Time passes slowly when you're bored, I was experiencing this a lot more than I would like to...
I didn't even try to act interested in class anymore.
The lectures were getting more unbearable by the day—basic chakra theory, hand seals, shuriken throwing, trap formation, the same crap I had already mastered long ago…
It also made me realize why the clan kids bully the civilians so much, it is because of them that we still have to do all these classes even today…
Maybe they just take out the annoyance from the torture out on the civilian borns…
And the sensei's voice wasn't helping either.
'How is it possible for a normal shinobi to sound more monotonous than even a Nara? Just looking at him makes me sleepy now'
Maybe my expectations of him had become too high considering the one I am comparing him to is Tobirama himself, he simply doesn't have that hate within him…
Anyways, I rested my head on my desk, eyes closed, comfortably ignoring everything.
…Until he noticed.
"Inaba Shinkurou!" Sensei barked, as if all the energy of the world descended within him, his boredom gone.
Tch. Here we go again.
"Sleeping in class again?! If you're so confident, maybe you should try graduating early!"
I opened my eyes, and blinked. What, you were expecting me to shoot lasers?
But…'You know what? That's not a bad idea to be honest…'
I stood up.
"…Yeah. Let's do that." I said, with a serious nod,
The classroom fell silent. Everyone turned to me, stunned.
Now, it was the sensei's turn to blink. "…What?"
"I wish to graduate early. Please send the request to the Hokage."
There was dead silence. Even Jiraiya had stopped scribbling something on his desk.
Orochimaru was watching me with interest though there was an expression of intense thought on his face.
Tsunade looked somewhere between confused and betrayed, Oh did I mention the anger? It seems I would have to make some efforts to console her…
Sensei looked like he'd seen a ghost. "You're serious?"
As for his expression, it was because, he was somewhat thinking that it was his impulsive anger which made me angry and wanting to graduate.
If it was any other student, there won't be much problem, but I was the student of the Hokage and he could very well lose his job over this.
"I wouldn't have stood up otherwise."
He just… stood there, not sure whether to panic or report it. In the end, he chose the safer option and excused himself to go send the report.
Maybe he thought I would act like some spoiled young master and complain about him to the 2nd hokage …
Meanwhile, Tsunade finally found her voice.
"Wait. You're graduating? Without me?"
I raised an eyebrow. "It was a moment of the spur decision, and you can't deny that the academy isn't boring— it's not that big a deal, really…"
"It is a big deal!" she cut in. "You're not leaving me behind alone!"
She turned toward the door and stormed out.
'What's even happening anymore…?'
"I guess I'll graduate too," Orochimaru said, almost casually, stretching his arms.
"There's nothing left for me to learn here."
He got up and walked out following Tsunade's steps.
Jiraiya, who had up till now been trying to process things like a Windows XP machine running 15 tabs, finally stood up and shouted, "Oi! If Inaba and Orochimaru's graduating, I'm graduating too!"
I stared blankly.
'Yeah. That tracks. Plot force is real…'
Less than an hour later, we were all standing in front of a small examination room, being watched by two shinobi while our Academy sensei nervously stood to the side, still unsure if this was actually happening.
The speed at which Tobirama sensei agreed for the exams was staggering, it was almost as if he was expecting me to apply for graduation anytime soon… Maybe it was part of his plans to make the classes even more boring?
The examiner handed out the usual exam list: Clone Jutsu, Transformation, and Substitution. We had to do all three, so at least that's different from that of Naruto's time…
I stepped forward first. Clone- easy. Transformation- perfect. Substitution- Fast enough to leave the examiner shocked.
All without needing hand seals, because chakra control makes life easier. And no, I did not need to explain about it to anyone.
Because, Tobirama sensei knows about my chakra control level, and that is enough to ensure no one else comes asking.
The chunin examiner looked surprised, but nodded.
Tsunade went next. She pouted, stomped forward, and blasted through all three techniques with ease, as expected.
Orochimaru, another genius, performed them all with elegance.
Jiraiya… did them all too. Sloppier, but still passable. I don't know how, he had never managed to do it before, but somehow he did now, and for it, he grinned as if he just defeated Madara.
With that, the four of us officially graduated.
It all felt strangely anticlimactic. One second I was dozing in class, and now I was a genin… on a random afternoon.
I was called to the Hokage Tower afterward, where Tobirama-sensei was already waiting. He looked at me with that usual unreadable expression.
Then he smiled.
"So. You've finally decided to graduate."
I nodded. "The Academy was… stifling. Tell me you ordered the instructors to make the class even more boring, right?"
"I don't know what you are talking about."
Well, he still maintained his stoic expression, probably because Jiraya and Orochimaru were present here too.
Then he made a nod towards the window, and there was a whoosh sound, probably an Anbu.
And a man in his twenties entered the room soon.
Tobirama sensei turned toward Hiruzen, who had just walked in. "Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya—will be placed under you. Handle their training."
Hiruzen looked… slightly overwhelmed, but nodded.
I was about to wave them goodbyes when Tobirama added, "You will remain my personal student. From now on, you'll also begin going out on missions with the ANBU. Consider it part of your combat training."
I blinked. "ANBU?"
He nodded. "You'll learn more from real battle than any classroom. Don't worry—I'll still guide you in between missions."
That… actually sounded good.
I bowed slightly. "Understood, Sensei."
And so, I walked out, officially no longer a student of the Academy, but a shinobi of Konoha.
Tsunade ran up to me halfway down the hall and grabbed my arm. "You're not allowed to go on missions without me!"
"…You just got assigned to Hiruzen-sensei."
She pouted. "Still! I'll find a way!"
Orochimaru just gave me a thumbs up as he passed by, and Jiraiya mumbled something about not being outdone.
I sighed.
'Damn I feel like an old man sighing this much…'
_______
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