The Third Hokage, Riddled with Question Marks

In the spring of Konoha year 26, Shin finally turned six.

"Lightning Release: Chidori!"

After that shout, a sound like a thousand birds chirping filled the air.

"So, this is the Lightning Release ninjutsu you developed, combining Chakra nature transformation and shape manipulation?"

"Yep, gathering Lightning-natured Chakra in my palm, forming a high-intensity electric current for a charging strike against the target..."

A flash of red light: "Under the Sharingan's gaze, no enemy can escape."

Shin had been spending almost every day with Nao by the Nanga River, "developing" various ninjutsu.

Regrettably, the concept of intellectual property didn't exist in this world.

Kagami Uchiha, Kakashi's dad, was a ninja from the same era as the Sannin, so he was probably only seventeen or eighteen right now.

His Chidori was probably gone now.

Shin looked at the pale blue lightning gathered in his right palm, seeming a little dissatisfied.

He further compressed the Lightning-natured Chakra onto his closed five fingers.

"Nao, do you think this could split the lightning in the sky?"

Nao looked at Shin, who was eager to try, and felt a wave of helplessness: "Don't joke around. What would happen if you split the lightning?"

"Then this Chidori could be renamed Raikiri! Think about it, isn't Raikiri much cooler than Chidori?"

Nao didn't want to respond.

She walked to a small wooden post and began practicing her striking.

"..." Shin silently retracted the pseudo-Raikiri from his fingertips.

Looking at Nao practicing her strikes, a proud smile appeared on his face.

He had told Nao about the concept of Wing Chun.

She highly approved of this concise and rapid close-quarters combat philosophy.

Shin only had the concept of Wing Chun.

In his previous life, he had been amazed by the dazzling moves in movies, and he decided to promote this "close-quarters defense" style in the ninja world.

Unfortunately, he knew nothing about martial arts.

He could only tell Nao the concept and let her develop it.

"What a peaceful day..." Shin lay on the ground, looking at the blue sky and white clouds, and muttered to himself: "Do you think we're about to start school?"

"Yeah, didn't the Hokage Principal notify us a long time ago to report on time next Monday?" Nao replied coldly, without stopping her hands.

"What day is it today?"

"Sunday."

Shin, who was lying on the ground, immediately sat up: "That means we have to go to school tomorrow?"

"Nao, should we blow up the school? That way, we won't have to go to school~"

Nao felt terrible when she heard Shin's crazy idea.

Entering her ice queen state, she stopped her striking practice.

She came to Shin and looked down at him: "What did you just say? I couldn't hear you just now."

He suddenly felt a chill and had to change his suggestion: "Nothing, I said, why don't we go to school together tomorrow?"

"Go together? But the Uchiha and Hyuga..." Nao was a little embarrassed.

"Don't worry, my old man said the two clans have been getting along very harmoniously lately. Anyway, our two families are only separated by a Senju."

As the Hyuga Clan, which joined Konoha during the founding of the Land of Fire, their clan grounds were naturally in the very center of the village.

There was naturally nothing wrong with them going to school together.

Don't overthink it, it's just on the way.

Nao seemed to be in a better mood after hearing his reason: "Okay, I used to go with my two older brothers..."

"Tomorrow at 7 o'clock, I'll wait for you outside the clan grounds."

"Don't worry, I'll be there on time."

After Shin finished speaking, he gave her a reassuring gesture.

He believed that as long as he didn't run into the blockhead Nawaki, he would never be late.

Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage stared blankly at the information in his hand.

"That guy Hanzo is secretly sending his subordinates to collect information on the five great nations? Does he want to turn the Rain Country into the sixth great nation?"

He rubbed his temples, picked up a pen, wrote "continue to observe" on a piece of white paper, and put it into a specially encrypted small scroll.

"Go ahead, and say hello to Elephant for me while you're at it."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure entered the office through the window, grabbed the scroll, and jumped back out.

In just a few seconds, they had vanished into thin air.

The Third Hokage stood up and gazed out the window in the direction the figure had disappeared, lost in thought for a long time.

After a while, aimlessly, his eyes drifted to the newly renovated Ninja Academy next door.

"Haru, do you think the Ninja Academy will catch fire again?"

From the corner, a voice devoid of emotion replied, "The latest fireproof materials were used in this renovation. Unless that child has an even more powerful Fire Release, I believe it will be more than sufficient to withstand another Great Fireball Technique."

"???" The Third Hokage was utterly bewildered.

He was just concerned about the school's safety; he hadn't specifically referred to any particular child.

After pondering for a moment, he suddenly realized, "Shin knows the Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

"Third Hokage, without expelling Uchiha Shin from the academy, I suggest prohibiting him from using any ninjutsu or taijutsu at school."

Haru's suggestion struck the Third Hokage as preposterous.

Prohibit ninjutsu and taijutsu? Then what would he learn?

Illusion Arts? But the Uchiha, after obtaining the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, would naturally possess powerful genjutsu.

"Haru, that's impossible. If we really prohibited it, what could Shin even learn at school?"

His rejection prompted Haru to offer another suggestion: "Third Hokage, Uchiha Shin has already surpassed his peers in every aspect..."

"With his strength, he could probably breeze through the Chunin Exams, couldn't he? Perhaps he should graduate early."

"No, we're in a time of peace now; there's no need for students to graduate early..."

The Third Hokage's tone was quite agitated. "The original intention of the Ninja Academy was to nurture Konoha's seeds."

"I'm merely analyzing Uchiha Shin's behavior and offering a suggestion. Hokage-sama doesn't need to take it too seriously, after all..."

"The ANBU's duty is not to influence the Hokage's decisions, is that right?" The Third Hokage interrupted Haru with a helpless expression.

He had heard that line so many times that his ears were calloused.

"Huh?" He suddenly seemed to remember something and asked the corner, "Haru, what was that behavior analysis you mentioned earlier? About Shin?"

Haru's emotionless voice replied, "Yes, Hokage-sama. The ANBU has been gathering more intelligence about him and his father recently..."

"For example, the Uchiha compound often echoes with conversations like 'that brat' and 'old man' at night..."

"Therefore, I boldly analyze that Uchiha Shin is definitely a rebellious child at heart..."

"Coupled with his rather flamboyant behavior, we can also draw another conclusion..."

Haru didn't keep him in suspense. "That is, the child's arrogance in his personality causes his lawless behavior."

Rebellious? Flamboyant? Arrogant? Lawless?

The Third Hokage silently repeated these four words, and the corner of his mouth suddenly twitched. "These aren't all characteristics of Uchiha Madara?"

"Yes, Third Hokage. I believe he is very likely to grow into the next Uchiha Madara..."

"With his potential, even surpassing him is only a matter of time."

"Uchiha Madara, huh?" The Third Hokage stared blankly in the direction of the Uchiha compound.

After a long while, he finally instructed, "Haru, I need you to protect Shin in secret. Remember, protect, not monitor."

"Yes, Third Hokage." Haru didn't express any doubts about the order.

After all, the ANBU never questioned the Hokage's reasons.