Konoha Year 41.
School years flew by. In a blink, Zhao Yi Qianming had studied at the Ninja Academy for three years.
Three years had passed. He had gone from a five-year-old kid to an eight-year-old kid.
Yamamoto Hideyoshi might not have been powerful, but he was a good teacher. Under his open-handed instruction, Zhao Yi Qianming advanced quickly over these three years.
He had not yet seen real combat, so he didn't know his exact level. But every time he sparred with Yamamoto Hideyoshi, the instructor grew more serious. From that alone it was clear Zhao Yi Qianming was improving by the day.
In Ninjutsu, Yamamoto Hideyoshi had once tested Zhao Yi Qianming's Chakra nature. Learning that it was Earth-natured, he taught Zhao Yi Qianming a few simple techniques. As for the heavy-hitting Earth Release, Yamamoto did not pass those along.
After all, Yamamoto Hideyoshi was a chunin. He likely did not command many high-level jutsu. More often he taught his own understanding of Ninjutsu and fundamentals like applying Chakra.
A few simple, practical jutsu were enough to satisfy Zhao Yi Qianming. Without Yamamoto's guidance, he figured he would be no different from the average civilian student at the Academy—only capable of the Three Basic Techniques and destined to be cannon fodder on the battlefield.
He still wasn't a top fighter, but his ability to survive already outstripped most of his peers.
In the last two years the shinobi world had only grown more chaotic. Villages clashed again and again. The great nations hadn't officially gone to war, but frictions between the big countries and small countries were constant.
By his timeline, in a year or two the Third Kazekage of Sunagakure would be killed by Sasori of the Red Sand and turned into a human puppet. Sunagakure, having lost its Kazekage, would point the finger at Konoha, claiming Leaf had assassinated the Third Kazekage in the Land of Wind to spark war, thereby opening the curtain on the Third Shinobi World War.
The higher-ups in the Sand probably knew perfectly well that Konoha could not have assassinated the Third Kazekage on their home turf.
But whether it was Chiyo of the Sand's hatred for Konoha, or Sunagakure's need to throw its weight around after losing its Kazekage, or Rasa's desire to win fame through war and become the Fourth Kazekage, all roads led to the same war.
Lying on his bed, Zhao Yi Qianming kept mapping out his future path.
If he stayed in school and graduated normally in two years, he would have two more quiet years to train and build strength.
But if war broke out between Konoha and Sunagakure two years from now, a fresh graduate like him would be pushed straight onto the battlefield. With no experience and having never even seen blood, he would have no survival skill to speak of.
In war, even escorting supplies could get you killed.
If he graduated early, he would lose a lot of training time to missions. But if he were placed under a jōnin, he would learn a lot.
Especially life-and-death experience against enemies. Those lessons sounded intangible, but they were exactly what he needed to survive future wars.
Most important, he had realized there was nothing more to learn at the Academy—or even from Yamamoto Hideyoshi. He urgently needed a jōnin to guide him.
"…Huff."
With that, Zhao Yi Qianming made up his mind. Foundational training mattered, but the world wouldn't give him the time.
The Third Shinobi World War was about to erupt. He had to fill out his toolkit and raise his level fast. Only then could he survive.
For training guidance, Yamamoto Hideyoshi no longer fit.
Night passed without incident.
The next morning Zhao Yi Qianming rose early. After arriving at the Academy, he didn't go to class. He went to Yamamoto Hideyoshi's office.
"Instructor Yamamoto, I want to apply for early graduation. Is that possible?" he asked quietly.
"What? You want to graduate?" Yamamoto blinked, then said, "Qianming, at your current level you may not have much left to learn at the Academy, but things outside are a mess. Shinobi get injured or killed on missions every day. Better to stay and study a couple more years. Grow a bit more. Graduate with your cohort and form a team with them, all right?"
"Sensei, my mind is made up. Please approve it," Zhao Yi Qianming said, earnest.
"Well…" Yamamoto hesitated, then sighed. "All right. I'll report your application. If it's approved, I'll arrange your graduation exam. After school these next few days, spar with me a few rounds. We'll sharpen your combat sense."
"Thank you, Instructor Yamamoto." Zhao Yi Qianming bowed. "I'll leave it in your hands."
Not everyone could foresee war. He couldn't tell anyone that Sunagakure would attack Konoha within a year or two. All he could do was build strength and gain fighting experience.
After school he and Yamamoto Hideyoshi went to the woods behind the Hokage Rock and squared off.
"Instructor, please guide me," Zhao Yi Qianming said, drawing a Kunai and settling into a basic stance.
"All right. Begin." As he spoke, Yamamoto flicked a Kunai with no warning.
'Come on. This guy today is shameless—a twenty-something chunin going for a cheap shot on a kid who isn't even a shinobi yet?'
Zhao Yi Qianming reacted fast. His left hand snapped a Kunai in reply and he dashed in.
Clang!
Steel rang as the two Kunai collided midair.
By then Zhao Yi Qianming was on top of Yamamoto. He slashed hard with the Kunai in his right hand, but Yamamoto slipped aside with ease.
Zhao Yi Qianming drove his left knee toward Yamamoto's abdomen. Yamamoto caught it on his palm and heaved, tossing Zhao Yi Qianming away.
'We're not on the same level. Looks like Sensei's going all out today,' Zhao Yi Qianming thought.
"Qianming, in our spars these next few days I won't hold back. Take this seriously," Yamamoto said.
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