Konoha Hospital.
"Uncle, it's not that I didn't want to tell you. My teacher said your injuries were serious and you needed to rest."
Liu Yun felt helpless.
As soon as he arrived at the hospital, he found his uncle sighing.
Only after asking his aunt did he learn that his uncle had been deeply disappointed to hear he had graduated early, regretting that he hadn't witnessed it himself.
He could only piece together what had happened from other people's accounts.
Naoto sighed. "No matter how badly I was injured, I should have gone to your early graduation ceremony."
Liu Yun maintained that this wasn't his fault.
While preparing to graduate early, he had considered notifying his uncle, but Tsunade had stopped him.
Only then had he learned that the severed arm was merely his uncle's most obvious injury, not his only one.
In fact, his injuries were far more serious.
At that moment, his aunt spoke up. "All right, Lady Tsunade told you to rest and recover. Stop dwelling on it. You should be proud of Liu Yun."
Then she looked at Liu Yun and teased, "Ever since he heard you'd become Lady Tsunade's student and Lord Hokage had personally put your forehead protector on you, your uncle hasn't stopped grinning. His face has practically frozen that way."
Naoto gave a soft huff.
He studied Liu Yun wearing his forehead protector and murmured, "So fast."
Before leaving on his mission, he had praised Liu Yun for already having the strength of a genin.
Yet in such a short time, Liu Yun had become Lady Tsunade's student and earned Lord Hokage's regard.
Although he hadn't seen it himself, the descriptions from friends he knew well gave him a clear sense of just how strong Liu Yun was.
He had crushed