Reiji didn't bother knocking.
The two advisors flanking the Hokage's desk immediately bristled.
"You cannot just—"
"Sit down," Hiruzen said, raising a hand.
Reiji ignored the chair and stood before the desk, his expression unreadable.
Hiruzen leaned back, exhaling a long stream of pipe smoke. "You've been busy."
Reiji kept his voice flat. "I want to graduate."
"Straight to it, hm?" Hiruzen's lips curled into a faint smile. "No 'how are you today, Hokage-sama?' No preamble?"
Reiji didn't answer.
The advisors exchanged looks.
"This is absurd," one of them snapped. 'He's a child. and a clanless child at that, Graduating this early is unthinkable.!'
The advisor's face flushed. "Answer the Hokag-"
"Enough," Hiruzen said, his tone sharp.
Reiji's gaze stayed locked on Hiruzen. "The academy wastes time. I'm ready now."
Hiruzen studied him for a long moment, then chuckled. "You remind me of myself when I was your age. Impatient. Restless. Convinced the world would move faster if I simply pushed harder."
Reiji tilted his head slightly. "Was I wrong?"
Hiruzen laughed softly. "Shameless brat."
Reiji didn't smile, just a slight corner of his lips rising.
Hiruzen tapped his pipe against the edge of his ashtray, considering. "Normally, I'd say no. The academy exists for a reason. But…" He glanced at the map pinned to his wall — red markers spread across the Land of Fire's borders. "…times are not normal."
Reiji's eyes narrowed.
"The Third Shinobi World War has stretched us thin," Hiruzen said. "Every promising shinobi we can field matters. I've been considering accelerating certain candidates."
"So you'll approve it," Reiji said.
The advisors immediately erupted.
"Hokage-sama, this is madness!"
"He's too young! You cannot send this brat into the field!"
Reiji ignored them. "You need soldiers."
The audacity of the statement made the advisors gape.
Hiruzen sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Do you see what I mean?" he said to them. "Quite the interesting man"
"You're actually entertaining this?" one advisor barked.
"I am," Hiruzen said calmly.
He turned his full attention back to Reiji. "You'll be tested. If you pass, you graduate early. But know this: once you leave those academy walls, you are a shinobi of the Leaf. No excuses. No safety nets. Are you prepared for that weight?"
Reiji met his gaze without hesitation. "I already carry it."
Hiruzen studied him for another moment, then smiled. "Then let's see what you're capable of."