he was happy to accept it. Compared to Ninjutsu, Taijutsu was actually one of his weaker areas, while Guy specialized in it. Guy would make an excellent sparring partner.
About an hour later.
The group stopped beside a forest in Konoha.
Mikami Yu had only sat down to rest for a short while when he saw Might Guy flip to his feet. His eyes gleamed as he looked at Yu and assumed a fighting stance. "Yu, come on!"
"...Your recovery speed is ridiculous."
Mikami Yu took a deep breath. Knowing he could not avoid this fight, he stood up as well. He clenched his fists, and the chakra within him began to surge, forming a pale green chakra outline around his body. "Eight Gates, first gate—the Gate of Opening... open!"
"Come on!"
Before you continue