Early Graduation

Inside the Hokage Building in Konoha, within a fully sealed conference room.

Early in the morning, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Uchiha Itachi, along with the two Hokage advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

Naturally, he had also sent word for Danzo.

However, the man had yet to show his face.

Assuming Danzo was busy transplanting Shisui's eyes, Sarutobi Hiruzen decided not to wait, intending to seek him out later to clarify the sequence of events.

As for the topic of this discussion, it was, naturally, the death of Uchiha Shisui.

"Regarding Shisui, I feel deeply sorry. It was I who placed too much pressure on that child, which led him to choose the path of suicide for the sake of the village, to prevent a civil war in Konoha."

Right from the start, Sarutobi Hiruzen placed a high-minded label on Uchiha Shisui, wearing an expression of profound grief.

This moved Uchiha Itachi deeply; he knelt on one knee, bowed his head, and said, "Hokage-sama, you are too kind."

"Shisui was the core figure in the hearts of the young Uchiha. Because of his suicide, the combat strength and morale of the Uchiha clan have plummeted. This was Shisui's own choice."

"In terms of results, it has stifled the buds of rebellion." Utatane Koharu narrowed her eyes, then suddenly shifted the tone: "However, word has come from Danzo. He says that some within the Uchiha clan now suspect that you killed Shisui to steal his eyes."

"Danzo." Uchiha Itachi clenched his fists, suppressing the rage in his heart, and explained: "Both Shisui and I were thinking of the interests and future of the Uchiha clan. Those are merely the groundless suspicions of people with ulterior motives."

As he spoke, Uchiha Itachi's voice grew heavier: "Shisui never even appeared at the agreed-upon location."

Seeing the fury rising in Uchiha Itachi, the situation threatened to spiral out of control.

Knowing the truth about Shisui's death, Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly changed the subject: "On this point, I have no doubt. Like Shisui, Itachi is an inheritor of the Will of Fire."

"Just as Itachi said, those are merely the groundless suspicions of people with ulterior motives."

"Itachi, you may go now."

"The village will never forget everything Shisui did."

"Now that Shisui is gone, we must rely on you regarding the Uchiha side."

"I am deeply grateful." Uchiha Itachi responded respectfully before rising to leave.

Watching Uchiha Itachi's retreating figure, Utatane Koharu said with some dissatisfaction: "Hiruzen, why did you speak up for Uchiha Itachi? He is highly suspicious regarding Shisui's death."

Mitokado Homura chimed in: "Koharu is right. Uchiha Itachi is no longer trustworthy."

"The village has finally stabilized; we still need Itachi to look after the Uchiha clan, so it is not the time to stir up conflict." Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth twitched violently. He could hardly tell them that Shisui's death was a scheme he had orchestrated and let Danzo carry out.

"That doesn't mean we should let Uchiha Itachi act on his own," Utatane Koharu countered.

Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a moment and said: "I understand. I will send someone else to monitor the Uchiha clan."

"You already have a candidate?" Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu both looked surprised.

"Yes, it is the Fujiwara child, Fujiwara Chiya. Because he saved Uchiha Izumi, who is his age, during the Nine-Tails incident, the two have grown very close. Over the past six years, he has been able to enter and exit the Uchiha clan frequently. If he takes over Shisui's work to monitor the situation, it will not arouse anyone's suspicion."

Sarutobi Hiruzen clapped his hands, and someone outside immediately delivered the file on Fujiwara Chiya.

The two advisors looked it over, and Utatane Koharu realized: "This child has a clean background and good ideological awareness; he is indeed a good choice. But he hasn't graduated from the Ninja Academy yet, has he?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen said: "You can rest assured about that. The child has a solid foundation; his strength has already reached the level of graduation, and he has never slacked in his training. He is simply low-key. With a little cultivation, his future is promising."

Hearing this, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances, noncommittal. "Then let him graduate early. There is no point in him staying in the Academy for another year anyway. But who do you intend to have as his team leader?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen thought for a moment and said: "Let Kurenai take him. Kurenai doesn't have any missions lately. We will select two other genin who failed the Chunin Exams last year to form a team with Kurenai and Chiya."

"Let them test Chiya's actual strength, and after some training, once he meets the minimum standards for the Anbu, we will recruit him into the Anbu to act as an undercover agent monitoring the Uchiha."

"Graduation?" Chiya looked at his Chunin teacher with some surprise.

The Chunin teacher smiled: "Yes, Chiya. You have mastered the Clone Jutsu, and you are excellent in all other aspects. I am proud of you. Congratulations on your graduation."

"Graduation is fine, but didn't this school year just start?" Chiya asked with a lazy, suspicious look in his eyes.

The Chunin teacher gave a sheepish smile: "Nothing gets past you. In truth, this was a direct order from the Hokage himself."

"The Hokage?" Hearing this, Chiya put on an act, suddenly brimming with motivation.

Seeing this, the teacher's smile deepened as he patted Chiya on the shoulder: "Yes, the Hokage. He has been watching your growth from the shadows."

"Really?" Chiya asked with an exaggerated tone.

"Of course it's true. Why would I lie? This is your headband, along with your ninja tool pouch and kunai holster. The Hokage has high expectations for you; the latter two are gifts from him." As he spoke, he handed over a ninja headband, a tool pouch, and a kunai holster.

"I will never let the Hokage down. I will contribute my own strength to Konoha." Chiya deliberately displayed an expression of extreme admiration.

The Chunin teacher smiled: "Keep it up."

Afterward, the teacher announced Chiya's early graduation in front of the entire class.

The students had no objections; aside from the freakish Uchiha Itachi from a year prior, Chiya was the most outstanding student of this cohort.

And today would be Chiya's final day at school.

That evening, Uchiha Izumi celebrated Chiya's promotion to genin.

The next morning, he equipped his tool pouch and kunai holster, took out Kyōka Suigetsu, and strapped it to his waist.

Following his teacher's instructions, he arrived at an empty classroom in the Ninja Academy to meet his teammates and team leader.

By the time Chiya reached the classroom, both teammates had already arrived.

One of his teammates was a blonde girl with twin tails named Akizuki Airi. She had the face of a loli—extremely fair and youthful—but possessed a hot figure that was completely out of sync with her age.

She was the definition of a child-faced bombshell.