"Hey, have you heard? That Uchiha Fenghuo who hasn't been coming to the academy for half a year is finally going to take the graduation exam!"
"Really? I remember he defeated Hyūga Shinmune and Uchiha Rana in the same class. He's pretty strong!"
"He should have no problem passing the graduation exam then."
In the ninja academy hallway, a group of students gathered, chatting excitedly. Their voices carried far enough to catch the attention of Mizuki, who was passing by.
Mizuki's white hair and sharp features made him look every bit the typical "traitor type." Hearing the news, jealousy flared in his eyes. With a sneer, he interrupted, "Heh, you guys don't even know — the genius Kakashi has already signed up for the Chūnin Exams!"
"What?! Kakashi's going to take the Chūnin Exams?!"
"Yeah, that's the big news. Uchiha Fenghuo? He's not even qualified to tie Kakashi's shoes!" Mizuki boomed loudly.
"Right! When Kakashi graduated last year, he knocked Fenghuo down with just one kick."
Mizuki smirked, satisfied, then turned and walked away.
In the classroom, Obito, Yuhihong, Lin, and others gathered quietly around Fenghuo, watching him intently.
"Hey, seven-year-old, don't look so serious," Fenghuo said awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood.
"Damn it, Fenghuo! You actually want to take the graduation exam early?" Obito clenched his fists. "We agreed to graduate together next year!"
"...Did I say that?" Fenghuo replied with a dry smile, twitching at the corner of his eye.
"Fenghuo, are you really planning to take the Chūnin Exams right after graduation?" Yuhihong asked cautiously, worry clear in her eyes.
"The Chūnin Exams?" Lin was surprised. "Fenghuo, don't you want to challenge Kakashi again at the Chūnin Exams?"
Fenghuo quickly waved his hands, "No, no, you've got it wrong! Yeah, I'm taking the Chūnin Exams, but it's got nothing to do with Kakashi."
Sweat dripped down Fenghuo's temple. What were these girls feeding themselves?
"By the way, Hong, how'd you find out I was taking the Chūnin Exams?" Fenghuo quickly changed the subject.
"My dad said with your strength, you could've applied for the graduation exam ages ago. You don't need to take a six-month break unless you want to go for the Chūnin Exams," Yuhihong said, tugging on the collar of her jacket nervously. "But I heard from him that people sometimes die during the Chūnin Exams."
"Don't worry, that's just your dad trying to scare you," Fenghuo teased, pinching Yuhihong's cheek gently.
Nearby, Asuma watched the scene with conflicted eyes.
The past six months had been rough for him. His father, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was preoccupied with border tensions and rarely had time for him or his younger brother. Bitterness was growing inside him, and thoughts about leaving Konoha wouldn't leave his mind.
"Fenghuo, are you serious?!" Obito jumped onto the desk excitedly. "You really want to take the Chūnin Exams and challenge Kakashi?!"
"...When did you become deaf? I just denied that!" Fenghuo was stunned, but no one seemed to listen.
"What? Fenghuo's taking the Chūnin Exams too?"
"Challenging Kakashi?"
"Yeah, right."
Hyūga Shinmune, sitting near the front, suddenly turned around, glaring sharply at Fenghuo. "The Chūnin Exams? Don't joke around. You think you're Kakashi or something?"
Fenghuo ignored him. Their opinions didn't matter.
"Hey, did you hear? Uchiha Fenghuo, who challenged Kakashi last year, is going to challenge him again in the Chūnin Exams."
"I heard Fenghuo spent six months training with an elite Jōnin to prepare and has mastered some powerful ninjutsu!"
Rumors flew between classes like wildfire, sometimes based on facts, sometimes not.
"I heard it myself! Fenghuo boldly declared in class he's going to defeat Kakashi!" Mizuki sneered, trying desperately to tarnish Fenghuo's reputation.
Before the graduation exam, Fenghuo was already a trending topic, appearing in gossip and whispers everywhere.
That afternoon, Kiyono Makoto appeared in the classroom and announced solemnly, "Uchiha Fenghuo and Hyūga Shinmune, please come with me."
All eyes immediately turned to Shinmune Hyūga.
"Wait, Hinata Shinmune also applied for the graduation exam?"
"I didn't know that."
"Maybe she wants to make a big splash."
Amid the murmurs, Hyūga Shinmune straightened her posture and left the room without looking back.
"Don't fall behind Hinata Shinmune!" Obito and others wanted to follow, but the school forbade it.
Fenghuo shrugged casually and walked out.
The two of them followed Kiyono to the training ground. Many students taking the graduation exam had already gathered.
"Heh, look, two little devils," a boy snickered.
"Too naive. Think you're Kakashi or something?"
"Yeah, you're gonna get beaten, ha ha ha!"
The students, around ten years old and taller than Fenghuo and Shinmune, looked down on them like they were a joke.
Kiyono shot them a stern glare, then turned to Shinmune, whose face was serious. "Wait a moment. There's another candidate."
At the testing area, a ten-year-old boy smiled confidently and threw a kunai without looking.
Thud!
The kunai hit the bullseye ten meters away.
"Wow, Sato's kunai throwing is perfect!"
"Stop showing off, you're scaring the juniors, ha ha ha!"
"Is that so?" Sato shrugged innocently and "apologized" to Fenghuo and Shinmune. "Sorry, I hope you can keep your confidence after seeing that."
He jumped up, throwing kunai again and again, hitting three targets in a row.
"Unfortunately, only one hit the bullseye," Sato sighed dramatically.
"Ninety points!" the instructor announced.
"Only ninety? Still impressive! Good luck!" Sato put his hands in his pockets and walked off, receiving cheers from others.
"What a perfect performance! Sato's gonna set the bar high for those two little devils."
"He doesn't even look like a senior. I can't take it!"
"I'm just trying to show them the bigger world beyond their little bubble," Sato said confidently.
"Alright, your turn. Who goes first?" Kiyono asked Fenghuo and Shinmune.
"I'll go first," Shinmune stood immediately, her eyes sharp and focused.
"Yosie, let's start the kunai throwing test!"
Visit patreon.com/Morgansenpai to get 30+ chapters