2 Boruto Uzumaki
"Alright class! This is your final day at the academy. Tomorrow will be your graduation exam, and you will become an official ninja."
'Finally!'
Today is the last day I am attending the academy. Even though I have wanted to graduate earlier, early graduation isn't really a thing from long ago.
"This isn't really a lesson, but I want to share how the times have changed, and how being a shinobi has evolved from my time, to yours."
Kurenai-sensei explained how different were things in her time.
For her, the graduation age was around 9-10 in times of war, and 12 in the absence of it. The youngest ninja after establishment of Konoha was the Sixth Hokage, who graduated at the age of 5.
It was then raised from 12 to 15 some time after the Fourth Great Shinobi War ended. And early graduation is a thing of past now.
The number of ninjas has also dwindled a lot. Genin corps have been scrapped, and I hear that the funding for ninja training has also decreased drastically.
Because, the need has declined. Your typical Supply and Demand phenomenon.
"But it is not a bad thing. In our times, we were constantly looking for new ways to kill other ninjas, on the edge about when the next war might break out.
But you don't have to think about that. Because-"
Of Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage.
Kurenai-sensei went on the repeated recording she plays with her mouth for some reason or another.
So, I just started spinning my pen as she went on and on and on.
What does it mean to be a Ninja, anyway?
Glorified odd-jobbers?
I am sick of pulling weed and catching Tora on a weekly basis. Dad gives me more pocket money than those annoying academy missions. And I absolutely hate those escort missions where we have to deal with annoying clients.
I wonder what kind of missions will be there once we graduate?
"-Well, that's all for today. I wish you best of luck for your graduation exam tomorrow."
Finally, she stopped. Bye bye academy, you won't be missed. And that's a certainty.
And I can finally learn high level ninjutsu from now on now that I will become an official shinobi. I had nothing better to do all these years, so the best I could do was having taijutsu spars with Dad and Big sis Hanabi, master other chakra natures, and learn all the C-rank jutsus I could get my hands on.
Now, Dad will finally teach me Rasengan.
Whatever being a Ninja may entail, learning cool jutsus is something only a shinobi can do.
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"It's our last day here huh."
"Yeah, Sarada."
Sarada Uchiha, the daughter of Uncle Sasuke and Aunty Sakura, the teammates of Dad.
Due to our parents, we know each other from as long as I remember. Aunty Sakura will leave her with Mom since she is always busy with the Hospital work, so I would say I know her the most in our circle.
And what I know is, she is annoying.
"After the text tomorrow, I will be one step closer to become the Hokage."
"..."
Yep. That's why she is annoying. I really don't understand what's the big deal about being the Hokage. After so much training and becoming the strongest shinobi, you will end up on a desk job, looking through paperwork all day.
It's much better to be like Uncle Sasuke. No tension of paperwork and maintaining a village. I would travel around the world over getting stuck on a chair.
Well, it would be cool to see Sarada getting fat sitting on a chair all day.
"You just thought of something rude, didn't you?"
"No."
...Does she have some sort of mind reading ability?
"Anyway, let's go home. It is getting evening."
"Yeah yeah."
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"Mom, I am home."
"How was your last day, Boruto?"
"It was fine, nothing special. Where's Hima?"
"She is on her first mission."
"Ah. Her internship started toda-"
"Mumma! Onii-chan, I am home!"
Himawari arrived with her whole face scratched. Oh. Tora the 4th ran away again huh.
"All animals hate me, Onii-chan."
Oh. Now that I think about it, most of the animals hate Himawari for some reason. No, scared will be a better way to put it.
I wonder why though.
"Alright kids. Go and wash your face and hands. And you take a bath, Himawari. I will bring snacks on the table."
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"By the way, Mom. When will Dad come home today?"
"Hmm, maybe around 8pm? He said that he will arrive early today. "
Oh. Then maybe we can have a spar...
"Boruto... No spar today. You have your Graduation exams tomorrow So, no tiring yourself out."
"But-"
Oops. I better watch my mouth. Mom's glare with the Byakugan is scary. Those veins...
I hope that I don't get Byakugan. Those veins are scary.
"Hinata, stop scaring Boruto."
Dad!
"Welcome home, Daddy!"
"How was your mission today, Hima?"
"We caught Tora."
"Oh."
Dad sympathised with Hima, and I did too. Tora is a menance. Anyway,
"Dad, you are early. So, how about a spar-"
"Boruto. Listen to your mom. The Graduation exam won't be just showing a bunch of Ninjutsu. If you aren't prepared enough, you can fail. So, be at your 100% for tomorrow."
"But-"
"If you get the first place, I will teach you the Rasengan, and another one of your Grandpa's jutsu that I learnt recently."
Grandpa's Jutsu!?
"Don't forget your promise, okay?"
"Heh. I never go back on my words. That's my Ninja Way!"
Ninja Way...
I wonder when I will get my own Ninja Way?
"Don't worry. You will get yours one day too. Just take what you will experience in the Shinobi lifestyle seriously, okay?"
Stupid Dad. I wonder if he has a mind reading ability...
Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage. The strongest Hokage. Not only in strength, but also negotiation.
I wonder if I will ever surpass him. Or even become his equal. Nor do I have large chakra reserves like him, neither a strong conviction like him.
Most importantly, I don't even have a goal like he had, to become the Hokage. Or to be a Ninja.
"Dad, what is being a Ninja? Glorified Odd-jobber?"
"Pffft! Hahaha! Odd-jobber!?"
"Dad, I am serious."
"... Well, I can give you the answer. But now isn't the right time. There are things that you have to learn on your own. But I will tell you that being a Ninja isn't just being an Odd-jobber.
You will have to look underneath the underneath."
I see.
I don't understand. Guess I will just trust Dad on this, and learn what being a Ninja is myself.
And while I will find what being a ninja means, I will also find my Ninja Way.
