"Grandpa, doesn't that mean I'll never be able to defeat that hateful Hyuga Yuzuru?"
Mingxi suddenly thought of this, and she couldn't help clenching her fists. Always being beneath someone else was not the Uchiha way!
But how could she, with only a Two-Tomoe Sharingan, defeat Hyuga Yuzuru, who had awakened the Tenseigan?
Uchiha Shōkan merely smiled and did not immediately answer Mingxi's question. Only after a long while did he say quietly, "Who says the Three-Tomoe Sharingan is the highest form of the Uchiha Sharingan?"
"Grandpa, are you saying there's an even higher form of the Sharingan beyond the Three-Tomoe Sharingan?"
Mingxi's eyes widened at once as she spoke in astonishment. Uchiha Shōkan's words seemed to have dealt a tremendous blow to her worldview.
Ever since Mingxi had become aware of the world around her, she had always believed that the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was the Sharingan's highest form. The elders in the clan believed the same, and she had never heard of any higher form beyond the Three-Tomoe Sharingan...
"That's right. The form beyond the Three-Tomoe Sharingan is called the 'Mangekyo Sharingan.' It is power that only 'gods' can possess!"
When Uchiha Shōkan mentioned the "Mangekyo Sharingan," even his usually unruffled heart stirred faintly. The image of that godlike might was still deeply branded into his memories, impossible to forget.
"Mangekyo Sharingan?"
Mingxi repeated the words. From her grandfather's tone, she understood that the Mangekyo Sharingan had to be incredibly powerful.
"Grandpa, has anyone in the Uchiha Clan awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
Mingxi asked shrewdly. To awaken power comparable to that of a god, there had to be immense restrictions or conditions!
Uchiha Shōkan only shook his head gently and did not continue the topic. Instead, he said with a soft laugh, "You're still too young. It's too early for you to know these things. When you're older, I'll tell you everything about the Mangekyo Sharingan in full..."
"Hmph! Grandpa just loves keeping people in suspense!"
Knowing her grandfather's temperament well, Mingxi knew that no matter how much she asked, he would not tell her. So she pouted coquettishly to express her dissatisfaction.
"Haha..."
Uchiha Shōkan patted Mingxi's head, his wrinkled face filled with smiles. Mingxi, however, had no idea what her grandfather was laughing about.
"Let's go back. You still have ninja academy tomorrow, so there's no need to train this late."
"Mm, Mingxi understands."
Mingxi nodded, then left the training grounds with Uchiha Shōkan and returned to her home.
Time slowly passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was already July.
The ninja academy was about to begin its summer break, something the students were greatly looking forward to.
However, before summer break, the teachers would organize a practical exercise to assess the students' learning results for the semester.
The practical exercise was divided into two sections: ninja tool throwing and two-person combat.
The rules for the first section, ninja tool throwing, were simple. The ninja academy students would use ninja tools to throw at the center of targets set at a certain distance. Those who hit the bullseye would receive an excellent rating, while those who missed it would receive an appropriate rating based on their accuracy.
As for the second section, two-person combat, it was divided into two smaller rounds. The first was combat between students of the same grade, testing their taijutsu, combat awareness, and application of Chakra. The second was combat between lower and upper grades. The teachers would arrange several upper-grade students as ring holders and draw a circular boundary beneath their feet. They could only move freely within that circle. Once a lower-grade challenger forced them out of the circle, the match would end, and that lower-grade student would receive a perfect rating. Even if they failed to do so, the teachers would not give the lower-grade students poor ratings, instead evaluating them based on their actual performance and response strategies.
"...All right, that's the general outline of this practical exercise. If anyone still has questions, you may ask them now."
Ootani Yuuto stood before the podium and addressed the students.
"Ootani-sensei, what happens if our practical exercise rating is too low?"
At that moment, a student raised his hand and asked. His face showed concern, and it was obvious that he was one of the class's weaker students.
"If your rating is too low, it may affect your future as a ninja. After all, the ninja academy trains capable ninjas, not worthless fools who can't do anything properly!"
Ootani Yuuto spoke very sternly. He wanted the students present to understand that becoming an outstanding ninja was not as simple as spending six years at the ninja academy. They also needed to work hard and devote their blood, sweat, and effort. Only then, after officially becoming ninjas, could they possibly survive in a cruel environment...
"Over the course of one semester, you've learned basic theoretical knowledge, Chakra extraction techniques, and the corresponding taijutsu training. Now is the time to show what you've learned. I hope you won't disappoint me!"
Hearing Ootani Yuuto say this, some of the students were delighted, some expectant, some nervous, and some anxious and uneasy...
"...Since no one has any more questions, school will end early today. Gather at the ninja academy field at eight tomorrow morning!"
"Yes, Ootani-sensei!"
The next day, eight in the morning.
The first-year students stood in neat rows on the field according to height, waiting for the practical exercise to begin.
Before long, the ninja tool throwing was about to begin, and the teacher started calling names from the first student.
"Kitamura Yuusuke!"
"Here!"
"Mm, do you see that target over there? I'm giving you three Shuriken. You need to hit the bullseye as accurately as possible!"
"Yes, Ootani-sensei."
Though Kitamura Yuusuke felt somewhat nervous, he still walked confidently to receive three Shuriken from Ootani-sensei, then headed toward the designated throwing line.
"The target is only thirty meters away. That isn't far at all. I can definitely hit it!"
Kitamura Yuusuke encouraged himself, then signaled to the scoring teacher beside him that he was ready. With the teacher's permission, he immediately threw one of the Shuriken in his hand.
Luckily, it hit the target!
But the result was not ideal. It had not struck the bullseye.
Kitamura Yuusuke did not lose heart. He had been a little nervous the first time, but he was confident that he could hit the bullseye next.
Kitamura Yuusuke then threw the remaining two Shuriken in succession. Just as he had expected, both hit the bullseye. This immediately caught the scoring teacher's attention, and the teacher quickly wrote down his rating on the paper in hand.
"Next..."
The scoring teacher spoke directly, with no intention of telling Kitamura Yuusuke his rating. Naturally, Kitamura Yuusuke did not linger after hearing that and simply returned to where he had been standing.
"What a boring exercise..."
Mingxi, standing beside Yuzuru, yawned, looking as though she had not woken up yet. Clearly, she had stayed up late training again last night.
"Compared to this boring 'ninja game,' I'd rather have a real fight with you!"
Mingxi looked at Yuzuru, two tomoe slowly turning in her scarlet eyes, seemingly filled with a desire to fight.
"Do you have masochistic tendencies?" Yuzuru turned to look at Mingxi and asked in confusion.
Before you continue