Graduating Early

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

That morning, when Obito heard Kakashi was graduating early, he had insisted on applying to Mr. Murakami too. Tsukimi had thought he was just talking big because he couldn't stand being outdone. But after school, Obito really did go looking for Takashi Murakami—and insisted on dragging Tsukimi and Asuma along.

Obito, you're actually serious!?

"Obito Uchiha, let me get this straight. You want to apply for early graduation with the lowest written-test score in the class and a practical score ranked somewhere in the teens?"

The moment Takashi Murakami heard Obito's request, his face darkened. The murderous aura filling the office was almost tangible!

Obito didn't notice anything wrong. He went right on boasting about how incredible he was. Standing behind him, Asuma hurriedly pinched his lower back, hard. Obito yelped and turned to glare at him.

"What the hell are you doing, Asuma?"

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

He didn't want to get blood on himself!

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

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

"Were you? Then I hope you're still laughing in a moment!"

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 to find Tsukimi and Asuma leaning by the window, cracking sunflower seeds they'd found somewhere and enthusiastically discussing the spectacle inside the office. His temper flared, and 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 so eager to march to your death. What could we do?"

"Yeah. I tugged on you plenty of times, but you were too busy bragging."

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

The three laughed and chatted as they returned to Tsukimi's yard. It lay on the edge of Nara territory, with a forest directly behind it. No one usually disturbed them there, making it perfect for training.

Might Guy was warming up with push-ups in the yard. When he saw the three return, he stopped at once and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"My 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. "Guy's at it again!"

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

"We'll train for seven hours total: two hours of physical conditioning together, two hours of individual training, two hours of sparring, and a one-hour break to eat in between. Got it?"

Obito's face fell the moment he heard the plan. "Come on, Tsukimi! Isn't that a bit too strict?"

"So you have a problem with it?" Tsukimi raised an eyebrow and crooked a finger toward the ground with a faint smile. Two arms suddenly reached out of the shadow beneath Obito's feet and brushed lightly across his ankles. The bone-chilling touch sent him leaping into the air, and he stamped his feet in fury.

"Tsukimi, you bastard!"

"I told you: if anyone quits halfway through, I won't go easy on him. 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, meanwhile, had wisely kept quiet the entire time.

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

Of the three, Might Guy had grown up hearing his father preach about youth. He trained day after day without ever slacking off, so his strength had improved at the steadiest rate.

Asuma had the least talent 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, though he would also spend a few years serving among the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

Then there was Obito. His talent went without saying, but he had grown up with his grandmother and lacked anyone to keep him disciplined about training. He worked hard one day and slacked off the next, with Rin constantly on his mind. Oh... and a certain white-haired kid. It wasn't until Rin died that his flighty, restless nature changed.

Tsukimi laughed to himself. Don't blame me for being rough, Obito. Think of it as getting revenge for Minato in advance!

From that day on, the four trained together after school every day. In time, Obito brought Rin into the group, and Tsukimi invited his deskmate, Kurenai Yuhi, as well. The group suddenly became much livelier.

Kakashi, who had already graduated, dropped by occasionally too. Whenever he felt he had improved, he came to spar with Tsukimi. Ever since Tsukimi defeated him, the little white-haired guy had been itching for a rematch.

Seasons came and went. Two years passed in the blink of an eye, and everyone's strength had undergone a complete transformation.

In the clearing behind the yard, Tsukimi and Asuma formed the Seal of Confrontation and began their sparring match for the day.

Asuma struck first. His Flying Swallow blades, made with Chakra Metal, were wrapped in Wind Release Chakra, making his close-range attacks swift and sharp. During the Chunin Ninja Exams in the original story, Asuma had instantly defeated nine Chunin using nothing but Flying Swallow and taijutsu. Naruto had also consulted him about Wind Release while developing the Rasenshuriken. Tsukimi had simply pointed him in that direction ahead of time.

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

[Blade Squad (5%)
Mantis Squad (5%)
Crab Shadow Squad (5%)]

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

Working together, the six types of Shadowkhan were far harder to deal with than before. Tsukimi also used the Shadow Secret Technique from behind them to interfere, sealing off every angle of Asuma's attack. Asuma had no choice but to concede.

Obito, Rin, and Kurenai Yuhi, watching from the side, were long used to it. As far as they were concerned, Tsukimi had spent the past two years on some inexplicable rampage, fighting his way from first grade to sixth and single-handedly earning the title "Ninja Academy Demon King."

Tsukimi hadn't wanted to attract so much attention, but he had already fought his classmates several times each. With nothing left to gain from them, he had been forced to turn his sights on the other grades to advance his unlock progress.

At least he had finally achieved his goal. His Chakra reserves had reached one Kakashi's worth, too.

Tsukimi withdrew his Chakra and returned to his usual lazy demeanor. The Shadowkhan on the field melted back into the shadows. Looking at his friends, he said unhurriedly, "I'm going to apply for early graduation tomorrow."

Everyone froze.

Under Tsukimi's grueling training over the past two years, they had actually grown far stronger than they had been at this point in the original story. But because they regularly sparred with a monster like him, it took them a moment to realize 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 last year myself!"

Much of Asuma's old impulsiveness and frivolity had faded, replaced by a hint of the steadiness he would show in the future. "We're already strong enough to be Genin. There's no need to stay in school. Let's all apply."

Rin and Kurenai agreed readily.

Tomorrow, they would all apply for early graduation!