Bai Lu felt like his eyes were about to go blind.
He finally understood why it was so rare not to see Duy and Guy this morning.
"Oh! Mr. Bai Lu, it's rare to see you arrive so early today!"
Duy waved at Bai Lu, a look of respect on his face.
"Still as hardworking as ever, Mr. Duy. But hasn't Guy already graduated early?"
"Why is he back?"
Bai Lu walked over, ignoring the pointing and the looks of disdain from those around him, and smiled.
In this generation, Kakashi graduated at five, and the "eternal loser" Might Guy graduated at eight; they were the only two exceptions.
Duy straightened the headband on his forehead. "That's right. Guy and I received a village mission to specifically return to the Ninja Academy to maintain order. There's still some time before the matches start, and we absolutely cannot waste it! Struggle is youth!"
"Mr. Bai Lu, thank you so much! Once the war is over, I will definitely work hard to earn money and make up for your losses!"
Duy and Guy bowed ninety degrees simultaneously, filled with gratitude.
"The will of fire in both of you is so strong; I can clearly feel it. However, if you keep talking like that, I'll get angry. We are all Konoha ninjas; it's only right to contribute to the village. Besides, I strongly agree with your views."
Bai Lu nodded and praised them.
Guy clenched his fist and encouraged him, "Mr. Bai Lu, with your strength, if you work hard, you might be able to graduate early too!"
At that moment, the surrounding crowd of people passing by suddenly burst into laughter.
"A guy like Bai Lu wants to graduate early?!"
"No matter how good his theory classes are, it's useless!"
"Dammit, I don't know what the village was thinking, letting a loser like Guy graduate early..."
Students from various grades walked past, some of them incredibly jealous.
Kakashi was amazing, so his early graduation was fine. But why Might Guy, that loser? His theory grades were terrible, and he barely knew any Ninjutsu or Genjutsu; he relied entirely on powerful Taijutsu to sweep through his peers.
Yet he managed to become the second one to graduate early!
"Only knowing Taijutsu—what kind of ninja is that? You father and son are the jokes of the village!"
"Oh, thank you for your support!"
Duy gave a thumbs-up to everyone mocking them.
Bai Lu shook his head, offered a few more words of encouragement, and then walked straight toward the classroom.
Might Guy watched Bai Lu's departing back.
"Mr. Bai Lu is truly a great man. He supported my father and me, never discriminated against us, and has encouraged us from beginning to end... He isn't good at fighting, so I must protect him with my life!"
Secretly, Guy clenched his fist tightly, two flames burning in his eyes.
Walking ahead, Bai Lu sensed something and nodded inwardly as well.
What a great look in his eyes. He looked forward deeply to that moment in the future when Guy would burn all of his youth for him.
Soon, Bai Lu returned to his class.
Many people were whispering about the content of today's practical combat class, their faces showing a mix of anxiety and anticipation.
Early graduation!