"I see. Skipping class?" Gen leaned in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Naruto-kun... you wouldn't want Iruka-sensei finding out, would you?"
"..."
Naruto's face drained of color.
"Eh? Gen-senpai?" Shikamaru and the others approached. Kiba eyed Gen skeptically. "Naruto said you hospitalized your teammates to graduate. Is it true?"
"..."
Gen shot Naruto a withering glare. Spreading rumors?
(Though... technically accurate.)
"Roughly. My situation's unique."
"Tch. That actually works?" Kiba's gaze slid to Naruto, suddenly predatory. "Hey, Naruto. Wanna team up for your early graduation?"
"Shut up, bastard!" Naruto bristled. "I'm not like him! I'll graduate properly!"
"Rumors say otherwise." Shikamaru yawned. "Besides, early graduation's banned now. You'd probably fail anyway." He turned to Gen. "Shouldn't you be on D-ranks, senpai?"
"Yeah," Chōji crunched a chip. "Heard it's all weeding and ditch-cleaning. Brutal."
"Huh?" Naruto blinked. "But ninjas go on real missions!"
"Not that simple." Gen shrugged. "Chōji's right. New genin grind through grunt work. Gotta build experience."
"Seriously?!" Naruto deflated. This wasn't his ninja fantasy.
"Yep. Just graduating's hard enough." Gen's smile stayed serene. "Kids drop out every year. Notice any empty desks?"
He let that sink in before continuing. "Then comes the real graduation test. Fail? Repeat the year. My teammates are proof—they might never become shinobi now."
"Th-that tough?!" Naruto gulped. Even Kiba looked shaken.
"Obviously." Gen spread his hands. "Look around. Konoha's huge—how many are actual ninjas?"
His voice softened, almost cruel. "And making genin? Just the start. Some die before chūnin. Others burn out. Only a handful climb higher."
He met each boy's eyes. "For most? Never becoming a shinobi is the norm. Even for you... genin might be your peak."
Silence swallowed the truants. For the first time, they regretted skipping class. Naruto, especially, his dream felt suddenly fragile.
But—
"Doesn't matter!" Naruto clenched his fists, fire returning. "I'll fight anyway! I'll be Hokage! I won't quit!"
"Tch. Big talk." Kiba scoffed, though respect flickered in his eyes. "You're not the only one trying."
"You two..." Shikamaru massaged his temples. Total derailment.
Chōji, munching calmly, pierced the drama. "But Gen-senpai... you seem relaxed. Is genin your peak too?"
"Me?" Gen tilted his head, grin turning sly. "Oh, I'm leaving the village on a mission tomorrow. Who stays behind pulling weeds?"
"EH?!" Four jaws dropped.
"And 'peak genin'?" He winked. "That's for other people. My goal is fame and fortune!"
"..."
---
Ten... nine... eight...
6:00 AM. Gen counted down in the predawn gloom.
...three... two... one!
His hand slapped the alarm clock dead before its first shriek. Someday, when I'm flush with mission cash, I'm smashing you.
Dressed swiftly, he checked the mirror. Good. Looks matter—future negotiations with kunoichi depend on this face.
He knew Kakashi's "early" was negotiable. But he also knew where to find him.
"Huh? Naruto?"
The boy was halfway out of his window.
"Training this early?"
"Keh! Gotta work hard!" Naruto puffed his chest. "Gonna graduate! Become Hok—WAAAAAH!"
His foot slipped. Gen watched, stunned, as Naruto pinwheeled from the second story and face-planted onto the street.
"Owwie..."
Some ninjas die to a single kunai, Gen mused, walking past the groaning lump. Others get hearts ripped out. And then there's this guy...
"Enjoy the journey," he called over his shoulder. "Oh, and water my balcony plants while I'm gone. Don't kill them."
"YOU BASTARD! I'LL BE HOKAGE!"
Naruto's roar followed him. Gen's smile faded slightly.
No quest triggered... shame.
Absorbing Indra and Asura's chakra would likely need a system prompt. But time was on his side.
Konoha Cemetery
Standing before Obito and Rin's memorial stones, Kakashi didn't turn.
"Morning, Kakashi-sensei!" Gen chirped.
Kakashi's visible eye widened. "...How did you—? Never mind. Guy again."
"..."
Gen offered only an innocent smile. Bless Guy's loudmouth heart.
"What's the plan, sensei?"
"Ready." Kakashi tapped five scrolls in his pouch, pulling out a sixth. "Five C-ranks. One B-rank. All along the same route. We clear them in one sweep."