Before she could say anything more,
Sarutobi Asuma suddenly rushed over.
"Kurenai, are you really graduating early?"
His face was filled with shock and distress,
Completely unable to accept this reality.
If she graduated now—
Wouldn't that mean he'd rarely see her anymore?
No matter what,
Asuma couldn't accept it.
Kurenai nodded again, then asked:
"Asuma… do you want to graduate too?"
"If you're graduating, then I'll graduate as well."
Asuma replied without hesitation.
It was already Year 45 of Konoha.
According to the original schedule,
They were supposed to graduate next year.
Advancing it by a few months
Didn't make much difference.
But Uchiha Kiyoshi…
Graduating this early—
That was something else entirely.
"Kurenai, are you sure this guy isn't just showing off?"
Asuma said skeptically.
Back when everyone practiced the Clone Technique together,
Kiyoshi's performance had only been average.
Could it be that after training alone,
He had already mastered all three basic techniques?
"I believe in Kiyoshi."
Kurenai dropped the formal "classmate" from his name.
After spending time together,
They had grown quite familiar.
"…Fine."
Seeing the girl he admired speak like that,
Asuma could only give in.
But if Kiyoshi failed—
He would be the first to call him out.
The next day.
Kiyoshi entered the examination room alone.
Kurenai and Asuma waited outside.
Somehow,
The news had already spread.
Even Nohara Rin and Obito had heard about it.
"It hasn't even been that long… and he's already graduating?"
Rin was surprised.
She still remembered teaching Kiyoshi basic Konoha techniques.
Yet in the blink of an eye,
He was already applying for early graduation.
Meanwhile,
They still had to wait until next year.
"Luck. It has to be luck!"
Obito said unwillingly.
Why was everyone so talented?
First Kakashi—
Now Uchiha Kiyoshi.
"Once I awaken my Sharingan, I'll be just as strong."
Obito adjusted his goggles,
Clearly cherishing his eyes.
"…You've got a point."
Asuma actually agreed for once.
If Kiyoshi could really graduate,
Didn't that mean he was strong in ninjutsu as well?
Inside the exam room,
The examiner was still Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Upon receiving Kiyoshi's application,
He had personally come to observe.
Along with him were Orochimaru
And several academy instructors.
Kiyoshi remained calm.
He began molding chakra,
Then formed hand seals.
The graduation exam required
Randomly selecting one of the basic techniques.
He had drawn—
The Substitution Technique.
Not long ago,
He had used this very technique
During his spar with Hyuga Natsu.
Now,
It came naturally.
Poof.
A cloud of smoke appeared.
In his place remained a wooden log.
Meanwhile,
His real body stood three meters away.
"Kiyoshi, you've passed."
Hiruzen nodded.
Uchiha Kiyoshi's talent
Exceeded his expectations.
Ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu—
He had no obvious weaknesses.
Such a person
Would be ideal as a bridge
To ease tensions with the Uchiha clan.
"In just over half a year, he's already mastered the three basic techniques…"
Orochimaru licked his lips,
His golden vertical pupils gleaming.
This… was interesting.
Even he, back then,
Might not have done much better.
"Uchiha Kiyoshi, congratulations. You are now a ninja."
Hiruzen handed him a forehead protector.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
Kiyoshi accepted it with an excited expression,
Placing it on his head.
The metal plate engraved with the Leaf symbol
Reflected a faint silver light.
After that,
Hiruzen asked him several questions—
Mostly about his view on the Will of Fire.
"Lord Hokage, when I was in the Land of Lightning, I lived under great pressure. Only after coming to Konoha did I learn about something like the Will of Fire."
Kiyoshi began by lowering his former homeland—
Then raising Konoha.
Hiruzen nodded slightly.
The Will of Fire
Was indeed Konoha's unique spirit—
A symbol of its continuity.
"Everyone here treats me kindly, as if I'm truly part of Konoha. I believe this care… is the true essence of the Will of Fire—protection."
Kiyoshi continued speaking.
About how Konoha was better than the Land of Lightning,
More advanced,
More harmonious.
In short—
Konoha wins.
Wins completely.
The examiners present
Felt a sense of pride hearing this.
This was their home.
Their village.
"You have acquired a trait: [Early Graduation (White)]."
[Trait: Early Graduation (White)]
[Requirement: Graduate early from the Ninja Academy]
[Progress: Completed]
[Effect: Your learning ability increases by 5%]
[Note: Can be further upgraded]
[Path 1: Combine with "Muscle Memory (White)" → "Hardworking Top Student (White)"]
[Path 2: Combine with "Reading Absorption (White)" + "Basic Memory (White)" → "Genius Top Student (Green)"]
Kiyoshi closed the semi-transparent interface.
This wasn't the time to analyze it.
"Excellent."
Hiruzen smiled with satisfaction.
Kiyoshi reminded him of someone—
An old teammate from the Uchiha clan:
Uchiha Kagami.
Even Tobirama had praised him highly.
A true supporter of Konoha among the Uchiha.
If cultivated well,
Kiyoshi might become a second Kagami.
After a few more words,
Hiruzen dismissed him.
As Kiyoshi opened the door—
Asuma stared wide-eyed at the forehead protector on his head.
"I'm taking the exam too!"
He rushed inside immediately.
Hiruzen frowned slightly.
He had already received Asuma's application yesterday.
Originally,
He intended to make him stay longer at the academy.
But after a brief thought, he said:
"Come. Let me see your progress."
Lighting his pipe,
He considered something else.
Since Kiyoshi needed to be assigned to a team—
Why not place Asuma with him?
It would also demonstrate
The Hokage's acceptance of the Uchiha.
"Alright."
Asuma nodded,
Stepping forward to draw his test.
Click.
The door closed again.
Kurenai… watch me.
He thought, glancing back once.
"She must be worried about me right now…"
"…Clone Technique."
The examiner's voice pulled him back.
Taking a deep breath,
He began his test.
Outside—
"Kiyoshi… you're amazing."
Kurenai's gaze locked onto him,
Studying the forehead protector on his head.
— End of Chapter —