Graduation [Part-1]

As soon as I left home, I was received a piece of news that the graduation ceremony is nearing, and I indent to do just that.

I had no qualms about getting a title named "Shinobi", if this title allows me to gain more freedom and power, then I'll stick with the village until I become strong enough to set my path.

Freedom. Is far stretched I guess, but nothing comes without a price, which I am prepared to pay.

The funeral also took place in the evening, which I didn't attend because I had other things to do. Such as restoring my blade and naming it.

The sunset was beautiful, as it passed the horizon, I held my blade, staring at the full brilliance of my perfectly restored sword.

"You who will accompany me to carve my path, you who will see me as I rise to the apex, you who will slay anyone that stands in my way, you who will imbue fear in any powerhouse opposing me... Let us lead this world to its inevitable end, from today onward you shall be bestowed the name... Fate's End"

This was an oath, whether it sounded like one or not, didn't matter in the slightest. What did matter, was that Fate's End is my companion, whether sentinel or not, that also mattered little.

I walked out of the blacksmith's shop, the first thing I saw were people dressed in black strolling or walking with somber expressions.

So, the funeral ended, I guess.

Some of my classmates were also included in the crowd, they paid me no heed, all of them were too occupied in their own thoughts.

I too didn't bother, instead went to train my Ninjutsu, I needed to create something unique, something the enemy would find unexpected.

***

In the following days, the atmosphere in Konoha wasn't the best.

Everyone was gloomy, only children smiling in their innocent world. Those who knew what happened were anxious, terrified, scared.

While I just trained like usual, waiting for the exam to start, and it did after a few weeks.

The first was a paper exam, which I passed without any hindrance. The test was actually supposed to test our intelligence-gathering skills by extracting information from a third source, but I didn't need that.

Next was a practical exam, at first I'd thought there would be three tests, but turned out this year was different.

"Now, everyone take their respective headbands and tie them"

Shino said as the other instructors--Anko and another shinobi I did not know--distributed the plain-white headbands.

I, along with the rest of the kids tied our bands.

"Now, these bands", Shino pointed his finger at our forehead. "Will decide whether you kids can promote to the next level or not"

Some gasped whilst some stayed passive. Shino paid the uproar no heed and proceeded to clarify the rules.

"Your job is to treat that headband as your own life, the instructors here will try to snatch your 'life' away, your job is to prevent that until sunset.."

Most of the kids calmed down and nodded their heads. Shino was about to continue but a blurry shadow suddenly stood near him, making him shut up.

The figure became more visible, he had silver-white hair, half of his face was covered by a vest-attached mask and his left eye was covered by his headband, there was also a vertical scar than ran across his right eye.

This was the infamous man known across the five nations. Kakashi, the copy ninja.

Feared and acknowledged by many, the former 6th Hokage.

The aura around him was different, I could feel... see the mountain of corpses behind him, piled like a mountain.

This man was strong, I could feel it, every hair on my body stood up, indicating the sheer amount of danger this man in front of me holds.

Deep in my heart, I could sense a spark... a small spark of excitement, anticipation, happiness... adrenaline.

"Hey kids"

***

[3rd Pov]

"Hey kids"

Kakashi waved his hands in the air, with his everyday eye smile plastered on his face.

Kakashi planned to announce the examination after autumn ended, but things were getting rough.

The previous incident had caused worry in him, Kiri and Leaf weren't in the best of terms recently, the situation made it worse.

The leader of each respective clan. Aburame, Hyuga, Nara, Yamanaka had decided to accelerate the academy stage.

After having discussed for 2-3 weeks, they have concluded that the academy's current pace was causing harm to their children more than anything.

"This may be a peaceful era, but we can't expect it to last too long... our children may die because we choose to give them too much comfort"

Hiashi Hyuga firmly stated, that was the final blow they needed. The Akimichi clan, despite losing their heiress, stood company and supported the Hyuga's words, they did not want to see another tragic death.

The other clan leaders also approved of this, they would rather see their children struggle a little than die in the environment their parents set up.

The leaders also agreed that the academy was a big failure, being too soft with its methods and thus stripping the huge amount of potential the young children had.

Thus, after this year's graduation exam, the academy would be brought down. Instead, a new and reliable 'school' would be established.

Kakashi had no choice but to agree, Naruto and Shikamaru also approved.

Konoha had to face the hard truth: they lacked manpower.

They have to make up for the huge amount of losses they suffered because they laid back and crossed their arms, while other Villages nurtured great Shinobis, they sat and enjoyed.

And the leaf paid the price for it.

Although Naruto and Sasuke couldn't be rivaled by anyone or even by every Village combined, they had their boundaries and couldn't cross them.

Even after being the strongest Shinobis in the history of the ninja world, they had leashes on their neck.

Sure, the other village leaders would hesitate to utter a word against those two, but if anything unexpected happened to Naruto or Sasuke, it would cause a calamity to the leaf.

Which did happen...

The information was only known to the higher-ups of Konoha, Naruto and Sasuke.

The 7th Hokage's life was nearing its climax soon.

Naruto had been suffering from the same sickness the Sage of the Six Paths suffered, immensely shortening his lifespan and powers.

Sasuke had found a cure from a long expenditure, but the effects of the medicine were only temporary, soon, his fall would be near.

No one knew when or how it will come, but they had to be prepared. After making sure all on these, only did they agree on the decision.

It was time for the peaceful days to end.

"Well, today, as you have been informed is the graduation exam's final test... I'm sure Shino-Sensei explained everything so let's not beat around the bush"

Kakashi scanned every child as he spoke. He went for his pockets and took out a single bell.

Ting.

"Whoever snatches the bell from me before sunset graduates... others get eliminated. Be sure to protect your bands aswell!"

Kakashi said before vanishing into thin air, Boruto too disappeared into the woods.

The others didn't even notice his presence disappearing, they were too stupified by the information.

Whilst others were busy absorbing, Boruto was making slow but steady progress on tracing Kakashi.

'Now... Where are you Kakashi of the Sharingan'