"Pffft—!"
A puff of white mist scattered beside Chiba as he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
"So exhausting! This jutsu is absolutely inhuman!" Chiba groaned.
At that moment, he couldn't even move a finger—he'd drained the very last drop of energy from his body. With a sigh, he sprawled out on the ground, staring up at the night sky, stars glittering above him.
"Ugh… I forgot to do my monster strength training again…"
Only then did he remember that, aside from his regular training regimen, he had been focusing entirely on his Eight Gates Mode + ninjutsu + seal practice, and now, this brand-new jutsu had completely wrung him out.
"Sigh…"
Chiba let out a breath of frustration.
If only I had more time. Once I graduate, I'll finally be free to train as much as I want. I just wish I could graduate already…
That was Chiba's last thought as his eyelids slowly closed and he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
By the time morning dew trickled onto his face, Chiba stirred. Blinking against the rising sun's rays, he sat up groggily and stretched.
"It's already morning?" he muttered, yawning.
He stood, trudged back into his cabin to wash up, his stomach already growling loud enough to startle birds from nearby trees. After cleaning up, he walked into the village and bought two Konoha Super Buns, then made his way to the Academy.
Sitting in his usual back-row corner seat, Chiba quietly munched on his bun, eyelids drooping.
But the classroom was far from normal.
All around him, classmates were stealing glances his way—some in disbelief, some in awe, and a few with outright fear.
After all, just yesterday, Chiba had defeated not one, but two of the school's top prodigies. He had shattered Hyuga Yukina's Vacuum Palm with a single punch, and then overwhelmed Uchiha Hirohiko's Sharingan with blinding speed.
In terms of real combat strength, Chiba was now indisputably the top student.
"Morning," a voice greeted from behind.
Chiba kept chewing, unconcerned, assuming someone else was being addressed—until Uchiha Hirohiko passed by and took the seat in front of him.
"…Oh. Uh, morning," Chiba replied awkwardly, finally realizing the greeting was meant for him.
Hirohiko gave a slight nod and said, "I ran into our teacher earlier. He asked us three to sit together."
"Huh?" Chiba blinked.
Three?
Academy seats were normally unassigned. Why now? And—who was the third?
Chiba frowned but didn't press the matter, continuing to nibble on his bun, one hand propping up his chin.
In front of him, Hirohiko sat straight, gazing out the window with his signature icy expression. Who knew what the brooding genius was thinking?
"Morning," came another voice.
"Morning," Hirohiko responded.
Chiba ignored it, assuming again it wasn't directed at him—until a familiar fragrance tickled his nose. A moment later, Hyuga Yukina sat down beside him.
Surprised, Chiba turned and met her gaze. She offered him a small nod.
Chiba chewed twice, then abruptly froze.
Wait… that "morning" was for me too?!
"…Morning," he hastily replied.
"Morning," Yukina echoed politely. "Sensei said the three of us should sit together today."
"Oh…" Chiba mumbled.
How come everyone else knows this but me?!
He grumbled internally.
"Hey! Look at that!" a classmate suddenly exclaimed, pointing toward the back of the room.
The entire class turned.
"Are you kidding me? Hirohiko and Yukina… are sitting next to Takikawa Chiba?!"
"They hate sitting near anyone, especially Yukina!"
"What's with this lineup?"
Soon, every gaze was focused squarely on Chiba, eyes burning with a chaotic mix of jealousy, envy, and disbelief.
He gets to sit behind Hirohiko?! I want to sit behind Hirohiko! Or in front! Or next to him! I'd die happy!
—thought every girl.
That bastard Chiba is next to Yukina?! What kind of dumb luck is that?! I'd kill to sit next to her! Or in front of her! Or behind her!
—fumed every guy.
Chiba felt their stares prickling his back. He slouched and turned slightly, expression unreadable.
"Don't look at me! They chose to sit here!"
Neither Yukina nor Hirohiko seemed bothered in the slightest, each lost in their own world—one staring out the window, the other sitting with noble composure.
The bell rang. The teacher entered, stepping up to the podium. His eyes scanned the class and stopped briefly at the trio near the back.
"I have an announcement to make before we begin today's lesson."
The room instantly buzzed.
"Is it a transfer student?"
"No way, right? I didn't hear anything about that."
"Me neither…"
Even Chiba perked up.
Transfer student? Could it be… Uzumaki Kushina?!
Then he shook his head. No way. Kushina and Minato were already adults by now. No chance they'd be enrolling now.
"Quiet down," the teacher said, gesturing for silence.
Once the room stilled, he spoke clearly and firmly:
"With the approval of the Third Hokage, Takikawa Chiba, Uchiha Hirohiko, and Hyūga Yukina will graduate early—effective immediately."
Silence.
Then—
Chaos.
"What?! Hirohiko's graduating?!"
"Yukina too?! No way!"
Disbelief, disappointment, and shock flooded the room.
Our class idols… they're leaving?
But soon, all eyes turned to Chiba.
"TAKIKAWA CHIBA?!"
Disbelief turned to stunned awe.
The kid they used to mock and ignore… was graduating alongside the top two prodigies?
Even Chiba was caught off guard.
Just yesterday I was wishing I could graduate… and now it's happening?!
But as he thought about it, it made sense.
Yukina's Vacuum Palm. Hirohiko's Shadow Clone.
Both were elite-level techniques.
And he, Chiba, had defeated both of them.
Why wouldn't they graduate?
Hirohiko and Yukina took the announcement in stride, completely calm—as if they'd expected it.
The teacher continued, "You three don't need to attend class today. Tomorrow, a jōnin will contact you with instructions. From now on… you are genin, and part of the same team."
Genin. Team. Freedom.
Chiba's ears perked up.
No more classes. More time to train. Yes!
"Come up and receive your headbands," the teacher said, pulling out three forehead protectors.
The trio rose and walked to the front.
"Thank you for your guidance, sensei," they said in unison, bowing deeply.
Then they left the room.
Watching Chiba walk away, the teacher felt a pang of guilt.
This boy had achieved everything through his own strength.
He hadn't taught Chiba a single thing.
"…I'm sorry."
The lesson resumed.
"Alright, let's begin today's lecture on conditional hypotheses and the theory of mechanical energy…"
But not a single student was paying attention.
Their eyes stayed glued to the empty doorway, where three living legends had just passed through.