c14: Graduation in Advance
Chiba instantly activated Soru, a movement technique he adapted from a foreign shinobi style and refined with his own training. With a sudden burst of speed, his right foot slammed into the ground, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished reappearing directly in front of Hyūga Yaohui like a ghost materializing from thin air.
Yaohui's eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn't even had time to react, let alone counter.
"How is he this fast?!" Yaohui exclaimed, stunned. His chakra control and vision were advanced for his age, but he couldn't keep up with Chiba's explosive acceleration.
Chiba didn't give him a chance to recover. As soon as he appeared, his foot lashed out with precision, striking Yaohui just like he had Iwashi earlier.
Thud!
Yaohui was launched backwards, tumbling through the air before crashing down several meters away. He let out a sharp grunt of pain.
Unlike Iwashi, Yaohui's training in the Gentle Fist and clan conditioning gave him a stronger physique, so he wasn't hurt as badly. But the outcome was the same he was thoroughly defeated, unable to stand or continue fighting.
The result was undeniable. The so-called "genius" of the Hyūga branch family had been dispatched with a single blow defeated by Chiba without suspense.
"I told you you're rookies. Whether Hyūga or otherwise, your so-called talent means nothing to me," Chiba declared coldly, his expression arrogant and unbothered.
The sixth class students, who had once sneered at Chiba, were now silent. They had all hoped someone would humble him but after watching him dismantle two of their strongest classmates, their confidence evaporated.
They stood on the sidelines, watching in stunned silence. Their gazes followed Chiba with a mixture of awe and apprehension.
Clearly, the strength he displayed was not something children their age could match. He was a different kind of shinobi a prodigy that didn't just rely on bloodline or background.
"If any of you are still unhappy, come at me. In fact, why not come together?" Chiba said, folding his arms, his expression smug and unrelenting.
Several of the children grit their teeth in frustration, but no one dared move.
"Calling yourselves geniuses, and yet you're too scared to lift a finger," Chiba scoffed. "You're nothing but cowards hiding behind empty reputations."
With that, he turned and walked away, uninterested in continuing. The crowd parted instinctively, none daring to block his path.
"He may be short," a girl nearby whispered, her eyes sparkling, "but he's so cool. I think I'm in love."
Chiba left the Academy grounds without looking back. Instead of heading home, he sprinted toward the outskirts of the village, aiming to squeeze in two hours of solitary training.
With his time at the Academy cutting into his daily schedule, Chiba was determined to keep improving. Though his strength was already above the average Genin, he knew he couldn't afford to slow down. Talent meant nothing without relentless effort.
During his time at the Academy, several self-proclaimed elites challenged Chiba. Each of them believed that defeating him would cement their place at the top of Class 6.
But each of them lost.
Crushed, humiliated, and thrown aside like amateurs.
Chiba never lost a single match. Among his peers, he stood alone at the top.
---
Time passed quickly. In what felt like the blink of an eye, half a year had flown by.
In that time, Chiba's strength had grown by leaps and bounds. His physical conditioning rivaled that of a seasoned Chūnin, and his combat skills had reached a level that would challenge even Tokubetsu Jōnin in certain situations.
He was only five years old.
He had long since outpaced his curriculum at the Academy. There was nothing left for him to learn there—not the basic chakra theory, nor the elementary jutsu. Everything had become review.
So he made a decision: he would apply for early graduation.
That evening, in the Hatake household, the rare occasion of a shared dinner brought together Sakumo, Kakashi, and Chiba. They sat around the table, steam rising from their bowls.
"Dad," Chiba began as he reached for a rice ball, "I've pretty much mastered all the Academy material. I want to apply for early graduation."
Kakashi, already sipping his tea, raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"You're really going to graduate before me?" he asked with a grin. "Trying to break my record?"
His tone was teasing, but his eyes were full of brotherly pride.
When Kakashi was five, he'd already graduated the Academy and was hailed as a once-in-a-generation genius. Chiba, now the same age, was on the verge of matching and perhaps even surpassing that achievement.
Chiba laughed. "Obviously. What's the point of being the younger brother if I can't surpass you?"
"Ha! You two are incredible," Sakumo said warmly, a proud smile on his face. "It's rare to have dinner like this with both of you. Seeing how far you've come… it makes me proud to be your father."
In the original timeline, Sakumo's eventual fall from grace would cast a long shadow over Kakashi's future. But here and now, he was still the White Fang of Konoha, a legendary shinobi and respected leader.
Chiba was well aware of his father's burdens. He saw how often Sakumo was called away for missions and how little time he got to spend at home.
"Chiba," Sakumo said after a pause, his tone turning more serious, "If you graduate early, you'll officially be a shinobi. I support your decision. But I won't be in the village much longer I've been assigned a long-term mission. I might not be here for your graduation."
There was a tinge of regret in his voice.
Sakumo had dedicated his life to Konoha. But that dedication had come at a cost time lost with his sons.
"It's alright, Dad," Kakashi said with a small smile. "I'll be there for his graduation."
"Yeah," Chiba added, nodding, "It's not a big deal. What matters is that you stay safe and complete your mission."
Sakumo looked at them, eyes softening. "You're both so mature. I couldn't ask for better sons."
The rest of dinner passed peacefully. There was laughter, a few old stories, and for a brief moment, the pressures of shinobi life were forgotten.
---
Over the next few days, Chiba's focus shifted entirely to his graduation application.
He gathered the necessary documents, assembled proof of his combat ability and academic mastery, and formally submitted his request to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
A storm was coming but Chiba was ready to take his next step.
---