Don't Leave After School? Who Do You Think You Are!

"Uchiha Hikaru, don't go too far!!"

Hikaru smiled and shrugged, looking at Shimura Shitsuki, who was so furious his hair was practically standing on end. Amused, he said, "You're the ones going too far. What does a single sentence have to do with you? You're meddling in business that isn't yours. Whatever's going on between Tsunade and me, why do you need to chirp about it?"

"Too far? So what if we are? You're allowed to gossip about me, but I'm not allowed to talk about you? So what if I say you look like a monkey? If you've got the guts, make yourself stop looking like one!!!"

"Hahaha..."

The classroom fell silent for a few seconds. Then, led by Tsunade and Jiraiya, everyone burst out laughing. Even Orochimaru's lips twitched slightly, clearly amused by Hikaru's words.

"You..."

"You..."

Shimura Shitsuki was furious beyond words. He pointed at Hikaru, stammering "you" for ages before finally blurting out, "Don't leave after school if you've got the guts!!!"

Bang!!!

But the moment Shimura Shitsuki finished speaking, karma came flying. Tsunade sent him flying with a jumping kick, then curled her lip and snorted. "You've been chirping away about me, and I haven't even settled the score with you yet. Don't leave after school?! Who do you think you are?"

"..."

Hikaru had been about to shoot back, I'll be waiting for you after school, but before he could say it, Tsunade had already made her move. Apparently, she had mistaken those words as being directed at her.

A few seconds later, Hikaru lowered his hand. This was fine too. Kids fighting was perfectly normal, but having someone else handle it was even better.

"Everyone, quiet down. Get ready for class."

Just then, the teacher entered the classroom. He glanced at Shimura Shitsuki, who looked miserable and dared not voice his anger, then shook his head. There was only one person in the class who could leave everyone resentful yet silent: Tsunade.

He did not even need to ask to know that Shimura Shitsuki had been beaten up by Tsunade.

Shimura Shitsuki slunk back to his seat. The teacher walked to the podium, clapped his hands, and said, "Students, I know what you've all been talking about. But what I want to say is, don't believe everything you hear, especially not you children. What others say may not necessarily be true. This concerns your future work investigating and gathering intelligence after graduation."

"Perhaps you think the two things have nothing to do with each other, but I'm telling you, they do!!!"

"They are all connected, because an enemy may deliberately spread false intelligence to you through someone else's mouth."

"Once intelligence is false, it can bring about fatal consequences. Of course, I'll explain more in detail in future lessons. For now, let's begin class. Don't believe so-called rumors and misunderstand others because of them."

The teacher swept his gaze over everyone, spoke up for Hikaru and Tsunade, then began the lesson. This left quite a few students puzzled. Could everything being spread outside be false?

If it were true, why would the teacher say that?

After class, once another teacher arrived, he headed straight for the Hokage Office Building.

He handed over all the money Hikaru had brought to the Third Hokage and explained Hikaru's request to apply for early graduation.

"I understand."

The Third Hokage nodded, set down the pipe in his hand, and thought for a moment before saying, "Go back and tell him to attend school properly. I will not approve his application for early graduation."

"Yes, Hokage Lord!!!"

The Third Hokage's answer delighted the teacher. Wasn't this exactly the result he wanted?

He hoped Hikaru could continue attending school rather than rush to graduate early, only to regret it once he learned how cruel life as a ninja was.

The teacher worried over things Hikaru had long since considered. Hikaru did not care whether he ended up in a constantly changing wild squad, nor did he care whether he became a drifter. But as a teacher, he naturally had to consider such factors for his student.

Having received the answer he wanted, the teacher left happily.

The Third Hokage sat in his office, staring absently at the stack of money on the desk.

This was no small sum for Hikaru, yet he had not spent a single coin. He had brought every last bit back, but he had not handed it directly to Tsunade.