The Only Child to Reach the Finish Line!

"The one with black hair must be that Uchiha who just took out my shadow clone, and if I'm not mistaken, the white-haired one should be Hatake Sakumo, Kakashi Hatake's father."

Uzumaki Kuming quickly crossed the large crater in the ground and arrived before the Third Hokage, flashing what he considered an innocent smile while observing the two Anbu behind the Third Hokage out of the corner of his eye.

"Uzumaki Kuming, are you unaware that this is the final destination of the examination?"

"Why bring such dangerous things to test the waters?"

"It is fortunate that you encountered my most elite subordinates; otherwise, that move of yours could have cost a life, do you understand?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a stern expression as he admonished him.

"Sorry, sorry~"

"I was attacked by someone on the way and barely managed to escape. I was afraid this place had already been occupied by the enemy, which is why I sent a shadow clone to scout."

Kuming scratched his head and said cautiously, though there was no trace of guilt on his face.

"Encountered an attack? And escaped?"

Hearing Uzumaki Kuming's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a jolt of surprise, and the two Anbu behind him exchanged glances, looking at Kuming with astonishment. Hiruzen Sarutobi had originally assumed Kuming arrived at the destination smoothly due to good luck and not encountering any enemies, but he hadn't expected Kuming to have actually encountered them and survived.

"According to the intelligence I have, the Iwagakure ninjas who infiltrated the Land of Fire this time are no mere rabble."

"The one leading them is even a prized disciple of the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, and the subordinates he brought are all jonin-level ninjas."

"How could such a small child possibly escape from the hands of a jonin?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a thoughtful expression, and seeing the Third Hokage lost in thought, Kuming's smile faded slightly.

"Speaking of which, Kuming, what was that sealing jutsu you used just now?"

A sharp glint flashed in the Third Hokage's eyes as he asked casually.

"Oh, that? Grandma Mito gave it to me before I left, saying that if I encountered a strong enemy, I could just open it and throw it."

"I didn't know the power would be this great. Sorry for causing you trouble~"

Kuming said nonchalantly, then stopped avoiding their gazes and began to size up the two Anbu behind the Third Hokage, his small face filled with curiosity.

"I see. Lady Mito is truly reckless; how could she just give such a powerful item to a child?"

"But having said that, Uzumaki Kuming, congratulations. You are the only child who successfully completed the ninja academy exam and reached the destination."

The Third Hokage looked enlightened, and a smile spread across his face.

"The only one?" Uzumaki Kuming asked in surprise at the Third Hokage's words, his face then turning sorrowful. The happiness he felt upon entering the safe zone vanished in an instant.

"Are they all dead?"

Kuming's voice was low, and his mood felt heavy.

"That's not the case. Many students actually got lost not long after leaving the village, and many were brought back by chunin."

"Only one squad of five students was killed; most of the others were just repatriated."

"But you don't need to worry about these things. You have already passed the school's test anyway."

"The other repatriated students will need to take a make-up exam, but you can report to the school in seven days."

"I will have the school teachers inform your sister about the specific enrollment details."

Seeing that Kuming was safe and sound, the Third Hokage's mood improved significantly. After all, Uzumaki Kuming had been raised by Uzumaki Mito, and in terms of status, Kuming could be considered a child of Konoha's upper echelon. As Hokage, he naturally felt a higher degree of concern for these children of the elite.

"So they were repatriated."

Uzumaki Kuming nodded. Although he didn't have any emotional attachment to those children, they were, after all, people from the same village, and they were just children. Regardless of who the other party was, killing children was ultimately unforgivable.

"Seishin, take this child to get his wounds treated."

"Rest in the camp for a day, and tomorrow you will return to the village with me."

The Third Hokage patted the black-haired Anbu beside him and said.

"Yes, Lord Hokage~"

Kuming smiled happily, then went with Uchiha Seishin to the camp's Medical Corps to receive treatment. After Uchiha Seishin and Uzumaki Kuming left, the Third Hokage said:

"Sakumo, what do you think about that child?"

"How does he compare to Kushina?"

The Third Hokage pulled out a pipe from somewhere, lit the tobacco, and began to smoke. The rising smoke obscured his expression.

"Exceptional talent. Although he is young, his mind is meticulous, and his aptitude for ninjutsu is also outstanding. To be able to use a shadow clone at such a young age..."

"That sealing jutsu that caused this level of destruction must have been for covering his retreat. He appeared here just after such an incident occurred, nearby."

"He is bold and careful. In terms of talent alone, he should surpass Kushina by a wide margin."

Hatake Sakumo looked into the distance at Kuming, who was leaving with Uchiha Seishin, and said.

"Indeed, exceptional talent."

"It's just that he is too young. I wonder if, for Konoha..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a heavy drag of his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke, watching Kuming's departing back while wondering what he was thinking.

"Your name is Uzumaki Kuming, right? Why did you lie just now?"

On the way to the Medical Corps, Uchiha Seishin asked.

"Lie? I didn't. It wasn't me, don't go spouting nonsense."

Kuming hesitated for a moment before immediately denying it, his face wearing an expression of pure innocence.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"I am of the Uchiha clan. Before these eyes of mine, no technique has any secrets to speak of."

"Of course, the main point is that through these eyes, I can discern the nature of chakra. I don't mean the elemental nature you're thinking of; I'm talking about the unique chakra signature that differs for every individual."

"Do you understand what I mean, sealing jutsu boy?"

Uchiha Seishin emphasized the words "sealing jutsu," and his statement made it clear to Kuming that the lie he had just told had indeed been seen through by the man before him.

"Should I say, as expected of the Uchiha clan?"

"However, before I answer your question, I also have one I would like to ask you."

"Tell me, if there were a five-year-old boy in your Uchiha clan who awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, would you tell the Third Hokage?"

"My other abilities are already outstanding enough that I have received sufficient attention. If I were to stand out any further, what I might receive would be more than just attention."

Uzumaki Kuming put away his innocent facade, his expression turning indifferent. It would be best if this person didn't report the matter to the Third Hokage, though telling him wouldn't actually have much of an impact; under the protection of Mito, no one in the village could do anything to him.

The biggest issue was that he wouldn't be able to play the pig to eat the tiger in the future, which was indeed a major problem. After all, ninja battles are a contest of strength as well as intelligence. If others knew his sealing jutsu was quite good, they would take precautions in advance. In the long run, this was not very favorable for Kuming.

"Is your thinking really so narrow? But I can't blame you, after all, you are still just a child."

"I will answer your previous question: if a super genius appeared in the Uchiha clan, I would absolutely tell the Hokage."

"Because this is an important strength for the village, capable of providing a share of assistance to the village!"

"I will not tell the Third about your affairs. There is plenty of time; you will see with your own eyes the efforts the Hokage makes for the village."

Uchiha Seishin said, then stopped paying attention to Kuming and continued to lead the way on his own. Kuming was left speechless for a moment after hearing the other's words; he didn't know what he had said wrong for the man to call him narrow-minded.

Is it me who is narrow-minded, or are you just naive? Such a naive Uchiha—could this guy be named Kagami Uchiha?

That shouldn't be right. I remember Kagami Uchiha died a long time ago. Even if he had survived, he should be about the same age as the Third Hokage.

The guy in front of me is definitely not old; judging by his voice, he's only about twenty-eight.

Uzumaki Kuming muttered to himself, guessing the identity of the man before him. Although Kuming didn't guess it entirely correctly, he had figured out most of the identity of this Uchiha clan member.

Uchiha Seishin's father was a man from the same era as the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō—Kagami Uchiha. Uchiha Seishin was the son of Kagami Uchiha, the man praised by the Second Hokage for not being limited by the clan-centric ideology.

Uchiha Seishin had inherited his father's will, remaining loyal to Konoha and the village, unrestricted by clan-first mentalities, and was one of the Third Hokage's most trusted confidants.

The rest of the journey was silent. Before long, Kuming followed Uchiha Seishin to the Medical Corps, and after delivering Kuming there, Uchiha Seishin departed.

Kuming didn't mind the man's departure. Soon, under the arrangements of the medical ninjas, he was settled into a dormitory in the Medical Corps, and his wounds were properly treated. The nerves Kuming had been straining for days finally relaxed on the hospital bed, and he quickly drifted into a deep sleep.