The mission clerk naturally recognized Yuya.
At this point, Yuya was practically famous throughout Konoha. His reputation as a genius from the Ninja Academy had long since spread.
However, Yuya's involvement with ANBU was classified information.
Outside of ANBU itself, ordinary shinobi had no way of knowing.
Might Duy also patted Yuya on the shoulder, speaking earnestly.
"Yuya, it's still too early for you to be taking missions. Don't rush it—take things slowly. You'll definitely become an outstanding ninja someday."
From Duy's perspective, even if Yuya had no combat ability at all, he was confident he could still complete a mission while protecting him.
Let alone the fact that Yuya was clearly strong.
But rules were rules.
Yuya was still a Ninja Academy student, not an officially registered shinobi. Letting him take missions would be completely against regulations.
Being patted on the shoulder and lectured like this made Yuya's expression turn rather strange.
Without saying a word, he slipped a hand into his pocket, took something out—
And placed it gently on the counter.
Pa.
A Konoha forehead protector.
Only official shinobi were allowed to wear one.
The moment they saw it, both the mission clerk and Might Duy froze.
Duy laughed helplessly.
"Yuya, just having a forehead protector doesn't mean you're an official ninja. You—"
"Shinobi ID number: XXXXXX," Yuya said calmly.
"Check it."
The clerk stared blankly, then hurriedly pulled out the registration records and flipped through them.
Very quickly, he found it.
Name: Yuya
Rank: Genin of Konohagakure
Age: Nine
Shinobi ID: XXXXXX
Notes: Outstanding performance, graduated early
In an instant, his eyes widened.
Early graduation?!
Unbelievable.
Even Orochimaru had not graduated early.
Nor had Minato Namikaze.
Early graduation only truly became common starting with Kakashi Hatake's generation.
And Kakashi hadn't even been born yet.
Yuya—
Might very well be the first early graduate in Konoha's history.
While the clerk stood there in a daze, eyes wide—
Might Duy was still earnestly lecturing Yuya.
After speaking for a while, Duy finally sensed something was wrong.
Noticing the clerk's stunned expression, he stopped mid-sentence.
At that moment, Yuya smiled faintly and looked at the clerk.
"So? Found it?"
"…I found it," the clerk replied stiffly.
"Yuya. Genin of Konoha. Shinobi ID XXXXXX."
"…Huh?"
That single sentence left Might Duy completely dumbfounded.
He stared blankly as Yuya reached out and retrieved his forehead protector from the counter.
Only then did it hit him.
That forehead protector is really his.
Yuya was already an official shinobi.
But—
Wasn't the Academy graduation exam still a long way off?
And hadn't Yuya's class been scheduled to graduate next year?
"Y-Yuya… you're really a—"
Duy looked at him in disbelief.
Yuya chuckled and nodded.
"Yeah. I'm already a genin."
"Pff—!"
Might Duy almost coughed up blood.
He'd just been lecturing Yuya—
And now it turned out Yuya was already a genin, just like him?!
Before Yuya could react, Duy suddenly lunged forward and hugged him tightly.
"This is youth!!"
"—!"
This time, Yuya was the one who almost spat blood.
This is painful…
At that moment, Yuya silently vowed to always keep his distance from Might Duy in the future and remain on high alert.
Strange looks came from all around.
Clearing his throat, Yuya struggled free and calmly looked at the mission clerk.
"So," he said evenly,
"there shouldn't be any problem now. Two genin forming a team to take this mission."
"…N-No…"
The clerk answered reflexively—
Then suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Wait! No, that still won't work!"
Letting them go would be insane.
Might Duy was a notorious perpetual genin.
As for Yuya—even if he was a once-in-a-generation genius who had graduated early—
He was still far too young.
Such a team taking on a mission with near B-rank difficulty?
Failure was almost guaranteed.
"You just said two people would be fine!" Duy argued immediately.
This time, he didn't try to stop Yuya.
If Yuya was an official ninja, then the rules were satisfied—and Duy wasn't afraid of anything.
Yuya chuckled lightly.
Without another word, he and Duy picked up the mission form and walked out.
Leaving the frantic clerk behind.
Ridiculous.
At this point, Might Duy could already open the Seventh Gate.
Who would dare say that a Duy with the Seventh Gate open could be defeated so easily?
Opening the Seventh Gate placed him at peak Kage-level combat power.
Yes, afterward he would suffer extreme bodily damage—
But while the gate was open, even Konoha's White Fang might not be able to stop him.
If someone like that was still considered unfit to leave the village on a mission—
Then surviving the Second Great Ninja War would be nothing but wishful thinking.
Besides—
Yuya genuinely wanted to experience a real battle soaked in blood.
To truly temper himself.
Life in Konoha—
Even the life-and-death fight with Uchiha Han, or the ANBU candidate training—
None of that was enough.
Avoiding true combat would never produce a strong ninja.
And without true strength—
One could never grasp their own fate.
"Hey! Wait—you two—!"
The mission clerk shouted urgently, but it was already too late.
"…This is bad. I need to report this to the Hokage immediately."
He turned and rushed off.
Konoha – Hokage's Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a slow puff from his pipe and shook his head helplessly.
"Shakumo… what do you think?"
"Let him go," Hatake Sakumo replied with a smile.
"A genius who never experiences blood and fire is not a true genius—and cannot truly grow."
"This world is filled with danger. If one remains under protection forever, how can they become an eagle that soars across the sky?"
Hiruzen nodded, sighing softly.
"You're right. And Yuya is already no weaker than any chūnin. This mission shouldn't pose much of a problem."
"…Still."
"Never mind. The road is one he must walk himself."
Konoha Military Police Force
Inside the solemn, austere captain's office—
Uchiha Kageyama sat quietly, lifting a teacup and taking a small sip.
Whoosh.
In the next instant, a shinobi carrying a tachi appeared before him.
"Captain. Yuya has left Konoha."
"I already know," Kageyama replied calmly.
"Then…"
"Yue," Kageyama said softly,
"you know what to do. Go."
"Yes."
As Uchiha Yue vanished silently once more, Kageyama's expression remained placid.
So did the look in his eyes.
Yue was one of the vice-captains of the Military Police Force—second only to Kageyama himself.
This time—
There would be no accidents.
As for Might Duy, who was traveling with Yuya—
He was completely ignored.
Konoha's so-called perpetual genin was worthless.
Killing him along the way would be effortless.
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