"Walk with me, Hikaru-kun," Koji-sensei said as he began moving toward the academy building. "There are some matters we need to discuss regarding your recent progress."
Hikaru followed his instructor, tugging at his collar as they walked past classrooms where other students were cleaning up from the day's lessons. The academy building felt different lately—more serious, with additional security scrolls posted near doorways and instructors speaking in hushed tones during breaks.
The instructor's office was small and cluttered with scrolls and assessment forms. Papers covered every surface, showing how busy the teachers had become since the academy started pushing students harder. Maps of the surrounding territories were pinned to one wall, marked with red pins that Hikaru didn't recognize but suspected weren't good news.
"Please, have a seat," Koji-sensei said, settling behind his desk. His expression was serious but not unfriendly.
Hikaru took the offered chair and tried to look calm despite his racing heart, tugging at his collar nervously.
"You've shown remarkable improvement since the academy reopened," Koji-sensei began. "Your progress has been impressive to watch."
Here it comes, Hikaru thought, preparing his defense.
"The three academy jutsu you demonstrated today show competence beyond typical first-year expectations. Your tactical thinking was particularly good."
"Thank you, Koji-sensei," Hikaru replied carefully.
"Don't you feel that our current curriculum might be limiting your potential?" Koji-sensei asked. "Perhaps you would benefit from more advanced instruction."
"No, sensei! I don't think I'm ready for that yet," Hikaru interrupted, shaking his head quickly.
Koji-sensei's eyebrows rose at the immediate rejection. "Why not? Your performance today suggests you're prepared for advanced instruction."
Taking a deep breath, Hikaru began explaining his position with nervous energy, his knee bouncing under the desk. "There's still so much to learn at my current level, Koji-sensei."
"I barely managed to win against Seiji-kun today—my chakra reserves are still very limited. Fighting for another minute would have exhausted me completely."
"My chakra control needs significant improvement too. I can't use techniques consistently yet."
"There are fundamental concepts I haven't mastered, and I haven't even begun studying bukijutsu properly."
The stream of protests continued as Hikaru deployed every reasonable excuse he could think of. Each point was technically accurate, though he was careful not to mention capabilities he'd been hiding.
After listening to the extensive list of concerns, Koji-sensei began to look overwhelmed by the unexpected resistance.
"Strength and technical competence aren't the only factors we consider," Koji-sensei said, trying a different approach. "Tactical thinking, dedication, and potential for growth are equally important."
"I believe you possess—" Koji-sensei began, but stopped when he noticed Hikaru's genuinely distressed expression.
"Alright, I understand your concerns," Koji-sensei said with a sigh. "If you change your mind about exploring advanced opportunities, please come speak with me."
"Yes, sensei. Thank you for understanding," Hikaru replied with obvious relief as he stood to leave.
As Hikaru departed, Koji-sensei massaged his temples while processing the unexpected outcome.
"Troublesome student?" asked Fujiwara Daisuke-sensei, another instructor who had been working at a nearby desk.
"A very unusual one," Koji-sensei replied with frustration. "He has genuine talent but seems determined to avoid recognizing it."
"He must have demonstrated something significant for you to consider early advancement," Daisuke said.
"Exceptional tactical thinking and technique integration," Koji-sensei confirmed. "He's probably inherited abilities from his parents—Muranaka Sora and Yukiko were quite capable before their deaths."
"Ah!" Daisuke exclaimed with recognition. "In that case, why not transfer him to my advanced class?"
"Your class?" Koji-sensei asked with surprise.
"Uchiha Itachi's graduation left me with an opening," Daisuke explained. "I need another capable student to maintain appropriate class dynamics."
After considering the proposal, Koji-sensei nodded slowly. "Perhaps after the upcoming assessments. If he demonstrates sufficient capability during formal evaluation, placement with more advanced students might convince him to reconsider."
"There's another consideration," Koji-sensei added. "The Inuzuka clan has requested advancement for Seiji as well, though his performance doesn't quite meet our usual standards."
Daisuke grimaced at the mention of clan politics. "That's beyond our authority to resolve. We should present both situations to Hokage-sama and allow him to make the final determination."
"The village council has been putting pressure on all the academy instructors," Daisuke continued, lowering his voice. "With the recent... departures... they want more capable shinobi graduated as quickly as possible. Some are even suggesting we lower the graduation requirements."
"That would be a mistake," Koji-sensei said firmly. "Sending unprepared children into the field will only create more casualties. We've already lost too many experienced ninja."
Meanwhile, Hikaru made his way through Konoha's afternoon streets with relief. He'd successfully deflected immediate pressure for early graduation, buying himself additional time to develop at his chosen pace.
The village felt different these days. More patrols walked the streets, and he noticed several buildings near the academy had been reinforced with additional security seals. Merchants talked in worried whispers about border tensions, and even the normally cheerful marketplace seemed subdued.
A sudden sneeze made him pause and look around suspiciously. Someone talking about me? he wondered, then chuckled at the old superstition.
Rather than heading directly home, Hikaru decided to check if Ryōta was still practicing at their usual training ground. His friend's dedication deserved support, especially with all the pressure everyone was feeling.
When he arrived, Hikaru found Ryōta attempting tree climbing with determined persistence. His friend's chakra control limitations made significant progress unlikely, but his effort was admirable.
Ryōta ran toward the oak tree with focused concentration, maintaining chakra adhesion for about five meters before losing contact and jumping clear to avoid falling. It was improvement from his starting point, though still far short of mastery.
"You need to focus more on chakra flow consistency," Hikaru observed as he approached.
Ryōta startled but relaxed when he recognized his training partner. "I keep trying, but I'm not getting better like you do," he said with simple frustration.
"Why are you comparing yourself to me?" Hikaru asked gently. "Just keep practicing patiently. Everyone improves at their own speed."
Ryōta's expression grew serious. "Koji-sensei talked to you about graduating early, didn't he?"
The direct question caught Hikaru slightly off-guard, his eyes widening slightly. "Yes, sensei did ask me about that," he confirmed as he began channeling chakra to his feet for his own tree climbing demonstration.
"Did you say yes? Are you gonna graduate?" Ryōta asked with obvious anxiety as he watched Hikaru walk up the tree trunk with ease.
When Hikaru reached a stable branch and looked down at his friend, he delivered news that clearly shocked him. "I told him no. I'm not ready yet."
"What?!" Ryōta exclaimed with wide eyes, his hands spreading in disbelief. "Why didn't you say yes? You beat Seiji-kun! You're the best one in our class!"
Hikaru crossed his arms thoughtfully. "I told you this morning that I think it's too early, and I still believe that."
"I only won against Seiji-kun because he got too excited and made mistakes," Hikaru continued modestly, pressing his lips together briefly. "If you think about his attacks carefully, you could probably do the same thing I did."
"No way!" Ryōta protested. "I can't fight like that! You're way better than me!"
The genuine distress in his friend's voice made Hikaru reconsider his approach. Rather than continuing with technical explanations, he decided to address the emotional aspects.
"Have you thought about why I train so hard every day but still decided not to graduate early?" Hikaru asked as he began descending the tree.
The question seemed to deflate some of Ryōta's agitation as he struggled to process the apparent contradiction.
When Hikaru reached the ground, he felt sympathy for the confusion and disappointment obviously troubling his friend.
"You might think I'm scared," Hikaru said gently, placing a hand on Ryōta's shoulder, "but that's only part of it. The real reason is that I meant what I said—I'm not really ready yet."
"I can do some techniques pretty well, but that doesn't mean I'm ready for real ninja missions where people might get hurt," Hikaru explained seriously.
Ryōta's expression showed he was struggling to understand how someone could voluntarily delay advancement they'd clearly earned.
"But don't you want to be a real ninja?" Ryōta asked with simple directness.
"Someday," Hikaru replied honestly, "but I want to be ready when that happens. There's a difference between being able to win academy sparring and being prepared for missions where mistakes can't be fixed."
The explanation seemed to resonate somewhat with Ryōta's understanding, though he was clearly still processing the complex relationship between capability and readiness.
As they walked home together, Ryōta was quiet for a while before speaking again.
"Hikaru-kun," he said slowly, "I think I understand now. You're not just thinking about yourself, are you?"
Hikaru glanced at his friend with surprise, his posture straightening with realization. "What do you mean?"
"If you graduate early, we won't be in the same class anymore," Ryōta said with a small smile. "And Yuki-san and Kenta-kun would be left behind too. You're thinking about all of us."
Hikaru scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Maybe that's part of it too."
"Thanks," Ryōta said simply. "For not leaving us behind."
When Hikaru arrived home, Ayako was waiting with dinner and a curious expression. The smell of grilled fish and miso soup filled their small kitchen, a comforting contrast to the tension he'd felt at the academy all day.
"I heard from other parents that there was some excitement at the academy today," she said as they sat down to eat. "Something about early graduation opportunities? Kenji-san mentioned that several vendors' children were being considered for advancement."
"Koji-sensei asked me about it," Hikaru admitted. "I told him I wasn't ready."
Ayako studied his face carefully, setting down her chopsticks. "And how do you feel about that decision? I know the village has been putting pressure on everyone lately. Even the market district feels different—more urgent somehow."
"Good," Hikaru said, then paused, absently folding and unfolding his napkin. "Nervous about what comes next, but good about the choice."
"That's all that matters then," Ayako said with approval. "Trust your instincts, Hikaru-kun. They've served you well so far."
That night, as Hikaru prepared for bed, he couldn't shake the feeling that bigger changes were coming whether he was ready or not. Through his window, he could see ANBU patrols moving across the rooftops—something that had become more common since Orochimaru-sama's defection. The assessment in two weeks would bring new challenges, and avoiding early graduation now didn't mean he could avoid advancement forever.
The village was changing, and everyone could feel it. From the worried conversations between adults to the increased security measures around important buildings, Konoha was preparing for something. Hikaru just hoped he would be ready when the time came.
But for tonight, he was content with his choice. Some opportunities were worth waiting for.