Just as everything settled and everyone was preparing to disperse, an Anbu ninja suddenly appeared.
"There's nothing going on here. You can head back," Hatake Sakumo said casually, assuming the Anbu had come to investigate.
"Lord White Fang, I was sent by the Hokage to deliver a message to Uzumaki Rin," the Anbu immediately knelt on one knee and replied.
"…Ah, go ahead then," Sakumo said awkwardly, realizing his mistake.
Hearing this, Uzumaki Rin walked over and asked, "The old man Hokage sent me a letter?"
"Yes. It's here," the Anbu said, pulling out a folded sheet of paper.
Damn, this counts as a letter? It was probably just written—there isn't even an envelope.
Rin unfolded it and took one look—then instantly exploded.
"Why doesn't that old man just rob me outright?! Does repairing a training ground really cost this much?! No way—I'm absolutely not paying! Go tell him I refuse to compensate that much!" Rin shouted at the Anbu.
Everyone around them twitched at the way he addressed the Hokage. As expected—raised by Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Kushina, he had fully inherited their style.
"The Hokage said that if you refuse to pay, it will be deducted from your future mission rewards," the Anbu replied calmly.
"Does that old man not want his Hokage office anymore? I can help him tear it down and build a new one!" Rin roared in frustration.
"The Hokage also said that's fine—as long as you pay, everything is negotiable. But he asked me to remind you: you've graduated from the Academy. You are now an official Genin of Konoha."
"…Right… I'm a Genin now… I understand."
After hearing that, Rin suddenly calmed down. He muttered to himself for a moment, a complicated expression appearing on his face.
"Go tell the old man I understand what he means. I'll repair the training ground—but I won't pay. And if he dares dock my mission rewards, I won't let this go," Rin said to the Anbu.
"Understood." The Anbu gave no further response and vanished in a Body Flicker.
The Jonin present all understood the exchange. Kakashi grasped part of it as well, while the others were completely confused, unable to follow the hidden meaning.
"Kakashi, what did the Hokage mean? Why did Rin calm down after hearing that?" Might Guy whispered.
"I think… the Hokage means we're no longer children. We've officially graduated—we're now shinobi of Konoha. We're no longer protected, and we can't act recklessly anymore. We must take on the responsibility of shinobi, protect Konoha, and inherit the Will of Fire," Kakashi said after thinking for a moment.
Everyone heard him.
The Jonin smiled.
As for Obito, Rin, Guy, and the other newly graduated kids, they all fell into thoughtful silence.
Sakumo looked at Kakashi with a gentle smile.
Kakashi has grown.
The future of the Hatake clan would rest in his hands. And Konoha's future… would rest on these spirited children—especially that one monster among them.
"Ah! So this is youth! No problem—leave Konoha's protection to me!" Guy suddenly roared, startling everyone out of their thoughts.
After hearing him, everyone stared at him with black lines on their faces.
"Thanks for the support!" Guy grinned, flashing teeth whiter than anything, giving a thumbs-up and even raising his thick eyebrows proudly.
…Support your head.
At that moment, Uzumaki Rin quietly left the group, walking away step by step.
He had thought of many things—far more than anyone else.
Because he had an adult's mindset.
And because he knew the future of this world.
All along, he had been conflicted.
He didn't know whether the changes he brought to this world were good or bad. He didn't know what the future would become if things continued like this. He wanted to preserve the original storyline… yet also wanted the people around him to remain safe.
In his previous life, he had been an orphan. The old director had raised him, but he had been born with a congenital heart condition. His future had been decided from the start. When the old director passed away, his emotional collapse had triggered his death.
In this life, Jiraiya had brought him to Konoha. He grew up with Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kushina, and Minato.
To him… they were family.
In his previous life, he had no ability, no money—he could only watch helplessly as the old director died.
But now?
Now he had power.
Was he supposed to just watch these people die too?
Impossible.
He could never accept that.
As he walked, he spoke slowly:
"When I was little, Jiraiya took me to the women's bathhouse for 'inspiration.' When we got caught, he threw me out as a scapegoat.
"When I was little, Tsunade took me gambling. One time, she lost everything and tried to pawn me off.
"When I wanted to learn jutsu, I went to Orochimaru. He gave me hundreds of scrolls to study.
"When Kushina first learned to cook, she made a whole table of food for me. I ended up vomiting and having diarrhea.
"When I went to and from school, Minato always followed behind me, worried I might be in danger.
"At school, I could watch Obito fool around every day. I could see Guy training like a maniac. I could see Kakashi with that deadpan face, not cute at all. I could see Rin being gentle and kind—even if she didn't like Obito, she still listened to him. I could see Asuma getting jealous of my relationship with Kurenai, wanting to challenge me but unable to win. I could see the teacher who was always annoyed with me but couldn't do anything about it.
"Every day, I would lie on the desk, bask in the sunlight, and sleep. At noon, I'd wake up and eat the lunch Kurenai prepared for me.
"Back then, I thought… it would be great if days like that could last forever.
"But good times are always short.
"Now we've graduated. We're Genin. And that old man deliberately sent someone to remind me—remind me of reality. Remind me that I'm no longer a child who can act willfully.
"…Fine. You win, old man."
His voice softened.
"But these memories… are the most precious things I have.
"I don't want the people in my memories to exist only as memories.
"When I grow old, I want the people who tricked me, the people I tricked, and the people who treated me well… to still be by my side. I want us to sit together and talk about the past.
"So—no matter who it is…
"Anyone who tries to destroy my most beautiful memories, anyone who tries to leave them incomplete…"
A terrifying surge of chakra erupted from his body.
Green chakra flames spiraled around him.
His hands blurred as he formed seals at incredible speed.
"…will face my cruelest punishment."
"Wood Release: Tree World Descent!!!"