Chapter 87: Graduation from the Ninja Academy, and the Incident Concerning the Hyuga Main Family Heir

"Class, today’s graduation exam will be on the Clone Technique."

Time passed.

There hadn’t been any major incidents over the past few years, and the shinobi world remained peaceful.

In the blink of an eye, it was now Konoha Year 60.

After Iruka announced the subject of the graduation exam, he called the students forward one by one according to the roster.

"Yamanaka Ino."

"Here!"

Ino walked to the front of the classroom, formed the required hand seals, and—

Poof!

A cloud of smoke rose, and she transformed into Iruka’s appearance.

Iruka checked the details, then nodded.

"Pass!"

He waved his hand and wrote "Pass" on the examination sheet before handing Ino a Konoha forehead protector.

"Congratulations, Ino. From today onward, you’re officially a Konoha Genin."

Taking the forehead protector, Ino excitedly said, "Thank you, Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka smiled and nodded before calling the next name.

"Hyuga Hinata."

"Here!"

Hinata answered and walked to the front of the classroom.

Ino returned to her seat and waved the forehead protector in her hand.

"Naruto, help me figure out where I should wear this."

She placed it against her forehead and showed him.

A moment later, she moved it to her neck, then her arm, then her leg.

She tried putting it everywhere she could.

Naruto watched for a while, but his mind was busy trying to remember how Ino used to wear hers.

He thought about it for a long time.

He couldn’t remember at all.

At that moment, Ino said, "Wearing it like this seems like such a hassle, and it doesn’t really suit me. I’ll just put it in my ninja pouch."

Naruto smiled.

"As long as you like it."

As he spoke, Naruto’s gaze fell on Ino’s slender waist.

He vaguely remembered that she used to wear it around her waist.

Later, after the bandages were removed, it was left completely exposed, turning her into Konoha’s famous little waist beauty.

As for her forehead protector, it had basically become Schrodinger’s forehead protector.

Ino gave a soft hum and was about to open her ninja pouch.

But after noticing Naruto’s gaze, her cheeks flushed.

She felt as though Naruto’s gaze had almost become tangible, as if she could actually feel it.

Just like during class...

She muttered something under her breath before tying the forehead protector around her waist.

"Does it look good?"

Naruto froze for a moment before smiling.

"It looks good."

The forehead protector was designed to be worn around the forehead, so its length was limited.

The fact that Ino could tie it around her waist only reinforced her reputation as Konoha’s little waist beauty.

Although Naruto had measured it more than once, he still couldn’t get enough of it.

At that moment, Hinata returned as well.

She fiddled with her forehead protector for a moment before casually hanging it around her neck.

Naruto’s eyes lit up.

Wearing it around her neck was actually quite alluring.

But Hinata seemed to be in a bad mood today.

She frequently became distracted.

Even after receiving her ninja forehead protector, she didn’t say anything about it and immediately returned to staring blankly out the window.

At first, Naruto thought she was simply reluctant to graduate.

But now he realized something was wrong.

He asked with concern, "Hinata, what’s wrong today?"

Ino also noticed that something was off and looked at Hinata worriedly.

They had known each other for years and were good friends by now.

Naturally, Ino was concerned about Hinata’s unusual state.

Coming back to her senses, Hinata shook her head and lowered it.

There was obvious worry and sadness on her face.

Worry?

Naruto frowned.

Hinata didn’t have many friends.

There shouldn’t have been any problems with the Hyuga clan either.

He couldn’t figure it out.

"Uzumaki Naruto."

At that moment, Iruka called Naruto’s name.

"Here."

Naruto answered, temporarily suppressing his doubts and quickly walking to the front of the classroom.

Sasuke had already walked down after receiving his forehead protector.

Naruto formed the hand seals.

Poof!

He transformed into Iruka.

"Pass!"

Iruka gave him a brief look, then waved his hand and wrote "Pass" on the examination sheet.

He took another Konoha forehead protector and handed it to Naruto.

"Congratulations, Naruto. From today onward, you’re officially a Konoha Genin."

"Thank you, Iruka-sensei."

After six years together, Naruto didn’t have any dislike toward Iruka.

Of course, they weren’t particularly close either.

It was simply an ordinary teacher-student relationship.

Naruto took the forehead protector and returned to his seat.

He had been the final student to take the exam.

Iruka announced, "All right, today’s examination is over.

"Tomorrow will be the graduation orientation. All graduating students, remember to arrive at school on time.

"School is dismissed!"

After announcing the dismissal, Ino gestured toward Hinata.

Naruto nodded and gave her a reassuring look.

"Naruto, Hinata, see you tomorrow."

Ino knew that there were some things Hinata would only tell Naruto and no one else, so she left the classroom first.

Sasuke glanced at Naruto.

Seeing that Naruto and Hinata weren’t leaving, he understood that something was going on.

He simply left the classroom first and planned to wait for Naruto outside the school.

After all the other students had left, Naruto rubbed Hinata’s head and asked softly,

"Hinata, what’s wrong?"

Hinata bit her lower lip.

"Yesterday, Father asked me to fight my little sister, Hanabi..."

She stopped there, seemingly unsure how to continue.

Naruto’s heart stirred.

"Did you win?"

Hinata shook her head, then nodded.

In truth, even Hinata herself didn’t know whether it counted as a victory.

She couldn’t bring herself to attack Hanabi with full force.

She mostly focused on dodging, and whenever she attacked, she deliberately held back.

In the end, Hanabi was exhausted and collapsed.

Hinata was only slightly out of breath.

The members of the Hyuga clan immediately understood the situation.

The difference in strength was simply too great.

Naruto roughly understood what had happened and silently mourned Hanabi for a moment.

He then asked softly,

"Was Hanabi designated as a branch family member?"

He didn’t mention the Caged Bird Seal, phrasing the question more tactfully.

Hinata nodded, her expression gloomy.

"After the match, Father said that I would inherit the main family position. He told me that Hanabi would transfer into the Ninja Academy next year, and when that happens..."

She lowered her head, guilt faintly visible on her face.

She hadn’t known that the match was actually a test to determine the heir of the main family.

If she had known, she would have deliberately lost.

Hanabi still didn’t know.

She was even happy that she would soon be able to attend the Ninja Academy...

Naruto understood now.

Once Hanabi entered the Ninja Academy, she would probably be branded with the Caged Bird Seal.

Hyuga Hiashi had actually treated his daughters quite well.

He had forcibly delayed the matter for years.

Now, after the competition between the two heirs, he had managed to delay it for another half a year.

If Naruto had known beforehand, he would have reminded Hinata to deliberately lose.

If things had followed the original course, she wouldn’t be troubled by this today.

The Hyuga clan had always followed the tradition of favoring the eldest child over the youngest.

If Hinata lost, Hiashi could use the excuse that his younger daughter Hanabi was stronger than his eldest daughter Hinata and appoint the younger, stronger Hanabi as the main family heir.

Some clan members who believed in strength above all else would certainly agree.

Meanwhile, some stubborn elders who valued tradition would definitely oppose it.

With Hiashi secretly controlling the situation, as long as the two sides failed to reach an agreement, neither Hinata nor Hanabi would have to receive the Caged Bird Seal.

Of course, Naruto didn’t yet know that Hiashi had actually used Hinata’s unwillingness to seriously attack Hanabi as evidence that Hinata was too soft-hearted to become the main family heir.

He had forcibly persuaded several clan elders to give Hanabi another six months.

By then, Hiashi would probably think of another excuse to delay things again.

Naruto didn’t know the whole story.

He sighed inwardly.

There was no point thinking about it now.

Besides, this was a family matter within the Hyuga clan, and he didn’t know how he could comfort her.

After thinking for a moment, Naruto could only reassure her.

"Don’t you still have several months? Don’t worry. Maybe something will change by then."

It was the end of the year now.

The new students would enter the Ninja Academy in April, so there was still more than half a year left.

"Really?"

Hinata’s eyes suddenly lit up.

"There really could be a change? Hanabi really doesn’t have to become a branch family member?"

Naruto froze.

He had only said that there might be a change.

He hadn’t guaranteed anything.

But seeing the hopeful look in Hinata’s eyes, Naruto could only say,

"Mm. It’s possible."

At worst, if there really was no other way by then, he could just kidnap Hanabi.

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