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"You've worked hard."
The Third Hokage took the Scroll of Seals passed to him by Shikaku and then inquired further, "Is Kakashi injured and hospitalized?"
Shikaku nodded. "Yes, but the doctor said it's not very serious. He should be discharged before long."
The Third thought for a moment before asking, "Will he be able to serve as a team instructor for the upcoming class of graduates?"
Shikaku nodded again. "Kakashi says it won't be a problem."
"That's good!"
At Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha.
Naruto and Iruka sat together, eating ramen.
"What's wrong? Shouldn't you be happy about becoming a shinobi?" Iruka looked at Naruto's expressionless face and spoke up.
After Naruto learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, he naturally qualified to become a Genin.
To celebrate Naruto becoming a shinobi, Iruka had even brought him out for ramen.
However, Naruto's expression showed no trace of happiness; instead, it was filled with sorrow and helplessness.
Naruto turned to Iruka and asked, "Iruka-sensei, do you think Kagaya has really become a bad person?"
Iruka paused. He didn't have any deep bond with Kagaya, only the standard teacher-student relationship of one year. Iruka didn't dwell on it, and Kagaya likely didn't either; their connection had long since faded.
"Perhaps he has. After all, he's become a missing-nin."
Iruka recalled the chilling coldness in Kagaya's eyes that night. In his view, Kagaya had likely changed long ago, becoming someone they no longer recognized.
Naruto looked at Iruka anxiously. "Is that really true?"
Iruka nodded. "Yes."
Uchiha Kagaya was no longer the Uchiha Kagaya from their academy days.
"Is that really true?" Naruto asked again.
Iruka was slightly taken aback but replied once more, "Yes."
"Is that really true?"
Naruto pressed for a third time.
This time, Iruka was struck silent. Looking at the hopeful glint in Naruto's eyes, he understood. It wasn't that Naruto didn't understand his answer or hadn't heard it clearly. It was that his answer wasn't the one Naruto wanted to hear.
"What do you think?" This time, Iruka didn't reply with another 'yes.' He knew Naruto already had an answer in his heart; he just needed someone else's affirmation.
Naruto gripped his chopsticks tightly and declared with conviction, "Kagaya... he definitely hasn't changed! He must have had some reason for doing what he did. I believe in Kagaya! Sooner or later, I'll defeat Kagaya and ask him clearly!"
Iruka looked at the resolute boy before him and smiled slightly. "That won't be easy. Kagaya is very strong now."
Naruto wasn't discouraged in the slightest. "I will! I'll definitely defeat Kagaya, find out why he defected, and then bring him back to the village!"
Iruka gazed at Naruto with a complex expression, then reached out and ruffled his hair. "Is that so? Then you'll have to work hard."
"Yes! Of course!"
Meanwhile, Kagaya and Haku were traveling eastward from Konoha.
Haku spoke with a hint of melancholy, "Kagaya, are we going to Kirigakure?"
East of Konoha lay a vast ocean. Crossing it would lead to the Land of Water, home to Kirigakure, the Hidden Mist Village.
Haku held no desire for revenge against Kirigakure, but harboring any fondness for the place was impossible. If given a choice, Haku truly did not wish to go there.
However, if Kagaya truly intended to go, Haku would certainly follow without a word.
Kagaya shook his head. "No, we're not going to Kirigakure this time. Heading in this direction, the first place we'll reach isn't Kirigakure, but another country."
"Another country?"
"Yes. It's called the Land of Waves. That's our destination."
Kagaya looked towards the distant horizon and smiled slightly.
Why go to the Land of Waves? To find Zabuza, of course! The plan for the invasion of Konoha was approaching. Initially, Kagaya had thought to train near Konoha for a while before seeking out Zabuza. He hadn't expected Konoha to deploy such a large force to pursue him, which had unsettled him somewhat.
After some thought, Kagaya decided to head to the Land of Waves first to find Zabuza. Then, he could settle down and train calmly while waiting for the invasion plan to commence!
Thinking about it, around this time, the businessman Gato should have already hired Zabuza to assassinate Tazuna, the bridge builder. If not yet, it should be soon.
Back when Zabuza told Kagaya to find him on his own, Kagaya readily agreed precisely because of Gato.
Even if he couldn't find Zabuza himself, surely someone else could. Someone like Gato.
A few days later.
At the Ninja Academy, all students had a day off. This day was reserved for an orientation specifically for the graduates. The only ones coming to the academy today were students who had passed the graduation exam.
Shikamaru walked into the classroom with his usual lazy demeanor, much like on the first day of school six years prior. He entered with the same 'what a drag' expression, looking utterly listless. Walking over to Naruto, he paused in surprise.
"Huh? Why are you here too? Today's orientation is only for graduates who passed, you know."
In Shikamaru's memory, Naruto hadn't passed the graduation exam.
Naruto lifted his head, pointing proudly and almost boastfully at the forehead protector on his head.
"Hey, you, can't you see this forehead protector? Starting today, I'm a shinobi too! How should I put it... this really suits me super well! Hahaha!"
Naruto chattered on, showing off to Shikamaru like a child with a new toy, brimming with joy.
Hinata, watching the happy Naruto from a distance, felt her cheeks flush slightly.
'Naruto-kun graduated too...'
She was genuinely happy about Naruto's graduation.
Naruto was sitting next to Sasuke. After Shikamaru left, Sasuke, his face dark, suddenly turned to Naruto.
"Dead last, that night... did you run into that person?"
Naruto's smile faltered. He knew exactly who Sasuke meant, and his mood sank slightly.
"Yeah."
Sasuke raised his right hand, fingers closing around a crudely carved, somewhat misshapen wooden Sharingan hanging from his neck.
"How was he?"
"He was fine."
"Idiot, I'm asking about his strength!"
"He was... really strong."
The conversation ended there. Both of them lowered their heads, silent.
Sakura, who had just entered the room, immediately spotted the brooding Sasuke. Frowning, she walked over to him.
"Sasuke, are you okay?"
Sasuke replied coldly, "I'm fine."
At that moment, Sasuke released his grip on the wooden Sharingan around his neck, placing both hands on the desk to prop up his forehead.
Sakura also caught sight of the crooked, ugly wooden trinket and immediately spoke with a tone of distaste, "Sasuke, who gave you that? Such an ugly thing! Is this what's making you upset?"
Sakura assumed Sasuke's unhappiness stemmed from wearing such an unsightly wooden ornament, so she didn't hesitate to mock it.
But what greeted her wasn't Sasuke's appreciation or a brighter mood. Instead, it was a face so dark and threatening it seemed to suck the light from the room.
"Do you have a death wish, Sakura?"
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