Guide

Katsuo fell silent at her words. He remembered that Kakashi had graduated at five or six, hadn't he...

What kind of graduation was it if he hadn't even spent a full year at the Ninja Academy? If Uchiha Kuiko was right, did that mean the Original Work couldn't be trusted?

Still unwilling to give up, Katsuo asked again:

"Can't I enroll at five? I can pay!" He desperately needed to grow stronger. The Ninja Academy had much of the knowledge he needed.

"It's not that five-year-olds can't enroll, but you need a Jonin's nomination. Little brother, why not eat well and train properly? Build yourself a healthy body first. That way, when you go to the Ninja Academy in a year, no one will bully you!"

Uchiha Kuiko patiently explained and gave the advice best suited to Katsuo's current situation.

Katsuo fell silent at her words. How could he not know that was the best option?

But he only had enough money on him to barely survive for two years. That meant he had to graduate at seven and become a Genin so he could earn money!

As for investing the twelve thousand ryo he had? He shook his head. It was impractical and would take too much effort.

If he lost a year because of his body, then tried to graduate from the Ninja Academy after studying for only one year... he had no confidence in that!

Although he possessed an adult soul, he knew very well that he was not a genius like Kakashi! Much less did he have a Shadow-level powerhouse like White Fang behind him!

Two years. Graduating in two years was the ideal outcome, and Katsuo had confidence in that!

Unfortunately, there probably wouldn't be any Jonin willing to nominate him.

"I see... All right. Thank you!"

Katsuo nodded, then bowed in thanks. His expression was especially forlorn, and combined with his frail body, it struck hard at Uchiha Kuiko's kind heart!

"How about... you wait for your sister? Once I finish up, I'll help you ask around?" Uchiha Kuiko glanced at an office behind her before gritting her teeth and speaking. Though she did not know Katsuo, she was very sympathetic.

Katsuo was delighted when he heard that.

"Really? Are you a Jonin, sister?"

"Ah, no. I'm only an ordinary Genin. But my Grandfather is a powerful Jonin, and my cousin is the same age as you this year. She's also going to enroll a year early, so I thought I'd ask Grandfather whether he could put you forward too. But I can't guarantee it'll work!"

Uchiha Kuiko stuck out her tongue as she spoke, looking utterly adorable.

"All right, then I'll be troubling you, sister! Not only are you beautiful, your heart is even more beautiful!" Katsuo praised her excitedly. He truly meant every word!

"Ha... haha... not at all..."

Uchiha Kuiko replied shyly. Although the one praising her was only a five-year-old child, she could not help feeling embarrassed.

It's precisely because he's five that he wouldn't lie...

Before Katsuo could say anything more, the people waiting in line behind him had already grown impatient. Uchiha Kuiko hurriedly pulled him to her side, signaling for him to wait until she was done.

Katsuo nodded and obediently stood aside to wait.

It was nearly four in the afternoon when Uchiha Kuiko finally finished. She then brought Katsuo into the nearby office behind her.

The office door was open. Katsuo saw an old man in his sixties playing horsey with his granddaughter. The girl's laughter was bright and cheerful, but the mess filling the room left Uchiha Kuiko speechless.

"Grandfather, can you stop turning the office into this every time Mikoto comes over? You never clean it up, and I'm always the one who has to do it. Keep this up, and I won't bother cleaning it anymore."

Uchiha Kuiko muttered in dissatisfaction, her voice soft, though there was a smile at the corner of her lips.

"Ah, Kuiko. You're done with work? Haha!" The old man laughed and hurriedly set the five-year-old Uchiha Mikoto down from his back.

The moment Uchiha Mikoto saw a stranger enter, she immediately put on the demeanor of a well-behaved little lady, making it hard not to laugh.

"Hmph, Grandfather, you're far too biased. I've been working myself to death outside, while you've been in here playing around with Mikoto? How could you do this to me?" Uchiha Kuiko said, pretending to be jealous.

The old man rubbed his nose and laughed again.

"Haha! Aren't we each doing our own jobs? Grandfather has been very busy too. I only just finished and took a break, so I played with Mikoto for a bit. If you don't believe me, ask Mikoto."

After saying that, the old man desperately winked at Uchiha Mikoto.

Uchiha Mikoto blinked at him, then smiled. "Ask me? I don't know anything! Huh, did Grandfather get sand in his eyes?"

The old man jumped up in exasperation.

"You little brat, Grandfather spoiled you for nothing!"

Sensing Uchiha Kuiko's resentful gaze, the shrewd old man changed the subject.

"Who's this boy?"

Sure enough, the move worked. Uchiha Kuiko instantly forgot about getting angry.

"Him? His name is... huh, little brother, what was your name again?"

Halfway through speaking, Uchiha Kuiko turned to ask Katsuo. She did not find it awkward in the slightest...

"..."

"My name is Uchiha Katsuo."

"Mm, this little brother Katsuo wants to enter the Ninja Academy a year early. Grandfather, help him out! Add one more name to Mikoto's nomination!"

The old man's face darkened as he flatly refused, "Kuiko, you're being far too reckless..."

"A Jonin's nomination isn't something to hand out so casually. Any child who receives a nomination is considered guaranteed by that Jonin—guaranteed to become a Jonin in the future. That is why the Ninja Academy pays more attention to and invests more effort in this kind of child. You could even say that most of the Ninja Academy's resources are spent on them. Do you understand now?"

"Huh? Oh! I think little brother Katsuo should be able to become a Jonin."

Uchiha Kuiko was startled at first, then answered with an unconcerned expression. It made Katsuo smile bitterly, yet he was deeply moved as well!

"Should be? Able to?"

The old man's mouth twitched hard.

"Look at this kid. He's skin and bones—one strong gust could probably blow him over."

"And he probably isn't familiar with you, is he? You only just learned his name... Is your sympathy acting up again? Most importantly, every Jonin only gets one recommendation slot..."

Having ignored most of what he said, Uchiha Kuiko answered only:

"But you're an Elder, Grandfather. Is something like this even a problem for you?"

"Elder? So what if I'm an Elder? I'm an Uchiha Elder, not a Konoha Elder. How am I supposed to help with this? People will say I'm abusing my authority..." the old man complained with a headache.

"You sure talk a lot. Are you helping or not?"

Uchiha Kuiko had already lost her patience!

"..."

"No!"

"Fine. If you won't help, I won't come to work tomorrow. Then you'll be the one begging me." Uchiha Kuiko sneered and threatened him outright.

"You girl... why do you always have to make things difficult for Grandfather?" The old man was so angry his teeth hurt.

Just then, Katsuo said with a serious expression on his little face:

"Jonin will not be my endpoint."