After the silent and very long breakfast, I made my way toward the class. On my way, I met many classmates, but, just like yesterday, I held myself back, suppressing my presence and breath. I walked quickly past them, not letting anyone interrupt me or drag me into meaningless greetings.
One unusual thing stood out: Hana was blocking the academy gates, refusing to let anyone pass. I had no clue why, but frankly, I didn't care enough to find out. Instead, I decided to avoid the trouble altogether. Climbing the wall, I jumped to the nearest tree, then from there to the rooftop, and finally slid down to a window. Just like that—voilà—I ended up in the hallway.
But I didn't go to class directly. Instead, I headed straight for my homeroom teacher. His name... what was it again? Ah, yes, Daikoku Funeno. Such a weird name, almost too odd to remember. I ran into him as he was grabbing his books, getting ready to go to class. I stopped him and said,
"Daikoku-sensei, I am Akira from your class."
He looked for a brief moment like he didn't recognize me, but he quickly masked his confusion. "Ahh, yes, you are the one who beat Hana, am I right?"
I nodded. "Yes, sensei. I also want to tell you something important."
He seemed intrigued by my seriousness. "Tell me."
I quietly reached into my pocket and handed him a folded page. Daikoku-sensei unfolded it and started reading. The more he read, the wider his eyes grew. His face twisted into a sour, bewildered expression. It took him a moment to get control of himself before he asked,
"Akira… do you really want to graduate THIS early?"
I nodded.
"Did you have permission from your guardian?"
I nodded again.
"Is this just a way to test yourself? To see your current level and then try again next year to beat the test?" He was obviously trying to believe this was just a passing fancy.
I sighed, heavy and pointed. "Sensei, I am actually applying for early graduation. I have both consent from my guardian, and I am serious about this. And… no, I am not being forced. I am doing this with my own permission. Just to be clear, before you ask something ridiculous again."
His mouth twitched just a bit. "Ridiculous? You're demanding something more ridiculous than I am... kid, do you even understand what you are applying for? This test will not be easy. You must possess the strength to pass, and not only strength, but theoretical knowledge too. Don't follow Kakashi's example; he was a genius from birth and supported by his father, who was a Kage-level shinobi. Don't compare yourself to him. Look, just go back, think about it, and then we can meet again tomorrow."
I didn't move, standing right where I was, staring at him like I dared him to challenge me again.
He eyed me for a long moment and finally broke, sighing as he put his books back on the desk. He folded up my application and tucked it away in his pocket. "Okay. Now go to class. I must tell this to Hokage-sama, as only he has the authority to allow you to graduate."
I just nodded and walked off, while he slipped out the window toward the Hokage's office. I watched him disappear, then with a quick flicker of movement, I raced up to the roof and headed off to find Kushina-sensei.
I was almost sure Minato-sensei would not approve. And maybe that old monkey bastard would just drag out some Will of Fire philosophy and twist Minato's answer to a no. The only person in the whole village who could snap the Hokage's neck and walk away without punishment was... his wife. So yes, I was going to Kushina-sensei, hoping she'd convince Minato.
And how would I do that? Well... puppy dog eyes. Cheesy, maybe, but redheads and tsundere types never seem immune.
So, I dashed rooftop to rooftop, heading for the outskirts where Kushina-sensei and Minato-sensei's house sat. While I was running, I sensed a familiar chakra presence nearby… Kakashi. Easily recognizable, clearly stationed by Minato to keep an eye on Kushina. Though I never understood why he always hid in the trees. If he just sat with her, she'd definitely prefer that to being stalked from behind a leaf.
I sighed as I reached the door and knocked. Instantly, I felt three watching eyes: Kakashi, an ANBU, and, of course, Kushina. I looked straight at Kakashi, didn't hesitate, and smiled.
"You can come out. I know you're there. And Kushina-sensei probably already knows about you anyway."
Suddenly, there was complete silence, followed by soft footsteps from inside. The latch clicked, and the door opened.
Kushina-sensei stood there, her belly just a little swollen, visible but not that obvious. Surprise flashed on her face when she saw me, but it melted into one of those brilliantly warm smiles I always remembered. She pulled me into a gentle hug, never tight, just welcoming, full of a kindness I hadn't felt in ages.
I hugged her back. "Kushina-sensei… I missed it."
She leaned away, searching my face. "Me too. When I learned what happened, I thought… maybe our relationship wouldn't be the same as before. And when I saw you yesterday, I hesitated. Your eyes looked dim. I thought it might be better not to hurt you more." She tilted her head, studying my expression. "But today your eyes are… glowing. Not much, but brighter than yesterday. And your shoulders, they look less tense."
I just listened silently. She had been worried, I knew that much. Ignoring her yesterday had been wrong, but she still welcomed me now with the same open heart she always showed.
She stepped aside, inviting me in. When I crossed the threshold, I paused.
"Kushina-sensei, should we invite Kakashi, too?"
"Yes," she said instantly, glancing past me toward the shrubs. "I've told him so many times to just sit with me, but he never listens."
After a moment, Kakashi emerged from the greenery, looking thoroughly defeated as he scratched the back of his head. "Kushina-sensei, it's my job to protect you from the shadows. If something happens, I can react—"
"Mmm. If something did happen, I'd deal with it faster than you could react," Kushina interrupted, her pride not even trying to hide.
She deserved that pride, no question. Even in the original canon, everyone knew how strong Kushina was, and it wasn't just Kurama within her that made the difference. As an Uzumaki, she was at least Jōnin-level. If she hadn't been held away from the battlefield, she'd have been considered an elite Jōnin already. Those giant chakra reserves, adamantine chains, and sealing techniques, she'd be complete chaos on any front line.
The three of us headed inside. Kushina-sensei went straight to the kitchen. "I'll get some snacks."
"Let me help, Kushina-sensei," I offered.
She glanced back, smiling. "No need. You rest. I'm only four months in, I can handle snacks on my own."
"It's not that," I said, following after her. "I just want to help you, that's all."
We walked into the kitchen, and I traced the familiar pattern of a seal, placing noise suppression, tight, clean, and effective.
Kushina blinked. "Akira, what are you doing? Why the noise suppression seal?"
I didn't answer straight away. I turned to face her directly. "Kushina-sensei… this might sound selfish, but I need your help."
Her surprise melted quickly into seriousness. "What do you need?"
I took a slow breath. "You know, I just enrolled in the academy yesterday. After thinking about everything, I decided I want to graduate early. Not just early, but within this month if possible. Please, I need your help to convince Minato-sensei to let me graduate."
She became very quiet, considering my words. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft but direct. "Akira, are you sure? You know, being a ninja is a harsh, brutal way to live. I know you can handle it, but… you'll be giving up your childhood. In exchange for what, strength?" She shook her head slowly. "Please think it over. As for Minato... I think he'd approve anyway. He'll ask you for your reason. And even if he doesn't approve, even I can't change his mind."
I looked down at my hands and then back up. "Kushina-sensei… my childhood ended the same day my father died. Now my only goal is to get stronger, faster, and protect what I have left. Please…"
Silence hung between us. Kushina finally sighed and gave me a gentle thump on the head, the kind Garp was famous for, more painful than affectionate. "You always make things so gloomy," she joked, warmth threading through her voice. "But I'll see what I can do for permission."
I laughed quietly, holding my skull where she'd whacked me. Then I helped her prepare snacks. We carried them into the living room, where Kakashi was sprawled out on the couch, half-asleep and watching us like a sulky cat.
At first, the conversation felt stilted. Kakashi couldn't quite figure out how to talk to me, after all the distance I'd put between myself and him, and Rin. But words have a way of smoothing awkwardness. As we talked, his guard dropped. We shifted from awkward chitchat to laughter, discussing everything from Itachi's rumored new girlfriend to Kakashi's weird situation with Rin, and Minato's infinite duties. Before long, the living room felt lighter, laughter filling the air. For a while, it felt like nothing had ever gone wrong.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office—
Minato sat behind his desk, his face outwardly calm but his eyes sharp and penetrating. Hiruzen sat rigidly in the visitor's chair across from him, measuring every word and every gesture. Behind them stood Daikoku Funeno, completely silent except for the faint sheen of sweat gleaming at his temple as he watched Minato read through Akira's letter asking for early graduation.
As Minato read, the corner of his mouth twitched more than once, betraying his conflicted thoughts. After a while, he handed the letter over to Hiruzen, the Third Hokage. Hiruzen's brow rose as he skimmed the page; his usually composed expression gave way to flickers of surprise and disbelief, especially as he took in the blunt, almost arrogant declaration that Akira was strong enough to surpass the teachers currently leading him. The letter even closed with a brazen, near-childish warning: that Kushina would be called upon to pressure the Hokage into granting Akira's request, and she was already on board.
Hiruzen let out a low, incredulous sound. "Minato… are you truly going to accept reasoning like this?"
Minato paused, drawing in a careful breath, then turned to Daikoku. "Did Akira seem serious when he gave you this letter?"
Daikoku bowed deeply, voice steady. "Yes, Hokage-sama. He was entirely serious."
Minato became thoughtful. "Very well. You may head back to the academy for now. I'll inform you of the decision later; you still have classes to conduct." Daikoku bowed again and departed quietly.
As soon as the door closed, Hiruzen leaned in, his voice sharper. "Let him take the exam. If he doesn't have the necessary strength, we'll use that as the reason to deny him. A talent like his must be carefully managed, not thrown recklessly into danger."
Minato's posture softened just a bit, worry and responsibility mixing in his eyes. "Strength isn't the only thing at stake here. When he was four, he'd already mastered the three basic academy jutsu and could pull off D–C rank elemental techniques. His taijutsu was Genin-level, and his power rivaled seasoned Genin. Two years of training, and he's at least Chūnin level now. Granted, not quite Jōnin material yet, but certainly a quasi-elite Chūnin if you factor in the clan secrets he's studied from the Nara and Yamanaka. The real limits right now are his chakra reserves and raw physical development; his body simply hasn't caught up yet."
Hiruzen's lips pulled into a thin, thoughtful line, somewhere between shock and a kind of cautious admiration. Minato continued, his voice dropping lower, confiding. "What worries me isn't his power. It's his motivations. I suspect he's using strength as a way to drown out the pain of losing his father. He's far too mature for his age, and that mindset is unstable. Even Inoichi-senpai, who's supposed to keep an eye on him, seems to have let him wander down this path. I honestly don't know what Akira's true intentions are."
Hiruzen didn't mince words. "If you're unsure how to proceed, stall him. Or simply refuse his request. A prodigy like that needs careful nurturing, safety before spectacle."
Minato's jaw tightened as resolve flickered in his eyes. "Even if I turned him down now, he'd just find an even more outrageous way to get what he wants. He's the most unpredictable kid I've ever met, full of tantrums, but he's got the strength to back it all up. I need to hear his reasoning, face to face, before passing judgment."
Just then, with near-silent precision, an ANBU wearing a tiger-patterned mask appeared at the doorway and knelt. Minato glanced up and spoke, "Go and bring Akira Nara to me. It's about his letter requesting early graduation."
The ANBU bowed deeply, then vanished with quiet efficiency, leaving the office charged with anticipation.
-----
As I chatted with Kushina-sensei and Kakashi, a subtle presence brushed against my sensing field, a swift and silent presence approaching, unmistakably ANBU. I halted mid-conversation, noticing that both Kushina and Kakashi had sensed it too; the tension in their faces made it clear we were all on alert.
A few moments later, a sharp knock rang out through the quiet of the house. Kakashi moved to stand, but I raised a hand to stop him.
"No need. He's probably here for me," I said, keeping my voice calm as I got to my feet.
Sliding open the door, I found a figure in a tiger-patterned mask waiting on the threshold. The ANBU's gaze met mine, focused and steady, as he spoke in a low, official tone:
"Akira, Lord Hokage has summoned you."
I nodded briefly in acknowledgment. Without another word, he melted away into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he'd appeared. I turned back to face Kushina-sensei and Kakashi.
"It seems Lord Hokage has summoned me. I'll see you both later," I said, taking one last moment to let my gaze linger on Kushina-sensei's gentle face before flickering away, racing toward the Hokage's building.
As my presence faded from the house, Kakashi frowned, lines appearing between his brows. "Why did Minato-sensei call Akira now?" he muttered.
Kushina was quiet for a beat, then her lips curled into a knowing smile. "You'll know soon enough," she replied. There was mischief in her eyes as she leaned forward, teasing,
"By the way, Kakashi… since you and Rin are already together, when are you going to ask her to marry you?"
Her words struck Kakashi with full force, his face flared crimson, and he stammered, "S-Sensei! We're way too young for that!"
Kushina couldn't contain herself. She burst into a loud, hearty laugh that rattled the walls and left Kakashi completely flustered, caught between embarrassment and disbelief at her playful jab.
Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's Office—
Minato sat at his desk, the ever-senile monkey "Sarutobi" beside him. The two of them were deep in discussion about my early graduation request when, with a quiet, almost imperceptible flicker, I landed just outside their door. Their conversation stopped cold, attention turning toward me as my presence made itself known.
Two clear, deliberate knocks echoed through the office.
"Come in," Minato called, voice calm but expectant.
I stepped inside with composure, and instantly, my eyes found Minato-sensei sitting in the Hokage's chair. His signature sunny smile was still there, but this time I could see the cracks—the tension in his furrowed brows and faint lines of frustration across his forehead. I could almost imagine Danzo and that trio of fossils weighing down his mood.
Just short of Sarutobi, a man everyone called the "senile monkey," I stopped. His gaze was sharp, scrutinizing me as if trying to peel back every layer and measure my worth. I met Minato's eyes briefly, then bowed, not an ingratiating bow, but enough to convey a mix of respect and defiant self-assurance.
"Good morning, Lord Hokage. You called for me," I said evenly.
"Morning, Akira." Minato's smile didn't falter, though it softened at the corners. "Yes, I did. This is about your request for early graduation."
I tilted my head just slightly. "Is there some problem?"
Before Minato could respond, Sarutobi spoke up, his voice a blend of authority and that forced, gentle tone reserved for lectures. "You applied for graduation unusually early. Both Minato and I are concerned about your decision. We wish to understand your reasons."
I didn't look at him. I kept my focus on Minato. "Lord Hokage, I didn't think it was obligatory to explain myself. As long as I am strong and capable, shouldn't I be allowed to graduate? Isn't that the rule?" My words came out with deliberate edge, provocative, laced with defiance.
Minato's smile didn't waver, but I could see he'd registered the challenge. Sarutobi, though, allowed his irritation to flash for a second before forcibly masking it. "Akira, you are talented, exceptional, even. That's exactly why we worry. The future of Konoha depends on prodigies like you. It's our duty to guide you properly, to steer you away from reckless choices."
I almost laughed outright at his self-important words. The old monkey played a benevolent elder well, but I saw through it. His true loyalty was to the village, not its people. If it served his idea of peace, he'd wipe out a clan with his own hands, no remorse.
I said nothing. I simply waited.
Minato finally spoke up, voice patient yet heavy with responsibility. "Akira… Indeed, the rules don't demand an explanation. Still," he paused, his smile dissolving into sober concern, "as Hokage, and as a friend to your uncles, I have a duty to ask why you are so set on this."
I studied him closely. His eyes, his posture, the feel of his chakra, none of it revealed any deceit. Only genuine concern. After a moment of silence, I finally replied.
"The academy has nothing left to teach me. If I stay, it will be a waste of time. If I want to grow stronger, I need to face real battles. That's why I want to graduate early. My goal is to join the Anbu this year."
Minato seemed stunned for a moment. His composure returned quickly, but the air in the room thickened. "The Anbu? Akira, why such a rush? You're already gifted. With time, your strength will develop naturally. There's no need to throw yourself into danger so soon."
I cut him off before he could finish. "Only danger sharpens a shinobi. Only a life-and-death struggle awakens real instinct. If I want the strength to protect myself and the ones I care about, then I must accept whatever danger comes my way."
I said it firmly, no hesitation in my voice.
The room went silent. Minato's gaze bore into me, unreadable. Sarutobi leaned forward, clear displeasure in his eyes. "Strength can be earned without recklessness. If you'd like, I can assign a jōnin or chūnin instructor to train you. Staying at the academy will grow your skills further and help you build bonds with your peers, bonds that nurture the Will of Fire."
For the first time, I turned to meet his eyes head-on, replying coldly.
"Bonds that can be severed so easily aren't worth having. Half of my classmates will drop out within a year. Many of the rest will never make it past chūnin, and some will die in pointless skirmishes. What good are bonds that vanish with the passage of time, retirement, or death? Those ties only bring pain."
I looked back at Minato, steady and resolute.
"The bonds I've already formed, the ones that deserve protection, those are the only ones I'll put my faith in. Nothing else matters."
"""
(A/N) — Hello everyone, long time no see! After the recent update, I was recovering from an accident. Then the mid-semester exams came up, and since my hands were still usable, they didn't let me skip them, so I had to focus on studying. Now that the exams are over, I'll continue writing and try to keep the updates coming more consistently.
"""