"...Naruto. Naruto!"
In the teacher's office, Naruto sat staring blankly out the window, lost in thought.
Iruka called his name several times, but Naruto didn't even twitch.
"Naruto!"
"Oh—Iruka-sensei! You were calling me?"
Iruka's face flushed with frustration, his voice rising.
"You really have the nerve to act clueless!" he snapped.
Naruto blinked, finally realizing Iruka was angry.
"Listen, Naruto," Iruka began sternly, "you beat up Sasuke this time. You know that was wrong. He's just gone through something terrible, and you—of all people—shouldn't be bullying him!"
Iruka's tone softened into a lecture. He had seen Sasuke's battered face himself—covered in bruises to the point where Iruka could barely recognize him.
It had been bad. Really bad.
Naruto had always been one of his best students—good grades, strong skills, and aside from constantly flirting with Hinata, practically a model student. Iruka had started to see him in a new light.
But after today's fight, Iruka was determined to hold him accountable.
"Iruka-sensei…"
"What now?"
"I want to apply for early graduation. You can go ahead and tell everyone."
Naruto flashed a bright grin, waved, and walked out of the office.
Iruka froze in shock.
"Early graduation?"
That wasn't what he was expecting to hear at all.
And from the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, no less?
"Wait—Naruto! Hold on! Explain what you mean!"
Iruka hurried after him, finally catching up.
"Why are you talking about graduating early?" Iruka asked. "You're only supposed to be learning and growing at your age. There's no rush. It's too soon. Lord Hokage will never approve of this."
Naruto turned to him, his expression calm but determined.
"I understand what you're saying, Iruka-sensei. But staying here won't teach me anything new. I need to become a real ninja—I need more knowledge, and I need a bigger stage."
He clenched his fists.
"If I want to become Hokage, I can't stay in school playing pretend with kids. Konoha needs someone to step up right now—and I, Uzumaki Naruto, will do my part!"
His voice rang with conviction. His eyes burned with resolve.
For a moment, Iruka didn't know how to respond.
He stood there speechless as Naruto walked away, his heart pounding from the weight of that declaration.
"Hey, Iruka-sensei," a voice chimed behind him. "Did I just hear something crazy? That demon fox kid, Naruto, wants to graduate early?"
It was Mizuki, leaning out from behind the door with a strange grin.
"What? Are you serious?" another teacher asked. "Someone's applying for early graduation?"
"Yeah," Mizuki said smugly. "Uzumaki Naruto from Iruka's class. Says there's nothing left to learn at the academy. Guess that means none of us are good enough teachers for him, huh?"
The teachers exchanged bewildered looks.
"There hasn't been an early graduation since the war years," one of them muttered. "This is unheard of."
"It'll depend on what Lord Hokage decides," another said.
By the end of the day, the entire Ninja Academy was buzzing with the news.
Teachers were stunned. Students whispered among themselves, gawking at Naruto as if he were some kind of legend—or a lunatic.
"Is it true, Naruto-kun? You're really graduating early?" Hinata asked softly.
Naruto smiled at her. "Yeah, Hinata. I've made up my mind. I can't learn anything else here. I want to move on—to grow. You stay here and train hard, okay? I'll be counting on you someday."
He gently patted her head, a trace of regret in his eyes.
She bowed her head, her pale eyes filled with quiet resolve.
She didn't try to stop him. She knew she couldn't.
All she could do was support him—and work hard enough to someday catch up to him.
In the Hokage's office, Iruka stood before Sarutobi Hiruzen, reporting everything.
"Do you think someone really needs to step up for Konoha?" the Third Hokage murmured, taking a slow puff from his pipe.
Even a child like Naruto could sense the village's weakness.
Deep lines etched across Hiruzen's face as he stared out the window. The burden of leadership had grown heavier by the day.
Yes… Konoha needed new blood. Someone to inherit its will.
Perhaps the time had come to think about a successor.
"Lord Hokage…" Iruka said cautiously.
"Go for now, Iruka," Hiruzen interrupted gently. "If Naruto wants to graduate, let him. I'll arrange the assessment myself."
Iruka's eyes widened. "What? Lord Hokage, are you serious?"
He couldn't believe it. Letting a seven-year-old jinchūriki graduate—during peacetime, no less—seemed unthinkable. But the Hokage's tone left no room for argument.
Still confused, Iruka bowed and left the room.
"Summon Kakashi," Hiruzen ordered.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Left alone, Hiruzen gazed out toward the academy, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Such a good boy," he murmured. "He wants to shoulder Konoha's burdens already…"
If Naruto were just a little older, Hiruzen thought, he'd make a fine candidate for Hokage someday.
"But even so," he added quietly, "if he wants to graduate early, he'll have to prove it. No one gets through without passing a proper test."
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