"The black-haired one must be the Uchiha who just took out my Shadow Clone. If I'm not mistaken, the white-haired one is Kakashi Hatake's father, Hatake Sakumo."
Jiuming quickly crossed the large crater in the ground and came before the Third Hokage. He put on what he considered an innocent smile, while the corners of his eyes watched the two Anbu behind the Third Hokage.
"Uzumaki Kuming, don't you know this is the final checkpoint of the exam?"
"Why did you bring something so dangerous here to test it?"
"Fortunately, you ran into my most elite subordinates. Otherwise, your attack would have cost someone their life. Do you understand?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a stern expression as he reprimanded him.
"Sorry, sorry!"
"I was attacked on the way here and barely managed to escape. I was afraid the enemy had already taken over this place, so I sent a Shadow Clone to test it."
Jiuming scratched his head and spoke cautiously, though there wasn't a trace of remorse on his face.
"You were attacked? And you got away?"
Hearing Uzumaki Kuming's words, Hiruzen was startled. The two Anbu behind him exchanged glances, staring at Jiuming in surprise. Hiruzen had assumed Jiuming had reached his destination safely because he'd been lucky enough not to encounter any enemies along the way. He hadn't expected Jiuming to have been attacked—and to have escaped.
"According to the intelligence I have, the Iwagakure shinobi who infiltrated the Land of Fire this time are no ordinary opponents."
"Their leader is even Tsuchikage Ōnoki's favored disciple, and every subordinate he brought is a Jonin."
"How could a little kid like this possibly escape from Jonin?"
Hiruzen's face took on a thoughtful expression. Seeing the Third Hokage lost in thought, Jiuming's smile faded a little.
"Speaking of which, Jiuming, what was that Fuinjutsu you used just now?"
A glint flashed in the Third Hokage's eyes as he asked casually.
"Oh, that? Grandma Mito gave it to me before I left. She said if I ran into a powerful enemy, I should open it and throw it."
"I didn't know it would be that powerful. Sorry for the trouble."
Jiuming answered casually. Then he stopped trying to hide where he was looking and began sizing up the two Anbu behind the Third Hokage, his little face full of curiosity.
"I see. Lady Mito really is reckless. How could she give a child something with that much power?"
"But in any case, Uzumaki Kuming, congratulations. You're the only child to pass the Ninja Academy's test and reach the destination."
The Third Hokage nodded in understanding, then broke into a smile.
"The only one?" Uzumaki Kuming exclaimed in surprise. Then his face fell, and the joy he'd felt at reaching safety vanished in an instant.
"Did they all die?"
Jiuming's voice grew quiet, and his heart grew heavy.
"Not exactly. Quite a few students got lost not long after leaving the village, and many were brought back by Chunin."
"Only one team of five students was killed. Most of the others were sent back."
"But you don't need to worry about any of that now. You've already passed the school's test."
"The students who were sent back will have to take a makeup test, but you can report to the school in seven days."
"I'll have one of the teachers explain the enrollment details to your older sister."
Seeing that Jiuming was safe and sound lifted the Third Hokage's spirits. After all, Uzumaki Kuming had been raised by Uzumaki Mito herself. Given his status, Jiuming could be considered one of Konoha's upper-class children. As Hokage, Hiruzen naturally cared a little more about children from those prominent families.
"So they were sent back."
Uzumaki Kuming nodded. He wasn't close to those children, but they had all left the same village, and they were children. No matter who they were, killing children was unforgivable.
"Jingxin, take the boy to the Medical Corps to get treated."
"Rest at the camp for a day. Tomorrow, come back to the village with me."
The Third Hokage patted the black-haired Anbu beside him as he spoke.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Jiuming smiled happily, then went with Uchiha Seishin to the camp's Medical Corps for treatment. After Uchiha Seishin and Uzumaki Kuming had left, the Third Hokage said:
"Sakumo, what do you think of that boy?"
"How does he compare to Kushina?"
The Third Hokage pulled a pipe from who knew where, lit the tobacco, and took a drag. Smoke rose, concealing his expression.
"An extraordinary talent. He's young, but careful and shrewd, and he has a remarkable gift for ninjutsu. He can already use a Shadow Clone at such a young age."
"That Fuinjutsu that caused all that damage must have been intended to cover his retreat. Something like that just happened, and he appeared here immediately afterward. He must have been nearby."
"Bold and perceptive. In terms of talent alone, he surpasses Kushina by quite a bit."
Hatake Sakumo watched Jiuming heading off with Uchiha Seishin in the distance as he spoke.
"Yes, an extraordinary talent."
"He's just so young. I wonder whether he'll..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a long drag of his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke. He watched Jiuming's departing figure, lost in thought.
"You're Uzumaki Kuming, right? Why did you lie just now?"
On the way to the Medical Corps, Uchiha Seishin asked him.
"Lie? I didn't. That wasn't me. Don't make things up."
Jiuming hesitated for a moment, then immediately denied it, putting on an innocent expression.
"Oh? Is that so?"
"I'm from the Uchiha Clan. No technique can hide anything from these eyes of mine."
"More importantly, I can see the nature of Chakra through these eyes. I don't mean the kind of nature you're thinking of. I mean the unique Chakra nature that differs from person to person."
"Do you understand what I mean, Fuinjutsu boy?"
Uchiha Seishin emphasized the words "Fuinjutsu boy," and his words made Jiuming realize that he'd seen through his lie.
"I should say, the Uchiha Clan really lives up to its name."
"But before I answer your question, I have one of my own."
"Tell me, if the Uchiha Clan had a five-year-old boy who'd awakened the three-Tomoe Sharingan, would you tell the Third Hokage?"
"My other abilities are already outstanding enough to have earned me plenty of attention. If I stand out any more, I might get something more than attention."
Uzumaki Kuming dropped his innocent act and spoke with an indifferent expression. It would be best if this man didn't tell the Third Hokage. But even if he did, it wouldn't really matter. With Mito protecting him, no one in the village could do anything to him.
The biggest problem was that he wouldn't be able to keep hiding his strength and catch people off guard. That was a serious issue. Shinobi battles were about more than strength; information mattered just as much. If people knew he was good at Fuinjutsu, they'd be on their guard. In the long run, that wouldn't be good for Jiuming.
"Such a narrow-minded way of thinking. But I can't blame you. You're still just a child, after all."
"I'll answer your question. If the Uchiha Clan produced a super-genius, I would absolutely tell Lord Hokage."
"Because that would be an important asset to the village, someone who could contribute to it!"
"I won't tell the Third Hokage about your ability. There's plenty of time. You'll see for yourself what Lord Hokage does for the village."
Uchiha Seishin replied, then stopped paying attention to Jiuming and continued leading the way. Hearing his answer, Jiuming was momentarily at a loss for words. He didn't know what he'd said to make Seishin call him narrow-minded.
Which one of us is narrow-minded, and which one is naive? An Uchiha this naive—could this guy be Kagami Uchiha?
That can't be right. I remember Kagami Uchiha died a long time ago. Even if he survived, he should be about the same age as the Third Hokage.
This guy definitely isn't that old. Judging by his voice, he can't be much older than eight.
Uzumaki Kuming muttered to himself, wondering who the man in front of him was. He hadn't guessed the man's identity exactly, but he'd figured out most of the truth about this Uchiha.
Uchiha Seishin's father was Kagami Uchiha, who had been a contemporary of the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō. Uchiha Seishin was the son of Kagami Uchiha, the man the Second Hokage had praised for not being constrained by the Uchiha Clan's way of thinking.
Uchiha Seishin had inherited his father's convictions. He was loyal to Konoha and the village, and wasn't constrained by the Uchiha Clan's way of thinking. He was one of the Third Hokage's most trusted shinobi.
They continued in silence. Before long, Jiuming arrived at the Medical Corps with Uchiha Seishin. After escorting him inside, Uchiha Seishin left.
Jiuming didn't mind that he'd gone. The medical ninja soon found him a bed in the Medical Corps dormitory, and his wounds were treated properly. After days of being wound tight, his nerves finally relaxed on the hospital bed, and he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Before you continue