Konoha Year 16, Ninja Academy.
Hoshino stared blankly at the leaves outside the window.
A wave of emotion washed over him:
"Three years have passed since I came to this world. Time flies."
Just as he was reflecting on life, he picked up a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth, biting into it without hesitation.
It was as if the chicken appearing in the classroom, right before his eyes, was perfectly natural.
Just then, the classroom door opened, and a man in his twenties walked in.
"Ugh, that smell of food? Never mind, today's your early graduation day! Pay attention, everyone! You're going to be ninjas!"
Upon hearing about graduation, the whole class suddenly became excited, naturally including Tsunade, who had just been eating, and Hoshino.
Looking at the teacher speaking on the podium, Hoshino thought:
"Finally graduating? I didn't expect it to be so soon."
After all, he'd only been at the Ninja Academy for a little over a year. Compared to Naruto and his friends 30 years later, who normally started at age 6 and graduated at age 12, Hoshino was graduating at age 6.
And now he was graduating at age 6.
However, this was also because the other ninja villages had recently become restless.
With the passing of the God of Shinobi, his influence was waning over time.
Adding to various conflicts, war was inevitable.
And he remembered that the First Shinobi World War would begin around this time.
He couldn't remember the exact date; the Naruto series didn't seem to specify when it would start.
Hoshino's attention returned to the classroom.
The graduation exam was about to begin.
The exam content was naturally the most basic ninjutsu: Shadow Clone Technique, Substitution Technique, and Transformation Technique—the Three Body Techniques.
Knowing just one ninjutsu is enough to graduate, unlike 30 years later when mastering three is required. Now, one is sufficient.
After all, we've just emerged from the Warring States period; both the graduation age and the teaching level are incomparable to those 30 years later.
However, even if he needed to know all three ninjutsu to graduate, he wouldn't be afraid, as he had already mastered them all.
Or rather, almost everyone sitting in this classroom probably knows them all, since almost everyone here is either a graduating class or a prodigy who graduated early.
At this moment, the teacher on the platform called out, "Students whose names are called, please go to the next classroom. The graduation exam will be held there!"
"First, Orochimaru!"
In an inconspicuous spot, someone stood up, and all eyes turned to him.
From the beginning of the school year, his grades had consistently been number one.
While not necessarily number one in combat strength, he was undoubtedly number one overall.
Orochimaru stood up with a slight smile and walked towards the next classroom.
...
But then a sour voice rang out:
"Tch, so what if he's a little handsome? That bastard!"
It was Orochimaru's old nemesis, Jiraiya.
Seated, Hoshino sighed; these two truly were a pair of mortal enemies.
After all, barring major interference, Jiraiya's future goals were to pursue the defector Orochimaru and find the Chosen One.
Truly a world that values bonds.
A few minutes later, Orochimaru returned, still with that ever-smiling expression.
It seemed everything had gone very smoothly.
After all, Orochimaru had mastered the Three Body Techniques not long after entering the Ninja Academy.
Subsequent exams went exceptionally well; Hoshino and Tsunade both passed their graduation exams, and of course, Jiraiya, the perennial underachiever, also graduated successfully.
While he was considered underachiever, it depends on who you compare him to. In reality, his physical strength was formidable, and the Three Body Techniques were second nature to him.
Later, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, suddenly appeared in the classroom and instilled the Will of Fire in the graduating students.
Seeing the Second Hokage on the podium, he couldn't help but wonder if Hiruzen Sarutobi had been brainwashed in the same way.
Of course, Tobirama Senju's Will of Fire is far inferior to Hiruzen Sarutobi's Will of Fire, specifically in terms of brainwashing ability.
However, for a mere child who has just graduated and is preparing to become a ninja, it's more than enough.
Didn't you see Orochimaru's eyes lighting up as he listened to the Second Hokage speak?
Hoshino shook his head, feeling that he was still too young.
...