"You are not unaware of the reason for raising butterflies starting at age ten. You should be well aware of the consequences of raising them too early."
Eisawa hung his head and remained silent.
Only Gisei knew about his body's condition; he hadn't told anyone else.
Eisawa had also wanted to wait until Gisei was ten, but his body couldn't wait, and there was absolutely no time left.
At ten years old, even if Gisei's talent was poor, his chakra would be sufficient to raise butterflies. But starting at six… it wasn't just a chakra issue. The most serious problem was that his vitality would be affected.
This was a precious lesson the clan members had learned in exchange for blood.
Shuichi Takemoto suddenly jumped in front of him and slapped him. "I noticed your condition was wrong long ago. You drink yourself into a stupor every day—do you want to die that much?"
"Honestly, I really feel there's no need for this secret technique to be passed down anymore. Perhaps your father thought the same."
After saying this, Shuichi disappeared.
Eisawa sighed, turned around, and went back to his room. He felt like he wouldn't be able to sleep again tonight.
...
The sky turned completely dark, and the lights in the Hokage building lit up.
Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, lost in thought as he gazed at the three documents on his desk.
The first was the file on Gisei submitted by Kawano.
The second was the document Eisawa had someone deliver, which contained Gisei's application to enter the hospital.
The third was something someone in the Anbu had presented to him, along with the files of two ninjas attached.
Hiruzen hesitated a little. As the Hokage, he naturally hoped Gisei would join a ninja squad and serve the village. But these ninja clans were too difficult to deal with, and there were some historical issues left over that really gave him a headache.
The office door suddenly opened, and Danzo walked in with a sword on his back.
"Danzo, weren't you in the Land of Rain?"
"Something happened. Hanzo attacked my unit. We suffered heavy casualties and had to withdraw."
This wasn't the era of opposition between the two yet; currently, Hiruzen and Danzo were in a "honeymoon period." Barring any accidents, this situation would continue for several more years.
Danzo had sharp eyes and saw Gisei's file on the desk.
"That brat wants to graduate early. Is he really a genius?"
"Hehe, it's hard to say if he's a genius, but he wants to enter the hospital. What do you think?"
"A ninja entering the hospital? Is it because he's greedy for life and afraid of death?"
"I don't know. The people of the Butterfly User Clan were never normal to begin with, not to mention there are only two clansmen left now. Maybe they just want to protect this child."
Danzo sneered. "That guy Eisawa brought over a dozen jonin to fight me last time. That doesn't look like a clan with only two people left."
"I know what you want to say, but these are matters Sensei dealt with. Are you asking me to dig up old scores?"
Danzo huffed and turned to leave. Hiruzen looked at his back and suddenly spoke up.
"Danzo, there's something I hope you tell me truthfully."
"What?"
"Are this child's parents..."
Danzo, who had already pushed the door open, turned around abruptly, staring dead at Hiruzen. "The Hokage's seat isn't that easy to sit in!"
With a bang, the office door was slammed shut by Danzo.
Hiruzen smoked in silence. In a short while, the entire office was completely submerged in the smoke rings he blew out.
...
The next day, when Gisei woke up, he still felt very dizzy.
So the chakra overdraft was this severe. Gisei patted his cheeks and struggled to get out of bed.
Going out and seeing Eisawa, he greeted him weakly.
"Good morning, Uncle Eisawa."
Eisawa nodded and extended his hand. "If you feel really uncomfortable, absorbing my chakra will make you feel a bit better. Do you want me to ask for leave from the Ninja Academy for you?"
"No need, I'm not that weak. I should be better by tomorrow."
"Suit yourself. I made breakfast; go to school after eating."
"Mm."
After eating, Gisei felt much better.
Just as he was about to leave, he thought for a moment, turned back, and said, "Uncle Eisawa, in two days, Teacher Kawano will bring his daughter to visit our house for a meal. You must be at home then."
"I know."
After arriving at the Ninja Academy, Gisei found that he seemed to have suddenly become a focal point.
Among the students coming and going, people occasionally pointed at him. Even when he got to his class, this phenomenon didn't disappear.
What was going on?
Hiruko walked over from behind and deliberately said in a very loud voice, "Look who's here. He's clearly the dead-last, yet now he wants to graduate early."
Gisei blinked and said, "So you're jealous of me?"
"How could I, the great me, be jealous of you? Mere Body Replacement and Transformation techniques—just you wait, I'll learn them in a few days."
"You are just jealous of me."
Hiruko flew into a rage out of humiliation. "Bastard, do you dare to have a ninja sparring match right now?"
"Excuse me, I wouldn't dare spar with the 'great' Hiruko."
After teasing him a few times, Gisei lay on the desk, looking listless.
"You guy... dammit!"
After a morning of theory classes, during the afternoon combat training, Gisei found that many classmates were looking at him with eager eyes.
Gisei was speechless. Why hadn't he realized he was so popular before?
When it was time for him to spar with others, Gisei admitted defeat quite decisively and directly.
Anyway, his condition wasn't good right now. Even if he beat these classmates, it would be meaningless. Why do such a thankless task?
Hearing him admit defeat, the classmates all showed disappointed expressions and started jeering.
"This guy admits defeat just like that? Is he afraid of being taught a lesson?"
"Who knows? This guy has always been troublesome."
Fortunately, Teacher Kawano saw that something was wrong with him and stopped them.
After school, Gisei was kept behind alone again.
"You don't seem to have much energy today. Did something happen?"
"Just chakra overdraft. I'll recover soon."
"That's good."
Kawano picked up a document from the desk and said, "Lord Hokage has approved your graduation application. You don't need to come to school starting tomorrow."
Just like that?
Gisei had a strange expression. "Isn't there a graduation exam?"
Speaking of this, Kawano's expression was also very strange.
"I don't know what arrangements your clan made. The meaning Lord Hokage asked me to convey is that if you want an exam, he will arrange it; if not, that's fine too."
Apart from having a head full of question marks, Gisei was just left with confusion.
What was all this? Why weren't they playing by the rules at all!
"I'll discuss it with my uncle after I get home. I'll give you an answer in two days when you bring Sister Mihui over."
"Alright."
Returning home with a belly full of doubts, he could vaguely hear arguing coming from inside the house before he even pushed the gate open.
When he pushed the gate open, the arguing stopped abruptly.
Shuichi and Eisawa were sitting opposite each other, drinking tea.
Almost instantly, Gisei realized that the Third Hokage's strange attitude had something to do with these two people.
Behind them stood a young girl. Hmm, eighty-five points.
After scoring her, Gisei consciously bowed obediently.
"Grandpa Shuichi, Uncle Eisawa, is this pretty sister a clansman of Grandpa Shuichi?"
"Mm, my granddaughter Anna Takemoto. She's three years older than you."
"Hello Sister Anna, first time meeting. I am Gisei Shiraishi, please take care of me in the future."
Gisei imitated Jiraiya and extended his "wandering hand."
After the two shook hands and bowed, they retreated behind their respective elders.
Shuichi and Eisawa looked at each other and started drinking tea again.
The atmosphere was a bit strange. Gisei felt it was better for him to speak up at this moment.
"Uncle Eisawa, Teacher Kawano said today that I can graduate."
Eisawa breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "What about the graduation exam?"
"Lord Hokage said I can graduate directly without an exam."
Shuichi immediately stood up and shouted, "How is that possible?! My son..."
I knew you were up to something. Gisei had an expression that said he saw through everything.
Shuichi realized he had misspoken and reacted immediately, reaching out to grab Gisei's ear.
"Daring to set a trap for me? You've got quite some nerve."
To save his ear, Gisei helplessly told the truth.
"Lord Hokage said if I want an exam, he'll arrange it. I can graduate without one too."
At this moment, Shuichi and Eisawa finally understood and secretly cursed the Third as an old fox.
They were waiting here for the Third to make a decision, but who knew the Third would kick the ball back, turning it into a stalemate between the two of them again.
After pondering for a while, Shuichi felt he still needed to find a way to persuade Gisei.
"Gisei, why do you think the Third made such a decision?"
What else could it be? Gisei sighed and said, "If I graduate without taking the exam, I will definitely enter the hospital. If I graduate after taking the exam, I will definitely enter a ninja squad."
Shuichi: "Then do you think you should participate?"
"I won't participate. Grandpa Shuichi, don't glare at me. You learned yesterday that I really don't have any ninja talent; I might as well enter the hospital."
"Nonsense!" Shuichi cursed. "Although your taijutsu and chakra volume are poor, you are absolutely a genius in learning ninjutsu."
So I've become a genius now?
Gisei's mouth twitched. You really dare to say anything just to use me as a tool.
Eisawa laughed. "The hospital actually isn't bad either. The medical ninjutsu you told me about before, I think it's pretty good."
Shuichi said grumpily, "Bullshit medical ninjutsu. Who are you fooling with something that doesn't even exist? Eisawa, I watched you grow up; it's a bit too early for you to play tricks on me."
Shuichi's attitude made Gisei thoughtful. Could it be...
He looked at his "good" uncle, just in time to see his uncle wink at him.
Gisei groaned inwardly. You are really making things difficult for me, you Pigsy.
Eisawa obviously hadn't told Shuichi the truth—at least he hadn't mentioned his physical condition—otherwise Shuichi wouldn't oppose it like this.
By the way, wasn't Eisawa supposed to be finding a teacher for him?
With this setup, this wasn't finding a teacher; it was clearly finding trouble.