"In the end, only Kumogakure yielded any progress."
Seated in his chair, Hiruzen gazed at Danzo through swirling smoke, his tone carrying unmistakable dissatisfaction.
"Since Iwagakure is already on high alert, there's naturally no chance of success there. At least the most volatile Kumogakure has lost its Eight-Tails jinchūriki—they won't initiate war anytime soon."
As if deaf to his companion's displeasure, Danzo stood expressionlessly before Tobirama's photograph, hands clasped behind his back.
"So why are you still proposing such reckless plans!"
Hiruzen slammed his extinguished pipe heavily onto the desk, snatching up the new proposal Danzo had just handed him, nearly hurling it at the man.
"We've merely stripped Kumogakure of one Tailed Beast's combat capability. Iwagakure remains unharmed—worse, we've witnessed their jinchūriki's true power. With such formidable enemies surrounding us, war has become inevitable."
Studying Tobirama's stern expression in the photograph, Danzo's voice remained steady and uncompromising, unaffected by Hiruzen's outburst.
"Relaxing early graduation requirements will grant us a substantial genin force in short order, while allowing them to experience ninja life sooner—preparing for future conflicts and enabling us to identify and cultivate exceptional talent early."
"Both our ANBU units have suffered continuous casualties recently, desperately needing fresh blood. You're well aware of this."
"But—" Hiruzen attempted to interject.
"Hiruzen, I'm not sending them to their deaths—merely ensuring they're prepared ahead of time." Seeing Hiruzen still reluctant to concede, Danzo turned and slowly settled into a nearby chair.
Hiruzen couldn't accept Danzo's reasoning. Once these children graduated early and donned their forehead protectors, they'd be subject to village conscription during wartime, forced onto battlefields to kill or be killed.
This contradicted Hashirama's founding vision for the village.
"If we don't relax early graduation now, waiting until war intensifies before conscripting them will only ensure they die faster."
Seeing Hiruzen's continued hesitation, Danzo's tone finally sharpened.
"Should Konoha fall, everyone dies—you, me, and those so-called children. The enemy won't sheathe their blades out of consideration for age!"
Slamming his hand on the desk, Danzo shot to his feet and strode directly before Hiruzen: "Hiruzen, we cannot afford naivety any longer! We must prepare in advance!"
With Danzo's face mere inches away, Hiruzen leaned back slightly, retrieved his pipe from the desk, and deliberately lit it before Danzo's eyes.
"So be it..."
...
"Have you heard? The village is relaxing early graduation requirements."
With the announcement posted, students and parents throughout the Ninja Academy quickly learned the news.
"To graduate early as genin, you need only signatures from a direct relative and your homeroom teacher."
"Really that simple? No graduation examination?"
"Apparently so. I heard the old exams randomly selected one of the Three Basic Techniques, then required grading by at least three instructors."
"This is an excellent opportunity—graduating early means I can accept missions and earn money for my sister's living expenses."
Contrary to Hiruzen's expectations, many children from civilian ninja backgrounds enthusiastically supported the decision.
Physically disadvantaged compared to clan children from birth, following normal graduation procedures would inevitably eliminate many of them.
In stark contrast to these cheering civilian students stood the clan children's indifference.
"War is truly approaching."
Asuma watched numerous classmates preparing for early graduation congregating toward the teachers' office, mentally assessing his own capabilities.
"Well, it's already considerably later than initially anticipated." Feng Bai glanced up at Guy, who was performing handstand walks at the classroom's rear, and removed Anko's arm from his shoulder.
"So, Feng Bai, shall we also apply for early graduation?"
Obito, seemingly oblivious to their discussion, eagerly wanted to join the early graduation ranks.
"That's not my decision to make..." Feng Bai rolled his eyes at the clueless Obito, yawned, and collapsed back onto his desk.
When he graduated would be the old man's call alone.
"Let's graduate together, Feng Bai! Then we can team up with Rin and make our mark across the ninja world!"
Obito's words triggered unpleasant thoughts in Feng Bai.
Damn it—if I really team up with these two, will it be me getting my heart ripped out, or Rin?
"Anyway, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Feng Bai mumbled from his desk.
...
"Here's the Flying Thunder God Technique and the early graduation application—I've already signed both."
Seated at the sofa's center, Danzo indicated two items on the table with his finger.
So this moment had finally arrived.
Feng Bai straightened with renewed focus, his heart racing with excitement.
Becoming a ninja, engaging enemies on actual battlefields...
This was entirely different from routine training beatings—at least Yamanaka Zen and Shimura Ikku knew restraint. Enemy village ninja would be coming for his life.
"In any case, give your best effort. Until you achieve chūnin rank, simply follow Hiruzen's arrangements and execute missions alongside your teammates."
Feng Bai would graduate early. Asuma would also graduate early.
Learning this news, Obito dragged Rin to submit both their applications without delay.
The result, however...
"Why?!!!"
Staring at the "Approved" stamp on his own application, Obito was devastated.
His application sailed through smoothly, but Rin's was rejected by Makoto Ito, citing insufficient capability.
"Moron."
Kakashi, reading manga nearby, delivered his cutting assessment.
"Damn it! Without Rin, I refuse to acknowledge any ninja career!" Obito pounded the desk, preparing to confront Ito directly, but Feng Bai restrained him.
"Listen, Obito—sensei's looking out for Rin's welfare. Besides medical ninjutsu and academic subjects, her other coursework barely reaches passing grades. Moreover..."
Feng Bai gestured toward the surrounding empty seats: "So many have already graduated—if Ito-sensei approved several more, he'd have no students left to teach."
In Feng Bai's view, Rin's rejection for early graduation was actually fortuitous—at least temporarily eliminating concerns about Obito being lured away by some suspicious old man, or worse, the mentally unstable Obito cradling Rin's corpse while screaming "I'll create a world with Rin in it!"
[TN-Final: Original Term - "老登" - Final Translation: "old man/old schemer" - Justification: Context-dependent slang referring to Danzo, maintaining the informal, slightly disrespectful tone while being comprehensible to English readers]
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