Chapter 010: Approaching Graduation

Yamamoto's expectations for Asahi were immediately thrown aside by him. Such political struggles and power wrestle were not what Asahi was pursuing. 

This was a world where the strong were respected. Only a high level combat power could earn respect, and weak people could only be abandoned. 

Asahi couldn't help but have some thoughts about the pitiful Yamamoto. Although Asahi didn't know what Yamamoto had gone though, he was just a person abandoned by the times, and no one would care about his thoughts. 

The strong among the commoners like Jiraiya and Orochimaru, which Yamamoto expected to help them, the commoner ninjas, would not even care about such struggles.

…

Next day, Hokage Building. 

Early that morning, Yamamoto received a notification from the Third Hokage and came to Hokage's office with a little doubt in his heart. 

*Knock* *Knock* 

"Come in." 

After Yamamoto knocked on the door, with the permission of Third Hokage, he gently pushed the door and stepped inside. 

"Good morning, Hokage-sama." Yamamoto walked to Hokage's desk and said respectfully, "I was informed that Hokage-sama was looking for me." 

"It's Hideyoshi." Third Hokage glanced at Yamamoto and asked, "Is the student Senmei Asahi of your class planning to apply for graduation?" 

The Third Hokage though in power, was actually not young anymore. When he arrived at his late middle-age, his body was already ready to start going downhill. But compared to the Third Hokage in the story that had grown to his sixties in the anime, the current Third Hokage was still very young, and it was still one of the top-class shinobi of the ninja world with the title of "God of Shinobi" and "Professor". 

"Yes, Hokage-sama! That student has already applied for early-graduation, and his strength has also reached the standard level of genin, and so I allowed him to participate in the graduation exam." Although Yamamoto didn't know why the aloof and high-level person, the Hokage had asked about one child yet to graduate, but he still respectfully replied. 

"That's good." said the Third Hokage with a nod and an indifferent expression, then he stared at the air while he fell into contemplation. 

He had seen the information about Asahi's usual performance, and academy's teachers' evaluation of him. 

There was no doubt that Asahi's strength and ninja capabilities had reached the level of genin. Coupled with the guidance provided by Yamamoto over the past three years, staying in academy doesn't have any benefits for him. With such an aptitude, a Jonin instructor should indeed be arranged to start getting him to interact with higher level shinobi-stuff.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, as the Third Hokage, naturally had a very sensitive mind about the current situation in the shinobi world. Although there were no wars between the Five Great Ninja Villages at the moment, it was only a matter of time. In a few years, the Third Great Ninja War was bound to erupt. 

During the war, genins who have just graduated and genins who had several years of ninja experience would definitely be treated differently in the scope of mission planning. 

Although the two belong to the ranks of cannon fodder, genin who had just graduated would definitely not be assigned too dangerous missions, and the village would also provide them some time to adapt to the war. 

So Third Hokage didn't want Asahi to graduate too early. After all, the successful growth of a genius was extremely important for village. 

However, the current situation was because Asahi's idea was different. 

Because once Konoha fell into the quagmire of war, while being besieged by several ninja villages, if they're faced with combat on multiple fronts, even the recently graduated genin would be immediately sent to the frontlines. 

And so with early graduation, he could also accept a Jonin's guidance earlier, and learn with live experience. But once the war breaks out, Jonin, who were the core of the village, would definitely have no time to spent guiding newly graduated genins.

"It seems that you have a high opinion of this child Senmei Asahi." The Third Hokage flipped through Asahi's profile, and then said to Yamamoto. 

"Asahi's talent is very good, and he likes to train hard. Although I didn't want him to graduate now, he seems to have made up his mind." Yamamoto said with sincerity. 

"Okay, I have understood the situation, you may take your leave. The graduation exam will be scheduled in seven days." The Third Hokage recollected some information, and agreed to Asahi's graduation application. 

Asahi was indeed very talented, but only the genius who survives was a genius that's useful to Konoha.

Konoha's "Will of Fire" was to protect Konoha's future, but the fact was that only the "future" talent that was considered to be worth protecting were protected.

"Yes!" Yamamoto bowed slightly before leaving the Hokage office. 

...

After school, Asahi and Yamamoto came to the forest behind Hokage Rock again. 

"Hokage-sama deliberately called me over this morning and agreed to your graduation application. The time has already been set, the exam is in seven days" said Yamamoto. 

'Hokage-sama?'

A thought flashed through Asahi's mind, the message revealed in Yamamoto's words was that maybe the Third Hokage had started to pay attention to him. This both surprised him and made him happy. At least, he won't get assigned to a mortal mission in the future. 

And unsurprisingly, the Third Hokage would probably also arrange a good Jonin instructor for him, which was what he was lacking the most now. 

"Early graduation is not the same as a formal graduation. The exam in seven days will not only assess your Three Basic Jutsu, but will also have a genin to fight against you and observe your qualities and flaws during the battle."

Yamamoto continued, "Taking your current strength into account, if you fight against a genin with a great deal of fighting experience, your odds of success are not great. But losing also doesn't mean that you won't be allowed graduate. As long as your quality meets the requirements of a genin, the higher-ups will agree with your graduation." 

"Yamamoto-sensei, you have given so much information to me, I'm afraid I have troubled you these days." Asahi said lightly with a smile. 

"Telling you some things about the content of the exam is not much, especially because when you take the exam, you will only have to rely on yourself." Yamamoto said indifferently. 

"I must defeat my opponent, so please, Yamamoto-sensei!" Asahi bowed deeply. 

Although as long as his ninja quality reaches the level of genin, he could become a henin whether he loses or wins. But the impact of winning and losing was different after all, so Asahi must win without fail. 

Because once he loses, he might not be able to graduate, and Asahi would definitely become the laughingstock in the village. Once his graduation fails, Asahi's situation would become really unfavorable, the day of getting an high-level shinobi to guide him would be even more distant, and the painstaking operation of three whole years would be put to waste. 

Asahi couldn't afford to risk being defeat. 

"I see, Asahi." Yamamoto said seriously. 

"Yamamoto-sensei, that ..." Asahi said in a little embarrassed manner. 

"What?" 

"I want to ask you for a jutsu." Asahi started to talk. 

It's undoubtedly rude to ask someone for ninjutsu, especially to ask for it without offering anything in return. However, Asahi and Yamamoto had a master and disciple relationship. And he is now eager to learn a ninjutsu. 

"Oh? What jutsu do you want to learn?" Yamamoto was not at all displeased, just with some curiously asked. 

"Shadow Clone Jutsu! I have seen the introduction of this jutsu in the books. Although this jutsu divides the chakra of the main body equally, it can be combined with multiple strategies and is quite practical during actual combat." Asahi explained. 

Shadow Clone Jutsu, unlike Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, could only create one true body clone, while Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu had no limit on the number of clones. 

Because after the shadow clone was dismissed, the things that shadow clone goes through would be transmitted to the main body, if there were too many clones, after dismissing the jutsu, it is likely to damage the brain of the main body, so Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu had no option but to become a Forbidden Jutsu.

(T.L Note: I remembered a joke from this:-

A conversation between Hashirama and Tobirama

Tobirama (arrives to talk to Hashirama): Elder brother, I have created a new jutsu, it is called-

Hashirama (without listening fully or looking): Is it water-style?

Tobirama: Uh, no, it is-

Hashirama: Then mark it as Forbidden Jutsu.

Tobirama: But elder brother, at least listen to-

Hashirama: Do you think I don't know you, always making messy jutsus. Be quiet and mark it as Forbidden Jutsu and lock it up in the Book of Seals

Tobirama (depressed): Yes… elder brother.)

However, Shadow Clone Jutsu was just C-rank ninjutsu. There were many ninjas who can use this jutsu in the village. 

"Very good, it seems you thought about it well and did not just blindly asked for ninjutsu." Yamamoto's eyes lighted up, he praised Asahi, and then he passed the jutsu to him very generously.

*****

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