As Izayoi had told Hinata, the graduation exam didn't take long.
After some casual conversation, the other students who had passed the exam gradually arrived at the playground.
Soon after, Iruka appeared.
This meant that the familiar faces who weren't there were those who had failed the graduation exam and were eliminated.
A closer look revealed that the only familiar face missing was Naruto Uzumaki.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone."
Iruka, holding a clipboard, smiled and said, "Please put on your headbands now. I'll take you to take your official photos."
"Sensei Iruka, where should we wear the headbands?" a student raised their hand and asked.
"You can wear it anywhere on your upper body," Iruka replied.
Thus, the students either wore their headbands on their foreheads, tied them on their arms, hung them around their necks, or used them as headbands, etc.
Hinata, for instance, hung hers around her neck.
Izayoi tied his on his left arm.
Once everyone had their headbands on, Iruka led them to the rooftop of the main building.
The photographer was already waiting with a standing camera.
After everyone took their photos, the students eagerly left the building, some walking leisurely while others rushed toward the school gate.
At the gate, many parents were already waiting.
Some were comforting their children who had been eliminated, while others were eagerly watching the school entrance.
They all knew that those still inside had passed the graduation exam and were now Genin.
As the students appeared, the school gate became bustling with noise.
However, this scene made some orphans feel a bit more hurt.
They either watched enviously or ran out of the school without daring to look.
Sasuke Uchiha was one of those who did the latter.
But Izayoi didn't belong to either group.
Because...
"Oni-chan, Onee-san, over here!"
A girl's voice rang out brightly at the school gate.
Izayoi turned to see Hanabi, wearing a yellow-brown kimono with flame patterns on the hem, waving her hand at him and Hinata.
Seeing this, Izayoi smiled slightly, and Hinata also gave a gentle smile.
Before they even reached the school gate, Izayoi bent down slightly and hugged the rushing Hanabi.
"Oni-chan, Onee-san, I came to pick you up!" Hanabi cheerfully said, hugging Izayoi's neck. She immediately noticed the headband on his arm and curiously asked, "Oni-chan, is this the Genin headband?"
"Yeah, here, you can play with it."
Izayoi nodded and handed her the headband, then picked her up and exchanged a knowing smile with Hinata.
The three of them then left the school together.
Years had passed, and the now seven-year-old Hanabi had also undergone some changes.
At the same age in the original, Hanabi still had short shoulder-length hair.
However, seeing her sister's long hair, she had deliberately grown her hair out as well.
Now, her hair reached the same length as in the movie, with two braids on her bangs.
When training or in battle, her hair would either be tied into a single ponytail or kept straight, and her determined expression gave her a dignified appearance, reminiscent of her character in Boruto.
Perhaps due to early maturation, Hanabi had grown faster than Hinata. At a height of 132 cm, she was only slightly shorter than Izayoi.
Meanwhile, Hinata, at this age, still had a baby face.
Hanabi's face, however, had lost much of its baby fat, and she already had a more refined, oval-shaped face.
Hanabi, mimicking Hinata, hung the Genin headband around her neck and grinned at Izayoi. "Oni-chan, let's celebrate you and Onee-san becoming Genin by eating hot pot today."
"It's really you who wants to eat hot pot, Hanabi."
Hinata stretched out her delicate finger and gently tapped Hanabi's forehead.
"Hehe..."
Hanabi playfully stuck out her tongue and said, "It's not fair! Father always forbids us from eating this, but today I really want to eat hot pot."
Izayoi, charmed by Hanabi's adorable antics, immediately agreed. "Alright, let's eat hot pot today."
"Yay!"
Hanabi cheered, then with a mischievous smile, added, "Oni-chan, I also want to ride high."
"No way."
Hinata immediately pouted and scolded, "Hanabi, you're already so tall. You can't do that anymore."
"I'm only seven, what's the problem?"
Hanabi made a face at Hinata, then turned to Izayoi and begged, "Oni-chan, please?"
"Alright."
Izayoi grinned and, with a show of strength, said, "No problem. Even if Hanabi were as tall as Oni-chan, you could still ride high."
"Just like Oni-chan!"
Hanabi immediately wore an expression of admiration and jumped off Izayoi's arms. She then climbed onto his shoulders from behind.
"Really..."
Hinata sighed, watching Izayoi being directed by Hanabi as they walked toward the market. Then, with a tender smile, she followed along.
Whoosh—
Just as the three were about to leave, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them.
Looking closely, it was a member of the Hyūga clan, wearing a green vest and having eyes similar to Hinata and Hanabi.
He was one of Hanabi's bodyguards.
Hinata had a bodyguard when going out, so it was only natural that Hanabi had one too.
For some unknown reason, the bodyguard wasn't guarding Hanabi up close but was instead watching from the shadows.
Although Hanabi was unaware, Izayoi and Hinata both knew of the bodyguard's presence.
After six years, Izayoi hadn't yet met Hinata's father, Hiashi Hyūga, but he had a kind of unspoken understanding with him.
The former took a gentle approach in raising both Hinata and Hanabi, showering them with love and care after losing their mother, while the latter was strict, teaching them to carry the Hyūga family's honor.
Having lived under strict pressure at home, both Hinata and Hanabi were naturally very reliant on Izayoi.
It was only in front of him that Hanabi could display her playful, lively side.
In front of Hiashi, she was a mature little adult, just like her original character.
Hinata was the same.
They bought ingredients for hot pot at the market, as well as Hanabi's favorite rice dumplings, bananas, milk, and Hinata's favorite cinnamon rolls. The three of them went home to prepare for their hot pot meal.
After eating and drinking their fill, the three of them sat on a long couch, chatting and digesting their food.
As Hinata, now no longer shy, leaned her head on Izayoi's shoulder, she suddenly spoke.
"Izayoi-kun, it seems like Naruto is the only one who didn't graduate from our class."
"Yeah."
Izayoi nodded while fiddling with Hanabi's braid.
When they reached the school gate, they immediately noticed Naruto Uzumaki sitting on a swing.
"Naruto's chakra is so powerful, why can't he even perform a simple clone jutsu?" Hinata asked, puzzled.
"Maybe his chakra control is just too average."
Izayoi casually replied, "His academic performance has always been poor, and his shuriken throwing hasn't improved much. He's always the first to be eliminated in survival exercises. The only thing he excels in is physical combat, so maybe failing isn't the worst thing for him."
"Mm."
After recalling Naruto's performance over the past six years, Hinata nodded in agreement.
However, neither she nor Hanabi, who was leaning against Izayoi and almost asleep, noticed that while Izayoi was brushing off the question, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.