"Iruka-sensei, I'm going to take a walk around the campus."
Hearing Shishou's words, Iruka nodded without saying anything.
Top students always had a few privileges.
Seeing Shishou hand in his paper and leave, a pink-haired girl sitting by the window, Sakura, pursed her lips and sped up her writing, finally finishing second.
Once she finished her paper, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief.
As a civilian student with no special bloodline or secret techniques, her only asset was her sharp mind.
However, instead of turning in her paper, Sakura lay on her desk, watching Sasuke diligently working and occasionally glancing at Shishou walking around the campus.
Due to Shishou's presence, Sakura's academic performance could only rank second, which made her pay special attention to him.
Outside, under a tree, Shishou lay down and watched the soon-to-graduate students from Neji, Tenten, and Lee's class engaging in combat training.
Soon, Tenten and the others would graduate from the academy, becoming genin, and participate in the Chunin Exams with Shishou and his classmates next year.
In Konoha, there were two ways to achieve the rank of chunin.
One way was like Iruka, diligently completing missions or performing well in their duties, earning promotions through contributions.
This promotion method was the choice of most civilian ninjas.
The downside was that they could only remain chunin for life, with no chance of advancing to jonin.
The upside was safety, as they didn't have to perform dangerous missions.
The other way was through the harsh Chunin Exams, directly advancing through strength.
Those who advanced this way became the village's future elite, receiving more resources and support, and could advance to special jonin or jonin, or even join the village's management.
Though risky, the renowned ninjas of Konoha mostly took this path.
These two simultaneous promotion methods ensured Konoha had enough ninjas while also cultivating powerful elites.
It was an excellent promotion system.
It was said that it was established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, the scientist, forbidden technique inventor, and master of Water Style.
"Tenten, that little rich girl, throws shuriken like she doesn't care about the cost."
"But you had fun throwing them, now it's a pain to pick them all up, right?"
Seeing Tenten picking up the shuriken she threw all over the field, Shishou laughed mischievously.
The training field was full of Tenten's shuriken, so her instructor took the others to another area to continue training, leaving Tenten to clean up alone.
Shishou had a liking for Tenten, a girl with a strong sense of the Land of Dragons.
After some thought, he took out a small gourd containing his parasite insects and sent a bunch of bugs to help Tenten gather the shuriken.
Seeing someone helping her, Tenten looked around and finally spotted Shishou lying under the tree.
"Thank you!"
She shouted her thanks from afar and returned to her class after gathering the shuriken.
Shishou waved to show he understood.
After the test was over, Shishou stood up, dusted himself off, and walked back to the classroom.
At noon, as school ended,
Shishou called out to Iruka, who was about to leave.
"Iruka-sensei, do you have a moment?"
Iruka looked at Shishou and asked, "What is it, Shishou?"
With a calm expression, Shishou said, "Iruka-sensei, I want to apply for early graduation."
At Shishou's words, everyone, including Sasuke, Ino, and Hinata, looked at him in shock.
They hadn't expected Shishou to apply for early graduation.
Iruka was also stunned but quickly understood, considering Shishou's talent and abilities.
For a genius like Shishou, applying for early graduation was a natural move.
For example, Kakashi Hatake graduated from the academy at five, became a chunin at six, and was a jonin by twelve.
Similarly, Konoha's S-rank missing-nin Itachi Uchiha graduated at seven, became a chunin at ten, and wiped out the Uchiha clan by thirteen or fourteen, now just sixteen...
Iruka said to Shishou, "Come to the office with me."
With that, Iruka carried the test papers back to the office.
Whether Shishou could graduate early wasn't up to Iruka alone.
He needed to confirm Shishou's intention and report it to the Third Hokage for a final decision.
Hearing this, Shishou started to follow Iruka.
However, Ino and Hinata grabbed him before he could take a step.
Ino frowned and said, "I don't agree!"
...
At the mansion in Fire Source City, in Mikoto's courtyard,
"Damn it, Naruto failed his test again!"
Kushina, the test paper thief, fumed as she looked at Naruto's paper.
Her father was a genius, and so was her mother. How did they produce such a... well, how did they produce a fool!!!
So frustrating!!!
Unlike the angry Kushina, Mikoto was all smiles, very satisfied.
Sasuke had come in third in the written exam.
First place went to a boy from the Aburame clan with the same name as Shishou, and second place was a pink-haired girl.
"I didn't expect the Aburame clan to produce such a genius, excelling in both academics and combat, even surpassing Sasuke."
"Quite surprising indeed."
Mikoto marveled at the results as she reviewed the grades she and Kushina had compiled after grading the papers.
Shishou had once mentioned a boy in the Aburame clan with his name, so Mikoto didn't know they were the same person.
Or perhaps she did but chose not to believe it.
Seeing Mikoto's expression, Kushina's lips twitched, wanting to reveal that the genius Shishou was the same man she thought of every night.
However, considering the absurdity of a romance with her son's classmate, Kushina decided to bear the burden of this sad secret alone.
After all, Shishou was the same age as Naruto.
And Naruto was only eleven, still a year away from graduating from the academy...
Though she knew Shishou's precocity was due to a prophecy, Kushina still found it unsettlingly early.
To Kushina, only a legendary born genius could explain such an unreasonable situation.
At this moment, Hyuga Rimei, her eyes covered with a black cloth, entered the courtyard, smiling at Mikoto and Kushina.
"Mikoto, Kushina, aren't you going to continue your Sage Jutsu training today?"
**********
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