Twilight faded, and darkness descended.
Ninja Academy.
Second Pillar was still at the academy, being kept behind for observation... no, for training.
Uchiha Itachi and Shimura Danzō had reached an agreement.
If the Uchiha Clan staged a coup,
Itachi would help Danzō wipe out the Uchiha Clan.
Likewise,
Danzō had to spare Sasuke's life.
To rehearse the situation beforehand,
and give Itachi enough time to massacre the Uchiha Clan,
Sasuke had been kept at the academy by his teachers these days.
He returned home very late every day.
The reason was simple.
Second Pillar was an outstanding Academy Student.
So the teachers had made special arrangements for him,
allowing Sasuke to learn more ninja knowledge and skills.
On the one hand, this was due to Shimura Danzō's arrangements.
On the other hand...
Second Pillar really was exceptional.
Every teacher at the academy admitted it.
Second Pillar was the strongest newcomer in recent years.
Perhaps... in the entire Ninja Academy, the only one who could stand alongside him was Neji Hyuga, the heir of the Hyuga Clan in the grade above.
"Second Pillar, next, let's turn to the next page."
Inside the classroom,
the lights were on.
Sasuke was still studying late into the night.
The one teaching Sasuke today was Ninja teacher, Chunin, Mizuki.
Mizuki was a man with light blue-white hair.
He was around twenty years old.
He was in the same class as Umino Iruka, and both were newly appointed ninja teachers.
As for Umino Iruka,
he was Sasuke and Naruko's homeroom teacher.
He was an exceptionally kind young teacher.
On this pitch-black night,
Second Pillar finally finished his homework.
After slinging his schoolbag over his shoulder, he left the Ninja Academy, said goodbye to Teacher Mizuki, and headed home.
After walking several dozen meters, he suddenly turned