Not long after, Itachi arrived at the temporary stands.
As the vice principal of the Ninja Academy, Itachi should have been seated on the podium across from them. But since Fugaku and Mikoto were attending, he naturally had to keep his parents company.
After sitting beside his parents, Itachi said, "Sasuke is in very good form today!"
Fugaku asked, "Is everything ready?"
"Yes!" Itachi nodded lightly. "Lord Hokage has been personally training Naruto these past few days, so there shouldn't be any problems!"
Mikoto looked somewhat worried. "I heard Sasuke has improved tremendously lately too. Naruto... will Naruto really be the key person?"
There was no question that Fugaku and Mikoto's attendance had been arranged by Hyuga Kagami.
After pinpointing the emotions that would most effectively stimulate Sasuke, Hyuga Kagami had devised a series of plans. Today's Ninja Academy graduation exam was one of the crucial stimuli.
Just imagine it: Fugaku, having lost both eyes, braved public discussion and even ridicule to come to the Ninja Academy and support Sasuke. What an enormous encouragement that would be for Sasuke.
If he were to lose under his father's watchful concern, Sasuke would inevitably be burdened by immense guilt and self-reproach.
That guilt toward his father, along with his sense of responsibility for the clan's honor, would undoubtedly greatly stimulate his special desire to protect his loved ones and his clan.
Sasuke already possessed the Three Tomoe Sharingan. There were no obstacles left in his path to awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Therefore, as long as these targeted emotional stimuli were strong enough, coupled with a "key person" capable of tugging at Sasuke's heartstrings, Sasuke might very well awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan in the midst of battle.
After all, both Shisui and Itachi had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan at eleven or twelve years