The classmates sitting near Zhou Cheng congratulated him, and Haku looked excited too.
He was happier than anyone to see his big brother Zhou Cheng in the spotlight. He had long since resolved to become his brother's shadow!
He would handle all the dirty work and hard labor. All the glory would belong to his big brother Zhou Cheng.
Ino took advantage of her seat beside him, hugging Zhou Cheng's arm and squealing:
"Ahhh! I knew you'd graduate early! I've been working hard too. I want to become a Genin and go on missions with you!"
Hinata simply watched him with a smile, her flushed cheeks making her look especially cute.
Naruto jumped straight out of his seat, waving his arms excitedly:
"Hahaha! Zhou Cheng is a friend of mine, Naruto Uzumaki!"
But no one responded!
Sasuke and Neji stared at Zhou Cheng, unwilling to concede, their eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
They silently resolved to fight him and beat him!
Iruka continued:
"Since Zhou Cheng has graduated from the academy early, he is now officially a Genin!"
"Next, we'll present him with his Konoha Shinobi forehead protector!"
As he spoke, he took a brand-new forehead protector out of a small box.
The moment he took it out, a stir ran through the class, followed by thunderous applause.
Everyone clapped and cheered for Zhou Cheng!
That forehead protector was something they all yearned for, a symbol of their status as Shinobi.
It was also the ultimate goal they had entered the Ninja Academy to pursue.
Looking at the forehead protector in Iruka's hand, Zhou Cheng felt not a shred of excitement.
A Genin was just cannon fodder. What was there to cheer about?
A bunch of brainwashed brats!
He walked up to the lectern, where Iruka personally put the forehead protector on him, marking his transformation into a true Shinobi!
The class erupted in cheers again. With the forehead protector on, Zhou Cheng looked even more dashing, setting the girls squealing.
Watching Zhou Cheng at the lectern, Naruto was genuinely happy for him.
But when he looked at his cheering classmates, all that happiness vanished.
Maybe Teacher Mizuki was right. Only the strong could earn everyone's attention and approval.
I'll steal the Scroll of Seals and learn the Ninjutsu in it. I'll become as strong as Zhou Cheng and earn everyone's approval.
Only after the cheers gradually died down did Iruka continue:
"Zhou Cheng, you still need to go to the Hokage Building to register!"
"That way, you'll be able to collect your Genin salary every month!"
He looked at Zhou Cheng, genuinely happy for him.
This child had studied for only a month and had already become a Genin, just like him.
He really was an extraordinary prodigy.
Then his gaze fell on Naruto, who sat alone, looking forlorn.
Naruto, you'll definitely become a great Shinobi.
Zhou Cheng smiled and waved to his classmates, but inwardly he grumbled, I don't want to smile. My facial muscles are going stiff. I've only become a Genin. Do I really need to act this excited?
Then he gave Haku a meaningful look. They had already agreed that Haku wouldn't apply for early graduation.
If two outsiders both displayed too much talent, they were bound to stir up certain people's jealousy.
That would cause plenty of unnecessary trouble.
So Zhou Cheng had told Haku to graduate normally.
Finally, he glanced at the dejected Naruto, certain that Mizuki must have approached him and said something that had deeply provoked him.
It seemed Naruto's theft of the Scroll of Seals wasn't far off.
Then he left the classroom, walked out of the academy, and headed toward the Hokage Building.
On a rooftop outside the academy stood an ANBU with a fox mask, a katana on her back, and purple hair.
She was Uzuki Yugao, who had been responsible for keeping Zhou Cheng under surveillance all this time.
Watching his retreating figure, she murmured:
"He only took a month to go from enrollment to graduation. Should I call him an extraordinary prodigy, or say that what the academy teaches is too easy?"
"He's already broken the record for the fastest graduation from the Ninja Academy. I wonder if he can break the record for the fastest promotion from Genin to Chunin!"
"The Chunin Ninja Exams jointly held by several villages are coming up soon. I hope he'll shine again in the exams!"
"If he joins the ANBU, I might have a chance to become his captain!"
Meanwhile, in a room somewhere in Konoha.
Mizuki sat alone, his eyes filled with malice and cunning.
"Why does that dead last Iruka get to become a teacher, while I'm stripped of the right to teach?"
"Why do you all praise Iruka and look down on me?"
"In what way am I worse than him?"
"This time, I'll use the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to steal the Scroll of Seals, then use him to lure Iruka out and kill him!"
He rubbed a spot on his arm, utterly confident that his plan would succeed.
He had already been promoted to Chunin. Killing a Genin like Iruka would be easy!
Then he would take the Scroll of Seals and flee far away!
At the same time, at the Hatake Clan compound.
Kakashi, with his signature white hair, was returning from outside.
He had already received word that Zhou Cheng had been permitted to graduate early.
Kakashi was astonished. He didn't understand why the Third Hokage trusted that child so much, so certain that he wasn't a spy sent by another village!
Returning to his room, Kakashi took out a copy of Icha Icha Paradise and began to read.
But barely two minutes later, he put Icha Icha Paradise away. He realized that a child had actually unsettled his state of mind.
Graduating from the academy in a month was even faster than he had managed in his youth!
And judging by everything Zhou Cheng had shown, he really was a good kid.
Talented but not arrogant, he trained hard every day and even used the properties of Shadow Clones to aid his training.
He certainly would make a good candidate for an apprentice.
Kakashi decided to observe Zhou Cheng for a while first, to see what kind of person he was and how he treated his comrades.
If both matched his expectations, he would devote himself wholeheartedly to teaching Zhou Cheng.
After all, the smile Kakashi had seen on Zhou Cheng's face yesterday had reminded him of his teacher, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
It was the same kind of smile that brought warmth to others.
Zhou Cheng had arrived outside the Hokage Building.
After explaining why he was there, he was soon led into a room by a Chunin.
Then he filled out a form and had a few photographs taken.
Konoha handled things efficiently. His basic information was registered in just over ten minutes.
He was about to leave when an ANBU stopped him.
"Lord Hokage wants to see you!"
Zhou Cheng's pupils contracted. He wondered what the old fox wanted with him.
Was he still trying to take me as his apprentice?
As he puzzled over it, he was led to the door of the Hokage Office.
The Third Hokage's somewhat aged voice immediately came from inside.
Zhou Cheng pushed the door open and entered. The moment he stepped into the Hokage Office, he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi puffing away on his pipe, wreathed in smoke.
But he wasn't the only person in the office.
Danzo, covered in bandages, was there too, along with the two advisers.
Zhou Cheng immediately broke into a cold sweat!