Chapter 36: Inquiry
"It's only because I got careless just now and failed to dodge that attack. Otherwise, I definitely would have won this time!"
Even after the winner was announced, Obito was still fuming. "Damn it, I actually embarrassed myself in front of Rin!"
"Not at all."
Rin smiled at him brightly. "Obito kun, you were amazing just now. I honestly did not expect you to be that good."
"Ah, really?"
Obito's face flushed instantly. "Hahaha, of course. As expected, I'm still very strong!"
At that moment, he could not help feeling secretly grateful.
He was not actually an idiot. He could tell Yuu's level was far above his, and the only reason the fight had dragged on was because Yuu had been holding back.
Still, that was fine.
If he had been cleanly defeated in an instant by a junior much younger than him, it would have been unbearably humiliating.
A loss was still a loss, but at least this way, he had kept a little face and it did not look too ugly.
Thank goodness, thank goodness.
As that thought surfaced, Obito's mood improved, and he also found himself feeling a bit more goodwill toward the boy he had only just met.
"Idiot."
Kakashi's face remained expressionless, his eyes calm and distant, as if nothing in the world could stir a ripple.
"I've been telling you for a long time to work harder, but you let it go in one ear and out the other."
"With your strength, what are you going to do when you end up on the battlefield later?"
"The people in the village might go easy on you. Ninja from enemy lands will not."
After throwing out those words, Kakashi turned and left, leaving Obito and Rin standing there, momentarily stunned.
"Kakashi!"
Only after a beat did Obito's furious shout finally rise from where he stood. "You jerk!"
The exchange between Kakashi and Obito was only a brief interlude.
On the other side, after defeating Obito, Yuu looked at Akiya. "Teacher Akiya, have I passed the assessment?"
"Of course."
Akiya nodded, smiling. "You did very well."
Yuu's strength was far beyond what Akiya had expected.
It was hard to pin down the exact level, but it was certainly well above an ordinary genin.
Since he had this ability, there was no harm in letting him graduate early.
But before that, there were still a few things that needed to be handled.
"Come with me."
Akiya spoke and led Yuu aside.
Yuu did not think much of it, assuming it was just paperwork and formalities.
However, once they reached the side, he realized it was nothing like what he had expected.
"Hokage sama!"
Seeing the middle aged man standing there, kind faced and still in his prime, Yuu froze for an instant before reacting. He lowered his head respectfully and saluted.
The person in front of him was none other than Hiruzen.
"Haha, no need to be so polite."
Hiruzen looked at Yuu and laughed, the warmth in his smile unforced. "You are Yuu, right? Only seven years old this year?"
After receiving confirmation, he sighed again. "To have this kind of strength at only seven years old is truly remarkable."
"Hokage sama, you flatter me."
Yuu bowed his head and spoke respectfully. "Where the fallen leaves dance, new leaves will always sprout. That is an inevitable truth."
"I owe what I have to your guidance."
His face was full of gratitude as he recited maxims he had memorized back when he lived in the orphanage.
"Hahahaha!"
As expected, appreciation showed on Hiruzen's face.
There were far too few people in Konoha who were good with words. Most ninja sharpened their killing skills until everything else became blunt.
And someone like Yuu, who praised others so naturally the moment he met them, was rarer still.
More importantly, he was only seven.
What bad intentions could a child that young possibly have?
Children at that age usually could not keep secrets, so what they said was assumed to be honest.
Especially with Yuu's sincere expression, it was hard to imagine he was pretending.
Hiruzen believed him, and his impression of Yuu grew even better.
Still, as Hokage, he instinctively wanted to probe a little deeper.
So he asked, "In that test just now, you could have ended it quickly. Why did you drag it out for so long?"
It was a question, but it was also a test.
From Yuu's answer, Hiruzen could better glimpse his temperament and understand what kind of person he was.
"Obito senpai is a good person."
Facing Hiruzen's inquiry, Yuu smiled. "I could tell he really likes that girl."
"If he lost too badly in front of the person he likes, it would probably cause Obito senpai a lot of trouble."
"So it was not to hide anything."
"It was to keep him from losing face in front of the girl he likes?"
Hiruzen was a little surprised.
This child is unexpectedly considerate and gentle.
At the same time, the evaluation in his heart rose again.
No matter what, someone who understood others and was willing to save face for them was always easier to like.
Hiruzen was no exception.
He looked at Yuu again, his gaze now much softer than before.
"Starting today, you are a true ninja."
He took a forehead protector from an attendant nearby and personally handed it to Yuu.
"However, since it is not yet the usual time for academy graduation, your assignment will take some time to be finalized."
After graduating, most students were placed into three person teams led by a jonin. They would take missions, sharpen their skills, and serve under their leader to complete village requests.
If Yuu had graduated normally, he would follow that process as well.
But right now, that was not possible.
There was no suitable team for him to join.
So, for the moment, he would either remain idle or be placed into an understaffed unit as an extra member.
"Hokage sama, I want to join Konoha Hospital."
Yuu's expression remained respectful. "To be honest, I have always been interested in Medical Ninjutsu. Under Director Yakushi Nono's guidance, I have been practicing it as well."
"If possible, I hope to become a doctor and enter Konoha Hospital to treat patients."
The reason Yuu had pushed for early graduation was not to become expendable manpower in some random squad.
From the beginning, his plan had been to find a way into Konoha Hospital and secure a position there.
Now that the Hokage himself was here, there was naturally no need to struggle.
He could simply state his request directly.
"Oh?"
Hiruzen was somewhat surprised by Yuu's choice.
.....
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