At the age of twelve, Haruto finally reached graduation season at the Ninja Academy.
On this day, the Third Hokage gathered a number of Konoha’s elite jonin in the Hokage’s office.
Officially, it was to evaluate the quality of this year’s graduates.
In reality, it was simply letting the future instructors get an early look at the students they would soon be taking on.
Inside the classroom, the atmosphere was somewhat tense.
Haruto sat calmly between Hinata and Ino, a scene that had remained unchanged for four straight years.
Now twelve, the girls were beginning to mature, still youthful but already showing the first signs of adolescence.
At this age, boys and girls had usually started keeping some distance from one another.
Yet these two stubbornly stuck to Haruto like always, showing absolutely no intention of avoiding gossip.
Ino watched as one classmate after another was called into the examination room next door.
Her palms were sweating.
“I wonder if Iruka-sensei will go easy on us this time. I’m so nervous.”
Haruto remained completely unfazed.
“What’s there to worry about? With our class’s level, everyone except a few dead-last students should pass with their eyes closed.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Naruto, who was sitting some distance away drenched in sweat and visibly panicking.
Then he added mercilessly,
“Of course, Naruto’s probably doomed.”
The graduation exam was laughably simple.
It was just one of the Three Basic Techniques.
For someone like Haruto, who already possessed Kage-level strength, it was beyond trivial.
Even with the mediocre level he normally pretended to have, passing would be effortless.
Hinata nodded gently.
“Haruto-kun is right. This kind of test really isn’t difficult.”
Still, when she looked at Naruto, concern appeared in her eyes.
“But Naruto-kun looks really anxious. Things don’t seem very good for him.”
She genuinely worried about him.
After all, she still remembered the time he had stood up for her when they were children.
Though her childish crush had long since faded, her gratitude remained real.
It was basic human decency.
Ino pouted and changed the topic.
“I’m not worried about the exam. I’m worried about team assignments. Do you think the three of us can end up on the same squad? Or at least let me be on a team with Haruto!”
Haruto felt absolutely nothing about the matter.
Kakashi had already given him a hint yesterday and had apparently arranged a powerful instructor for him.
As for Ino and Hinata, both came from major clans.
The Third Hokage had long since decided their future team leaders—Asuma and Kurenai.
The odds of Haruto ending up on the same squad as them were practically zero.
Hinata looked at Haruto’s indifferent expression.
A trace of unease appeared in her eyes.
“Haruto-kun… do you think we really have a chance to be assigned together?”
Looking at her hopeful pale eyes, Haruto smiled and cruelly shattered her expectations.
“Not very likely.”
“Why not?” Ino immediately protested.
“I think there’s a good chance!”
Haruto didn’t explain too much.
Instead, he casually made up an excuse.
“Use your brain. You’re third in the class. Hinata’s always second. Me? I’ve been fifteenth forever. How could that kind of lineup end up in the same team? You two are more likely to be grouped together.”
Ino immediately became unhappy.
“What? Team assignments aren’t based on rankings! If they were, then our class…”
She stopped halfway through her sentence.
Apparently she’d suddenly realized something and swallowed the rest.
Hinata understood perfectly well too.
The possibility of her and Ino ending up on the same team as Haruto was almost nonexistent.
There were political considerations involving both the Hyuga Clan and the Yamanaka Clan.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage’s office, the Third Hokage and a group of jonin stared intently at the crystal ball.
Nobody paid attention to Haruto sitting in the corner of the classroom.
Their attention was entirely focused on Sasuke Uchiha.
Aside from the Third occasionally glancing at Naruto, everyone else had eyes only for the last surviving Uchiha.
Only Kakashi’s gaze remained fixed on Haruto.
A slight smile appeared beneath his mask.
“This brat… after all these years of hiding, he finally graduated.”
For some reason, Kakashi felt a fatherly sense of satisfaction.
Once the exams concluded and the Third Hokage finalized things, the team assignments would be decided.
Naruto was called into the examination room amidst utter chaos.
A long while later, he came back out looking utterly dejected.
One glance at his face was enough to tell everyone he had failed.
After that, Iruka called Ino and Hinata in one after another.
This time, the exam was the Clone Technique.
Unfortunately, that happened to be Naruto’s greatest weakness.
To be precise, aside from his bizarre Sexy Technique, Naruto hadn’t truly mastered a single proper ninjutsu.
Among the Three Basic Techniques, only Transformation was remotely acceptable.
The others were complete disasters.
So failing was entirely expected.
Watching Naruto’s miserable expression, Kakashi sighed helplessly.
“If Minato-sensei could see his son now, I wonder if he’d be so angry he’d climb out of his grave. Though with his personality… he’d probably just smile bitterly and encourage him.”
With the Fourth Hokage’s optimistic nature, disappointment likely wasn’t even an option.
He’d probably just give Naruto another motivational speech.
The surrounding jonin whispered among themselves.
Most felt pity.
Only Kakashi knew the truth.
Naruto was the Fourth Hokage’s son.
Compared to Minato’s astonishing talent, Naruto’s current performance was honestly hard to watch.
After all, Naruto was mixed-blood.
The Uzumaki bloodline had been diluted.
Though deep within him still slumbered the chakra of Asura’s reincarnation—a soul-level cheat that simply hadn’t awakened yet.
Soon afterward, both Ino and Hinata received perfect scores with textbook performances.
The Third Hokage stroked his beard approvingly.
“As expected of the Yamanaka and Hyuga clans. These girls have excellent fundamentals.”
Both already possessed combat abilities worthy of genin.
Even the Third felt pleasantly surprised.
Their performance was already approaching Sasuke’s level.
Looking through the records, however, he wasn’t shocked.
Hinata and Ino had consistently ranked second and third in academic performance.
As for first place—
That throne belonged permanently to Sasuke.
After receiving the forehead protector that symbolized becoming a ninja, Ino immediately ran over to Haruto and proudly showed it off.
“Look, Haruto! I got mine too! Do you think it looks cooler on my forehead, or should I wear it on my arm?”
Haruto smiled.
“You’re pretty enough that it’d look good anywhere. But if you ask me, wearing it on your arm has more personality.”
Originally, Ino had been considering using it as a belt.
That bizarre thought process left Haruto speechless.
Ino immediately nodded.
“Alright! I’ll listen to you.”
Meanwhile, Hinata carefully hung hers around her neck.
That choice also made Haruto want to laugh.
Still, he didn’t comment.
As long as she liked it, who cared?
Back in the Hokage’s office, the Third frowned as he watched Haruto chatting happily with two daughters of major clans.
“Who is that boy? Why is he so close to the Hyuga and Yamanaka girls?”
The Third wasn’t curious for any romantic reason.
He simply found it strange.
How had a civilian kid with average grades managed to gain the favor of two clan heiresses?
It was highly unusual.
The other jonin exchanged confused looks.
None of them recognized him.
At that moment, Kakashi finally spoke.
“His name is Haruto. He’s an interesting kid.”
The room immediately erupted.
Every jonin stared at Kakashi in shock.
The famously aloof Copy Ninja actually knew some ordinary academy student?
That made even less sense.
The Third widened his eyes.
“Oh? Kakashi, you actually know him?”
Kakashi nodded casually.
“More or less. He’s got a good temperament. His grades are average, but he’s very steady.”
The Third looked suspiciously between Kakashi and the image of Haruto surrounded by two girls.
“He does seem likable enough.”
But the feeling of something being off only grew stronger.
Could personality alone really earn Kakashi’s attention?
Obviously, there had to be more between them.
Ever since losing his father, teammates, and teacher, Kakashi had become emotionally distant.
During his ANBU years, he had practically been a machine.
The Third had assigned him multiple genin squads over the years.
Every single one had been rejected.
That alone proved Kakashi wasn’t the type to become attached to someone simply because they had a pleasant personality.
Standing nearby as part of the Hokage’s security detail, Yugao Uzuki watched Haruto through the crystal ball.
A small smile appeared beneath her mask.
“The brat finally graduated.”
She genuinely looked forward to seeing him shine in the future.
Maybe one day he really would surpass the legend of the Fourth Hokage.
Just then, Iruka called Haruto’s name.
The Third immediately became interested.
He focused on the examination room.
“I’d like to see what exactly makes this kid special enough to catch Kakashi’s attention.”
In all of Konoha, aside from himself and Danzo, Kakashi stood among the strongest shinobi.
The Third had even privately considered making Kakashi the Fifth Hokage if Tsunade and Jiraiya never returned.
That was why he took Kakashi’s opinions seriously.
Bringing him out to train genin was partly to help build his reputation.
Inside the examination room, Haruto sensed he was being observed.
His perception abilities had long since surpassed ordinary standards.
So he decisively chose to hide his abilities.
He displayed nothing remarkable.
Like an ordinary graduate, he completed the Three Basic Techniques in a perfectly average manner.
The watching jonin were immediately disappointed.
This was it?
He looked painfully mediocre.
Compared to Sasuke, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Even Ino and Hinata appeared far more impressive.
Just what kind of spell had this kid cast on Kakashi?
Was it really just because he had a good personality?
Even the Third couldn’t see anything special.
After a moment, he lost interest.
Haruto received his forehead protector and exited the room.
The instant he appeared, Ino and Hinata rushed over.
Without asking, Ino snatched the protector from his hand and expertly tied it around his arm. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“Hehe! Now we’re wearing matching styles!”
Her intentions couldn’t have been more obvious.
She insisted on matching him.
Hinata looked at her own protector hanging around her neck.
After biting her lip, she quietly removed it and tied it around her arm as well.
A silent declaration.
Ino immediately teased her.
“Oh my, Hinata. I think it looked better around your neck.”
Hinata lowered her head and stared at her shoes.
She didn’t respond.
Her actions had already spoken for her.
Haruto shook his head helplessly.
“Alright, alright. Stop acting like you’re in some palace drama. The exams are over, so I’m heading out.”
As far as he was concerned, graduation meant freedom.
He had no interest in wasting time at the academy any longer.
Especially not listening to the Third Hokage’s usual speech.
Whoever wanted to listen could stay.
He was leaving.
“Wait for us!”
Hinata and Ino shouted simultaneously.
Looking at the two girls flanking him like tails, Haruto couldn’t help laughing.
“Why are you two following me? Shouldn’t you be going home to celebrate?”
Hinata said nothing.
Ino proudly announced:
“Today is the day we officially became ninjas! Hinata and I already decided we’re celebrating with a huge meal! Destination—Yakiniku Q!”
“Haruto, this lady is treating! Let’s go!”
Without hesitation, she grabbed his arm and dragged him along.
The intimate gesture immediately made Hinata jealous.
Although she had become much more confident over the years, she still couldn’t bring herself to do something that bold in public.
Haruto, meanwhile, accepted it without resistance.
“If someone’s paying, who am I to complain?”
“Just don’t blame me if I eat you bankrupt.”
Ino stuck out her tongue.
“I knew it. You’re a complete cheapskate.”
Before Haruto could reply, Hinata softly defended him.
“Haruto-kun isn’t stingy at all. Don’t say that.”
The three chatted and laughed as they made their way to a barbecue restaurant.
In Konoha, eating barbecue was a luxury.
Even for someone as well-off as Ino, this meal represented more than a month’s allowance.
As the heiress of the Yamanaka Clan, she winced every time she looked at the bill.
The prices were outrageous.
Just then, while the three were happily stuffing themselves with meat, the restaurant curtain was pulled open.
Four figures entered.
The leader, dressed in a green jumpsuit, immediately attracted everyone’s attention.
Might Guy instantly spotted a familiar face.
His trademark booming voice rang out.
“Yo! Isn’t that Haruto? Youth truly brings people together! You’re here enjoying the flames of youth and barbecue too!”
Guy strode over with his three students.
In truth, Haruto had sensed their chakra signatures the moment they entered.
He calmly swallowed a bite of meat and looked up.
“Guy-sensei. What a coincidence. Bringing your team out for a meal too?”
Guy sat down beside him without the slightest hesitation and waved for his students to find seats.
This was Haruto’s first official meeting with Team Guy—
Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji Hyuga.
The moment Hinata saw the white-eyed boy, she shrank slightly.
“N-Neji-niisan…”
Neji’s expression hardened ever so slightly.
His eyes grew colder.
His feelings toward the heiress of the Main House were extremely complicated.
When they were younger, he had genuinely cherished his cousin.
Blood was blood.
But after watching his father die as a sacrifice for the Main House, hatred had taken root in his heart.
So while some instinctive concern remained, his face was now as cold as stone.
In response to Hinata’s timid greeting, he merely nodded.
Then his sharp gaze shifted toward Haruto.
“You are Haruto?”
Though they had never met before, he’d heard the name countless times.
Guy-sensei mentioned it constantly.
While Guy never specifically explained why Haruto was impressive, the admiration in his voice was impossible to miss.
Haruto naturally noticed the hostility in Neji’s tone.
He simply smiled calmly.
“That’s right.”
By then, Guy had already ordered additional food.
Only then did he remember to make proper introductions.
Giving a thumbs-up and flashing his trademark dazzling grin, he proudly pointed at his students.
“Haruto, take a good look! These are the wonderful disciples I’ve raised through the power of youth!”
“This is Rock Lee! A hot-blooded young man who perfectly inherited my taijutsu spirit!”
“This is Tenten! She may look cute, but her skill with ninja tools is absolutely magnificent!”
“And this is Neji! The undeniable genius of his generation! A wielder of the Byakugan whose talent speaks for itself!”
After introducing his students, Guy’s face was filled with pride.