Chapter 40: The Third Wants Me to Attend the Academy?!

"Gin, it's getting late! Time to rest—you can train again tomorrow," Hikari called from beneath the tree, arms crossed, watching her son atop the trunk.

She admired his dedication, but wouldn't allow him to overwork himself. Throughout the chakra purification process, she had monitored him closely. If he hadn't demonstrated control, extracting chakra steadily without overdrawing or damaging himself, she would've stopped him immediately.

"Eh?" Gin blinked, then glanced down. Seeing his mother's stern yet patient expression, he stuck his tongue out sheepishly.

"Okay, okay! I'm coming down, Mom!"

Landing a meter from the ground with practiced ease, Gin touched down softly in front of her.

"Hehe… I lost track of time! The purification went smoother than expected—it was much easier than before!"

"Mhm." Hikari ruffled his hair affectionately. "Good job. Now go get some rest."

"Yes, ma'am!" Gin grinned and ran off to sleep.

The Next Morning

After breakfast—Sea King meat grilled to perfection—Gin, Hikari, and Mikoto began their morning health exercises in the courtyard training ground.

[You eat Sea King meat to support health exercises. Effect: Vitality +10, Longevity +9, Lifespan +0.03 years.]

"It'll take time to perfect the exercises," Gin thought as he completed his fifth repetition. "But once I push past the current limit, the boost to my lifespan should be even more significant. I'm looking forward to it."

With most of the food digested and morning training complete, Gin showered and returned to the courtyard. Under Hikari's guidance, he and Mikoto moved on to practicing chakra seal formations—no rush on ninjutsu yet. First came chakra control and seal fluency. After all, sharpening the knife doesn't delay the chopping of firewood.

[You trained in hand seals. Proficiency +1.][You trained in hand seals. Proficiency +2.][You trained in hand seals. Proficiency +3.]

Whether it was his improved physical talent, health training, or enhanced comprehension from chakra refinement, Gin's coordination was sharp. Within half an hour, his seal proficiency had surpassed the beginner stage. His movements were fluid, and he could now form two seals per second without error.

Suddenly—Knock knock knock!

"Hikari-sama? Little Gin? Are you home?" came a familiar voice.

"Tsunade?" Hikari raised an eyebrow. "Let's go see what she wants."

They headed to the front yard, where Tsunade stood waiting with her arms crossed and a slight frown.

"Come in and sit down," Hikari offered.

"No need, thank you. I won't stay long," Tsunade said politely. "I came with a request from the Third Hokage."

"Oh?" Hikari's voice sharpened slightly.

"Yesterday, the Third found out I took Gin on as a student. Now he's asking me to bring him to meet personally… He wants Gin to enroll in the Ninja Academy."

She frowned, clearly conflicted.

"Honestly, with Gin's knowledge, sending him there feels like a waste of time. Based on what I've seen, he probably understands medical ninjutsu better than I do. He could finish the entire curriculum in a few days."

Still, Hokage or not, Sarutobi Hiruzen was her teacher—and she couldn't outright defy him.

"But I know what he's really after," Tsunade muttered inwardly. "He wants to mold Gin with the so-called Will of Fire... Sorry, Sensei, but Gin's intellect isn't something you can brainwash."

Her expression turned cynical. "Old man still trying to pull strings... when will he retire?"

Gin, meanwhile, looked puzzled. "The Academy? I completely forgot about that. What's the point? Compared to our clan's reformed curriculum, the Academy is a joke. I barely have time as it is—with chakra training, jutsu, sealing, swordsmanship…"

Still, part of him was curious about meeting other promising kids. Making allies could help later when forming bonds—or summoning contracts.

Tsunade looked at him sympathetically. She, too, knew the Academy had nothing to offer someone like Gin. In just one day, he had gone from barely sensing chakra to holding a chakra reserve comparable to a jōnin.

"If anything, I should be the one teaching him—not the Academy," she thought.

But before Gin could answer, Hikari placed a firm hand on his head.

"He's going," she said calmly but decisively. "Gin, you'll meet the Third and enroll formally. Attend for a while, get to know your classmates. If you feel you're not learning anything, you can use a Shadow Clone to sit in your place. Or we can ask for a leave of absence, and you'll continue studying with Tsunade."

"Mom…" Gin protested faintly.

"No early graduation either," Hikari said, eyes narrowing. "You're not ready to become a full ninja yet—not while Danzo is still lurking in the shadows, waiting for a chance to act. Until you have the power to protect yourself completely, I won't let you go on missions."

"Tsunade?" Hikari turned toward her.

"I agree completely!" Tsunade said with a broad smile. "I'd prefer he stays under my wing anyway. I've got ninjutsu, medical techniques, and chakra control tricks I want to teach him. Plus, his feedback is… surprisingly insightful."

They both looked at Gin.

"Well?" Hikari raised an eyebrow. "Gin, what do you think?"

Gin looked back at the two powerful kunoichi staring him down—his mother and the Slug Princess herself.

With a sigh, he muttered:

"…Do I really have a choice?"