Once all the students had arrived, their teacher walked in as well. He was an ordinary Chunin.
At the sight, Kakashi felt a little disappointed.
Then came the usual introductions, as the five- and six-year-old children began introducing themselves one after another.
When it was Kakashi's turn, he simply said, "Kakashi Hatake. There's nothing I particularly dislike. I like learning ninjutsu, and my dream is to become a great ninja like my father."
After he finished, it was Yuzuru's turn.
But the moment he stood up, his classmates began commenting on him.
"What a pretty girl! She looks so gentle."
Yuzuru: ...
"Minazuki Yuzuru. Male. I like interesting ninjutsu and dislike pointless internal friction. As for my dream, world peace."
"Hmm?"
Hearing his introduction, Kakashi looked over in surprise.
"World peace?"
"Huh? Someone that cute is actually a boy?"
Seeing so many disappointed faces in the classroom, Yuzuru felt his fists clench.
What exactly are you little brats so disappointed about?
Beside him, Kurenai Yuhi covered her mouth and giggled. Had they not been in class, she would have laughed out loud.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was also watching this war orphan from the Yuki Clan.
"World peace, huh?"
Taking a deep drag on his pipe, he continued watching the other students introduce themselves.
Yuzuru could not be bothered to say anything. He sat back down and looked at Kakashi's odd expression.
"What's with that look?"
"I really am a little surprised."
"Surprised about what? It's a dream. Just dream about it and think about it. It's not like you can actually bring about world peace, right?"
Yuzuru leaned back in his chair, balancing on its two rear legs, and rocked with his eyes closed.
After that, Yuzuru paid little attention to the other students. Only when he heard a name that had appeared in the original story did he occasionally listen more closely.
Once the introductions were over, the teacher took out a textbook and began the lesson.
What the Ninja Academy taught was actually quite limited. It was enough for civilian ninja, but for clan ninja, attending was more about experiencing childhood. That was also the purpose behind the Ninja Academy's establishment: to let Konoha's children enjoy a complete childhood.
Kakashi was doing all right, but Yuzuru could not muster any enthusiasm for this sort of theory class.
Looking at the model student Kurenai Yuhi beside him, Yuzuru compared her with the teacher's lesson and decided Kurenai Yuhi was nicer to look at.
Kurenai Yuhi noticed his gaze too and looked at him in confusion.
Her ruby-like eyes held the innocence and liveliness befitting her age.
"What is it? Why do you keep looking at me?"
"Because you're pretty. Your eyes really are beautiful, Kurenai. Mm, and you're cute too."
Hearing that, Kurenai Yuhi immediately grew shy.
Although she occasionally played with Yuzuru, this was the first time he had complimented her so earnestly.
Watching the bashful little girl, Yuzuru smiled slightly, then turned toward the window.
When class ended, Kakashi looked at Yuzuru. "So, you seem to really like being at school."
"It's all right. I'm just reminiscing about my lost youth."
Kakashi rolled his eyes at that.
The second class was ninjutsu. Once the teacher arrived, he began explaining a ninja's basic abilities to everyone, particularly hand seals and chakra.
Essentially everyone present had already extracted chakra. It was just a question of how much.
Everyone listened attentively to the teacher's explanation, including Yuzuru and Kakashi.
But they only lasted a little while before losing interest.
The teacher's explanations were not as good as Sakumo's.
Well, that seemed perfectly normal. He was Konoha's White Fang, after all. An ordinary Ninja Academy teacher naturally could not compare.
Afterward, the teacher began teaching everyone a basic ninjutsu: the Clone Technique.
Then came one-on-one instruction. Every student would go up to the front and demonstrate it, while the teacher pointed out their mistakes in detail and corrected them.
All in all, the Ninja Academy's teacher really was conscientiously fulfilling his duty to teach the basics.
When Kakashi's turn came, he could not be bothered to go up front. He simply formed hand seals and used the Clone Technique, creating dozens of Kakashis standing throughout the classroom.
The sight stunned all his classmates.
Kakashi himself had little reaction. After all, the Clone Technique was far too basic. He had already learned a B-rank ninjutsu. Although he was still a little slow at casting it, he had learned it nonetheless.
"Amazing!"
Just that little display from Kakashi left the entire class looking at him in awe.
Even the teacher was dumbfounded. Once he recovered, he hurriedly said, "Ahem, very good. Kakashi has already mastered the Clone Technique. If any of you have questions after class, you can ask Kakashi."
"Next, Minazuki Yuzuru, give it a try."
Yuzuru stood up and likewise used the Clone Technique directly to create a clone.
He did not create many. Another version of him simply appeared in the hallway.
The teacher: ...
"Ahem, very good. Yuzuru has mastered it as well."
Faced with two little geniuses in a row, the teacher felt immense pressure.
Compared to the others, Kakashi and Yuzuru really were quite far ahead.
Most people were still willing to let their children enjoy an ordinary childhood. Kakashi and Yuzuru were simply too caught up in the rat race.
After the day's classes ended, Kakashi, Yuzuru, and Kurenai Yuhi left school together.
Along the way, Yuzuru could clearly sense that Kakashi seemed to have something to say.
Only after Yuzuru had walked Kurenai Yuhi home could Kakashi finally hold it in no longer.
"Xiao Xian, I want to graduate early. The Ninja Academy can't teach me much."
"What's the rush? The Ninja Academy really can't teach you much, but you're only five. Why put so much pressure on yourself?"
Yuzuru looked at Kakashi, his face full of helplessness.
"It's too much of a waste of time."
Kakashi shook his head.
"Will you join me?"
"Me? Forget it. I don't want to graduate yet. I want a few more happy years."
"All right."
Although a little disappointed, Kakashi still decided to graduate early. He would discuss it with his father when he returned.
Just over a month later, Sakumo and the others finally returned from the battlefield.
The Second War was officially declared over as well, with Konoha winning a sweeping victory.
It was not just Hatake Sakumo who returned this time, but also Konoha's Sannin of sex, gambling, and drugs, whom Yuzuru had yet to meet.
To welcome their victory, almost the entire village gathered at the village gates to celebrate their heroes' triumphant return.
The Ninja Academy even gave everyone a special day off. Yuzuru and Kakashi were among the crowd too.
The ninja returning from the battlefield all carried a distinctive air. After all, they had endured the brutal test of survival on the battlefield.
But the moment they saw the village and its people, the taut strings within them finally relaxed completely, and many burst into tears.
Although Konoha had won, many had died as well. Among the dead were inevitably their comrades and family members.
Nor were those who died in the Second War merely civilians. Senju Nawaki and Dan Katō had also died in the war.
So by this point, Tsunade had actually already developed a fear of blood. The news had simply been suppressed.
Yuzuru felt no pride in this so-called victory in war. In his view, it was all merely the trouble left behind by that idiot Hashirama Senju.
There was a good saying: it was not wicked fools you had to fear, but fools with power. It described Hashirama perfectly.
He clearly had the power to suppress a world in chaos, yet insisted on kowtowing to a few weaklings.