Early Graduation

Uchiha Clan Compound.

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

Setsuna Uchiha looked at Uchiha Gen in confusion.

How could this kid change his mind every day? Were all geniuses like this?

"Because I need to fight now. How can an Uchiha who's never been through the baptism of real combat even call himself an Uchiha?"

Uchiha Gen's expression was calm, as if he were saying something perfectly ordinary.

"I see. I'd originally planned to have you join the Military Police Force after graduation, like Uchiha Fugaku, so you'd have more time to grow.

"But since you have your own ideas, go ahead and do what you think is right. Just make sure you understand what you'll be facing if you graduate early at a time like this."

Setsuna Uchiha gave a slight nod. He liked that spirit in Uchiha Gen. Still, as an elder, he had to say what needed to be said.

"War."

Uchiha Gen lowered his head slightly.

"Exactly. War! Gen, you may be a genius, but in my eyes, you're still just a flower in a greenhouse.

"Your strength has grown quickly, but you've never seen what cruelty really means. The horrors of war can't be explained in a few words or a few sentences.

"Death is the least significant thing on a battlefield. That place is filled with all kinds of filth and... malice. Knowing that, are you still prepared to graduate early?"

Setsuna Uchiha stared calmly at Uchiha Gen.

"I... am an Uchiha."

Uchiha Gen raised his hand. A red glow flickered in his eyes as his Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly turned, revealing its oppressive ocular power.

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

Setsuna Uchiha had been waiting calmly for Uchiha Gen's answer. But the instant he saw the crimson eyes, his face filled with shock.

"Just recently."

Uchiha Gen's tone was even.

He really had just awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Ever since he mastered the Golden Light Spell, his Sharingan—including its initial awakening—had grown in step with his cultivation of life and energy, entirely unlike the emotional upheaval that usually triggered an Uchiha's awakening.

But this time, it seemed to have been affected somewhat by his emotions. The influence was slight, though. Given his current cultivation, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan was already close to awakening.

Earlier, by the Naka River.

"I'm about to head to the battlefield. If Sunagakure makes a move, I won't be able to leave that front with Chiyo, that old fossil, over there. The situation on the battlefield changes in an instant, and even I can't guarantee I'll make it back alive.

"Gen, when I heard you refuse my request, I was happy, because you didn't treat our time together as leverage to sway your decision.

"Besides, the battlefield really isn't a place for an eight-year-old boy like you. As for Nawaki's safety, I really did come up with a ridiculous plan.

"Sending an eight-year-old boy to the battlefield—if Great-Grandpa heard about it, he'd probably make me quit gambling for years. That'd be terrifying.

"Anyway, Gen, the only thing I can teach you now is some more advanced Medical Ninjutsu. Since I'm going to the battlefield, I won't be able to teach you in person, so I wrote all those techniques down and left them on the desk where you usually read.

"Oh, right. Last time we had barbecue, Orochimaru and Jiraiya were there, those two idiots, so we spent the whole time drinking and didn't get to enjoy the food. When I get back, you'll have to treat me again."

The girl's words, full of laughter, drifted into the boy's ears on the breeze. The scroll had already lost its warmth, but for some reason, Uchiha Gen felt as if it were burning his hands.

"Graduate early?"

Minato Namikaze looked at Uchiha Gen in surprise as he grilled fish over the fire.

"Yeah. If I want to keep getting stronger, I'll have to draw blood sooner or later."

Besides, it had been a long time since he'd drawn a card. Ever since he started studying Medical Ninjutsu, the complexity of Medical Ninjutsu and Sealing Jutsu had kept him from seeking out fights to build up his chances to draw.

Uchiha Gen poked at the fire with a stick and spoke softly.

"I see."

Minato Namikaze nodded slightly, then stared into the flames, lost in thought, his expression complicated.

In the firelight, the figure of a red-haired girl appeared. She was a recent transfer student. She... had such beautiful hair, and she shared the same dream as him.

But Gen was his good friend. Jiraiya had said the war had already begun quietly. If Gen graduated early, he'd definitely be sent to the battlefield. How could he let his good friend face such danger alone?

Wait, had he really hesitated?!?!

A moment later, after working through his conflicted feelings, Minato Namikaze let out a breath and turned toward Uchiha Gen, shouting,

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

"???"

Uchiha Gen had been playing with the fire and wondering whether he could improve the Yin Seal to store some of his own qi separately. The sudden shout yanked him out of his thoughts.

He turned to look at Minato Namikaze, who wore a determined expression, and stared back in confusion.

Why had this kid suddenly gotten so fired up?

Hokage Office.

Two graduation applications lay on Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk, each stamped with a red seal bearing the word "Approved."

They were Uchiha Gen's and Minato Namikaze's graduation applications.

"Submitting their applications at just this moment... Was this Lady Mito's doing, or could Uchiha Gen be the next Kagami?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked as he gazed at Uchiha Gen's name on the application through the drifting haze, his expression unreadable.

Click.

As he pondered, the office door opened.

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

Shimura Danzō stood in the doorway, his expression grave.

"This morning, Hanzo of the Salamander declared war on both the Land of Wind and our Land of Fire on behalf of the Land of Rain. At the same time, Iwagakure shinobi appeared inside the Land of Rain. And according to our spies, Sunagakure has been making frequent moves. Their target may not be the Land of Rain at all, but Konoha."

Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could answer, Shimura Danzō continued. His voice was cold, with a hint of menace.