Chapter 140 Kakashi Graduates
Chapter 140 Kakashi Graduates
In the 42nd year of Konoha, the spring breeze, carrying cherry blossom petals, swept across the ninja academy's training ground.
The air was thick with the tense smell of sweat at the ninja academy graduation exam.
A group of eleven- or twelve-year-old boys were nervously reviewing the Three Bodies Technique, their fingers even stiffening as they formed hand seals. Among them stood a tiny child, barely reaching their waist.
A silver-white hedgehog-like head, a black mask covering most of his face, revealing only a pair of lifeless, dead fish eyes.
He had his hands in his pockets, leaned back slightly, and even yawned.
"Next up, Kakashi Hatake."
When the proctor, a Chunin teacher, called out the name, his fingers holding the attendance sheet paused for a moment, his tone revealing undisguised surprise.
A five-year-old silver-haired boy walked out from the crowd, and only then did the proctor get a clear look at the little radish-headed boy.
He ignored the envious or curious glances around him and walked steadily to the examiner.
Although he was wearing a black mask, the composure and coldness he exuded, which were beyond his years, made the students around him, who were a head taller than him, unconsciously hold their breath.
"Is this the genius? He applied to graduate at the age of five?"
"I heard he's Lord Hatake's son..."
Hearing the whispers, Kakashi ignored them.
"Kakashi, you can begin now," the Chunin teacher said.
Kakashi glanced at the test question: Shadow Clone Technique.
"Bang!"
A burst of white smoke exploded, without any hesitation or delay.
Two identical Kakashis appeared before everyone. Not only did they look the same, but even their hands-in-pockets pose and their smug, dead-fish-like eyes were copied exactly.
"The physical body and the clone are indistinguishable." The teacher put a checkmark on the assessment form.
"qualified."
Next up is the transformation technique.
Kakashi forms hand seals.
"Bang!"
As the smoke cleared, the person standing there was no longer the little boy, but the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He even had a pipe in his mouth, and his expression was incredibly lifelike. His slightly furrowed brows made it seem as if he was contemplating the future of the village, almost as if he were about to give a speech on the Will of Fire.
"Pass." The teacher's voice rose a few decibels.
Finally, there's the substitution technique.
"Are you ready?"
The Chunin teacher picked up a shuriken; although it wasn't sharpened, it would still hurt if it hit him.
Kakashi nodded, standing still without dodging or flinching.
"call out!"
The shuriken flew through the air, heading straight for Kakashi's shoulder.
The students watching gasped in surprise.
"Knock!"
A muffled thud.
The shuriken was embedded in a piece of wood covered in scratches, while the real Kakashi had appeared behind his teacher at some point.
He held the water cup that the teacher had just casually placed on the steps and handed it to him.
"Teacher, the water is cold."
The entire room fell silent.
Five years old! Five years old!
This isn't just genius, this is monstrous!
"Pass...Pass!"
The final practical assessment was a foregone conclusion.
His opponent was a big guy, and before the opponent could finish the hand seals, Kakashi's figure had already flashed into the opponent's arms, delivering a precise chop to the abdomen.
The big man fell to his knees before he could even scream.
The examiner handed over the headband, his gaze complex: "Congratulations, Kakashi."
Kakashi took the cold metal headband and ran his fingertips along the Konoha insignia on it.
Unlike the other children who excitedly tied it on their heads immediately, he simply nodded politely, tucked the headband into his ninja tool pouch, and turned to leave.
"What the ninja academy teaches is too simple."
Kakashi silently recited the mantra, his steps never faltering.
"Only by carrying out missions and engaging in real combat can I become stronger."
……
At the entrance of the Ninja Academy, under a huge cherry blossom tree.
Two little girls were gazing longingly in the direction of the exit.
"It's out! It's out! Little White Fur is out!"
Kana Uzumaki was wearing a bright red dress, her red hair dazzling in the sunlight. Upon seeing Kakashi, she immediately jumped up excitedly and waved at him.
Beside her, Shizune, who was holding the little pig Tonton, also showed a gentle smile.
"Congratulations!" Shizune congratulated him gently. She knew Kakashi's strength well, and passing the test was only natural.
"Um."
Kakashi walked up to the two of them, his expression still cool.
"It's just a basic assessment, nothing difficult."
"Hmph, just keep pretending!"
Kana slapped Kakashi on the shoulder.
"Snapped!"
A crisp sound.
Kakashi was nearly knocked to his knees by the monstrous force. His lips twitched, but he steadied himself. This girl has been training with Lady Tsunade lately; her strength is truly impressive.
"You just want to become a ninja and show off as soon as possible! Also, did you apply to graduate because you didn't want to do my homework?"
Kana leaned closer and stared into Kakashi's eyes, giving him a "I see right through you" look.
Kakashi was speechless for a moment, then leaned back and said, "Kana, I'm doing this to become stronger, not to avoid your homework. As for showing off, I would never do something like that."
"Tch, boring."
Kana pouted, then her tone suddenly dropped, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes.
"You're graduating now, so you won't be able to hang out with us on campus anymore..."
Although she always bullied him and treated him like a little brother, Kana was still lonely when she thought about not having this little white-haired boy at school anymore, since she didn't have many playmates to begin with.
"I will come to see you."
Kakashi turned his head away, pulled his mask down, and his voice sounded somewhat unnatural.
"As long as there are no missions."
"Oh, right!"
Suddenly, Kana remembered something, and her previously low spirits vanished instantly. She mysteriously pulled a delicate little box from her bag and handed it to Kakashi.
"Here! This is a graduation gift from Shizune and me for you!"
Kakashi paused for a moment, then took the box.
I opened it and took a look.
Inside lay a finely crafted kunai. The blade gleamed with a cold, sharp light, the hilt was wrapped with red anti-slip tape, and a small swirl symbol was engraved at the end.
"This is the latest chakra conduction kunai from Tianxi Ninja Tool Shop!"
Kana pointed at the kunai, looking pained, and said, "I saved up my allowance for so long to buy this! I wanted to buy two, but they were too expensive..."
Kakashi gripped the kunai and tried to infuse it with a trace of chakra.
"Buzz".
The kunai emitted a soft chime, and the chakra flowed extremely smoothly without any obstruction.
This is definitely a high-end product.
"And this too."
Jingyin stepped forward and handed over a small amulet with a pink pig's head embroidered on it in slightly crooked stitches.
"I embroidered this myself, hoping it will protect you and keep you safe."
The tuna in Shizune's arms also cooperated by making two "poof" sounds.
Kakashi looked at the two items in his hand.
An expensive kunai and a slightly comical pig's head amulet.
He put the kunai into the most convenient spot in his ninja tool pouch, the pocket on his side. Then he picked up the amulet and carefully tied it around his waist.
"Thanks."
His voice was soft but sincere, and a hint of warmth appeared in his dead fish eyes.
"Then... let's go eat some meatballs to celebrate!"
Seeing this, Chanel immediately regained her energy and, with a wave of her hand, proposed with great enthusiasm:
"It's on me this time! I know a new restaurant that's absolutely delicious! You won't have to pay this time, so don't refuse!"
"Okay." Kakashi did not refuse.
"Yay! Let's go! Destination: the dango shop!"
Kana held onto Shizune with one hand and tried to pull Kakashi with the other, but Kakashi nimbly dodged her.
"I won't hold hands."
"You stingy person!"
The three children walked side by side down the street.
The setting sun cast long shadows of them, the red skirts, the black clothes, and the pink pig intertwining to create a heartwarming scene on the ground.
"I want red bean flavor!"
"I want the three-colored dumplings."
"Kakashi, what do you want?"
"...I'm not a picky eater."
"Then I'll order the sweetest one for you!"
"..."
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