"Big sis, how do you know he's a genius? His grades used to be worse than mine!"
At his sister's praise for someone else,
Kankuro was clearly a little dissatisfied, but he didn't dare say so outright and could only mutter under his breath.
Temari heard him anyway.
She shoved her younger brother to the back of the crowd and said disdainfully, "Hoshino was going easy on you. Otherwise, you? Forget it!"
The rest of their school day ended amid such playful squabbling.
At noon,
Hoshino, Temari, and Kankuro took out the rice balls they had prepared and dug in.
Meanwhile,
Hoshino's application for early graduation had reached Fourth Kazekage Rasa.
Looking at the neatly completed form and the investigation report from the Anbu,
Rasa couldn't help frowning.
Hoshino... was he that child from back then?
Judging from the investigation report,
his grades had always been unremarkable, yet now he had suddenly applied for early graduation, with Grandma Chiyo's approval no less.
It seems he hid his talent.
Rasa leaned back in his chair, a hint of complicated emotion in his eyes.
Elder Chiyo, just what are you plotting?
Forget it!
Whatever it was, Sunagakure couldn't do without him now. That was the confidence the Gold Dust Technique gave him.
"Approve the application. Set it for ten tomorrow morning. I'll conduct the examination myself, and invite the two elders, Chiyo and Ebizo, to join me."
Rasa set down the form and spoke to the Anbu before him.
"Yes!"
The Anbu answered and immediately vanished to pass on the Kazekage's order.
"Grandma Chiyo, my application for early graduation was approved!"
After returning home from school and eating, Hoshino looked at the old woman in front of him and spoke.
"I know. Rasa also invited me to attend. Don't drop the ball when the time comes!" Grandma Chiyo said with a smile.
"Don't worry, I figured it out long ago!"
Hoshino grinned, ran into his room, and took a flat box from the cabinet, placing it in front of Chiyo.
"Take a look. This is what I'm going to show Lord Kazekage at tomorrow's examination."
Grandma Chiyo opened the box, looking a little puzzled.
When she saw the single-lens eyepiece, ten small flies, and ten small spiders inside, a trace of curiosity flashed through her eyes.
"Xiaoye, what are these?"
Hoshino smiled proudly, picked up the eyepiece, and put it over his left eye. He gave Grandma Chiyo a demonstration, explaining as he went.
As she listened to Hoshino's detailed explanation,
the puzzlement on Grandma Chiyo's face gradually gave way to delight.
"Xiaoye, you really are a genius. Sunagakure's future really does rest with you!"
Hoshino smiled and took off the eyepiece. With a gentle wave of his hand, the flies and spiders swiftly returned to the box like well-trained soldiers.
He had just closed the box
when he heard Temari shouting at the top of her lungs outside, "Hoshino! Are you home? Come out, quick!"
Grandma Chiyo smiled. "Go open the door. Don't keep Temari waiting!"
"Okay!"
As soon as Hoshino opened the door, Temari came rushing in, with a reluctant-looking Kankuro following behind her.
The moment Temari entered, she asked loudly, "Hoshino, are you taking the early graduation exam tomorrow?"
Kankuro also looked up at Hoshino, a trace of curiosity in his eyes.
Hoshino nodded with a smile. "Yes, the exam's at ten tomorrow morning, at the village's training ground No. 7."
Temari's eyes lit up instantly, and she said excitedly, "Kankuro and I will definitely come cheer you on tomorrow!"
"Forget it. You two still have class tomorrow!"
Hoshino's shoulder jolted slightly under Temari's pat, but his face was still full of smiles.
Grandma Chiyo watched the three children playing around, a kindly smile on her face and her eyes full of affection.
How wonderful!
Unlike Sasori, who had few playmates his own age growing up, and so left Sunagakure without a trace of attachment!
"Grandma Chiyo, I'm taking Hoshino out to play!"
Temari tugged on Hoshino's sleeve and headed outside, not forgetting to call out to Grandma Chiyo.
Seeing this, Kankuro hurried after them at a jog.
Grandma Chiyo smiled. "All right, remember to come back early!"
"Don't worry, we will!"
The three kids made their way up to a high spot on the cliff.
The view was wide open, with all of Sunagakure spread out before them.
Earth-yellow buildings stood in an orderly arrangement along the edge of the desert.
In the distance, windblown sand hung like a hazy veil, lending the village an air of mystery.
"Wow, the village feels completely different from up here!"
Temari spread her arms excitedly, the wind lifting her hair and making her look even more lively.
"Hmph, it's all right, I guess. But from up here, the village doesn't seem quite so small."
Kankuro put on the same aloof act as ever, though there was a touch of wonder in his eyes.
Hoshino said nothing, merely smiling at his companions beside him, looking completely relaxed.
Before, if he'd had a choice, he would have chosen to be born in Konoha.
Its resources were the best, it had the most powerful experts, and the two saviors chosen by the world itself were there. He could have simply lain flat.
But now, he felt that Sunagakure was actually pretty good too.
There was kind Grandma Chiyo, lively and adorable Temari, aloof Kankuro, and Gaara, cold-faced but kindhearted.
And so on, and so on...
Those scattered fragments of light and shadow had long since been branded into his memories as a warmth unique to Sunagakure.
So what if it was poor? So what if it was easy to bully?
For his companions in the village, he was willing to work hard, even make it his goal to strive for.
"Hey! What are you spacing out for?"
Temari's elbow brought him back to his senses. Sesame seeds from a rice ball still clung to the girl's fingertips.
Hoshino smiled and brushed the grains of sand from his shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kankuro carving words into the cliff with puppet strings.
The crooked words "big idiot" emerged as the sand and dust flaked away.
"I understand what Grandma Chiyo said now!" Hoshino suddenly spoke up.
Temari and Kankuro turned to him at the same time, seemingly waiting for him to continue.
"It wasn't the sand that chose us. We lived until we became like the sand."
Hoshino took two dolls from his ninja tool pouch-the blond-haired girl was waving a three-star fan, while the spiky-haired boy held a Crow puppet.
"Early graduation gifts for you two. Don't let me leave you too far behind!"
"Hmph, as if! I'm applying for early graduation tomorrow too. I've thought school was boring for ages anyway!"
Temari snatched the doll from Hoshino's palm and tossed her head proudly.
"Count me in. That'll make enough of us for a squad!"
Kankuro took the doll meant for him as well.
As twilight deepened, the three stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing at Sunagakure below.
"If only Gaara were here too!"
"Gaara? I'm actually a little scared of him!"
"What's there to be scared of? Besides, he's always here. The Sunagakure Quartet can't be missing a single one of us!"