As time passed, Kizaru's first year at the Academy gradually came to an end.
With the final exams drawing near, the atmosphere in class had become noticeably tense. After all, no one wanted to bring home a terrible score and then enjoy their parents' "loving guidance."
For Kizaru, though, the end of the term meant something else entirely.
It meant his Academy life was almost over.
When he thought about the fact that his academic record would basically stop at first-year level from here on out, he couldn't help feeling a faint sense of melancholy.
His classmates also knew that Kizaru was about to graduate early and challenge an Uchiha jōnin.
Naturally, all of them were looking forward to the assessment.
After spending more than half a year with him, they had gradually come to realize that the so-called Great Demon King Kizaru was actually... a pretty decent person.
By now, most of them were no longer as afraid of him as they had been at the start of the school year.
Quite a few classmates even went out of their way to cheer him on in private.
That included Uchiha Inari.
One day after school, the boy secretly came to find Kizaru and handed him a small note.
Inside was information on Uchiha Kensuke that Inari had somehow managed to gather.
After passing it over, Inari quickly said, "Kizaru-san, do your best! But in the future, the only one allowed to beat you is me!"
Then, before Kizaru could reply, he turned and ran off at full speed.
Holding the note in one hand, Kizaru watched his retreating back and could only shake his head with a laugh.
The atmosphere at the Academy was like that—
and the mood in the village was even more exaggerated.
With the Uchiha clan, the Shimura clan, and the Hokage's side all quietly pushing things along, Kizaru's early graduation assessment had already become the hottest topic in Konoha.
The villagers were openly looking forward to the battle between Kizaru and Uchiha Kensuke.
Because of that, Uchiha Kensuke—who had always kept a low profile and was barely known outside his clan before this—suddenly became something of a celebrity after the Uchiha announced he would be the one taking the assessment match.
Now, whenever he went shopping in the Uchiha district, enthusiastic clan members would cheer him on from every direction.
For someone used to living quietly, it was honestly more uncomfortable than flattering.
At this point, Kensuke only wanted the day of the assessment to arrive already so this whole feverish atmosphere could finally end.
As for Kizaru, the treatment he received was even worse.
With his already eye-catching build, his distinctive style of dress, and those signature brown sunglasses, he was far too easy to recognize.
The villagers weren't as terrifying as the fanatics from Kizaru's previous life, but every time he went out, he was met with excited, curious, gossip-filled stares.
In the end, Kizaru had been forced to start using the Transformation Jutsu whenever he went outside.
Inside Kizaru's courtyard, a recliner had been set beneath the shade of a tree.
Kizaru was sprawled across it in an utterly lazy posture.
Beside him sat a small tea table, with tea and snacks neatly arranged on top.
Tomorrow was the day of the graduation assessment, yet Kizaru showed none of the nervousness outsiders imagined he should have.
He sipped hot tea, ate sweets, and narrowed his eyes in pure contentment.
He looked relaxed to the point of being irritating.
"Kizaru-kun!"
An elderly voice called out from beyond the courtyard.
Still holding half a pastry in one hand, Kizaru didn't move right away. He only turned his head slightly and used his free hand to push his sunglasses up onto his forehead.
"Elder, what brings you here?" he asked lazily.
In the entire clan, only the Great Elder called him Kizaru-kun like that.
So Kizaru remained completely at ease, his gaze resting on the entrance as he waited for the old man to step inside.
Wearing a kind smile, the Great Elder walked into the courtyard.
But the moment he saw Kizaru lying there so leisurely, his expression stiffened.
Then, after giving an awkward smile to the person behind him, he cleared his throat and spoke.
"Kizaru-kun, get up properly. Tsunade has come to see you."
Actually, before the Great Elder had even finished speaking, Kizaru had already noticed her.
He didn't panic in the slightest.
Still calm, he tossed the remaining half of the pastry into his mouth, stood up slowly, and picked up the teacup from the table.
He blew lightly across the surface, took a sip, swallowed the pastry, and only then turned with a smile.
"Tsunade-senpai," he said in his usual leisurely tone, "you're the last one to show up. That's a little heartbreaking."
The last one?
Tsunade paused for a moment, then immediately understood what he meant.
"So Jiraiya and Orochimaru already came to see you?" she asked as she walked closer.
"Orochimaru-san gave me a scroll analyzing Fire Release ninjutsu," Kizaru replied with a smile. "It was pretty useful."
"And Jiraiya-senpai..." Kizaru paused, putting just a little extra emphasis into his next words. "He said that once I graduate, he'll take me somewhere fun."
As Kizaru expected, the moment Tsunade heard that, she made the worst possible connection instantly.
The vein at her temple twitched.
Because the Great Elder was standing nearby, she barely restrained herself from swearing on the spot.
But in her heart, she had already made up her mind.
Later, she was absolutely going to find Jiraiya and have a very serious "talk" with him.
That shameless idiot actually wanted to drag a junior disciple who wasn't even seven years old yet off to one of his so-called "fun places"?
What kind of disgusting nonsense was that?
After cursing Jiraiya several more times in her head, Tsunade looked back at Kizaru.
"The hospital's been swamped lately," she said. "That old man keeps dumping work on me while he sits there acting relaxed. What a pain."
It was half an explanation, half a complaint.
Then she got to the point.
"How are you feeling about tomorrow's assessment? I've seen Uchiha Kensuke before. He's strong. Don't get careless."
"An Uchiha jōnin... how frightening," Kizaru said with a sigh.
Then he smiled.
"But I'm still a little confident."
A little?
Judging by his face, Tsunade would've guessed he meant an absurd amount.
By now, she was used to the way Kizaru talked.
"Since those two brought you gifts," she said, "then as your senpai, I'll give you one too."
"Oh? Now that's exciting," Kizaru said with a grin.
"You brat, talk normally to me!"
Tsunade's voice rose on instinct.
"It's scary, scary," Kizaru said at once, noticing that she was already beginning to roll up her sleeves.
Considering the amount of effort it would take to repair his courtyard if she lost her temper, he very wisely chose to stop there.
Tsunade shot him an annoyed glare before continuing.
"You really are irritating."
She exhaled once, then said, "I heard from the old man that you're interested in sealing techniques. After you graduate, you can come with me sometime and meet my grandma."
"I'm getting nervous, Tsunade-neesan," Kizaru said, instantly putting on an exaggeratedly shy expression.
Tsunade froze for half a second.
Then her fist clenched.
"You bastard, are you trying to die?!"
"Kizaru-kun, don't speak nonsense," the Great Elder hurriedly cut in, trying to smooth things over. "Princess Tsunade, please forgive him. He's still just a child and doesn't know any better."
What kind of child acts like this at six?
Tsunade gave the Great Elder a flat look before turning back to Kizaru.
"Don't let that idiot Jiraiya rub off on you too much," she said first, still glaring at him. Then her tone grew more serious. "My grandmother is from the Uzumaki clan. Their clan is famous for sealing techniques. If you can get her guidance, it'll definitely help you a lot."
This time, Kizaru's expression finally became serious.
"Thank you, Tsunade-senpai," he said sincerely.
There was no joking in his voice now.
Tsunade snorted lightly, then reached out and smacked his shoulder with a firm hand.
"Then make sure you do your best tomorrow," she said. "And don't lose to that Uchiha."
"Of course," Kizaru replied.
"Hm?"
"I said, understood."
Only then did Tsunade look satisfied as she lowered her sleeves again.
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