Year 46 of Konoha.
The village was especially quiet that day. The lingering snow had yet to be cleared, and heaps of it lined both sides of the roads.
The street vendors hawked their wares with gusto, their calls complementing the distant clamor from the Ninja Academy.
It was especially harmonious.
"Let me wash those."
At Liumu's home.
Han took the clothes from Liumu's hands and put them in a basin.
As she fetched water, she asked Liumu, "What do you want for dinner? Let's go buy groceries in a bit."
Liumu smiled and nodded at her.
"You seem to have something on your mind."
Han was a little worried by the way Liumu was staring into space.
But Liumu merely smiled, gazing toward the distant Ninja Academy as he muttered to himself, "Starting now, there's still time for everything."
Inside the Ninja Academy.
Rin dragged Obito to the doorway by his ear and said sternly, "You're planning to prank the teacher again. Take that chalkboard eraser down."
Obito grimaced, his face full of pain.
"We're about to graduate! I just wanted to give the teacher something to remember me by!"
"If you want to leave an impression, use this!"
As he spoke, Guy shoved a bucket of water into Obito's hands and gave him a thumbs-up. "With this bucket of water, the teacher will remember you for the rest of his life!"
Rin: ...
"Guy, why are you doing this too?" Rin punched each of them in annoyance, then hurriedly put away the chalkboard eraser and bucket.
Graduation from the Ninja Academy was imminent.
There were fewer than three days left until the exam.
Liumu had chosen this time to return for two reasons. The first was the System Mission to become a Special Jōnin.
The second was