What?"
Yueshu was stunned for a moment, not understanding what Minato Namikaze had just said.
"I already told you, I plan to graduate early."
Minato Namikaze was very serious, his gentle face resolute.
"What suddenly got into you?"
Yueshu scratched his head, completely confused.
A month after Yueshu and Tsunade chatted during dinner that night, everything remained the same. The small circle of Yueshu, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina continued, though Uchiha Mikoto had been pulled into this small circle by Kushina, turning the trio's small group into a slightly larger circle of four.
Originally, given Konoha's current situation, there should have been a period of peace for quite some time. But Minato Namikaze suddenly came to Yueshu and said he wanted to graduate early.
"It's nothing. I just feel like I've learned everything the school can teach. If I continue like this, I won't be able to defeat you, so to become stronger, I plan to graduate early."
Minato Namikaze looked at Yueshu very seriously, making Yueshu feel a little uncomfortable.
Is it because of me? Yueshu mused to himself.
The Minato Namikaze in the original story did indeed graduate early, but he was also ten years old. However, the current Minato Namikaze is only a little over eight, at least a year earlier than in the original story.
"Have you really decided?"
Yueshu sighed. He wouldn't interfere too much with other people's decisions. He always believed that people's choices were their own, and it wasn't his place to judge whether they were good or bad.
"Yes, I'll go find the teacher in a bit."
Minato Namikaze nodded.
"Alright, I respect you. Good luck."
Yueshu gently patted Minato Namikaze's shoulder.
"Before that, I need your help with something else."
"Oh? What is it?"
Yueshu was curious for a moment, then his face fell.
"For my last day of school, let's have one more duel!"
"Huh?"
Yueshu looked at the serious Minato Namikaze and immediately wanted to cover his forehead in thought.
What a sin!
"Are you really that confident you can pass the early graduation exam?"
"Yes!"
"No hesitation at all."
Yueshu looked at Minato Namikaze, his gaze also becoming slightly serious.
"Alright, I'll duel you one more time!"
And so, with Yueshu's response, the duel between Yueshu and Minato Namikaze was set.
The time was set for tomorrow, because tomorrow the school just so happened to have practical combat classes, and as per tradition, the two would undoubtedly be grouped together again.
What concerned Yueshu most wasn't this, but rather the butterfly effect.
After one more person intervened, the future direction of the Hokage's story would certainly not follow the original path. And now, this impact had emerged: Minato Namikaze graduated more than a year earlier than in the original story, which was undoubtedly a huge change.
Minato Namikaze, known as the Golden Flash, was the purest genius in the Ninja World, without any "cheats." No one could surpass his pure talent, and with such a genius graduating early, his strength would undoubtedly accelerate. A Fourth Hokage even stronger than in the original story would be born. At that time, during the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Incident or the Third Shinobi World War, would Kakashi's team also avoid their fated deaths because the Fourth Hokage was stronger?
If that were the case, Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu's plan would go awry. Would the Hokage's plot still exist?
Yueshu thought for a while, then shook his head, casting all those thoughts aside.
He wasn't someone who wanted to dominate or save the world, so why think so much? Just living his life like this was enough.
Having cleared his mind, Yueshu continued his daily routine.
After class, Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto, the two best friends, both ran over to find Yueshu. The news of Minato Namikaze's early graduation had also reached their ears.
Or rather, the news of Minato Namikaze's early graduation had already spread, probably throughout the entire Ninja School.
"What is Minato thinking? He's only been in school for just over a year, and he's graduating so soon?"
Kushina was also a bit surprised, completely unable to understand why Minato Namikaze suddenly wanted to graduate early.
"Who knows, he is a genius after all."
Yueshu said, and Kushina suddenly froze.
"A genius?"
Kushina murmured to herself, speaking very softly, so Yueshu didn't hear it. Only Uchiha Mikoto, who was nearby, heard.
Kushina and Mikoto didn't chat much more with Yueshu. Soon it was time for the next class, and they both returned to their seats. However, Kushina seemed a bit distracted, and Mikoto followed suit, her gaze falling on Kushina and Yueshu several times.
Although Yueshu found it a bit strange, he didn't think too much about it.
Time quickly passed, and another day went by. Kushina and Mikoto went home together, and Minato Namikaze came to say goodbye to Yueshu.
"Tomorrow, I will definitely defeat you!"
Minato Namikaze's words were released, and Yueshu, for once, felt a surge of excitement.
"I won't lose either."
And so, after Yueshu and Minato Namikaze exchanged a smile, they each walked towards their homes.
The butterfly flapped its wings, flapping and flapping, and perhaps a typhoon might be stirred up somewhere.
The next day, Konoha Village was very lively. A duel was to take place between Minato Namikaze and Ji Shen Yueshu, the two most famous geniuses in Konoha.
Besides that, Minato Namikaze also planned to graduate early.
The location was the Ninja School's training ground, where many people had already gathered, both Ninja and civilians, all to watch the duel between Minato Namikaze and Yueshu.
In the present, after the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha had two astonishing geniuses, whom people called the Twin Stars of Konoha—Minato Namikaze and Yueshu.
And now, the Twin Stars of Konoha were dueling, to see whose brilliance shone brighter.
"Minato Namikaze, Ji Shen Yueshu, step forward."
As the teacher's voice rang out, the scene became lively.
"Form the Seal of Confrontation."
Yueshu and Minato Namikaze looked at each other, their eyes filled with fighting spirit.
For Yueshu, Minato Namikaze was his only male friend, and his combat power was excellent; at least, besides Yueshu, probably no other student in this Ninja School could defeat him.
"Don't hold back."
Minato Namikaze said, forming the Seal of Confrontation with Yueshu.
"Don't worry."
Yueshu's reply made Minato Namikaze smile.
"Both sides, prepare."
After forming the Seal of Confrontation, Yueshu and Minato Namikaze both retreated a distance from each other. Their duel was about to begin.
A gentle breeze blew, and the once noisy scene suddenly fell silent.
This was no longer a casual sparring match; it was a genuine duel, a duel where both sides would give their all!
The air was quiet, and Yueshu and Minato Namikaze could both hear each other's rapid heartbeats.
"Begin!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu."
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough Jutsu."