At the moment he heard Kei's words.
Minato first froze, then gave a faint smile and nodded gently. "That is indeed true. Given your backgrounds, it's a reasonable decision. Since you've already thought it through, I won't say any more. You should already know that the graduation exam is in January. You have one last month left, so prepare well. I believe all of you can pass without any trouble!"
Three years!
For those born into prominent shinobi clans, that was a perfectly normal time to graduate. One could even say that, at Kirigakure's Ninja Academy, nearly everyone who studied for the full six years before graduating was a civilian with no backing whatsoever.
They spent their first year at the Ninja Academy, or even their second, laying the groundwork. Going from successfully extracting chakra to using it with relative ease was a process. Geniuses were called geniuses precisely because they were exceptionally rare. Without any preferential allocation of resources or support.
Civilian shinobi all had to endure a grueling period of building their foundations. And barring unforeseen circumstances, seventy to eighty percent of them would remain genin for their entire lives, even if they managed to graduate!
Those among the rest who could break through and advance to chunin could already be considered outstanding individuals in the vast Shinobi World!
Those who could truly grow into jonin!
Still mostly came from the major prominent shinobi clans!
Jonin of civilian birth did exist, but they were truly few and far between. Those clan shinobi already surpassed you in talent to begin with.
And they also had more resources supporting them than you did!
As well as putting in at least as much effort as you.
What could civilians possibly use to surpass them!? Even catching up to their backs was a distant, unattainable dream!
The civilians who could turn the tables!
Were truly only those very few genuine geniuses!
In the world of shinobi, bloodline supremacy really was impossible to counter. And the original manga's ending emphasized bloodlines even more.
Without the Rabbit Goddess's bloodline, what the hell were you supposed to fight with!?
As a veteran Mist Ninja, Minato understood this with absolute clarity. He himself came from a civilian background. His later promotion to chunin and subsequent appointment at the Ninja Academy were already enough to prove that he had surpassed the vast majority of his fellow civilians!
His nearly thirty years as a shinobi had also made Minato keenly aware of the gap between civilians like himself and the prominent shinobi clans.
Someone like Kei applying for early graduation at eight was an everyday occurrence. He had even seen extraordinary geniuses graduate from the Ninja Academy at seven or six!
The moment they graduated, they already possessed strength on par with an ordinary chunin!
That was an inborn gap, a chasm that was extremely difficult to bridge!
He had been prepared for this ever since he took charge of this class three years ago.
The youngsters from the Minazuki Clan, Kaguya Clan, and Hozuki Clan in his class were certain to graduate early. He was merely asking as a matter of routine now.
"Yes, Teacher Minato. Please rest assured. I've already made all my preparations!"
Kei straightened his back as well, looking up to meet Minato's gaze with a firm, confident expression as he answered in a clear voice.
"Yes, I've always believed in you, Kei!"
Minato's expression softened a little as well.
Over the past three years.
Kei's grades had consistently placed him among the very best in the class.
In Minato's eyes, Kei would have no trouble passing the graduation exam. The same held true for Kazayasu Minazuki, Minazuki Shinya, those three from the Hozuki Clan and Kaguya Clan, and Mei Terumi!
That's right!
Mei Terumi had also applied for early graduation this time!
And over the past three years.
Mei Terumi's overall grades had consistently secured her the top spot in class, making Kazeki, Shinya, and the others, who had previously competed among themselves, all turn their sights toward her!
As far as they were concerned, it was one thing not to take first place themselves, but for someone outside the three great shinobi clans to snatch it away was another matter entirely. Even though Mei Terumi was not a civilian either, but came from a declining minor shinobi clan, Kazeki, Shinya, and the others still refused to accept it!
Over the past three years, they had worked tirelessly to knock Mei Terumi off her throne, but they had not succeeded even once!
And thanks to Mei Terumi spurring Kazeki, Shinya, and the others on from ahead, this group, who already far surpassed their classmates, saw the gap between themselves and the others widen further and further.
This also saved Kei a great deal of trouble.
In the academic theory classes, Kei could perform however he pleased.
Then, in the most important practical classes, Kei always deliberately held something back. Over those three years, he had maintained the delicate balance of staying close behind the few at the front without surpassing them. Even if he occasionally failed to rein himself in once or twice and performed better than them in a practical class.
It didn't matter!
After all, with Mei Terumi drawing aggro up front, Kei did not need to worry at all about standing out too much.
Of course, after observing things for these three years.
Kei had more or less realized that he might have been worrying needlessly.
Even if he displayed a little more genius, it probably wouldn't cause much of a stir. Ultimately, when it came to genius, the childhood version of Kakashi in the original story was the greatest example!
No matter how outstanding he was, as long as he did not truly defy comprehension, it would be nothing special. After all, he could hardly reach the absurd extreme of becoming a jonin at five, reaching Kage Level at seven, and beating up the entire world at ten.
He also came from one of Kirigakure's three great shinobi clans, so showing a little more excellence would only make sense.
It was just that Kei himself had grown accustomed to this rhythm. And, truthfully, there was ultimately nothing wrong with being a little cautious.
"Yes, Teacher Minato. I'll take my leave, then!"
Kei bowed slightly. After Minato nodded his assent, he turned and walked out of the office reserved for Ninja Academy teachers.
And just as he reached the next corner after leaving the Ninja Academy's administrative building.
A lovely figure he had not quite expected came into Kei's view.
His steps involuntarily faltered, and a faint look of surprise appeared on his face.
That lovely figure was none other.
Than the future Fifth Mizukage-Mei Terumi!
"It looks like this isn't a coincidence. You were waiting specifically for me, weren't you, Mei?"
Kei raised his sharp brows slightly and looked at Mei Terumi with a composed expression as he asked softly.
"Hehe, naturally. For you to visit Teacher Minato at this time, Kei-if I'm not mistaken, you must have gone to apply for early graduation too?"
Mei Terumi tilted her chin slightly, and her soft, alluring voice sounded beside Kei's ear.
A watery shimmer rippled through the beautiful eyes fixed directly on Kei. Her smile with her lips pressed together, along with the few strands of lovely hair resting against her cheek, added a few more touches of beauty to the young girl.
She clearly still looked so young and immature, yet there was already a hint of a femme fatale about her.
She's not even nine yet...