The next afternoon, I was sitting beneath a tree outside the Academy.
My early graduation had been approved, but the final arrangements were still being made.
So for now, I had nothing particularly important to do.
I was practicing with my wooden sword when I heard footsteps approaching.
I stopped and looked up.
Several familiar faces were walking toward me.
Hiruzen.
Kagami.
Danzō.
Koharu.
Homura.
And Torifu.
They were all around three years older than me, roughly seven years old.
Hiruzen was the first to speak.
"You're Karma, right?"
I lowered my wooden sword.
"That's what people call me."
Kagami smiled.
"We wanted to meet you."
I looked at the group.
"Why?"
Hiruzen scratched his cheek.
"We heard about your early graduation."
"Ah."
I nodded.
"So you're here because you're curious."
"Pretty much."
I smiled.
"Fair enough."
Danzō crossed his arms.
"I don't understand what the fuss is about."
The others looked at him.
Danzō continued.
"He's four years old. Performing a few techniques doesn't prove he's ready to become a shinobi."
I looked at him.
'And there it is.'
I wasn't offended.
Honestly, I understood his skepticism.
Hiruzen looked slightly embarrassed.
"Danzō…"
"What?"
"You don't have to say it like that."
"I'm being realistic."
Danzō looked directly at me.
"Anyone can perform a few techniques in front of the Hokage."
I smiled.
"That's true."
Danzō raised an eyebrow.
"You agree?"
"Of course."
I picked up my wooden sword.
"That's why you should test me."
The group became quiet.
Hiruzen looked surprised.
"Test you?"
I nodded.
"Spar."
Kagami's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"Sure."
Danzō looked at the wooden sword in my hand.
"Against all of us?"
I shook my head.
"One at a time."
Danzō smiled faintly.
"Fine."
Hiruzen looked at the others.
"Who wants to go first?"
Danzō stepped forward.
"I will."
Koharu, Homura and Torifu exchanged glances.
Torifu looked at me, then at Danzō.
"Honestly, I'll pass."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You don't want to try?"
Torifu shook his head.
"I've seen Danzō fight."
He pointed at him.
"If he loses badly, I don't think my result will be any different."
Koharu nodded.
"I agree."
Homura also stepped back.
"We're curious, not suicidal."
I laughed.
'At least they're honest.'
Hiruzen looked slightly embarrassed.
"Then I suppose it's the three of us."
Kagami nodded.
"We're probably the strongest fighters among our group anyway."
I smiled.
'That makes things easier.'
What none of us knew was that we weren't alone.
Several trees away, four figures were quietly watching.
Hashirama.
Tobirama.
Madara.
And Mito.
Hashirama smiled.
"They came to see him."
Tobirama nodded.
"They're curious."
Madara crossed his arms.
"This should be interesting."
Mito smiled.
"Let's see how he handles them."
Danzō stepped into the training area.
He picked up a wooden sword.
I did the same.
"You understand that I'm not going easy on you?"
I nodded.
"I'd be disappointed if you did."
Danzō took his stance.
The moment the spar began, he rushed forward.
His speed was good.
His first strike came straight toward my shoulder.
I stepped aside.
His sword cut through empty air.
I tapped his wrist.
"Your attack is too obvious."
Danzō frowned.
He immediately turned and attacked again.
This time, the angle changed.
I blocked.
Our wooden swords collided.
He followed with another strike.
I moved backward.
Danzō kept pressing forward.
His attacks were aggressive and direct.
For a seven-year-old, his fundamentals were surprisingly good.
But there was a pattern.
He committed heavily to every attack.
I waited.
Then stepped inside his range.
My wooden sword touched his chest.
"You're defeated."
Danzō froze.
He looked down.
Then back at me.
"Again."
I smiled.
"Sure."
We reset.
This time, Danzō changed his approach.
He slowed down.
He stopped throwing himself forward.
He used shorter movements.
'He's adapting.'
We exchanged several strikes.
I blocked one.
Dodged another.
He changed direction and tried to catch me off guard.
I stepped away.
Then struck his wrist.
His wooden sword flew from his hand.
I caught it before it hit the ground.
Danzō stared at me.
I handed it back.
"You're improving already."
He frowned.
"What am I doing wrong?"
"You're trying to win every exchange."
I pointed toward his feet.
"You don't need to overpower your opponent every time. Sometimes the best attack is the one you don't make."
Danzō remained silent.
"Keep your weight centered. Stop committing so much to your first movement."
He nodded slowly.
"I understand."
He stepped aside.
Hiruzen walked forward.
"My turn."
He picked up a wooden staff from the training equipment.
I looked at it.
'So he's already using a staff.'
It wasn't anything special.
Just a simple wooden staff.
But Hiruzen held it naturally.
His grip was comfortable.
His stance was balanced.
He spun the staff once.
Then settled into position.
"Ready?"
I nodded.
"Whenever you are."
The spar began.
Hiruzen moved first.
The staff came toward my side.
I blocked with my wooden sword.
The impact pushed my arm slightly outward.
'Interesting.'
He immediately rotated the staff and attacked from the opposite side.
I stepped back.
The staff swept past my chest.
Hiruzen followed with another strike.
Then another.
His movements were smooth.
Unlike Danzō, he wasn't trying to overwhelm me.
He was controlling the distance.
The longer reach of the staff made it difficult to get close.
I moved around him.
He adjusted.
I stepped forward.
He struck toward my legs.
I jumped over it.
His staff immediately came upward.
I blocked.
Our weapons collided.
Hiruzen pushed forward.
I slid backward.
'He's good.'
I smiled.
Finally.
Someone who could make me think a little.
Hiruzen attacked again.
I moved to the side.
He turned with me.
The staff came toward my shoulder.
I ducked.
He reversed his grip.
The end of the staff stopped inches from my face.
I smiled.
"That was close."
Hiruzen smiled too.
"Got you?"
"Almost."
I stepped forward.
His eyes widened.
I moved inside the staff's effective range.
My wooden sword touched his chest.
"Got you."
Hiruzen froze.
Then laughed.
"I knew I shouldn't have left that opening."
I lowered my sword.
"Your staff technique is good."
"Thanks."
"But you're too focused on maintaining distance."
He looked at me.
"That's the point of using a staff."
"Yes, but your opponent will eventually get inside that range."
I pointed toward him.
"Once they do, you hesitate."
Hiruzen nodded.
"I'll work on that."
"Good."
Kagami stepped forward.
He picked up a wooden sword.
"I've been watching both fights."
I smiled.
"Then you already know what you're up against."
Kagami grinned.
"That's why I'm going last."
We took our positions.
The spar began.
Kagami didn't rush.
He watched me.
I watched him.
Neither of us moved.
Then he stepped forward.
A quick strike.
I blocked.
He immediately changed his angle.
I parried.
He attacked again.
I stepped back.
Kagami adjusted.
He was reading my movements.
'He's adapting quickly.'
We exchanged several strikes.
Unlike Danzō, he didn't commit too heavily.
Unlike Hiruzen, he wasn't relying on distance.
He was balanced.
Flexible.
He was probably the most naturally adaptable of the three.
I decided to increase the pace.
Kagami followed.
I changed my footwork.
He adjusted.
I feinted.
He didn't take the bait.
I smiled.
'Not bad.'
We exchanged another series of strikes.
Then I deliberately left an opening.
Kagami took it.
He moved forward.
I stepped to the side.
His sword passed beside me.
I turned.
My wooden sword stopped against his back.
"You're defeated."
Kagami froze.
Then laughed.
"I knew there was something wrong with that opening."
I lowered my sword.
"You still took it."
"I had to."
"That's your problem."
He looked at me.
"You react too quickly to opportunities."
I pointed toward him.
"Sometimes an opening is real. Sometimes it's bait."
Kagami nodded.
"I'll remember that."
"Good."
The three of them stood together.
Danzō was thoughtful.
Hiruzen was smiling.
Kagami looked excited.
I looked at them.
"So?"
Hiruzen laughed.
"I believe the rumors now."
Kagami nodded.
"Definitely."
Danzō remained silent for a moment.
Then he looked at me.
"You're stronger than us."
I nodded.
"Right now."
Danzō's eyes narrowed.
"Right now?"
I smiled.
"You're all going to get stronger."
Hiruzen looked at me.
"You aren't worried about that?"
"Why would I be?"
I shrugged.
"Strong opponents are useful."
Danzō looked at me for a moment.
Then nodded.
"I'll beat you someday."
I smiled.
"I'll be waiting."
Several trees away, Hashirama watched quietly.
"He didn't humiliate them."
Tobirama nodded.
"He defeated them cleanly and then explained their weaknesses."
Madara smiled.
"More importantly, he was paying attention."
Hashirama looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"He wasn't simply fighting."
Madara's eyes remained on Karma.
"He was studying them."
Tobirama nodded.
"His combat instincts are already developing."
Mito smiled.
"And he encouraged them afterward."
Madara chuckled.
"He's going to be troublesome."
Hashirama laughed softly.
"Definitely."
Back in the training ground, Hiruzen looked at me.
"So you're really going to graduate?"
"That's the plan."
"When?"
"Soon."
Kagami smiled.
"Then we'll see you around."
"Probably."
Hiruzen extended his hand.
I looked at it for a moment before shaking it.
"Good luck, Karma."
"Thanks."
The others began walking away.
Danzō stopped for a moment.
He looked back at me.
"This isn't over."
I grinned.
"I know."
He nodded and continued walking.
I watched them disappear.
Hiruzen.
Kagami.
Danzō.
Three future legends.
And right now, they were simply seven-year-old kids trying to become stronger.
I looked down at my wooden sword.
'This village is going to be interesting.'
Then I smiled.
'Very interesting.'