The Uchiha Clan's Blind Swordsman

A ninja clad in Anbu attire, wearing a cat-faced mask, suddenly appeared before Sarutobi Hiruzen and knelt on one knee.

"Lord Hokage!"

"Speak!"

"It concerns the Uchiha clan..."

The Anbu ninja's words caused Sarutobi Hiruzen's brows to gradually furrow.

Asuma was defeated by that blind Uchiha?

Moreover, it seemed effortless; Asuma had absolutely no room to fight back.

Although Asuma was unruly, he was, after all, a Chunin who had passed his own certification.

In terms of strength, Asuma met the minimum standards required to be a Chunin.

Sarutobi Hiruzen would never open a backdoor for Asuma in this regard.

The faster one became a Chunin, the sooner one would be sent to the front lines.

This was not a good thing for Asuma.

Because, as a Genin, even if one went to the battlefield, it was merely to perform odd jobs.

Yet, such an Asuma had been crushed by Uchiha Chiba in a single exchange.

This could only mean one thing.

The opponent's strength was far above Asuma's.

"I understand. You may withdraw!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand.

The Anbu ninja vanished instantly.

Regarding Uchiha Chiba, that blind Uchiha, Sarutobi Hiruzen had never paid him any mind.

Because an Uchiha without a Sharingan was simply not worth fearing.

Furthermore, Chiba's birth had originally been nothing more than a tool for Sarutobi Hiruzen to keep the Uchiha clan on edge.

The Senju clan had declined.

The Uchiha were now Konoha's largest clan.

Giving them a knock and a warning when necessary was the right thing to do.

It just so happened that Chiba was born at the right time.

Making an issue out of a blind Uchiha was, for Sarutobi Hiruzen, merely a matter of convenience.

However, it appeared now that this blind member of the Uchiha clan was not so simple.

Thinking this, Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe and took a deep drag.

After a moment of hesitation, he pulled a sheet of paper from his desk.

He wrote down the name Uchiha Chiba, then wrote "Sharingan" next to it, and placed a question mark beside it.

"What is your take... on this matter?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke suddenly, as if talking to himself.

Yet, his words received a response.

"The Sharingan is everything to the Uchiha. With the awakening of the Sharingan, the strength of the Uchiha clan leaps forward; this is inevitable!"

Walking in from the doorway was a man with his right eye wrapped in bandages.

One of Konoha's high-ranking officials, and also the darkness of Konoha: Danzo.

If the Anbu received the news, his Root would not be left in the dark.

Compared to the Anbu, the Root kept a much closer watch on the Uchiha.

Danzo arrived at Sarutobi Hiruzen's side and spoke calmly.

"The growth rate of this person named Uchiha Chiba is far too abnormal."

Although there had been precedents before, such as Kakashi becoming a Chunin at the age of six, Kakashi had, after all, undergone training at the Ninja Academy.

But the more important reason was that Uchiha Chiba was blind.

For that reason alone, unless he possessed talent more than ten times that of Kakashi, it would be impossible to achieve all of this.

This abnormal growth rate is already worthy of attention.

Especially regarding the Uchiha clan.

Hearing Danzo's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe and exhaled slowly.

"Is it still because of... the Sharingan?"

Danzo nodded.

"Inevitably!"

"He was born blind, which leaves two possibilities!"

"First, it is a congenital defect, a physiological deficiency; however, it seems very unlikely now."

"The second possibility is that his Sharingan awakened while he was still in his mother's womb, but his young body could not withstand such powerful ocular power, leading to blindness."

"Whether this blindness is permanent or temporary is unknown; after all, the Sharingan still holds many unsolved mysteries."

"If this is the case, his abnormal growth rate can be explained."

That's right, it is still because of the Sharingan.

Once the Sharingan is awakened.

What the Uchiha clan gains is far more than just powerful dynamic vision.

Their speed, strength, chakra... everything will be enhanced.

It is something every ninja dreams of.

"I can begin to look into it."

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand.

"He is still just a child, a tender child!"

"Even as a member of the Uchiha clan, he can still be molded!"

"He needs proper guidance!"

Hearing this, Danzo remained silent.

Compared to Uchiha Chiba, he preferred Itachi Uchiha.

Uchiha Chiba had indeed displayed extraordinary talent, but... his flaws were also fatal.

With his eyes unable to see, no matter how high his talent was, Danzo's interest was more than halved.

Itachi Uchiha's talent and Sharingan were both visible and tangible.

More importantly, he was the son of the Uchiha clan head.

By holding onto Itachi Uchiha, it was highly likely that he would hold the future of the Uchiha clan.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had his own considerations regarding what Danzo was planning.

Although both were high-ranking officials of Konoha, they could never be of one mind.

Sarutobi Hiruzen would utilize Danzo, but he would also guard against him.

This is politics.

There are no permanent friends, and there are no permanent enemies.

At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned an Anbu operative.

"Lord Hokage, what are your orders?"

"Go tell Asuma that he is forbidden from causing trouble for Uchiha Chiba... To actually lose to a child who hasn't even entered the academy yet is simply disgraceful!"

"Yes!"

Receiving the order, the Anbu operative quickly vanished from sight.

Danzo also quietly took his leave.

Sarutobi Hiruzen tidied the documents on his desk, took a deep breath, and slowly stood up.

He put away his pipe and adjusted his appearance.

When he pushed open the door and walked out of the Hokage's office.

The sternness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a kind and benevolent expression.

It was a world of difference from how he had been inside the office.

Because the ones he was about to face were a group of children who knew nothing, as pure as blank paper.

The entrance ceremony.

Every year, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Hokage, would inevitably attend.

It was a necessary process for imparting the [Will of Fire].

To prevent the emergence of traitors to Konoha, this was a necessary brainwashing process.

If they are geniuses, they must be Konoha's geniuses.

Without exception.

The Ninja Academy was destined to be bustling today.

Ever since the Second Hokage founded the Ninja Academy and achieved significant results, the number of children enrolling each year had been steadily increasing.

This trend was set to continue.

War is the catalyst that drives the development of ninjas, while times of peace serve as the perfect opportunity to accumulate their numbers.

Only by passing the Ninja Academy's certification could one be registered as an official ninja of Konoha.

Precisely because of this, no matter how talented you were, if you wanted to become a ninja, the Ninja Academy was a place you had to attend.

However, because this was a time of war, the duration of schooling would be significantly shortened compared to times of peace.

Situations like the era of Naruto and Sasuke, where students enrolled at six and didn't graduate until twelve, were simply impossible in this age.

The cycle was far too long.

The replenishment of ninja numbers simply could not keep up with the attrition of war.