Entering the Ninja Academy

After waiting for an hour, during which Uchiha Zhuang sat at a tea stall and snacked on quite a few treats, the two finally arrived. He handed each of them a skewer of colorful dango and said, "Let's go!" The three of them then headed toward the forest above the Konoha rock face.

After walking for over an hour—a journey that was a mere stroll for Uchiha Zhuang but left the two children panting and exhausted—they reached their destination. Uchiha Zhuang pulled out a stack of paper talismans—yes, the very kind used during major events or prayer ceremonies in the ninja world. He took out a brush, wrote "Uchiha Zhuang" on one, and handed the brush to the two children, who then clumsily scribbled their own names. "Alright, from now on, you two are my underlings, and I am your big brother. Once this paper is burned, the oath will take effect. The gods will watch over us; whoever breaks this oath will never achieve their dreams and will remain destitute for the rest of their lives." Uchiha Zhuang stated this mercifully, even going so far as to say it lacked binding power, because he knew that oaths cannot truly bind people, nor can the gods. Only the things one holds most dear can do that. And for those two, their most precious things were likely those two dreams of theirs. With that said, he used Fire Style: Lighter Jutsu to burn the stack of talismans, the ashes swirling into the high sky with the autumn wind until they vanished from sight. "Now, I will explain the rules you must follow as my underlings. First, once you call me Big Brother, I am your Big Brother for life. You must not plot against me just because you become powerful or invent something great later on. If you do, I will teach you a lesson. Second, if you encounter or recruit talented prospects, find good items, or discover rare pets, you must think of your Big Brother first and let me choose. After all, being a Big Brother isn't easy; leading you toward your dreams is exhausting work! So, you must be grateful and repay my kindness! Third, any tasks or orders I give you in the future must be carried out, provided they don't conflict with your dreams. Everything must start from my perspective. Do you understand?" The two, completely bewildered by his circular logic, knew only that they had to listen to their Big Brother, so they nodded vigorously and shouted, "Hai!"

Once that was settled, Uchiha Zhuang immediately put them through training on the spot. He first had them run back and forth along the side of the cliff, followed by push-ups, sit-ups, planks, and other pure physical conditioning. The two underlings were simple-minded; even though they were swaying with exhaustion, they insisted on completing every training exercise Uchiha Zhuang improvised on the fly. Seeing the two stumbling over, collapsing to the ground, and gasping for air while drenched in sweat, Uchiha Zhuang thoughtfully used Water Style: Water Kettle Jutsu, continuously sprinkling water over them to cool them down. After they calmed down, the two asked the crucial question: could such grueling physical training actually teach them ninjutsu? Facing their confusion, Uchiha Zhuang said slowly, "Of course, doing this won't teach you ninjutsu!" "Nani!?" Uchiha Zhuang laughed heartily and continued, "Do you know about trees? For a sapling to grow into a towering tree, it needs time, sunlight, fertilizer, soil, and a safe environment. It's the same for a ninja. If you want to grow from a child who knows nothing into an outstanding ninja capable of standing on your own, you need to grow slowly and accumulate strength, just like a tree. You can't get fat in one bite, understand?" "Hai!" The two felt invigorated and resumed their physical training. By dusk, Uchiha Zhuang said leisurely, "Your Big Brother isn't cultured, and I don't like to talk much, but I will accompany you in training for a month. After that, I'm off to the Ninja Academy. From then on, you must follow the training plan I've designed for you. I'll draft it for you later. No slacking off. Come to my house once a week so I can check your progress. Don't be lazy." The two were overjoyed, quickly praising their Big Brother for being mighty and the best!

Returning to the clan compound, he told Genmu that he had taken on two underlings and that he wanted them to visit once a week, asking the gate guards to register them when they arrived. Genmu said that was no problem. It was a warm night; after dinner, while Genmu was watching television, Uchiha Zhuang handed him a bean. Genmu looked at the ordinary-looking green bean, staring at Uchiha Zhuang with curiosity. Uchiha Zhuang said calmly, "This was a gift from the Mountain God. The Mountain God said that mortals who eat this can heal wounds and recover stamina. This is a God Bean. He gave me two, and I'm giving you one, hoping it provides some security for your future missions." "You brat, I won't be sentimental with you; a gift from a god is no small thing. Meiko and I have helped you hide your circumstances, so I hope you don't go around talking about it. Keep a low profile, understand?" "Genmu, you guy, you take something so precious and instead of saying thanks, you lecture me? Are you itching for a beating?" Uchiha Zhuang, lacking any sense of hierarchy, tested the limits of his own survival. Thump. Uchiha Zhuang received a lesson of love to the head. Meiko watched from behind, "You have no respect for your elders. You're going to school in a month, so please, just be at peace. Don't think about skipping grades. I know you can't stand a life of comfort, but I don't want you facing life-and-death dangers every moment. You are growing too fast. If you keep growing at this rate, you might graduate early. The Land of Fire is currently surrounded by constant warfare, and the ninja world is not at peace. A ninja's life is like wild grass by the roadside; it can be snuffed out at any moment. We just want you to grow up in comfort and enjoy a peaceful life." "But I don't want to be mediocre! If war comes, I will quell it; if the ninja world is in chaos, I will conquer it; if some ugly daimyo defecates on the heads of the commoners, I will go and chop them down! I was born to pacify this chaotic world! I told you, I am the Chosen One!" The two looked at each other, and Genmu said, "Dazhuang, we know..." "No, you don't! How many times do I have to say it! I am the Chosen One, I am the only one! Stop bothering me!" After shouting with a flushed face, Uchiha Zhuang ran into his room, and with a thud, the door slammed into the frame. In the living room, there was silence. Genmu held Meiko's hand tightly. Meiko's eyes were red, and she choked out, "He's only five years old! At such a young age, other children are helping their parents buy groceries or soy sauce. Why does he have to go to places of war? Why can't he stay by his mother's side and study properly? Can't he be a doctor or a clerk in the future?" Genmu opened his mouth, but couldn't speak for a long time. Watching Meiko's sorrowful tears fall like broken beads, it finally turned into a long, heavy sigh.

Slumped on the floor, Uchiha Zhuang stared blankly at the ceiling, as if trying to find something hidden within it. What had just come over him? Why did he suddenly lose his temper like that? He was already in his thirties, yet he was acting like a child. Had he hit puberty?! That was way too early! Hey! He was only five! Could it be that he couldn't be measured by normal age because of his transmigrator constitution? Having inexplicably lashed out at Genmu and Meiko, Uchiha Zhuang felt deeply guilty!