Early Graduation

Classes at the Ninja Academy weren't demanding, and school let out early that afternoon.

When Obito heard that morning that Kakashi was graduating early, he'd loudly declared that he would ask Teacher Murakami to let him do the same. Tsukimi had thought he was just talking big because he couldn't stand it. But after school, Obito really did go to Takashi Murakami—and insisted on dragging Tsukimi and Asuma along.

Obito, you're actually serious!?

"Obito Uchiha, are you telling me you want to apply for early graduation with the lowest Written Exam score in your class and a practical-combat ranking somewhere in the teens?"

Takashi Murakami's face darkened the moment he heard the request. The murderous aura in the office was almost tangible!

Obito didn't notice anything wrong. He just kept boasting about how incredible he was. Standing behind him, Asuma gave his lower back a hard pinch. Obito yelped, then turned to glare at him.

"What the hell was that for, Asuma?"

Asuma pointed at Takashi Murakami, then grabbed Tsukimi and left the office without looking back.

He didn't want to get splattered with blood!

Obito followed Asuma's finger and finally saw the look on Takashi Murakami's face. Realizing he was in trouble, he swallowed and let out a couple of dry laughs.

"Teacher Murakami, I was just joking with you. Hahaha..."

"Is that so? Let's see if you're still laughing in a minute!"

Sure enough, Tsukimi and Asuma had barely stepped outside when Obito let out a bloodcurdling scream that made their scalps prickle.

A long while later, Obito limped out. He looked up and found Tsukimi and Asuma leaning by the window, cracking sunflower seeds they'd gotten from who knew where and eagerly discussing the spectacle in the office. Furious, he strode toward them.

"Hey! You two just stood outside the window watching me make a fool of myself? You could've warned me sooner!"

"You were rushing to your own doom. What were we supposed to do?"

"Yeah, I tugged at you over and over, but you were too busy bragging to notice."

That was Idiot Two for you. Every so often, he put on a show for everyone.

The three chatted and laughed all the way back to Tsukimi's courtyard. It lay on the edge of the Nara clan's territory, with a forest right behind it. No one disturbed them there, making it an ideal place to train.

Might Guy was warming up with push-ups in the courtyard. When he saw them return, he immediately stopped and bellowed, "Friends! It's time to work up a sweat! Don't let your youth go to waste!"

Obito flinched at the shout and curled his lip. "There he goes again!"

Tsukimi called the three of them over and laid out the day's training plan.

"Seven hours total. Two hours of physical conditioning together, two hours of individual training, and two hours of sparring, with an hour in between to rest and eat. Got it?"

Obito's face fell on the spot. "Come on, Tsukimi! Isn't that a little strict?"

"So you have a problem with it?" Tsukimi raised an eyebrow and crooked a finger toward the ground. Two arms suddenly emerged from the shadow beneath Obito's feet and brushed lightly across his ankles. Their bone-chilling touch sent him leaping into the air. He landed and began cursing.

"You bastard, Tsukimi!"

"I told you, anyone who quits halfway gets no mercy. Next time, I won't just grab your ankles!"

"Bastard Tsukimi. You're worse than Kakashi! I never said I wouldn't train," Obito muttered plaintively. Asuma, wisely, kept quiet throughout.

"Good. If there are no objections, let's begin!"

Of the three, Might Guy had grown up with his father's teachings about youth. He trained day after day without ever slacking off, so his strength had grown the most steadily.

Asuma was the least naturally gifted of the three, but as the Hokage's son, he had an exceptionally solid foundation. His potential had a reliable floor; in the future, he would become an Elite Jonin and even spend a few years among the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

Then there was Obito. His talent spoke for itself, but he had grown up with his grandmother and lacked discipline in his training. He worked hard one day and slacked off the next, with Rin always on his mind. Well... Rin and that little white-haired guy. Only after Rin's death had he shed his careless, restless nature.

Tsukimi laughed to himself. Obito, don't blame me for being hard on you. Think of it as getting a little revenge for that guy ahead of time!

From that day on, the four trained together after school. Eventually, Obito brought Rin along, and Tsukimi invited his deskmate, Kurenai Yuhi, too. Their little group grew lively.

Kakashi, who had already graduated, dropped by now and then as well. Whenever he thought he'd improved, he sought out Tsukimi for a match. Ever since Tsukimi had beaten him, the little white-haired guy had been itching to settle the score.

Two years passed in a blink, through winter and summer. Everyone's abilities had been transformed.

On the open ground behind the courtyard, Tsukimi and Asuma formed the Seal of Confrontation and began their sparring match for the day.

Asuma struck first. Flying Swallow, his Chakra Metal blades, were wreathed in Wind Release Chakra, making his close-range attacks swift and clean. During the Chunin Ninja Exams in the original story, Asuma had instantly taken down nine Chunin using only Flying Swallow and Taijutsu. Naruto had even consulted him about Wind Release while developing the Rasenshuriken. Tsukimi had simply given Asuma that guidance early.

Before Asuma could close the distance, the shadows on the ground beneath Tsukimi surged and spread. Twelve dark figures took shape in an instant. Six were familiar faces from the Ninja, Samurai, and Troll squads. The other six belonged to newly unlocked squads.

[Blade Squad (5%)

Mantis Squad (5%)

Crab Shadow Squad (5%)]

In those two years, Tsukimi had finally filled the progress bars for all three squads and gained their full ability boosts. Unlocking the new squads had brought him further boosts as well.

Together, the six Shadowkhan squads were far harder to deal with than before. Tsukimi's Shadow Secret Technique disrupted Asuma from behind them, sealing off every angle of attack. Asuma had no choice but to admit defeat.

Obito, Rin, and Kurenai Yuhi watched from the sidelines without surprise. As far as they were concerned, Tsukimi had gone crazy over the past two years, fighting his way through every grade from first to sixth until he'd single-handedly earned the name "Ninja Academy Demon King."

Tsukimi hadn't wanted to draw that much attention, but he'd already fought his classmates several times each. With nothing left to gain from them, he'd had to turn his sights on the other grades to make progress toward unlocking more abilities.

At least he had finally achieved his goal. His Chakra reserves had reached the one-Kakashi mark, too.

Tsukimi dispersed his Chakra and returned to his usual laid-back manner. The Shadowkhan on the field melted back into the shadows. Glancing at his friends, he said slowly, "I'm going to apply for early graduation tomorrow."

Everyone froze.

Under Tsukimi's brutal training, their abilities had long since surpassed what they'd had at this point in the original story. But sparring so often with a monster like him had kept them from realizing it.

Obito's eyes lit up. "Early graduation? I'm applying too! Guy graduated early last year. If you hadn't stopped me, Tsukimi, I would've graduated then!"

Asuma had shed much of his old rashness and frivolity, showing a hint of the steadiness he would have in the future. "We're already at Genin level. There's no reason to stay in school. Let's apply together."

Rin and Kurenai happily agreed.

Tomorrow, they would all apply for early graduation!