Graduation

Night, in Lin Ze's room.

After dinner, Lin Ze sat cross-legged on his bed as usual, practicing controlling the beastification of his chest. Azure dragon scales slowly emerged across his chest, then slowly faded.

But his mind kept returning to the thoughts that had surfaced earlier.

Maybe I've been under too much pressure lately?

"After all, this damn world is full of fighting and killing every day. The Third Shinobi World War is coming, and that old fox Danzo has his eye on me. It's only natural to overthink things..."

Lin Ze sighed and laid the blame on the shinobi world's general environment. You became like the company you kept, after all.

After calming himself and forcing those thoughts to the back of his mind, Lin Ze focused on practicing partial beastification again, no longer dwelling on them.

But had Lin Ze really forgotten?

No. Those thoughts had never disappeared. He had merely hidden them in the deepest recesses of his heart.

And... who knew? Perhaps one day, those thoughts would become another option.

Day after day, Lin Ze repeated the same routine between school, the training ground, and the Orphanage.

Before he knew it, Konoha Year 38 was drawing to a close. The cold air heralded winter's arrival and marked the end of the Ninja Academy's classes for the term.

For most students, this meant a pleasant, long vacation.

But for Lin Ze, the day held a more special significance-he had graduated.

After the end-of-term ceremony, the students poured out of the classroom, cheering and discussing their vacation plans.

Lin Ze's feelings were rather complicated.

He was finally leaving the place where he had spent nearly a year. Granted, he had wanted to graduate early from the very beginning, to take missions, grow stronger, and gain experience.

But this was, after all, where he had begun finding his place in this world.

"Lin Ze..."

"Are... are you really not coming next term?"

Kurenai Yuhi's voice came from beside him, heavy with reluctance to part. Her head was lowered, her large wine-red eyes glistening with tears. She was clearly feeling very down.

Seeing her like this, Lin Ze sighed inwardly and said helplessly:

"Yes. Lord Hokage arranged it. I have to report to the ANBU."

"But it's not like I'm leaving Konoha. We can still see each other."

"But... but that won't be the same." Kurenai's voice caught slightly. "Once you join the ANBU, won't you have to go on really dangerous missions? Will we go a long time without seeing each other?"

Seeing that she was about to cry, Lin Ze ruffled her hair as he always had and reassured her:

"Don't worry. I'm strong. I'll be fine. And I promise, whenever I get the chance, I'll come back to see you, or treat you to Ichiraku Ramen until you're full!"

Kurenai sniffled and forced a smile, though she still looked listless:

"That's a promise... No lying."

"Of course." Lin Ze nodded earnestly.

Just then, Asuma ambled over with a blade of grass between his lips. Behind him came Ibiki Morino and the others who had made the assessment's top sixteen, along with their classmates Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, and Rei Uesugi from the Orphanage.

"Hey, Lin Ze!" Asuma still wore that cocky look, but his tone was much friendlier than at the start of term. "I heard you're officially graduating today? You sure moved fast."

Ibiki Morino remained as expressionless as ever, merely nodding to Lin Ze in greeting.

With a senbon between his lips, Genma Shiranui said indistinctly, "Tch. One less person at school who can put up a fight. How boring."

Izumo Kamizuki thumped his chest with easy confidence. "Lin Ze, don't forget your classmates once you make something of yourself!"

Kotetsu Hagane pushed up his glasses and added, "Especially if we join the Interrogation Department someday, and you need help..." Before he could finish, Izumo Kamizuki elbowed him.

"..."

Rei Uesugi also said softly, "Big Brother Lin Ze, congratulations on graduating."

She was different from both Lin Ze and Miyamoto Ichirō. She had considerable talent as a shinobi, and her academic grades were among the best in Class C. Lin Ze reckoned that, if she developed normally, she had a chance of reaching jōnin level.

Looking at the faces before him, some familiar and others merely recognizable, Lin Ze was a little surprised.

He had never expected so many people to come specifically to say goodbye now that he was leaving.

He had only mentioned graduating and joining the ANBU to Kurenai Yuhi and the people at the Orphanage, not to anyone else.

Lin Ze thought it over. There was no question-Asuma, the "crown prince," must have spread the news.

Asuma glanced at Kurenai Yuhi's reddened eyes, then at Lin Ze, and took the initiative:

"All right, let's not stand around here. To celebrate the vacation, and also... uh, give you a send-off, let's go to Yakiniku Q! My treat!"

"Wow! You're actually being generous for once, Asuma!"

"Barbecue! All right!"

"..."

Everyone immediately welcomed the suggestion, and even Kurenai Yuhi finally perked up a little.

So the group headed noisily toward Konoha's famous Yakiniku Q.

That evening, Yakiniku Q buzzed with voices, full of the warmth and bustle of everyday life.

Lin Ze and the others found a large table and sat down. As Konoha's crown prince, Asuma lavishly ordered piles of beef, pork belly, and assorted vegetables.

"Wow! It looks so good!"

"Eat up, eat up! It won't taste good if it gets overcooked!"

"..."

The mood quickly grew lively as everyone fought over the grilled meat and chattered away.

Asuma turned the meat on the grill and looked at Lin Ze:

"Hey, Lin Ze, don't embarrass Class B once you're in the ANBU. You're pretty annoying, but there's no arguing with your strength."

Lin Ze smiled and picked up a piece of beef tongue. "Don't worry. I'll be careful."

As someone who had transmigrated, Lin Ze knew better than anyone how dangerous the ANBU was. But Hiruzen Sarutobi had specifically brought him in to nurture him, so he clearly would not send him on overly dangerous missions too early. Thus, Lin Ze was not particularly worried.

Kurenai Yuhi sat quietly beside Lin Ze, taking small bites of the meat he had grilled and cut into little pieces for her. Every so often, she stole a glance at him, her heart full of worry and reluctance to part.

Lin Ze, you have to stay safe...

Meanwhile, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane argued over which of them would become the more impressive chunin. One said he would be the king of gatekeepers, while the other said he would be an interrogation expert.

Watching the lively scene before him, Lin Ze felt a little wistful.

This was Konoha. There were conflicts and schemes, but there was also this simple, lively warmth of everyday life.

"Hey! Lin Ze! What are you spacing out for? Izumo Kamizuki's about to snatch all the meat!" Asuma's voice brought him back to reality.

The plate in front of Izumo Kamizuki was already piled into a small mountain. His cheeks bulged with food, yet he was still trying to pick up the last few slices on the grill.

"Save some for me!" Lin Ze joined the battle for meat, temporarily putting those heavy thoughts out of his mind.

The barbecue went on for a long time. It finally ended only when the sky outside had turned completely dark and their bellies were round and full.

It was worth mentioning that Lin Ze alone ate as much as everyone else combined. Fortunately, Asuma was paying, so Lin Ze did not have to worry about it.

But when Asuma came out after settling the bill, he shed tears of regret.

Outside the restaurant, everyone said their goodbyes and agreed to get together again when they had the chance.

Kurenai Yuhi lingered behind. Looking at Lin Ze, she said very earnestly, "Lin Ze, make sure you're careful. And... remember what you said. Come back to see me."

"Yes, I remember."

"You too. Practice your genjutsu properly at school. Next time we meet, I'll be checking how you're doing."

Looking at Kurenai's earnest little face, Lin Ze could not resist pinching it, making her blush bright red.

"Don't worry! I won't lose to you!"

Kurenai Yuhi gave him a radiant smile and waved hard, then turned and ran toward her mother, who had come specifically to pick her up and wore a teasing expression.

Watching the others recede into the distance, Lin Ze took a deep breath of cold air.

His life at the Ninja Academy was now well and truly over.

The ANBU, huh... Let me see just what Konoha's roots are really like.