Graduation

In Konoha Year 32, Uchiha Kiyoshi was already ten years old. He could be said to have developed well enough, and it was time to start taking missions.

Although he had yet to encounter a bottleneck, Uchiha Kiyoshi felt that missions and real combat would benefit his growth more and allow his strength to improve faster. Of course, even if he did not want to take missions, he had no choice now. He was about to graduate, and taking missions with a squad leader was only a matter of time.

Speaking of squad leaders, Uchiha Kiyoshi thought of Orochimaru. If he had guessed correctly, he and Nawaki should become Orochimaru's students together. He just did not know who the third person would be. Yet after thinking about it for a long time, Uchiha Kiyoshi still could not figure it out. He had no idea what the Hokage was thinking.

"Forget it. Whoever it is, it doesn't matter. With Nawaki and me around, what is there to be afraid of?"

Confident in his own strength, Uchiha Kiyoshi finally stopped dwelling on the third person and prepared for the exam instead.

The Ninja Academy lasted four years. In every written exam, Uchiha Kiyoshi deliberately got a few easy questions wrong, establishing himself as someone who was careless. It would be useful later.

Because of that, Uchiha Kiyoshi was usually only second or third place. First place had always been held by Uchiha Tao, while Uchiha Kiyoshi and Hyuga Hui competed for second.

However, ever since the Taijutsu classes began in their second year, Uchiha Kiyoshi had always ranked first. No one could outlast him.

Uchiha Kiyoshi was not particularly worried about the final graduation exam. Even if he failed miserably, Orochimaru probably had the ability to pull him into his team. But there was no point in that. It would only cause unnecessary trouble and might even lower Orochimaru's impression of him.

Uchiha Kiyoshi was rather looking forward to having Orochimaru as his squad leader.

Orochimaru would become a scientist in the future, perfect Impure World Reincarnation, and develop all kinds of Ninjutsu. Not only were they extremely effective in actual combat, but they were also excellent for escaping with one's life.

Although Snake Uncle in his later years might have been a bit perverted, always coveting other people's bodies, the current Orochimaru should not have reached that point yet. He was merely conducting normal experiments. Only after going through all sorts of conflicts, failing to protect Nawaki, being dragged into Danzo's schemes, and becoming disappointed in the Third Hokage would Orochimaru gradually turn into the person he was in the latter half of the original story. Of course, part of it was also due to his personality.

The still relatively normal Orochimaru could be considered a very good choice of teacher. He might be a little ruthless, but the results should be excellent.

Orochimaru was the Third Hokage's most satisfactory disciple. What was the Third Hokage best at? The Five Elements of Ninjutsu, of course! He was not called the "Professor of Ninjutsu" for nothing.

Being the one who satisfied the Third Hokage most also meant that Orochimaru had attained the highest achievements in Ninjutsu among the Sannin.

Naturally, he was Uchiha Kiyoshi's best choice for accumulating Ninjutsu in the early stages.

Among the Sannin, Orochimaru relied on technology, Tsunade relied on bloodline, talent, and the Yin Seal, while Jiraiya relied on hard work.

That was Uchiha Kiyoshi's view. There was no need to mention Orochimaru, the scientific ninja. Tsunade had never been said to possess overwhelmingly massive Chakra, but she was from the Senju Clan and Senju Hashirama's granddaughter. How could her Chakra be lacking? Furthermore, despite being delayed for so long in the middle, she was still able to catch up. Her talent was truly top-tier. Drawing on Senju Hashirama's recovery ability, she had also developed the Strength of a Hundred Technique and Creation Rebirth based on the Yin Seal, which were her greatest sources of strength.

What about Jiraiya? He was a civilian ninja. Aside from a strong body and abundant Chakra, he had no other advantages in terms of talent.

That was right, Jiraiya's talent truly was not good. There was a reason Orochimaru always called Jiraiya stupid. But Jiraiya worked hard and dared to risk his life! It was precisely because he dared to gamble that he recklessly used the Summoning Jutsu!

What? He did not know the dangers involved? Who would believe that? Who was the Third Hokage? The Professor of Ninjutsu! Would someone capable of teaching the Sannin overlook such a minor detail? Even if he had not emphasized it specifically, he would have mentioned it. Did Jiraiya really not hear it?

No. He simply knew his own circumstances. He knew his talent was poor as well. He could only fight for it, could only gamble! Gamble that he would be lucky enough to encounter a powerful summoned beast!

The facts proved that he won that gamble. Later, with Mount Myoboku's help, he learned Sage Mode and was finally able to keep up with the other two.

Jiraiya actually had very few Ninjutsu in the original story, but every one of them was mastered to an exceptional level. He did not spread himself thin. He kept training the Ninjutsu that suited him and Sage Mode, which was how he achieved so much.

Jiraiya's talent could actually be seen from one thing: learning the Rasengan. Although that was the method he taught Naruto, was it not also the method he had used to learn it? If he could have learned it easily, who would bother thinking up all those things? Behind every new method he unlocked was the helplessness of insufficient talent.

Still, Jiraiya persevered. All one could say was that many people's assessments in the original story were right. He truly was a great ninja.

Ahem... I got carried away. Back to the point.

Uchiha Kiyoshi adjusted his state and began the exam.

The written exam was simple for him. He finished half an hour early, turned in his paper, left the classroom, and headed to the Three Basic Techniques testing area.

Class assignments depended more on usual test scores and performance. Written exam grades were not particularly important instead. Many students had accepted that fact, answered what they knew, and turned in their papers right away. Passing was enough.

Thus, Uchiha Kiyoshi was not the first to arrive for the Three Basic Techniques assessment. He could only wait patiently in line.

Before long, Nawaki came over as well and ran straight to Uchiha Kiyoshi's side.

"You finished that quickly?"

Uchiha Kiyoshi was quite surprised.

"Hehe, of course! Who do you think I am? I'm the man who's going to become Hokage! Hahahaha!"

Nawaki spoke smugly, loudly proclaiming his dream once again.

Uchiha Kiyoshi looked at the various expressions on the surrounding students' faces. Some were disdainful, some were admiring... Wait, what was with the admiration?

Uchiha Kiyoshi was helpless when it came to Nawaki. This guy was beyond saving. He shouted about becoming Hokage all day long. He was probably already in Danzo's little notebook.

However, there was no need to worry for now. The Senju Clan had not completely withdrawn yet. With the Senju Clan backing him, Nawaki did not need to fear Danzo doing anything too excessive. Yet that was precisely why Nawaki was such a great threat in Danzo's eyes. A ninja who dreamed of becoming Hokage, had supporters behind him, and was even ideal in terms of birth had too great a chance of becoming Hokage once he matured. Danzo could not accept that either.

I can only keep an eye on him and hope Danzo does not pull anything. But Nawaki survived until the Second War in the original story, which means Danzo could not do much in the early stages. At least he can have some peace for a while. And as long as Nawaki does not die, as long as the Senju Clan still has hope, they will not simply let Danzo lead them around by the nose. Most of the clan's higher-ups died on the battlefield, and then the clan withdrew.

Uchiha Kiyoshi looked at Nawaki as thoughts continuously ran through his mind.

Nawaki, who was being stared at, felt his skin crawl. He quickly hugged himself and looked at Uchiha Kiyoshi warily.

Ignoring Nawaki's antics, Uchiha Kiyoshi entered the examination room after the previous student came out and informed him that it was his turn.

Inside the room, four class teachers sat behind a long table. In the middle sat a ninja wearing a dog mask, likely an Anbu ninja sent by the Hokage to supervise the exam.

All the homeroom teachers were here. The written exam on the other side was supervised by the Taijutsu teachers.

When Uemura Naoki saw Uchiha Kiyoshi enter, he spoke.

"Uchiha Kiyoshi, don't be nervous. All you need to do is perform the Three Basic Techniques here, one after another."

Unlike thirty years later, Konoha's final assessment at this time required students to demonstrate all of the Three Basic Techniques.

Uchiha Kiyoshi did not waste any words. He stepped forward, took a deep breath, and began forming hand seals.

The moment an expert made a move, one could tell whether he had skill.

Just from seeing Uchiha Kiyoshi's opening stance, the judges began nodding. When they saw his hand seal speed, they were even more surprised.

In just one second, Uchiha Kiyoshi finished the three seals for the Clone Technique.

Bang!

A ninja identical to Uchiha Kiyoshi appeared beside him. Not only did it look exactly the same, its demeanor was also indistinguishable from the real person's. There was no smoke throughout the entire process, and that very detail made all the teachers present, including the supervising Anbu ninja, nod repeatedly.

The Anbu ninja even praised him aloud. "As expected of a genius who has mastered Medical Ninjutsu. Such Chakra control is outstanding. There was not the slightest bit of waste."

The four teachers looked at the Anbu ninja in surprise. They only knew that Uchiha Kiyoshi's ability to perform the technique without producing any smoke was impressive, but they did not know exactly why. After all, none of them could do it themselves. They had not expected such high praise from him. From what he said, this method was evidently extremely sophisticated.

Uchiha Kiyoshi did not stop. He dispelled the Clone Technique, then formed a Ram Seal and directly transformed into the Anbu ninja's appearance, without the slightest difference.

The teachers praised him even more. He had only just met the Anbu ninja, yet he could imitate him so perfectly. Uchiha Kiyoshi's Transformation Technique had clearly reached a high level.

As for the final Substitution Technique, aside from the lack of smoke, it did not demonstrate anything more and appeared the most ordinary.

However, only Uchiha Kiyoshi knew the true level of his Substitution Technique.

After performing the Three Basic Techniques in sequence, Uchiha Kiyoshi received a perfect evaluation and calmly walked out.

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