Naruto and Sasuke both expressed their helplessness regarding the S-rank assessment required for early graduation.
After all, Shikamaru had already told them about the difficulty involved.
Naruto scratched his head. Becoming a ninja was the first step towards his dream.
Sasuke thanked Ino and Karin, then fell into deep thought. Compared to Naruto's dream, he wanted even more to become a ninja and personally understand his brother's true intentions when he made his decisions.
Hmm?
Sasuke suddenly thought of a solution: the Intern Ninja system from the past two years.
"Shinji-sensei! Can we apply to become intern ninja early?" Sasuke looked at Shinji with an expectant expression.
After all, with just one year of internship experience, they could directly become official Genin.
Moreover, he had heard that some intern ninjas who performed well could even end their internship early.
"That's right!" Naruto's eyes lit up.
This was also a method, at least it didn't require passing the shinkirou pearl's genjutsu assessment.
Hearing Sasuke's words, Hinata, Ino, and the others also exchanged glances. They all saw in each other's eyes that this was a feasible plan.
"Become intern ninjas?" Shinji pondered.
This idea wasn't impossible. Naruto not graduating too early was not only due to his temperament but mainly because of the fear of the Akatsuki targeting him. The assessment he set was also designed with this in mind.
But ultimately, the talents of Naruto, Sasuke, and the others were definitely sufficient, and continuously training them this way wasn't a solution.
It would be better to use the reason of intern ninja to take them along as much as possible.
And who said interns couldn't be assessed?
However, the specific details still needed to be discussed with the old man.
Although he was now an elder, Nine-Tails's importance to Konoha was by no means low.
Natural graduation was one thing, but early graduation was another.
"Is this your idea too?" Shinji turned to look at Shikamaru and the others.
Upon hearing this, they all nodded.
Except for Karin. Her apprenticeship with Shinji was too short, so even if she had such an idea, she wouldn't have the opportunity.
"Alright, I will add your names to the list, but it still requires the approval of the Hokage." Shinji no longer hesitated upon seeing this.
At worst, he would become the Jonin instructor for Naruto's class.
"Yay!"
Hearing Shinji's words, Naruto and the others raised their hands and cheered.
Ninja, huh.
Sasuke smiled.
Although Neji had graduated early to become a Genin, it had caused quite a stir at school when the semester began.
If they became intern ninjas, they wouldn't be losing to Neji.
—
Inside the Hokage Office.
Hiruzen fell into deep thought after hearing Shinji's report.
At this point, allowing Naruto and the others to become intern ninjas carried too much uncontrollable risk.
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe and rubbed his temples. "Shinji, Sasuke and the others are fine, but Naruto—"
Shinji was also aware of this. He himself had similar thoughts. However, if Naruto and the others continued to train at the training ground, it would only be a futile effort.
Shinji said with a gentle smile, "Actually, sensei, you don't have to worry too much, they are not weak."
Ninja ultimately relied on strength. As long as they were strong enough, even if it wasn't wartime, they could apply for early graduation.
"Oh?"
Although Shinji often reported on Naruto and the others' training progress, Hiruzen hadn't observed them through the Telescope Jutsu in a long time.
"Their strength is at least sufficient to handle a Special Jonin, that's no longer an issue."
Shinji began to tell Hiruzen about the individual strengths of Naruto and the others, holding back a bit so as not to exaggerate too much.
"Really?" Hiruzen rose, his face full of disbelief.
It was no wonder he was so surprised. After all, Naruto was only ten years old. Kakashi only reached the Jonin standard when he was twelve.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. If they truly possessed this level of strength, then Naruto and the others could indeed graduate.
He then took out a piece of paper and wrote down their names.
Ino–Shika–Chō, Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata—
Hiruzen closed his eyes and began to ponder.
After a while, he looked up and asked Shinji, "Shinji, how do you want to arrange the Jonin instructor?"
Shinji breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Hiruzen agree.
He stepped forward and pointed at the names Hiruzen had just written, saying, "Shikamaru, Ino and Choji are the Ino–Shika–Chō, so they absolutely cannot be separated. Their Jonin Instructor, I think, can be Asuma."
"As for Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata, their Jonin instructor can be Kakashi, or me."
Hearing Shinji's arrangement, Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction, this was also his plan.
However, regarding whether Kakashi or Shinji should lead the team...
Hiruzen's fingertips inadvertently tapped the desk, and after a long time, he spoke to Shinji beside him, "Naruto's team, I'll leave it to you to lead."
"It's perfect. You haven't officially led a Genin team yet. As for Kakashi, not for now."
Hiruzen made this arrangement. Kakashi's Sharingan could now be voluntarily deactivated. However, the owner of those eyes might have been the one who had controlled Nine-Tails back then.
For this reason, Hiruzen naturally couldn't entrust Naruto to Kakashi again. The importance of Nine-Tails did not allow Hiruzen any room for complacency.
It would be better to entrust him to Shinji. At least he could subdue Tailed Beasts and had a record of defeating Akatsuki members.
"No problem. I guarantee the mission will be completed." Shinji responded with a cheerful expression, believing that executing missions should also earn him some rewards.
"You've given me a huge surprise." Hiruzen gave a wry smile.
This was the first time he felt that arranging Jonin instructors was a troublesome matter. They already possessed this strength before even graduating.
Honestly, it was even more troublesome than Kakashi back then. At least Kakashi wasn't so monstrous when he applied for graduation.
"It's also Naruto and their hard work. After all, not every student can endure several years of training like them." Shinji, however, did not take the credit for himself.
Naruto and the others' current strength was the result of their own efforts.
"Alright, if Konoha's next generation can be like this, then I can lay down my heavy burden."
Hiruzen waved his hand, took out two scrolls, and began to write.
"It's too late to let them participate in internships now, let's save it for next year."
Hiruzen made the arrangement, as the intern ninjas for this year were almost all assigned.
Shinji nodded and agreed, "No problem. At that time, I won't let them participate in the in-village internship assessment. I'll just lead the team myself."
During this time, he could also arrange some team combination training for Naruto and the others.
"Alright, you arrange it yourself." Hiruzen expressed no objection to this.