Graduation Ceremony "Genjutsu"

Konoha Year 36, March 15.

Just last year, Konoha's Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was caught up in a coup in Kumogakure while forming an alliance with the village. Old and frail, Tobirama fell covering the retreat.

Hiruzen Sarutobi succeeded him as the Third Hokage and immediately took over the position of Academy Principal as well.

Now, for the first time since the Third Hokage took office, students were graduating from Konoha's Ninja Academy. Naturally, Hiruzen Sarutobi set aside his busy schedule to personally attend the graduation ceremony.

Akashi Uchiha, age twelve, was graduating today.

Watching the flashy little blondie in the front row, Akashi curled his lip in disdain—it wasn't wartime, so why rush to graduate early? Trying to show off, huh?

Civilians will be civilians! Unlike us Uchiha, who understand the importance of a solid foundation...

Just then, Akashi spotted Lady Mikoto of the Uchiha clan arriving. He quickly swapped his expression for one of fawning... no, upright and enthusiastic warmth.

"Lady Mikoto, why did you trouble yourself to come in person?" Akashi said, pulling out two chairs... Though he looked down on the redhead girl beside Lady Mikoto, he still pulled out a chair for her too.

"'Trouble myself'... Today's the graduation ceremony, isn't it? How could I not come?" Mikoto was speechless—this Uchiha's flattery was far too obvious and off-putting.

"Pfft..." Kushina burst out laughing on the spot, then whispered something to Mikoto.

Kushina had no real impression of Akashi Uchiha.

After all, they weren't even in the same grade!

Akashi and Mikoto were twelve; Kushina and Minato were only ten, both graduating early. Usually, some annoying brats picked on Kushina for her red hair, and she beat them back, but Akashi wasn't among them.

Especially after discovering that Lady Mikoto and Kushina were close, Akashi sometimes acted like a dog relying on its master's power... no, he'd righteously warn other boys, "Show some respect for the Fan on my back."

Of course, the reason he buttered up... looked after Mikoto wasn't because he liked her or for any physical reason. It was entirely because Mikoto's father was a Clan Elder.

Though both were Uchiha, Akashi was a nobody with dead parents!

Even as an Uchiha, his life was better than an ordinary orphan's, but compared to Mikoto's background, it was heaven and earth.

Sure, a ninja's worth isn't just about birth, but also talent—but if we're talking talent...

Then just look at the Fan on my back!

Akashi was well aware of his own limits...

His greatest ambition was just to have an older clansman take him under his wing for a couple of years after graduation, then see if he could get a recommendation to become a chunin and join the Military Police Force, where he could bully... manage those troublesome villagers.

He hoped to marry a woman from the clan by sixteen or seventeen—or if that failed, a good-looking civilian female ninja would do—to pass on the Uchiha's great genes!

Then, like the old Senju ghost, he'd live to sixty before dying in battle—preferably at the most critical moment, alongside the strongest teammates, at the hands of the strongest ninja, so his sacrifice would seem meaningful...

Sucking up to... looking after Mikoto was mainly to make it easier to get a recommendation later!

After all, Mikoto not only had a good background and above-average talent, but she was also childhood friends with Fugaku, the Clan Leader's Son.

By then...

Even if he couldn't ask the Clan Leader, he could mention to the Clan Leader's Wife or a clan steward, "I'm the Clan Leader's Wife's classmate," and getting a recommendation slot wouldn't be hard, right?

After Akashi scurried around and glared away a few boys trying to sit near Lady Mikoto, he obediently sat in the row in front of her.

Before long, the graduating class's teacher arrived. After some routine remarks, the teacher said, "This year... the Lord Hokage has honored the Academy by personally attending everyone's graduation ceremony. Please welcome the Lord Hokage to speak!"

Akashi sneered inwardly at this, but clapped along with everyone else on the surface.

He didn't have much of an impression of Hiruzen Sarutobi before, but...

Recently—ever since the Second Hokage died and Hiruzen Sarutobi became the Third—the clan had been talking about him more and more, and Akashi couldn't help but be influenced.

Internal Uchiha opinion had changed a lot over the years...

Before Akashi was born, especially in the decade or so when the First Hokage was still alive, the clan's mainstream view was to criticize Madara Uchiha, that troublesome ancestor, while strongly supporting Hashirama and even Tobirama.

But once Tobirama became the Second Hokage, some Uchiha already had complaints.

After Akashi was born, the internal Uchiha sentiment became a constant cycle of "complaining about Tobirama," "denouncing other ninja clans," "complaining about the Senju clan," "denouncing the civilian class," "complaining about the Second Hokage," "denouncing everyone"...

Yeah, in short, general dissatisfaction with Tobirama Senju—but soon, that dissatisfaction would be redirected by some "mysterious force."

Especially after news of Tobirama's death and Hiruzen Sarutobi's succession spread, Tobirama's reputation within the Uchiha had sunk to "that cunning old Senju ghost."

After all, before this, many Uchiha had hoped Tobirama would live a few more years—mainly to let Kagami Uchiha grow up a bit more, so he could become the Third Hokage!

Konoha was founded by the Uchiha and Senju clans together! The Senju have had two Hokages—how come we haven't had even one?

Sure, Tobirama seemed to value Kagami Uchiha...

But unfortunately, Kagami was only in his early twenties when that cunning old ghost died—and then he handed the Hokage position to another clan instead of us Uchiha?

So you can imagine the internal criticism of the Second and Third Hokages.

Of course, that was only internal...

In front of outsiders, discussing this was forbidden.

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi come up with a stern face, Akaseki couldn't help but think of how the clan said he looked like a gorilla, and he had to hold back his laughter for a moment.

But just then...

[Ding-dong—Congratulations on registering for the Immersive Short Drama Experience Platform! As a first-time registrant, the platform will gift you one trial experience...]

Akaseki: ???

What the hell?

Release! Release! Release!

Akaseki suddenly realized he seemed to be caught in a Genjutsu.

Although he immediately tried to break it by "disrupting the flow of Chakra in his body," it was useless.

At the same time, Akaseki noticed that his perception of the outside world was gradually fading away. Not only could his body not move, but his senses of the external environment were becoming increasingly blurred, as if time itself was about to freeze!

[A trial episode has been extracted: <Ten Years of Bitter Pursuit Met with Cold Shoulders, Why Are You Crying When I'm Dead?>...]

Akaseki: ???

[You devotedly pursued Liu Ru for ten years, yet endured nothing but disdain from her and her best friend. Even when you were diagnosed with cancer, she thought it was just part of your act of playing pitiful, and she insulted you even more...]

Akaseki: ???

[Episode length: 10 years. Experience time: two hours.]

Akaseki: ???