15 - Graduation

A white mist cleared beside Chiba as he took a deep breath, then another, before sitting down on the ground exhaustedly.

"So tired! This technique is simply inhuman!" Chiba lamented.

At that moment, Chiba couldn't move a finger, having drained every last bit of his physical strength. He spread his hands and lay on his back, gazing at the stars above.

'Let's forget about the Shadow Clone training for now.'

Besides his regular practice, he had been focusing on the *Eight Gates* mode, ninjutsu, and taijutsu training. Today's session with the new technique had completely sapped his strength.

Chiba sighed deeply.

'If only I had more time before graduation, but I also need to graduate soon.'

With this thought, Chiba slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

When the morning dew touched his face, Chiba woke up slowly. Opening his eyes, he saw the sun had already begun its ascent, its rays warming his body.

"Is it the next day already?" Chiba mumbled, sitting up in a daze and yawning. He then stood up, went back to his room to wash, his stomach rumbling with hunger.

After cleaning up and buying two extra-large steamed buns from the village, Chiba walked into the academy and returned to his usual seat in the familiar classroom. He began eating the steamed buns and soon fell asleep.

The other students in the class cast their gazes towards him, filled with misunderstanding, disbelief, and a trace of fear.

After all, Chiba had fought with two geniuses the day before, breaking Yukina Hyuga's *Vacuum Palm* with a single punch and defeating Hirohiko Uchiha with unmatched speed. To the students, he was no longer unnoticed. He was now the top of the class in terms of actual combat.

"Morning," a voice said from behind Chiba.

Chiba, still focused on his bun, didn't respond until he saw Hirohiko Uchiha's figure pass by him. It took a moment for him to react, looking around as if he was the only one in the vicinity.

Hirohiko Uchiha was greeting him!

Being used to being overlooked, Chiba had grown accustomed to not being greeted, almost believing it was someone else being addressed.

"Oh... morning," Chiba finally responded, looking at Hirohiko Uchiha.

Hirohiko nodded, sitting down in front of Chiba, and mentioned, "I met the teacher just now, and he asked the three of us to sit together."

"Huh?" Chiba was startled.

The academy's seating was usually free choice, without fixed positions. The sudden request by the teacher for them to sit together puzzled him.

'Ah, right, three. Who is the third one?' Chiba wondered.

Though puzzled, Chiba didn't ask further. Instead, he continued to support his chin with one hand and nibble on the extra-large steamed bun with the other.

Hirohiko Uchiha also seemed distant, sitting in front of Chiba, gazing out the window, lost in thought.

"Morning," someone else entered and greeted.

"Morning," Hirohiko Uchiha responded.

Chiba didn't reply, feeling the greeting was meant for Hirohiko Uchiha, not himself.

But the voice sounded familiar.

Then a figure sat down beside Chiba.

Turning in slight surprise, Chiba saw Yukina sitting upright next to him. Noticing his gaze, she turned her head and nodded slightly.

Chiba chewed his steamed bun a few more times, startled that the "Morning" greeting was also meant for him.

"Morning," Chiba said belatedly.

"Morning," Yukina Hyuga repeated. "Today the teacher asked the three of us to sit together."

"Oh..." Chiba replied.

'Why do they all know, and I don't?' Chiba felt disheartened.

"Hey! Look!" At that moment, the students seemed to notice something and pointed towards the three at the back of the class.

"What's going on? Hirohiko and Yukina sitting next to Chiba Taki? What's that about?"

"That's unusual, Yukina and Hirohiko don't like being crowded."

"These three..."

The classmates exchanged glances, then all eyes landed on Chiba, filled with envy and jealousy.

Chiba Taki was indeed lucky to be seated behind Hirohiko.

'I want to sit behind Hirohiko too, or even in front! Sitting next to him, I would have no regrets in this life!'

The girls thought so.

'This damn Chiba Taki! How lucky to sit next to Yukina! I want to sit next to Yukina too, no! The back is also OK! No, no, no! I would be satisfied in the front! Damn, I'm so envious!'

This is what the boys thought.

And Chiba, clearly feeling the gazes of the students, turned his head slightly and narrowed his eyes.

'What's the matter with you? They chose their seats themselves, haven't you seen it?'

As for Hirohiko Uchiha and Yukina Hyuga, they looked out the window, sitting with dignified expressions. They didn't even notice these gazes.

At that time, the bell for class rang.

The teacher stepped into the classroom, walked to the podium, glanced around, and after seeing the three people including Chiba at the back door, he said, "Before class, I want to announce one thing."

At that moment, the students had just returned to their seats, and when they heard the teacher's words, they all became agitated.

"Are there transfer students?"

"No? I haven't heard the news."

"I haven't heard the news either."

The students whispered among themselves.

Even Chiba was thinking about it.

'Is there really a transfer student? I remember that in the original series, only Kushina Uzumaki is a transfer student, uh... new students, no matter what, they just transferred in to study.'

However, Chiba quickly dismissed this idea.

'Now, Kakashi is 8 years old, in the team of Minato Namikaze. Minato at this time will be more than twenty. Someone like Kushina Uzumaki should be at least an adult.'

"Quiet, quiet!" The teacher pressed for silence a few times.

After the students calmed down, he announced, "Now, the Third Hokage has approved Chiba Taki, Hirohiko Uchiha, and Yukina Hyuga, the three can graduate early."

When this was said, the audience erupted into an uproar.

"What, Hirohiko graduated early?"

"Yukina graduated early?"

The students were incredulous. In addition to being incredulous, there were waves of disappointment. As second-year idols, they were actually graduating?

"Can Chiba Taki graduate early?"

Amidst the disappointment, there was no shortage of students who expressed great surprise at Chiba's early graduation.

Immediately, the class became noisy.

And Chiba himself was a little at a loss.

'I was just thinking about graduation yesterday. To graduate today? This... is coming too soon.'

But Chiba thought about it, Uchiha Hirohiko's Shadow Clone Jutsu, Yukina Hyuga's Gentle Fist, strictly speaking, are ninjutsu and taijutsu at the level of high Genin. A student who has not graduated from the Ninja Academy performing such techniques is not normal.

'And I defeated two such geniuses, naturally, I am also eligible to graduate early.'

Everything actually made sense.

As for Hirohiko Uchiha and Yukina Hyuga, they were very calm, as if this result was expected.

"Today, the three of you don't have to attend classes. Tomorrow, the Jonin who is in charge of your team will come to give you a notice. From then on, you will be formed into a team," the teacher said.

No class?

Chiba's ears perked up.

'Never mind, this means more time. More time for training!'

"Come here and receive your Ninja headband," the teacher took out three headbands.

The three students stood up one after another and walked to the podium.

"Thank you, teacher, for your continuous care!" After receiving the headband, the three of them bowed together, and then left the classroom one after another.

Hearing these words, the teacher looked at Chiba, but felt a little ashamed in his heart: 'Your achievements are the result of your hard work, this teacher... really didn't help much... sorry.'

Then, the teacher collected himself and started the class.

"Well, now we begin to explain the uncertain principles and the theory of mechanical energy."

It's just that the students, still eager to watch the three leaving outside, didn't want to listen to the class.