Before long—just as Izayoi had told Hinata—the graduation exam didn't take much time at all.
They'd only been chatting in the schoolyard for a short while when the other successful examinees trickled in. Not long after, Iruka showed up, which meant anyone who hadn't come here must have failed the exam.
Sure enough, upon closer inspection, of the familiar faces not present, Naruto Uzumaki was the only one missing.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Iruka called, holding a clipboard. "Everyone, please put on your forehead protectors. We're going to take your ID photos now."
"Iruka-sensei, where should we wear the forehead protector?" asked one student.
"Anywhere on your upper body is fine," Iruka replied.
So everyone fastened their protectors in different spots: some across their foreheads, some around an arm, some wore it around the neck, some used it as a hairband, and so on…
Hinata hung hers around her neck. Izayoi strapped his to his left arm.
When they'd finished, Iruka led them up to the rooftop of the main school building, where a photographer with a standing camera had been waiting. They took turns posing for their profile pictures. After that, the newly graduated Genin wasted no time leaving, either strolling casually or dashing straight for the school gates.
A crowd of parents was waiting just outside—some consoling children who'd been eliminated, others gazing hopefully at the entrance. They knew anyone still inside must have passed. As the successful students appeared, excitement broke out at the gate.
That cheerful scene, however, felt hurtful to some of the orphans with no family. Some looked on enviously; others turned away and ran. Sasuke Uchiha was both—he gave it a quick glance, then vanished in a burst of speed. Izayoi didn't fall into either category, because…
"Onii-chan, Onee-san, over here—!"
Standing at the gate was Hanabi, wearing a yellow-brown kimono with flame-patterned trim, waving her little hand excitedly at Izayoi and Hinata. Izayoi smiled, Hinata too. Before they reached the gate, Izayoi knelt down to catch Hanabi as she rushed into his arms.
"Onii-chan, Onee-san—I came to pick you up!" she exclaimed, hugging Izayoi's neck and eyeing the protector on his arm curiously. "Onii-chan, is this a Genin forehead protector?"
"Yup. It's yours to play with." Izayoi nodded, handing over his protector. Lifting Hanabi in his arms, he and Hinata exchanged a glance. The three of them set off from the school.
In the few years that had passed, seven-year-old Hanabi had changed a lot too. In the original story, she was about this age and still had shoulder-length hair, but once she saw her sister growing hers out, she did the same. Now it reached her waist, just like in the movie version, and her bangs were tied into two little braids.
During training, she'd wear it straight or in a single ponytail. Her serious eyes and focused expression gave her a certain dignified look, reminiscent of how she'd appear in Boruto.
Perhaps she was just precocious. Hanabi was already growing faster than Hinata had at that age—she'd eventually reach about 170 cm (5'7") in adulthood, but at seven, she was already 132 cm (4'4"), just a head shorter than Izayoi. Unlike Hinata at this age, who'd still had a baby-faced softness, Hanabi's cheeks had already thinned out, giving her more of a pointed chin.
She hung the protector around her neck, mimicking Hinata, then grinned up at Izayoi. "Onii-chan, to celebrate you and Onee-san becoming Genin, can we have hotpot tonight?"
"You just want an excuse to eat hotpot," Hinata teased, gently poking Hanabi's forehead with a delicate finger.
"Hee-hee…" Hanabi stuck out her tongue sheepishly. "Father won't let us eat that kind of stuff, but I really wanna have hotpot today."
Izayoi, charmed by her earnest pleading, said right away, "Sure thing. Hotpot it is."
"Yay!" Hanabi cheered. Buoyed by her success, she pushed for more: "Onii-chan, can I ride on your shoulders?"
"No," Hinata replied, pouting. "Hanabi, you're already so tall now—you can't keep doing that."
"But I'm only seven!" Hanabi stuck out her tongue at her sister and promptly turned to Izayoi with a sweet smile. "Onii-chan, pleeease?"
"Fine by me," Izayoi answered brightly, striking a mock "strongman" pose. "Doesn't matter if you're seven or as tall as me—I'll still give you shoulder rides if you want."
"You're the best, Onii-chan!" Hanabi said, eyes sparkling with admiration. She slid down from his arms, hopped up behind him, and perched on his shoulders.
"Seriously…" Hinata sighed, then watched the two of them head off toward the market. She let out a fond smile, then followed after them.
Whoosh—
They hadn't gone far when a figure appeared out of nowhere in the spot they'd just left. On closer look, it was a Hyuga clansman in a green flak jacket, eyes similar to Hinata and Hanabi's.
He was one of Hanabi's bodyguards. Like Hinata, Hanabi always had a guardian, but apparently he was hanging back, watching them from a distance. Only Hanabi seemed unaware of his presence; both Izayoi and Hinata knew he was there.
Over the years, though Izayoi still hadn't met Hiashi face-to-face, the two had developed a sort of unspoken understanding: Izayoi gave the sisters warmth and indulgence in place of the mother they'd lost, while Hiashi gave them strict discipline and the weight of the family name.
Naturally, the girls were extra attached to Izayoi. Around him, Hanabi acted like the playful seven-year-old she was. In front of Hiashi, she slipped back into the composed, way-too-mature-for-her-age version fans remembered from the original story. Same with Hinata.
Soon, the three of them bought everything they needed for the hotpot, plus Hanabi's favorite mochi dumplings and bananas, some milk, and Hinata's beloved cinnamon rolls.
Returning home, they feasted. When everyone was stuffed, the trio plopped on the long sofa to digest and chat. Hinata, who had eased up now that they were alone, rested her head on Izayoi's shoulder. Hanabi dozed in his lap, eyes half-closed.
After a while, Hinata spoke up: "Izayoi-kun, it looks like Naruto-kun was the only one in our class who didn't graduate."
Izayoi, absently stroking Hanabi's braided bangs, nodded. "Yeah, I noticed him sitting on the swing by the gate when we left."
"If Naruto-kun has such huge chakra reserves, why can't he manage even the basic Clone Technique?" Hinata wondered aloud.
"Guess his chakra control's just poor," Izayoi answered in a casual, dismissive tone. "His academics are a disaster, his shuriken-throwing hasn't improved much, and he's always the first to get knocked out in survival exercises. He only stands out in taijutsu, so maybe not graduating is best for him."
"Mm." Hinata recalled Naruto's performance over the past six years and couldn't help but agree. Neither she nor the half-asleep Hanabi noticed the slight smirk tugging at the corner of Izayoi's lips as he gave that answer.
~~~
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