The Name of a Genius

Chapter 21: The Name of a Genius

"Graduating in the first year?"

Uchiha Takashi looked at his son in surprise.

"Isn't that a bit too early?"

Kagato bowed his head and said, "This is the school's decision, Father."

Uchiha Takashi looked down at the early graduation notice in his hand and thought for a moment.

"Alright then, since it's the school's decision, there's nothing we can do. Since you're graduating, you'll become a genin. Genin usually don't undertake dangerous missions, but remember, once you become a genin, you must observe and learn as much as possible. You'll have a team leader, so follow your teacher well. In the future, when you become a chunin, you'll inevitably have to deal with some dangerous missions."

Kagato nodded.

"I understand, Father."

The next day, on the Ninja Academy's training grounds, there was a podium. A crowd of academy students were packed around it, all craning their necks to see the stage.

In the center of the platform stood the Third Hokage and Kagato. The Third Hokage handed a forehead protector to Kagato.

"From today on, you are a genin."

Kagato accepted the forehead protector, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. He thought it would just be a private graduation ceremony, perhaps with Iruka completing it casually in an empty room. He never expected the Third Hokage himself to personally preside over his graduation, let alone gather all the Ninja Academy students to witness it. This truly surprised Kagato.

The Third Hokage patted Kagato's shoulder and spoke.

"Uchiha Kagami was a great ninja. I hope you can become a ninja like him."

As soon as he heard this, Kagato understood why the Third Hokage had personally come to hold his graduation ceremony. Who was Uchiha Kagami? He was someone who transcended clan loyalties and dedicated himself wholeheartedly to serving the village. The Third Hokage's words were essentially a hope that Kagato wouldn't get caught up in the clan disputes between the Uchiha and Konoha, but would instead focus on the safety of the entire village.

Furthermore, the Third Hokage personally holding Kagato's graduation ceremony was, in large part, a gesture towards the Uchiha, a display of goodwill. "See," he seemed to say, "we treat you well. Your clan's disciple has graduated early, and I've even come myself to host the ceremony."

These were likely the two main reasons.

Of course, seeing without speaking was the basic protocol. Kagato calmly replied, "I will do my best, Lord Hokage."

In the afternoon, Shisui tapped the forehead protector on Kagato's forehead and said with a disappointed tone, "Sigh, now that you have this, I won't be able to flick your forehead anymore, will I?"

Kagato rolled his eyes.

"Brother Shisui, you're older than Brother Itachi. It's Brother Itachi who should learn from you, not the other way around."

Shisui burst into laughter.

"We can learn from anyone's excellent qualities."

Kagato couldn't help but retort, "So, flicking foreheads is an excellent quality?"

Shisui looked at Kagato with a puzzled expression.

"Isn't it?"

"Is it?"

"Isn't it?"

"..."

After a bit of playful banter, Shisui turned serious.

"Now that you've become a genin, you'll likely meet your teammates and your team leader tomorrow. I know you won't slack off on your training, but I still want to tell you: strive to become stronger. The situation is getting worse. I never expect you to change the tide of events, but you must promise me that no matter how things turn out, you will protect yourself."

Kagato responded with equal seriousness.

"Yes, I will, Brother Shisui. Oh, and about that thing we agreed on..."

Shisui smiled slightly and interrupted Kagato.

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. I won't tell Lord Danzō about the abilities of my Sharingan. Also, because of my own circumstances, I might not be able to see you for a long time. While I'm away, if you have any questions about your training, you can ask Itachi or your team leader, understand?"

Kagato looked at Shisui with concern. Not being able to see each other for a long time, he knew without a doubt that Shisui must be going on a mission.

"Yes, I understand, Brother Shisui."

Hokage's Office.

The door opened, and a person wearing a mask and Anbu attire entered, kneeling on one knee.

"Lord Hokage, what do you need me for?"

The Third Hokage tossed a file to the newcomer.

"I want you to temporarily step down as Anbu captain and become his instructor."

The Anbu member took the file thrown by the Third Hokage and opened it. It contained the information of a child named Uchiha Kagato.

"I'm to become his instructor?"

The Third Hokage nodded.

"Yes, this child is a genius. You must have heard of him. Just like Itachi, he graduated from the Ninja Academy in only one year. Normally, I would be overjoyed to have such a genius, but given the current relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha, as you know, I'm worried this child might go down the wrong path as he grows up. I want to find someone who can guide him onto the right path as his mentor. After much thought, I believe you are the most suitable. After all, you've been through a lot. For children who might stray, I believe you have ways to teach them, Kakashi."

The Anbu member remained silent for a moment, then removed his mask and bowed his head in response.

"Yes!"

Beneath the mask, his left eye was closed, with a white scar extending from his forehead down to below his eye. His once handsome face was somewhat marred by this scar, but after seeing it often, it sometimes came to be seen as a mark of distinction, making him easily recognizable, along with his completely white hair.

Hatake Kakashi, former Anbu captain, was now stepping down. With Kakashi's departure, Itachi became an Anbu squad leader.

Walking on the street, gazing at the lively scenes on both sides, Kakashi felt a sense of nostalgia. How long had it been since he walked the streets so leisurely? A year? Two years? Or more? Kakashi couldn't remember. He only remembered that in the dark corners of the Anbu, even when on the streets, he would only focus on the mission and not pay attention to his surroundings.

"Taking on a Jonin role, huh."

A Jonin's role meant being a mentor to Genin.

Kakashi took out a piece of paper from his pocket and began to read it carefully as he walked. It contained detailed information about Uchiha Kagato.

[Uchiha Kagato, born August 15th, Year 48. He diligently trained from a young age, far surpassing his peers. Later, he met Shisui Uchiha, the Body Flicker, and began receiving instruction from him. Within six months of enrollment, he mastered the Great Fireball Technique and the Body Flicker Technique. In the following six months, his performance in all areas became even more outstanding, especially his mastery of the Body Flicker Technique, which reached Chunin level and was very close to Jonin level.]

It was clear that most of the information about Kagato was praise, as Kagato was truly astonishing. However, Kakashi also found some less favorable records.

[As a member of the Uchiha Clan, he inherited the pride of the Uchiha. During his time at the academy, he repeatedly refused to spar with classmates by surrendering, looking down on them. He was known by his peers as an extremely arrogant Uchiha.]

Kakashi's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Looking down on classmates, huh?"

He put Kagato's file back into his pocket and looked up at the sky.

"If... if only Teacher Minato had seen that I lacked teamwork and deemed me unqualified, would those things have happened? Would..."

Kakashi placed his hand on the forehead protector covering his left eye.

"Would I not have this eye? Would he and she both be alright?"

Of course, Kakashi couldn't say these words out loud on the street; he was merely lamenting internally.

"No, how can I blame everything on Teacher Minato? It was natural for Teacher Minato not to see it. Because back then, to pass the test, I used them both."

Back when Kakashi, Obito, and Rin were trying to get the bells from Minato, after a battle that wasn't really a fight, Kakashi acutely realized that he couldn't get the bell from Minato on his own. Furthermore, Minato went easier on Kakashi than he did on Obito and Rin. He held back slightly more when facing Kakashi, and seemed more relaxed when facing Obito and Rin.

Kakashi noticed this and used Rin and Obito as bait. When Minato let his guard down, he snatched the bell.

On the surface, it looked like Kakashi had actively requested Obito and Rin to cooperate with him, but in reality, Kakashi knew very well that it wasn't teamwork. He had merely been using those two back then.

"It's precisely because I didn't realize the importance of teamwork back then, that's why... that's why..."

The scene of the boy being crushed under a large rock flashed before his eyes, and the image of the girl bleeding as he pierced her heart remained unforgettable.

Kakashi lowered his head, looked straight ahead, his gaze firm.

"Don't worry, Obito, Rin, Teacher Minato. This time, I won't let anyone who doesn't value their comrades become a ninja! Even if that person is a great genius!"

Had he, too, overlooked teamwork because of his reputation as a genius back then?

Kakashi mused, walking slowly down the street.