Haruya managed to graduate in just two and a half years for one simple reason—he was absurdly good.
Thanks to Uzumaki Einai's support and the Wood Release serum he'd been taking, his body was now in peak condition. In terms of raw chakra alone, he was already on par with an average jōnin.
His only weakness?
Real combat experience.
Since arriving in this world, Haruya had never faced a true life-or-death moment. And in the ninja world, experience mattered more than raw power.
The perfect example was Uchiha Itachi.After graduating last year, he'd teamed up with two of Orochimaru's former apprentices—Mitarashi Anko and Uzuki Yugao. The trio had maintained a 100% mission completion rate, even clearing multiple A-rank assignments.
They were now considered Konoha's strongest genin squad and had built a genuine reputation.
Theoretically, Haruya—armed with Wood Release—could probably fight evenly with Itachi even with the latter's Sharingan activated.In reality, though?
He'd likely get overwhelmed.Experience was a gap you couldn't simply brute-force through.
Unless, of course, you had overwhelming power on your side.Take Naruto, for example: with the amount of chakra that boy possessed, equal experience would mean one punch and it's over.
Still, even without battle hours logged, Haruya's adjusted strength placed him solidly at chūnin level. With a bit more field work, he could break into jōnin territory.
Only a handful of people—like Itachi—could match this pace.
"Tsunade smiled wide the moment Haruya stepped out of the exam room, now wearing a brand-new genin forehead protector.
Even though she knew he would pass, she still worried—it came with being his… well, unofficial adoptive mother.
"Haruya, congratulations on your graduation."
"I'm one step closer to becoming Hokage," Haruya said proudly, tapping the metal plate on his forehead with a thumb. He already knew how to appeal to Tsunade's soft spots.
And yes—she absolutely loved hearing that.
Tsunade was suddenly hit by a wave of nostalgia. When she had graduated from the old academy, she'd worn the exact same expression.
"That's right," she said, softening. "Since it's your graduation day, your big sister has a gift for you."
Haruya perked up instantly.Gifts were his weakness.
Tsunade slipped off the necklace she'd always worn and gently fastened it around his neck. The crystal was warm against his skin.
Haruya stiffened a little.He knew the legends surrounding this necklace.
In the original timeline, anyone who wore it eventually died—including Naruto.Well, except Naruto didn't stay dead.
But still.
"This was left to me by my grandfather," Tsunade said quietly. "It holds his Wood Release chakra. It'll be very good for you."
Haruya opened his mouth to refuse.She'd already given him so much…
But the necklace itself was an incredible treasure—powerful enough to suppress even the Nine-Tails' chakra in its early stages. For someone who specialized in Wood Release, it was basically a portable energy core.
As for the curse?
Haruya thought, I have a cheat. What am I supposed to be scared of?
Before he could respond, a masked ANBU operative appeared out of nowhere.
"Tsunade-sama. Hokage-sama requests your presence—and Haruya's."
The warm moment shattered instantly.Tsunade scowled.
"What does that old man want this time?"
"The Hokage didn't say," the ANBU replied carefully.
She waved him away, and he vanished.
"Come on," she said, taking Haruya's hand. "Let's go see what the old fossil wants."
Hokage's Office
The door flew open so suddenly that Sarutobi Hiruzen almost fell out of his chair. He snapped the crystal ball shut, coughed, and wiped the faint blush from his face.
"Tsunade," he said, knocking ashes from his pipe, "since when did you stop knocking? You're becoming just like Danzo."
"I was in a hurry. Say what you need to say."
Tsunade plopped down on the sofa with zero elegance.
Sarutobi just sighed—he was used to her.He turned to Haruya with a warm smile.
"My disciple graduated today. I wanted to congratulate him personally."
"Grandpa Hokage," Haruya greeted politely.
"Good child," Hiruzen said with satisfaction.
For the past two and a half years, Haruya had achieved perfect scores in every theory test and displayed a deep, almost philosophical understanding of the Will of Fire.Some of his interpretations were so insightful that even Hiruzen had reevaluated himself.
When Itachi graduated at seven, Hiruzen had said the boy possessed the mind of a Hokage.
Haruya, though… Haruya might be the ideal successor to the Will of Fire.
Tsunade cut through his reverie.
"Get to the point," she snapped.
"Alright, alright," Hiruzen sighed theatrically. "Kids grow up and stop respecting their teachers…"
He straightened.
"Since Haruya has officially become a ninja, he must be assigned to a team with a jōnin leader. I already have a candidate—"
"No need," Tsunade interrupted. "I'll lead him. His teammates will be Shizune and Kabuto."
Hiruzen blinked."But your hemophobia—"
"That's resolved."
Tsunade drew a kunai, sliced her palm lightly, and held it up. Blood trickled down.
No tremors.No panic.Nothing.
Hiruzen's pipe nearly fell out of his mouth.
A fully operational Tsunade was a massive boost to Konoha.
In the past war with the Sand, she had almost single-handedly turned the tide by defeating Chiyo. As the world's greatest medical ninja, she was indispensable even without combat.
But hemophobia had crippled her ability to fight.
Now, it was gone.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Hiruzen demanded, though his voice betrayed pure relief. The village was finally starting to resemble its golden age.
The old generation—himself, Danzo, Fugaku, Hizashi, Shibi—was still strong.The Sannin were whole again.And the younger generation—Kakashi, Gai, Shisui, Itachi—were quickly rising.
His burdens suddenly felt lighter.
"In that case, you may lead the team," Hiruzen said happily. "But let me warn you—Shizune, Haruya, and Kabuto are all exceptionally talented. If you shelter them too much, it'll hold them back."
"I know," Tsunade admitted, though she clearly disliked the truth.
"If another war breaks out and they enter battle without real experience," Hiruzen added, "they'll die. Simple as that."
"The conflict with the Cloud is winding down. Take them to the borders. Let them see the world."
Then Hiruzen smiled slyly.
"With you there, Kumogakure might negotiate peace even faster."
Tsunade snorted.
"That's your goal, old man. Not mine."But she didn't refuse. "I'll handle the team arrangements. Don't meddle."
And with that, the matter was settled.