Monthly Exam

That afternoon, Hui and the others began their exam right on time.

It had been a long time since Hui had used his real body to take a test, and this was his first exam.

Most of the material covered what they had studied over the past month.

Some of it was beyond the syllabus, but that posed no challenge for Hui.

But when he saw the last question, his pupils contracted slightly.

"Bonus question: Describe the Will of Fire as you understand it. (No points)"

Grandpa Third Hokage, you're pretty easy to read.

"Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will burn on."

Hui had seen that line in Chuanhe's study.

In fact, most of what was in Chuanhe's study was information he remembered and had sealed away.

Twenty-plus years was enough time for a person to forget most things.

The security measures in that study were no less effective than the genjutsu.

The only thing they lacked was a memory-sealing effect.

But Chuanhe didn't really care. It wasn't a big deal if anyone found out.

That was because he hadn't written the plot down in there.

It was just some of the Shinobi World's hidden history.

As Hui recalled the line, he also remembered a verse Chuanhe had taught him.

"Fallen petals are not heartless; they become spring mud to protect the flowers."

The sentiment behind the two lines was nearly the same.

Grandpa Third Hokage, since you want to test me, I'll give you the answer you want.

Hui thought with a touch of mischief.

When Iruka-sensei announced that the exam was over, sighs rose up around the classroom.

Hui was a little frustrated, too.

He seemed to have gotten one question wrong, even though Chuanhe didn't care at all about his grades.

As long as he was still a person, that was enough.

Some of the students had already started discussing how difficult the exam had been.

They complained that questions had gone beyond the syllabus or regretted missing a particular topic while studying.

As Hui listened to them, he thought about the question he had just realized he'd gotten wrong and felt inexplicably irritable.

At school, grades were the measure of everything, a label stuck to every student.

Even if Chuanhe didn't care, Hui couldn't avoid being caught up in that anxiety.

Just like he had once cared about the rumors going around his clan.

Night had fallen over Konohagakure, cloaking it in quiet. Only a few scattered lights dotted the dark streets.

The Hokage Building was still lit.

Iruka gently knocked on the office door, holding a thick stack of graded exam papers.

"Come in," the Third Hokage's deep voice called from inside.

Iruka opened the door and saw the Third Hokage bent over his desk, reviewing documents. The embers in his pipe flickered in the dim light.

He respectfully set the papers on the desk and said softly, "Lord Third Hokage, these are the monthly exam papers for this year's first-year Ninja Academy students."

The Third Hokage slowly looked up and took the papers.

Iruka felt a wave of emotion. Lord Third Hokage really does devote himself to Konoha. He even pays such close attention to first-year students.

Despite having so many pressing affairs to attend to, he still made a point of personally reviewing every class's results.

Iruka felt a deep respect for the Third Hokage's concern for the future.

"By the way, how has Naruto been lately?" the Third Hokage asked suddenly, his gaze tinged with concern.

At the mention of Naruto, Iruka couldn't help smiling with relief.

"He's been working hard lately. His fundamentals are still a little shaky, but he's improving quickly."

"That's good." The Third Hokage nodded, a hint of relief in his eyes.

"That boy... needs more attention."

Iruka understood the deeper meaning behind the Third Hokage's words and nodded solemnly. "I'll keep encouraging him."

When Iruka left the Hokage Building, the night breeze was cool. He took a deep breath and looked up at the stars.

It was a lovely night, and Naruto was waiting for him.

Iruka thought of the blond boy who always sat alone on the swing, and his heart softened.

I'll take Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen today!

He'd seen how hard Naruto had been working lately. This time, Naruto had even scored higher than Sasuke.

"That kid is sure to become an excellent ninja," Iruka murmured, a warm smile spreading across his face.

He quickened his pace toward the Ninja Academy.

He could already imagine Naruto's excited expression when he heard the words "Ichiraku Ramen."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked over the exam papers. Most students' answers about the Will of Fire hadn't caught his attention.

They were all as he had expected.

But when Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Naruto's answer, he furrowed his brow.

"I want to be like my senior, Obito, and start with the little things, earning everyone's recognition one step at a time. That is my Will of Fire!"

Naruto's score on this exam had already far exceeded Hiruzen Sarutobi's expectations.

Even Iruka had been delighted.

When Naruto had entered the Academy, he'd been at the bottom of the class. But after finding hope, he had studied hard these past few months.

Aside from a few questions beyond the syllabus, Naruto had answered most of them.

He'd made some mistakes, but overall, his work was at the level of a top student.

Looking at the answer, Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled the past.

Obito, Obito Uchiha.

He really had been a man who inherited the Will of Fire.

He had "died" protecting Kakashi.

And Kakashi had carried his eye, watching over the world for him.

But the Uchiha were still the Uchiha.

It seemed Hiruzen Sarutobi had been far too lenient with Naruto.

Spending time with the two Uchiha boys had affected him considerably.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered that Naruto's original dream had been to become Hokage.

Why had that dream disappeared?

The thought irritated Hiruzen Sarutobi.

All he wanted now was to see what Uchiha Hui had written.

As it happened, the next paper belonged to Uchiha Hui.

Score: 97

Hiruzen Sarutobi was already surprised by the score.

As far as he understood, Chuanhe was a despicable spy. Had he really taught his son anything?

Hiruzen Sarutobi had designed the exam himself, and it included quite a bit of material beyond the syllabus.

It covered things the Ninja Academy students couldn't possibly have learned during this period.

Even Shikamaru, whose paper he had just seen, had scored only 98.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was lost in thought again.

Everything he had done lately had been to minimize the losses. That was why he had chosen Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi really was a man who inherited the Will of Fire.

Even at that age, he could consider things from the Hokage's perspective.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi had expected, he had accepted the mission.

Casting aside the stray thoughts in his mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi began to examine Uchiha Hui's paper bit by bit.

The more he read, the more alarmed Hiruzen Sarutobi became.

Uchiha Hui approached the problems in a completely different way from everyone else.

It was almost as if... he'd seen that approach somewhere before.

After searching for the source of that feeling and coming up empty, Hiruzen Sarutobi simply continued reading.

Until he reached the final line.

"...Fallen petals are not heartless; they become spring mud to protect the flowers."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew complicated as he read it.

Hui seemed to be a true Uchiha—and a Konoha Uchiha.

He had only just entered the Ninja Academy, yet he already understood the essence of the Will of Fire.

Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will burn on.

Those words reflected Hiruzen Sarutobi's lifelong understanding, and the two lines were so alike.

At the thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a pang of reluctance.

Hui really was a promising young talent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered how Iruka had described him.

But why did he have to be a spy's child?

Even if he was a spy's child, Hiruzen Sarutobi could have endured that much.

But combined with his Uchiha identity, it was completely intolerable.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi's feelings were complicated, the sight of the paper dispelled his earlier displeasure.

Growing up alongside Hui might help Naruto learn even more.

Hui had already grasped the essence of the Will of Fire. Surely he could bring about new changes in Naruto.

It seemed that Chuanhe had hidden himself well.

Could even his bond with his own child be a way to conceal himself?

Hiruzen Sarutobi really had no reason to hesitate. Someone as dangerous as that should have been killed by Danzo back then.

He had been far too merciful.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Hui's paper for a long time, lost in thought.

Once again, Hiruzen Sarutobi thought of Shisui. He really had wronged Shisui.

But there had been no other choice. People's hearts couldn't withstand a test.

If Shisui had told him about Kotoamatsukami earlier, before Chuanhe gave Naruto the scroll...

Hiruzen Sarutobi might have made a different decision.

Only after a long while did Hiruzen Sarutobi turn to the next paper.

But none of the remaining papers would catch his attention.

Just as Hui and the others were taking their exam, Chuanhe finally received Orochimaru.

"You really are punctual. You said a month, and it's been a month."

In the workshop, Chuanhe looked at the little snake beside him, his expression unchanged.

The little snake flicked its forked red tongue and spoke in Orochimaru's distinctive voice.

"Hiss, hehe, why are you so cold, Chuanhe-kun? Our previous partnership was quite pleasant, wasn't it?"

With that, the little snake vomited a storage scroll from its belly.

Chuanhe took it and checked it in silence. Once he was sure everything was in order, he asked the snake, "Did you take care of all the people I told you about a year ago?"

"Chuanhe-kun really does like children. Which one do you like? Pick whoever you want."

Chuanhe heard how easily those words could be misunderstood, but he didn't get angry. He simply said, "You rescued them, so you raise them."

The little snake opposite him didn't seem offended. If anything, it looked quite pleased.

"Hehe, where did you get all that information, Chuanhe-kun? It's not easy to find so many gifted children."

Chuanhe didn't answer. Instead, he brought up something else.

"Orochimaru, I'm no longer sure which day the war will begin. But this time, you have the perfect opportunity to kill your teacher."

"I think leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi's fate in your hands is the best outcome."

Though it was only a little snake, its pupils clearly contracted.

"You know quite a lot, Chuanhe-kun. You wouldn't happen to know about that jutsu, too?"

Chuanhe waved a hand and replied calmly, "Impure World Reincarnation. Of course I know about it."

At that, the little snake looked at Chuanhe with amusement in its eyes.

"Hehe, could it be that the Soul Sealing Technique you developed failed?"

Chuanhe smiled at the troublesome snake, his expression as gentle as a spring breeze.

"Of course it worked!"

"Haha, Chuanhe-kun really is just like me. What are the conditions? Killing Teacher Hiruzen? Impure World Reincarnation?"

"Knowing you, Chuanhe-kun, I doubt that would be enough."

Chuanhe didn't reply. Instead, he looked out the window.

He didn't hate Orochimaru.

His research had left him deeply lonely for a long time.

Yuki couldn't understand what he was researching at all. She simply supported him without question.

Hui was still only skimming the surface of power.

Only Orochimaru, like him, was truly seeking the truth of this world.

Chuanhe's loneliness was a higher form of loneliness—he had no kindred spirits.

Orochimaru had gone too far down the wrong path.

The Ōtsutsuki Clan couldn't even understand their own power. They were a lost supercivilization.

Knowledge he couldn't understand would eventually turn against him.

"Orochimaru, if I said this was enough, would you believe me?"

"Of course not."

"But this time, it really is enough."