People have their sorrows and joys, partings and reunions. The moon has its periods of being cloudy or clear, waxing or waning.
Tonight, the night sky over Konoha held a half moon, its pale light faint, like a broken piece of a jade plate. It seemed to reflect Nonō, who would be leaving tomorrow.
"Fortunately, I have the Azure Dragon Fruit, and I've also obtained the Eight Gates."
Sora gazed at the half moon outside the window, took a deep breath, and his eyes became sharp. "Next time, I absolutely will not let something like this happen again."
He had been worried that he, this "butterfly," might change Nonō's fate ahead of time, preventing her from living to the age of 31 as she did in the original story.
But now it seemed his influence on Nonō was still too small. It was merely that she had one more orphan to care for.
At six years old, he ultimately did not yet have the ability to leverage many things.
But one day, he would have this ability!
...
Early the next morning, Sora arrived at Nonō's room. He saw it was cleaned spotlessly, and the quilt on the bed was neatly folded. Clearly, Nonō had already left.
He walked to the window, looked at the clear sky outside, and felt slightly more at ease.
"The weather is so good, it should be a good sign..." Sora murmured to himself.
After quickly washing up, Sora headed to the kitchen and found Uesugi Rin had already prepared breakfast. The other children were also getting up one after another and gathering around the dining table.
"Where is Nonō sister?" Yumi, the youngest, asked, holding up her spoon.
The orphanage no longer had the dozen or so children from when Sora first arrived. Over the past year or so, some had been adopted, some had been picked up. Now only Sora, Miyamoto Ichirō, Uesugi Rin, plus the two out on missions, along with Yumi and another little girl named Ayumi remained.
"Sister went out on a mission. She'll be back in two weeks." Sora patted her head. "I will take care of everyone during this time, don't worry."
"Brother Sora is the most reliable!" Yumi said with a giggle.
After breakfast, Sora and Uesugi Rin hurried to the Ninja Academy together.
Originally, Sora planned to ask for leave and stay at the orphanage, but Miyamoto Ichirō said he had already asked for leave earlier, wanting to stay at the orphanage to look after the other children.
"I never really liked the ninja life anyway."
"Several friends I knew before all died on missions."
Remembering Miyamoto Ichirō's words, Sora felt somewhat emotional. Perhaps, for him, being an ordinary person really was better, because Miyamoto Ichirō was also a dead-last.
Not everyone is named Uchiha, Uzumaki, or Might!
...
Arriving at the academy, as soon as Sora entered the classroom, Kurenai waved to him. "Sora, come quickly! Something big is happening today!"
"What big thing?" Sora walked over and sat down, asking curiously.
Kurenai leaned closer to him, lowering her voice. "I heard Kakashi is going to graduate early today! The whole school is talking about it!"
"Kakashi?" Sora raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah! He's only five, a year above us, and now he's graduating!" Kurenai said with an admiring look. "I heard his strength is already at Chunin level!"
Sora analyzed silently in his heart. 'Chunin? I remember Kakashi graduated at five and became a Chunin at six. So even if he's not at Chunin level now, he must be extremely close.'
Just then, the classroom door opened. The homeroom teacher, Yamada Kenichi, walked in, clapped his hands and said, "Students, this morning's classes are suspended. Everyone assemble at the training ground. Hatake Kakashi is taking his graduation exam today. The school is allowing students from other classes to observe."
The classroom instantly erupted. The students began discussing excitedly.
"Really? Graduating at five?"
"As expected of a genius!"
"I heard his father is Konoha's White Fang, a super powerful ninja!"
Listening to the surrounding discussions, Sora felt emotional.
'Kakashi's talent is indeed terrifying, but his childhood is also full of tragedy. His father's suicide, and later Minato, Obito, Rin...'
On the training ground, all the teachers and students of the school had gathered.
Sora and Kurenai stood in the Class B line, and from afar they spotted Kakashi in the center of the examination area. Just like in the original story, he wore a mask, his head of white hair particularly conspicuous. It was a pity his face couldn't be seen clearly, which left Sora feeling a bit regretful.
However, this Kakashi, although appearing somewhat aloof, was merely cold-natured and a bit tsundere. Especially his eyes, they were very bright, brimming with vitality. Not like later when he always had those lifeless, dead-fish eyes.
The examining teacher announced, "Hatake Kakashi, applying for early graduation. The examination content is a practical combat test. The opponent is a Tokubetsu Jonin, Gekkō Yukikaze!"
"Gekkō Yukikaze?" Sora stared at the man who looked very similar to Gekkō Hayate and was stunned for a moment. 'Could he be Hayate's father?'
After thinking about it, Sora felt it probably was. Gekkō Hayate was 23 when he appeared, also a Tokubetsu Jonin, three years younger than Kakashi. This Gekkō Yukikaze looked to be in his twenties. Given the early-maturing style of the ninja world, it was probably correct.
Kurenai tugged on Sora's sleeve and asked quietly, "Sora, do you think Kakashi can win?"
Sora shook his head. "He can't win. A Tokubetsu Jonin's strength far surpasses a Genin's. Although Kakashi is a genius, he is only five now. But the graduation exam doesn't necessarily require winning. He just needs to demonstrate sufficient strength."
Sure enough, after the fight began, although Kakashi displayed amazing taijutsu and shuriken skills, he still appeared overwhelmed by Gekkō Yukikaze's speed.
Watching the two on the field, Sora pondered to himself.
'Using shuriken? Hatake Sakumo was famous for his sword techniques... But then again, that makes sense. Kakashi only started using the Chidori with sword techniques later on. He's just over five now, clearly not at that stage yet.'
'And later, Gekkō Hayate was a master of sword techniques, with 'Crescent Moon Dance' as his specialty. His father is probably similar. Trying to compete with sword techniques against him now would probably make Kakashi lose even faster.'
Ten minutes later, the examining teacher called a halt to the fight.
"Hatake Kakashi, examination passed! Effective immediately, you officially graduate and become a Konoha Genin!"
Clap clap clap!!!
The entire area erupted into enthusiastic applause and cheers. Some little girls even fainted, hearts in their eyes.
Kakashi bowed expressionlessly, then turned and left the training ground.
"So cool..." Kurenai watched Kakashi's retreating figure, stars shining in her eyes.
Sora smiled. "What, you want to graduate early too?"
Kurenai stuck out her tongue. "No way! I still want to go to school with you!"
Sora felt warmth in his heart, but then thought of Nonō who had left, and the light in his eyes dimmed again.
...
After school ended in the afternoon, Sora walked alone on the road back to the orphanage.
Halfway there, he caught sight of a familiar figure from the corner of his eye.
A boy wearing goggles was carefully helping an old lady cross the street.
"Slowly, Granny, there's a step here."
"Thank you, child. You are such a kind, good ninja."
"Hehe, it's what I should do!"
"..."
Sora was stunned for a moment, then recognized him. "Uchiha Obito?"
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