Kakashi graduated

People knew sorrow and joy, partings and reunions; the moon waxed and waned, clouded and clear.

Half a moon hung in Konoha's night sky, its pale light like a jade plate broken in two. It seemed to mirror Nonō, who would be leaving tomorrow.

"At least I have the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, and I've gotten hold of the Eight Gates Released Formation too."

Lin Ze gazed at the half-moon outside his window and took a deep breath, his eyes sharpening. "Next time, I absolutely won't let something like this happen again."

He had always worried that he, as a "butterfly," would change Nonō's fate ahead of time, leaving her unable to live to thirty-one as she had in the original story.

But now it seemed his influence on Nonō was still too small. He was merely one more orphan she needed to care for.

At six years old, he still lacked the ability to change much.

But one day, he would have that ability!

Early the next morning, Lin Ze came to Nonō's room and found it spotless, with the quilt neatly folded on the bed. Clearly, Nonō had already left.

He walked to the window and looked at the clear sky outside, feeling a little more at ease.

"The weather's so nice. That should be a good omen..." Lin Ze murmured to himself.

After quickly washing up, Lin Ze headed to the kitchen and found that Rei Uesugi had already prepared breakfast. The other children got up one after another and gathered around the dining table.

"Where's Sister Nonō?" Yumi, the youngest, asked, holding up her spoon.

The Orphanage no longer had the dozen or so children it had when Lin Ze first arrived. Over the past year and more, some had been adopted, and others had been taken home. Now there were only Lin Ze, Miyamoto Ichirō, Rei Uesugi, the two who were away on missions, Yumi, and another little girl named Ayumi.

"She's gone on a mission. She'll be back in two weeks." Lin Ze rubbed her head. "I'll take care of everyone while she's away. Don't worry."

"You're the most reliable, Brother Lin Ze!" Yumi said with a grin.

After breakfast, Lin Ze and Rei Uesugi hurried to the Ninja Academy together.

Originally, Lin Ze had planned to take leave and stay at the Orphanage, but Miyamoto Ichirō said he had already requested leave and wanted to stay at the Orphanage to look after the other children.

"I never liked life as a ninja anyway."

"Several friends I used to know all died on missions."

Recalling Miyamoto Ichirō's words, Lin Ze felt a little wistful. Perhaps being an ordinary person really would be better for him, because Miyamoto Ichirō was a dead last too.

Not everyone had the surname Uchiha, Uzumaki, or Might!

When Lin Ze arrived at school and stepped into the classroom, Kurenai Yuhi waved him over. "Lin Ze, come here! Something big is happening today!"

"What is it?" Lin Ze walked over and sat down, asking curiously.

Kurenai leaned closer and lowered her voice. "I heard Kakashi is graduating early today! The whole school is talking about it!"

"Kakashi?" Lin Ze raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah! He's only five, and he's a year above us, but he's already graduating!" Kurenai looked full of admiration. "I heard he's already as strong as a Chunin!"

Lin Ze silently considered this. Chunin? I remember Kakashi graduated at five and only became a Chunin at six. So even if he isn't at Chunin level yet, he must be extremely close.

Just then, the classroom door opened, and their homeroom teacher, Kenichi Yamada, walked in. He clapped his hands and said, "Class, this morning's lessons are suspended. Everyone, assemble on the training ground. Kakashi Hatake will be taking his graduation assessment today, and the school is allowing students from other classes to observe."

The classroom instantly erupted as the students all began talking at once.

"Seriously? He can graduate at five?"

"A genius, all right!"

"I heard his father is the White Fang of Konoha, an incredibly powerful ninja!"

Listening to the chatter around him, Lin Ze reflected, Kakashi's talent really is terrifying, but his childhood was full of tragedy too. His father's suicide, and then Minato Namikaze, Obito, Rin...

All the school's teachers and students had already gathered on the training ground.

Standing with Class B, Lin Ze and Kurenai spotted Kakashi in the center of the assessment area from afar. Just as in the original story, he wore a mask, and his white hair stood out. Unfortunately, Lin Ze couldn't get a clear look at his face, which left him a little disappointed.

But although Kakashi looked a little aloof at this age, he was merely reserved, with a touch of prickly pride. His eyes, in particular, were bright and full of vitality, unlike the lifeless, dead-fish stare he would always wear later.

The examiner announced, "Kakashi Hatake has applied for early graduation. The assessment will be a practical combat test. His opponent is Special Jōnin Gekko Yufeng!"

Gekko Yufeng? Lin Ze paused as he looked at Gekko Yufeng, who bore a striking resemblance to Gekko Hayate. Could he be Gekko Hayate's father?

After thinking it over, Lin Ze decided he probably was. Gekko Hayate was twenty-three when he first appeared, and he was also a Special Jōnin. He was three years younger than Kakashi, while the Gekko Yufeng before him looked to be in his twenties.

Given how early people matured in the Naruto world, he probably wasn't mistaken.

Kurenai tugged on Lin Ze's sleeve and asked quietly, "Lin Ze, do you think Kakashi can win?"

Lin Ze shook his head. "He can't. A Special Jōnin is far stronger than a Genin. Kakashi may be a genius, but he's still only five. But you don't necessarily have to win a graduation assessment. You just need to show enough ability."

Sure enough, once the fight began, although Kakashi demonstrated astonishing Taijutsu and shuriken skills, he still struggled against Gekko Yufeng's speed.

Watching the two in the arena, Lin Ze pondered silently:

He's using shuriken? Hatake Sakumo made his name with swordsmanship... But it makes sense. Kakashi only started combining Lightning Blade with swordsmanship later. He's only a little over five now, so he clearly hasn't reached that stage yet.

Besides, Gekko Hayate was a skilled swordsman later on, with Dance of the Crescent Moon as his specialty. His father must be much the same. Trying to match him with a sword now would probably just mean losing faster.

Ten minutes later, the examiner stopped the fight.

"Kakashi Hatake, you pass! Effective immediately, you have officially graduated and become a Genin of Konoha!"

Clap, clap, clap!!!

Enthusiastic applause and cheers rang out across the grounds. Some of the little girls even fainted with hearts in their eyes.

Kakashi bowed expressionlessly, then turned and left the training ground.

"So cool..." Kurenai watched Kakashi's retreating figure with stars in her eyes.

Lin Ze smiled. "What, do you want to graduate early too?"

Kurenai stuck out her tongue. "No way! I still want to go to school with you!"

Warmth filled Lin Ze's heart, but then he thought of Nonō's departure, and his eyes dimmed again.

After school that afternoon, Lin Ze walked back to the Orphanage alone.

Halfway there, he caught a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye.

A boy wearing goggles was carefully helping an old woman across the street.

"Take it slowly, Granny. There's a step here."

"Thank you, child. You're such a kind ninja."

"Hehe, it's what I should do!"

"..."

Lin Ze froze for a moment, then recognized him. "Obito Uchiha?"