A graduation exam wasn't simply about showing off the basic Clone Jutsu or passing a written test. It included knowledge of mission roles, situational analysis, and ethical decision-making in the field.
The academic portion was even more challenging.
In addition, there was a physical and combat component. Garou Zenin had expected that Lord Third would assign a chunin instructor to evaluate him.
Instead, the Hokage created a Shadow Clone of himself. "I'll personally oversee your physical assessment," the Third Hokage said with a mild smile.
"If you can force me to use anything beyond pure taijutsu, you pass."
The real Sarutobi tapped his pipe against the table but refrained from lighting it, respecting the indoor environment of the Academy.
"Should we move somewhere more spacious?" Garou asked, glancing around.
"No need," the Hokage replied lightly.
Garou bowed slightly in acknowledgment. Facing the Shadow Clone, he and the Third exchanged the customary "Seal of Confrontation."
Then, without any more preamble, chakra surged around Garou's fist as he launched the first blow. The Hokage's clone didn't use ninjutsu, relying instead on basic chakra reinforcement to block the attack barehanded.
But the moment he made contact, the chakra embedded in Garou's punch exploded outward.
Without a pause, Garou followed up with a second strike, moving so swiftly it almost blurred. At the same time, he secretly condensed a small Rasengan in his right hand, striking with his left as a feint before swinging the Rasengan at the Hokage's midsection.
It's just a Shadow Clone, Garou thought. No need to hold back.
The Third Hokage's clone blinked in surprise.
Such fine control!
The boy could concentrate chakra into a blow without injuring himself and could mold a one-handed Rasengan in the midst of combat, a feat many jonin would struggle with.
A terrifying natural talent.
Sarutobi's clone twisted to block both attacks, then flashed behind Garou in a textbook movement, sweeping a kick low for his legs.
But Garou dodged with a swift sidestep, their speed almost matched.
The Hokage narrowed his eyes slightly. Even accounting for his old age and natural physical decline, his taijutsu was still equivalent to that of an elite chunin. Yet Garou was matching him move for move.
Guy hadn't exaggerated a single word.
For several exchanges, they battled fiercely. The Shadow Clone, relying solely on taijutsu, could not overpower Garou. As the clone retreated slightly, Garou hurled four or five kunai in a rapid spread.
The Hokage's clone immediately sensed something odd.
Chakra threads.
Thin, almost invisible strands of chakra attached to each kunai.
His instincts sharpened. With precise movements, he slashed three of the threads with his own kunai, but the remaining ones twisted through the air unpredictably, homing in on him.
When the kunai struck, the clone transformed into a block of wood.
Substitution Jutsu.
From his new vantage, the Hokage clone watched, impressed. "You've mastered chakra threads and used them fluidly in actual combat. Very impressive."
As the professor of ninjutsu, Sarutobi immediately saw the depth behind Garou's techniques. Not only were his chakra threads finer and tougher than average, but his ability to manipulate them mid-flight was exquisite. Such control was rare.
With the skills Garou demonstrated, he was already beyond most fresh graduates.
A true genius.
Even without nature transformation, as Garou had claimed, shape manipulation still had immense potential.
"Lord Hokage," Garou said, panting lightly but standing straight, "how did I do?"
"You pass," the Third Hokage said with a warm smile. "From now on, you'll only need to submit a weekly report to the medical division and the Academy. You are excused from regular classes."
He wasn't going to formally allow early graduation but by exploiting loopholes, he could approve a 'special study track.'
"Thank you very much!" Garou said, bowing deeply.
Getting into the medical division was vital for him.
One reason was for his physical development.
Proper medical knowledge was essential for safely pushing the body's limits.
The other was for deeper research.
To develop advanced taijutsu techniques, like the terrifying superhuman strength of Tsunade, one needed an intimate understanding of muscle fibers, human anatomy, and chakra pathways.
Trying to recreate such techniques blindly was a death wish.
"You earned it yourself," the Hokage said, shaking his head slightly with a smile. "No need to thank me. Thank your own hard work."
He hesitated for a second, then asked curiously, "Why did you think to train with chakra threads?"
Garou explained honestly.
Initially, he hadn't been aiming to master chakra threads. He had wanted to condense chakra to a degree where it could physically break objects, then blend it into taijutsu strikes. Understanding that, Sarutobi immediately connected the dots.
Chakra scalpels.
It made sense why Garou wanted access to the medical division.
The boy wasn't just thinking about brute force.
He was learning from parallel fields, borrowing concepts, refining them into his own martial system. His planning was meticulous and forward-thinking.
A deep sadness flickered across the Third Hokage's face.
In Garou, he caught a faint glimpse of someone he had once believed in... a student he had once cherished... who now wore the cloak of a rogue ninja.
For a long moment, Sarutobi said nothing, before finally waving his hand, signaling that Garou could leave.
—
Garou didn't notice the Hokage's conflicted expression.
He bowed again and exited the room quietly.
Only after stepping into the corridor did he let out a long breath. Facing the Hokage's clone had been intense. And truthfully, he could have made the fight even easier.
Yesterday, he had almost perfected an optimized Rasengan technique.
Thanks to his chakra control, he could now form and launch a Rasengan within two breaths.
But simply winning wasn't the point today.
He needed to display the full breadth of his capabilities, to earn not just permission, but respect. He needed Sarutobi to see him as a serious investment, someone worth granting access to resources.
Because in this world, especially for an orphaned civilian like himself, books and scrolls were worth far more than money.
Garou slipped back into the classroom as if nothing had happened.
He listened to the lectures, took notes, and kept his head down.
The teachers said nothing about his meeting with the Hokage; everything continued as normal.
After class, Garou laced up his shoes and, as usual, started jogging laps around the Hidden Leaf Village.
Training never stopped.
---
Somewhere along the village's winding streets.
"Hey, I heard the Hokage visited your school today?" Might Guy called out, jogging up to him.
"Yes, Guy-sensei," Garou replied, slowing his pace slightly. "He met with me. I'm now allowed to study with the medical division."
Garou's gratitude was heartfelt. "It's all thanks to you, Sensei. I'll never forget what you did for me."
Guy laughed heartily, scratching the back of his head.
"Hahaha! Don't mention it, my youthful student! It's all because of your own burning spirit!"
Then he paused, frowning slightly.
"Wait... you're going to the medical corps? To study medical ninjutsu?"
Garou shook his head. "No, Sensei. I lack the ability to perform even nature transformations. It's not about learning healing jutsu. I want a broader, deeper understanding of human anatomy."
"Huh?!"
Guy looked utterly baffled. He couldn't wrap his head around it.
But after a moment, he simply shrugged and burst out laughing again.
"Well, I don't really get it. But if it's what you believe in, go for it! The flames of youth must burn bright! Let's go find Lee!"
"...Right."
Garou chuckled softly, letting Guy's infectious energy buoy his own spirit.
The two of them sprinted into the fading sunlight, leaving behind long shadows that danced on the village walls.
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