Time passed quickly.
Another class of students had finished their training at the Ninja Academy and were ready to become ninja.
Nohara Rin, chosen to represent her class, stood proudly on the platform, giving the graduation speech.
"Congratulations, congratulations..."
The warm sound of applause filled the air.
She saw so many faces looking up at her.
As Nohara Rin spoke, her eyes scanned the crowd.
Suddenly, her gaze stopped, fixed on one particular spot.
Is that Young Master Ryo? she wondered.
Nohara Rin blinked, making sure she wasn't seeing things.
Maybe he's here because of the Sarutobi Clan graduate, she thought.
It wasn't until the ceremony ended that Nohara Rin realized Sarutobi Ryo was waiting just for her.
"Congratulations, Rin." He stood under a tree near the Academy, where a swing gently swayed in the breeze, scattering leaves.
"..."
Nohara Rin tilted her head, finding the scene beautiful and a little unreal.
She thought back to her moments with Young Master Ryo, and her cheeks grew slightly warm.
People change as they grow older, she thought. Their thoughts, what they care about, and even what they believe is right or wrong, can be completely different.
Sarutobi Ryo understood what the young girl was thinking.
He knew that at tomorrow's "explanation meeting," the leaders would assign her a Jonin instructor.
He also knew that she would be joining Namikaze Minato's team.
As a talented Medical Ninja, possibly the best since Tsunade, her placement was no accident. The leaders had a plan.
They wanted to build a strong team around Namikaze Minato.
The rise of ninja from regular families, not those with special bloodlines, was a force that couldn't be stopped.
No one could hold it back.
----
But eventually, things would likely shift back to favoring those with special family abilities and bloodlines.
Hatake Sakumo's sad change and Nonou's transformation made Sarutobi Ryo hope for a better future.
He also believed he could prevent the tragedy that would befall Nohara Rin.
Nohara Rin possessed the Will of Fire, a strong desire to protect her village.
In the original story, she sacrificed herself for the Village, choosing to save others instead of herself.
Sarutobi Ryo admired her for this quality.
The graduation ceremony was special, an important moment in Nohara Rin's life.
His presence and their conversation would have a big impact on her future.
"In the Future, you could join the Medical Team..."
Sarutobi Ryo said with a smile.
Different groups had different requirements for rank.
With her talent, Nohara Rin could join the Medical Team even as a Genin.
She would also have access to some of Konoha's Medical Ninjutsu resources.
Nohara Rin and Sarutobi Ryo talked. She was very smart and quickly figured out what he was suggesting.
"Young Master Ryo, do you need my help with something?"
She had learned so much from analyzing the Yuki Clan's remains last time.
But Sarutobi Ryo surprised her with his answer: "No, I came today just to congratulate you. Of course, there will be things in my Anbu work that I'll need your help with in the Future, and you'll be rewarded well..."
Sarutobi Ryo gave her a kind smile.
While others treated Nohara Rin like a child, Sarutobi Ryo used subtle methods to make her feel important, and it was working.
This made Nohara Rin feel respected and gave her a sense of purpose.
Nohara Rin wanted to save lives and become a Medical Ninja as skilled as Tsunade. She was eager to prove herself.
She might not have even realized how much she wanted this.
"Rin, would you like to have dinner with me..."
Inviting her to dinner was a polite gesture between people of high standing.
Nohara Rin happily agreed.
"Rin~~~."
Just then, Obito came running up, out of breath. He had also graduated.
"Young Master Ryo?" Obito stopped, surprised to see him.
Sarutobi Ryo looked at Obito.
Nohara Rin, quick to understand the situation, made a decision: "Obito~, Young Master Ryo and I need to discuss some Anbu matters, so I'll be leaving first..."
"Oh."
Obito watched Rin and Young Master Ryo walk away, scratching his head.
He felt a little lost, for some reason.
"Young Master Ryo."
As they walked, other family members who had come to the graduation greeted Sarutobi Ryo.
Among them, Sarutobi Ryo noticed Hyuga Hizashi.
It wasn't unusual for children from the Hyuga Clan to graduate every year.
But...
The girl standing next to Hyuga Hizashi caught his eye.
She had short, dark green hair, white eyes, and a gentle expression.
She was the same age as Nohara Rin, and judging from her forehead mark, she was from the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family.
"It's Hyuga Natsu..."
The Hyuga maid from the TV show, who later took care of Hyuga Hinata and Hyuga Hanabi.
At this time, the two Head Family heirs hadn't been born yet.
So, Hyuga Natsu would be serving others.
She was probably Hyuga Hiashi's fiancee.
Sarutobi Ryo glanced at her, and just as he was about to leave...
The Will of Fire System suddenly sent a notification about this Branch Family girl named Hyuga Natsu.
[Will of Fire System!]
[New Weapon of the Will of Fire: "Hyuga Natsu"]
[Side Mission Goal: Instill the Will of Fire in Hyuga Natsu!]
[Side Mission Reward: Hyuga Exclusive - Chakra Control Techniques - "Branch Family"]
Sarutobi Ryo: "!"
----
Meanwhile, at the Sarutobi Clan's compound.
Sarutobi Ryo sat with his legs crossed in the Underground Space.
The underground area was now bigger, a place for training and cultivation.
Eleven Shadow Clones sat here with Sarutobi Ryo himself.
That's right, the person who went to the Ninja Academy for Nohara Rin's graduation was just a Shadow Clone.
He couldn't leave his main body because he was at a crucial point in his training.
Nohara Rin's graduation was important.
After thinking carefully, Sarutobi Ryo decided to send a Shadow Clone.
At that moment, the Shadow Clone was leaving the Ninja Academy with Nohara Rin, heading towards the Street.
Because it hadn't disappeared yet, Sarutobi Ryo didn't know what was happening there.
Sarutobi Ryo, focused on his training, suddenly changed his expression.
He opened his eyes wide.
The eleven Shadow Clones disappeared at the same time.
Sarutobi Ryo stood up, his right palm open.
A beam of light shot out from his palm, aimed at the empty space, with a buzzing sound.
The light was bluish-white.
It shone brightly on a piece of paper he had prepared.
The paper instantly caught fire, was pierced through, and then the light hit a thin wooden board.
Green smoke rose.
The wooden board quickly turned black, burned, and was pierced through, the light continuing onto the underground stone wall.
The bluish-white Laser was becoming thinner and thinner.
It was a concentration of photons, a powerful amount of energy in one spot.
Finally, the Laser was as thin as a hair.
Although thin, its high energy made it burn and cut through things easily.
"I did it..."
Looking at the light from his palm in the darkness, Sarutobi Ryo smiled and sighed with relief.
He had obtained the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai!