Graduation

Graduation

Shisui's Body Flicker Technique was difficult to learn. After spending an entire day on it, Kagato only gained a rough understanding. However, from that day onward, Kagato also understood why, in the original story, Shisui taught Crow Clone Jutsu and Kotoamatsukami to Itachi, yet deliberately withheld the Body Flicker Technique. It probably wasn't that Shisui didn't want to teach him. Rather, Itachi's talent in Body Flicker Technique made it difficult for him to master Shisui's version in a short time. On top of that, given the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha at the time, they simply didn't have much time to train, so Itachi never learned it.

Unlike Itachi, Kagato's talent in Body Flicker Technique was astonishing enough to make both Itachi and Shisui marvel, even though he was far inferior to Itachi in Fire Release and genjutsu. That talent laid the foundation for Kagato to learn Shisui's Body Flicker Technique. Furthermore, Kagato was not currently involved in the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha. He was still at the Ninja Academy, with plenty of time to study Body Flicker Technique.

Those two advantages were what set him apart from Itachi. They were also why Itachi couldn't learn Shisui's Body Flicker Technique, while he could.

Of course, that could be put aside for now. On the second day of the vacation, what mattered most to Kagato was still—

"You want to learn Shadow Clone Jutsu?"

Itachi looked at Kagato in surprise.

"You're planning to use Shadow Clones to attend class too?"

"Mm."

Kagato answered naturally. His method had been copied straight from Itachi, after all, so he felt there was nothing to be embarrassed about in front of him.

Unlike Shisui's teasing, Itachi nodded seriously.

"Mm, it's a good choice. With your current strength, attending the Ninja Academy is simply a waste of time. I think that after you finish next semester, you might be allowed to graduate early, just like me."

Kagato was stunned.

"Maybe."

If he graduated early, he would become a Genin. Although that was what he had hoped for, actually thinking about becoming a Genin at such a young age still left him feeling inexplicably uneasy.

The first few days of the vacation were mainly spent deciding on the direction of Kagato's training for the entire break. On the first day, Shisui taught Kagato his unique Body Flicker Technique. On the second day, Itachi taught Kagato Shadow Clone Jutsu. As for the third day—

Shisui held three leaves in his hand and first handed one to Kagato.

"Let me see your Nature Transformation."

Kagato nodded, took the leaf, and placed it on his palm. A moment later, flames rose from the leaf and quickly burned the entire thing to ashes.

Shisui handed Kagato another leaf.

"What about Lightning?"

Kagato took the leaf and placed it on his palm as he had with the first one, but this time, the leaf did not change at all.

"Shisui, ever since I found out my affinities, I've only practiced Fire Release's Nature Transformation. I don't know anything about Lightning or Earth."

Shisui looked as though he had expected this.

"I guessed Lord Guizhi told you to prioritize practicing Fire Release's Nature Transformation, right?"

"Mm."

"The Uchiha have a lot of Fire Release ninjutsu, so prioritizing Fire Release's Nature Transformation wasn't wrong. But from now on, you should start practicing Lightning and Earth Nature Transformation too. Such excellent affinities can't go to waste."

Thus, the three things Kagato had to learn during the vacation were Body Flicker Technique, Shadow Clone Jutsu, and Lightning and Earth Nature Transformation.

Of the three, Shadow Clone Jutsu was nominally a forbidden technique, and it had the highest standing among them. In reality, however, it was the easiest to train. After two or three days, Kagato successfully mastered Shadow Clone Jutsu. He couldn't help sighing at Naruto's heaven-defying talent with Shadow Clones. It had taken him two or three days, while Naruto only had to watch once before mastering it.

As for Body Flicker Technique, there was no need to discuss it. Kagato estimated that he probably wouldn't be able to master the technique within the year.

Nature Transformation was not easy either. Kagato had spent half a year mastering Fire Release's Nature Transformation, and Lightning and Earth Nature Transformation would probably take a combined year.

In March of Konoha Year 55, the Ninja Academy reopened.

As usual, Kagato started going to school. The difference was that the one attending classes was his Shadow Clone, while his true body stayed at the training ground to train all day.

September of Konoha Year 55.

Another semester had ended. Nothing major had happened during it. The only noteworthy matter was that Shisui had gradually faded from the sight of many people. At present, only Kagato and Itachi could see him. Whenever anyone else was present, Shisui would use Body Flicker Technique to avoid them. This made Kagato realize that the situation between the Uchiha and Konoha was worsening further. Shisui could only be acting this way because he had accepted a classified mission and could not show himself. But what classified mission had Shisui accepted?

Kagato did not know the details, but he could be certain that this classified mission was definitely related to the Uchiha!

In any case, Kagato had once again come first in every subject that semester, as expected, without the slightest surprise. He had also learned Lightning Release's Nature Transformation, and his taijutsu, ninjutsu, and shuriken skills had all improved tremendously.

Kagato felt no excitement, however. Instead, he gazed at the sky with a worried expression.

The relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha was worsening further. What about Shisui? Had he listened to me and refrained from telling Danzo about Kotoamatsukami? Right, there was also Danzo. Ever since I defeated Neji, he hadn't approached me again. Had Shisui stopped him? Or did he have some greater scheme?

Kagato looked at his hands. He was already seven years old. Born on August 15, he was a month younger than Sasuke and roughly two months older than Naruto, but he was still too young! He had still done too little! There was too little time!

Time, time, time. Give me more time.

In a spacious, brightly lit room, a group of people sat in a row. In the very center sat the Third Hokage, wearing the Hokage's hat and robes. Danzo, Homura, Koharu, and the others sat on either side.

Standing before the Third Hokage, Iruka spoke seriously.

"Hokage-sama, I request that the Uchiha Kagato from my class be allowed to graduate early."

As usual, the Third Hokage asked,

"What is the reason?"

Iruka answered in a rigid, methodical tone.

"Uchiha Kagato has completely mastered everything I taught him over the past year. He has already learned ninjutsu, and he didn't make a single mistake on the examination questions. During the previous final exam, I had Uchiha Kagato attempt the Three Body Technique, which students were not supposed to be tested on until five years later—in other words, the graduation examination questions. As a result, Uchiha Kagato performed the Three Body Technique perfectly. He even used the forbidden Shadow Clone Jutsu. I believe that over the next five years at the Ninja Academy, I will no longer be able to teach Uchiha Kagato anything, so I am applying for him to graduate early."

The Third Hokage hesitated.

"Just like Itachi back then? He's only in his first year."

Danzo looked toward the Third Hokage.

"I think this is a good thing. Didn't Itachi set such a precedent before?"

Danzo had both good and bad qualities. He was not a completely villainous character, and one could not wholly deny a person.

Danzo's faults lay in his extreme self-centeredness, his excessive ruthlessness at times, and the personal desires he harbored. His strengths, however, were that no matter what he did, he genuinely believed it would benefit Konoha. He was also extremely rational and rarely let his emotions dictate his actions.

The Third Hokage was worried that Kagato was too young. If he graduated early and became a Genin, the Third Hokage feared that something might happen to such a genius.

Danzo saw things differently. A genius was only a genius if he survived. If he didn't, he was merely dead. There was nothing wrong with becoming a Genin earlier and avoiding wasting time at the Ninja Academy.

The Third Hokage sighed.

"Mm."

Since Itachi had already set such a precedent, allowing Kagato to graduate this time was not impossible. However, the Third Hokage was still considering it.

Danzo said calmly,

"I've observed that child. His talent is no inferior to Itachi's. Keeping him at the Ninja Academy is not a good thing."

The Third Hokage frowned and thought for a while before finally relenting.

"Mm, you have a point. Remaining at the Ninja Academy is of no use to him at present. Then allow him to graduate."