Early Graduation

Uchiha Clan Compound.

"You want to graduate early? Why? Didn't you say you wanted a few more years to grow stronger?"

Setsuna Uchiha looked at Uchiha Gen with confusion.

How does this child change his mind every single day? Are all geniuses like this?

"Because I need to fight now. How can an Uchiha be considered an Uchiha without having been baptized by the fires of real combat?"

Uchiha Gen's expression was indifferent, as if he were stating the simplest of facts.

"I see. Originally, I had intended for you to join the Military Police Force after graduation, just like Fugaku Uchiha, to buy you more time to grow. However, since you have your own ideas, then go ahead and do as you please. But you should be aware of what you will face if you graduate early during this period, right?"

Setsuna Uchiha nodded slightly upon hearing this. He liked this drive in Uchiha Gen, but as an elder, there were things he simply had to say.

"War."

Uchiha Gen lowered his head slightly.

"Correct, war! Gen, although you are a genius, in my eyes, you are still nothing more than a flower in a greenhouse. You may have grown in strength rapidly, but you have yet to witness what true cruelty is. The brutality of war cannot be explained in a few words or sentences. Death is the most insignificant thing on the battlefield; it is a place filled with all kinds of filth and... malice. Knowing this, are you still prepared to graduate early?"

Setsuna Uchiha stared at Uchiha Gen with a calm, piercing gaze.

"I... am an Uchiha, after all."

Uchiha Gen raised his hand, a red glow flickering within his eye sockets as his Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun gently, releasing a wave of oppressive ocular power.

"Three-Tomoe!!! Gen, you've awakened the Three-Tomoe??! When did this happen!?"

Setsuna Uchiha, who had been calmly waiting for Uchiha Gen's answer, was instantly filled with shock the moment he clearly saw the scarlet eyes within Uchiha Gen's sockets.

"Just a short while ago."

Uchiha Gen's tone was flat.

His Three-Tomoe Sharingan had indeed just awakened. Ever since he mastered the Golden Light Spell, his Sharingan's progression—including its awakening—had been tied to the improvement of his life-force cultivation, which was entirely different from the emotional volatility required for an ordinary Uchiha to awaken their eyes. However, this time, it seemed to have been influenced slightly by his emotions. Although the influence was minimal, given his current level of life-force cultivation, the awakening of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was already imminent.

Not long ago, by the banks of the Naka River.

"I'm heading to the battlefield soon. If there's any movement from Sunagakure, that old hag Chiyo will keep me tied down there. The situation on the battlefield changes in an instant; even I cannot guarantee I'll return alive. Gen, when I heard you refuse my request, I was happy, because you didn't treat our time together as a bargaining chip to influence your decisions. Besides, the battlefield is certainly not a place for an eight-year-old like you. As for Nawaki's safety, I really did think of a ridiculous solution. If the Great Elder knew I let an eight-year-old go to the battlefield, he'd probably make me quit gambling for years—that would be too terrifying. Hey, Gen, all I can teach you now are some more advanced medical ninjutsu. Since I'm going to the front lines, I won't be able to teach you in person, so I've written down those techniques and left them on the desk where you usually read. Oh, right, the last time we had barbecue, because those two idiots Orochimaru and Jiraiya were there, I was too busy drinking and didn't get to eat my fill. When I come back, you have to treat me again."

The girl's smiling words drifted into the boy's ears on the breeze. The warmth on the scroll had already faded, but for some reason, Uchiha Gen felt it burning his hands.

"Graduate early?"

Minato Namikaze, who was roasting fish in front of a campfire, looked at Uchiha Gen in surprise.

"Yeah, if I want to keep getting stronger, I eventually need to see blood."

Besides, he hadn't drawn cards in a long time. Ever since he started learning medical ninjutsu, because medical ninjutsu and sealing arts were so complex, he hadn't actively sought out people to fight to grind for card draws.

Uchiha Gen, poking the fire with a wooden stick, spoke softly.

"I see."

Minato Namikaze nodded slightly upon hearing this, then stared blankly into the fire with a complex expression. In the flickering light, the image of a red-haired girl appeared—a girl who had just transferred to their school. She... had such beautiful hair, and she shared the same dream as him. But Gen was his good brother, and Master Jiraiya had said that the war had already begun in silence. If Gen graduated early, he would definitely be sent to the battlefield. As a good brother, how could he let Gen be in such a dangerous place alone? Wait, why am I hesitating?!?!

A moment later, after resolving his inner conflict, Minato Namikaze let out a long breath, turned to look at Uchiha Gen, and shouted.

"I'm going to apply for early graduation with you!!"

"???"

Uchiha Gen, who had been playing with the fire and wondering if he could improve the Yin Seal to store his own Qi separately, was pulled back to reality by the sudden roar. Turning to look at the determined Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Gen was full of question marks.

This kid, why did he suddenly get all fired up for no reason?

Hokage Office.

On Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk lay two graduation applications, each already stamped with the red seal of approval.

These were the graduation applications for Uchiha Gen and Minato Namikaze.

Submitting their graduation applications at this exact moment—is this the will of Lady Mito, or is it... Uchiha Gen, will you be the next Kagami?

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, his expression unreadable as he stared through the ethereal smoke at the name Uchiha Gen on the application form.

Click.

While he was lost in thought, the office door swung open.

"Hiruzen, the war... has begun."

Standing at the doorway, Shimura Danzō wore a grave expression.

"Just this morning, Hanzo of the Salamander, representing the Land of Rain, declared war on both the Land of Wind and our Land of Fire. At the same time, Iwagakure ninjas appeared within the borders of the Land of Rain. Furthermore, according to intelligence from our spies, Sunagakure is making frequent moves; their target is likely not the Land of Rain, but Konoha."

Without waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi to respond, Shimura Danzō continued, his tone cold and laced with a hint of ferocity.