An Ordinary Uchiha Mai

In the 41st year of Konoha, undercurrents surged throughout the ninja world, and friction between the major hidden villages grew constant.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage and Principal of the Ninja Academy, was inspecting the school grounds accompanied by his advisor, Utatane Koharu.

Standing in his office, he peered through the blinds at the little brats on the training field and sighed, "Before the Second Hokage passed away, he personally designated me as the Third Hokage."

"That same year, I took over as Principal of the Ninja Academy. For over a decade, the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders has kept me restless day and night."

"Fortunately, I did not fail the Second Hokage's expectations; I have managed to achieve some small measure of success."

"Under my administration, the Academy has produced outstanding ninjas like Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, and Hatake Kakashi."

"Exceptional young people are the future of the village. Being the Principal of the Ninja Academy is a heavy burden indeed."

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen reminiscing, the Academy teacher Murakami Keining knew exactly how to stroke the Third's ego: "Lord Hokage, your achievements are naturally illustrious."

"Your students, the Sannin, fought the demigod Hanzo of the ninja world years ago and have since become powerhouses capable of standing on their own. Namikaze Minato was promoted to Jonin just years after graduation; his future is boundless."

"With your wise leadership, it is impossible for Konoha and the Ninja Academy not to flourish."

Flattery is always the right move.

"Haha, I have only done a small amount of work."

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand in feigned modesty, then suddenly recalled something and asked, "Since Hatake Kakashi graduated, has the Academy produced any other geniuses?"

"This..."

Murakami Keining found himself in a bind, momentarily speechless.

There were certainly excellent youths in the Academy; Konoha had never lacked for talent.

But who had the Hokage just mentioned?

The Sannin, Namikaze Minato, Hatake Kakashi...

Among them, save for Jiraiya, every single one had displayed extraordinary, peerless aptitude from a young age—their talent was visible to the naked eye.

Comparisons are odious; since his superior had just brought up such heavy hitters, whoever he suggested next couldn't be too far behind.

"Sigh."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, a flash of disappointment in his eyes, and said, "I am too greedy."

"Young people as outstanding as Namikaze Minato and Hatake Kakashi appear perhaps once a decade. The students currently in the Academy are, at their oldest, the same age as Hatake Kakashi."

Murakami Keining understood the subtext: these students were theoretically Hatake Kakashi's peers, but while Hatake Kakashi graduated after only one year, they were still grinding away in the Academy. How could they possibly compare?

The gap was clear.

A sense of crisis rose in Murakami Keining's heart. As an Academy teacher, his primary responsibility was to cultivate and discover exceptional youth for Konoha.

While geniuses weren't exactly growing on trees, the Third Hokage had a point: when he personally oversaw education, he produced the Sannin and Namikaze Minato. Why had things gone downhill under his watch?

If you, Murakami Keining, are an Academy teacher and lack the ability to do this, have you no shame?

Murakami Keining gritted his teeth and said, "Geniuses as brilliant as the Sannin are naturally rare."

"However, I haven't been idle during my years as a teacher. I have discovered one exceptional young man."

"He is a peer of Hatake Kakashi."

"Oh?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's curiosity was piqued. He pondered for a moment and said, "A peer of Hatake Kakashi who is still in the Academy? I must meet him."

"He is a late bloomer." Don't ask, just assume he's a late bloomer.

Murakami Keining added, pushing open the blinds and pointing to a corner of the playground. "Lord Hokage, look. That young man dancing over there is the young genius I wish to introduce to you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu looked where he pointed. Under the shade of a tree, a seven or eight-year-old boy with black hair was surrounded by a dozen children, performing a dance that was unknown but visually striking.

The surrounding crowd consisted mostly of girls, their eyes filled with adoration, shouting things like, "Brother Uchiha Mai is so cool!" and "Brother Uchiha Mai, do the moonwalk again!"

At that single glance, Sarutobi Hiruzen believed Murakami Keining. This black-haired brat was absolutely a once-in-a-generation genius.

Even if he hadn't graduated at seven or eight, even if he wasn't even a Genin yet, and even if his peer Hatake Kakashi was already a Chunin, he was definitely a genius not inferior to Hatake Kakashi.

Because this child... was simply too handsome. "Fair-skinned and delicate" didn't even begin to describe his beauty; he was significantly more handsome than Hatake Kakashi, Namikaze Minato, or Second Pillar had been at that age.

It was hard to believe someone this handsome could have mediocre aptitude.

Geniuses who made a name for themselves in the Academy all shared one common trait: they were handsome. Like Orochimaru, Namikaze Minato, and Hatake Kakashi...

This must be a late bloomer!

"What is this child's name?" Utatane Koharu asked.

"Uchiha Mai."

Seeing their expressions, Murakami Keining knew he had bet correctly. Truly, no one could resist that face. He let out a sigh of relief; he had managed to bluff his way through.

"Uchiha..." Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured, his eyes narrowing as he sensed something amiss.

When the Ninja Academy was first founded, it wasn't valued by the major clans. At that time, the best youths from each clan were kept within their own families for training rather than being sent to the Academy.

Even today, the great Konoha clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga still maintained this habit, preferring to cultivate their own talent.

If this Uchiha Mai was as brilliant as you claim, why was he sent to the Ninja Academy?

"Then I shall have to see it for myself," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile.

Murakami Keining was panicking internally. Why did he have to see it for himself? Wasn't that face convincing enough?

"What, are you nervous?" Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Murakami Keining, questioning him.

"No."

Murakami Keining wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Could he really say that Uchiha Mai was just a paper tiger, completely mediocre in every other aspect?

That was certainly out of the question!

"I will go arrange a sparring match immediately," Murakami Keining said.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded slightly, signaling for the former to get to it at once.

The best way to determine if a ninja is outstanding is, of course, their strength. And the best way to demonstrate that strength is, naturally, a match.

Murakami Keining felt incredibly uneasy as he slowly walked out of the office, praying incessantly that Uchiha Mai would pull himself together and show something unique—at the very least, something that would save him from having to force praise for a lack of highlights.

"Tweet, tweet, tweet!"

A sharp whistle blew. Murakami Keining lowered the whistle and shouted, "Free time is over! Everyone, assemble!"