Ninja Academy.
Standing by a window on an upper floor of the school building, the Third clasped his hands behind his back and watched the final exams taking place on the playground below.
Several members of the Advisor Elder Council stood nearby.
Suddenly, a burst of cheers erupted from the playground.
The people by the window followed the sound. Sasuke stood in the middle of the field with one hand on his hip, while three opponents lay sprawled nearby.
Mitokado Homura smiled. "That little Sasuke has gotten even stronger!"
Utatane Koharu nodded. "He's growing just as quickly as his brother, Itachi Uchiha. It looks like we have another Uchiha prodigy like Shisui and Itachi."
The Third nodded slightly as well.
Even with his discerning eye as a professor of ninjutsu, he had to admit Sasuke's growth had far exceeded his expectations.
If the Elder Council had still harbored doubts about whether Sasuke had really subdued the rampaging Nine-Tails before, now they were more inclined to believe that he had.
After all, no one could guess what kind of miracle an Uchiha backed into a corner might accomplish!
And Sasuke's outstanding talent made many things that had once seemed impossible feel far less unbelievable.
After all, among his classmates, almost no one could match Sasuke, save for a very small handful. The gap had become even more obvious since he awakened his Sharingan.
Even the few students who could give Sasuke trouble, like Kimimaro, were a full three years older than him.
If they were the same age, the outcome would be anyone's guess.
"Hmph!"
Danzo snorted. The faster Sasuke grew, the more he regretted not acting decisively and bringing him under his wing sooner.
Then his sinister gaze swept toward the other end of the playground!
On the playground.
Shinji