Ruohuo had a strange dream that night.
It was strange because
he usually dreamed of punching Hashirama and kicking Madara, but tonight he ran into a few "new faces."
Kisame.
For some reason, Kisame was hell-bent on fighting him for ownership of Samehada.
And so they started fighting.
Kisame opened with Great Dam Water Smash, backed up by Water Shark Bullet. His attack was fierce.
Ruohuo copied him on the spot, whipping up a Great Dam Card Smash and a whole pack of flaming sharks.
Then the strange part of the dream began.
The Third Raikage appeared out of nowhere and shouted, "Don't get cocky!" He immediately activated Lightning Style Chakra Mode and opened with One-Finger Nukite, shooting toward them with a "whoosh."
Ruohuo was even more brazen. He activated Fire Style Chakra Mode on the spot, turning into a little fireball, and went head-to-head with the Third Raikage!
The fight was earth-shattering, world-ending, and all kinds of bizarre...
In the end, he won by a hair and had the last laugh.
But then Mei Terumi and Kurenai Yuhi appeared.
"Only one of us can live. Pick one."
"..."
That was where the dream ended.
Ruohuo opened his eyes, and dawn was already breaking.
Obito was still sleeping soundly, but Grandmother had gotten up early and was already making breakfast.
After washing up, Ruohuo ran downstairs and chopped wood with the Hatake Sword Technique, getting his training and chores done at the same time.
By the time Obito got out of bed, drawn by the smell of breakfast, Ruohuo was already sweating.
"Go find little Shisui today and make up your lessons. You can also practice the jutsu you learned from the clan head yesterday."
Even though the weekend officially started today,
Ruohuo wasn't planning to visit Fugaku again for the time being.
As for Sharingan Genjutsu and the like, he only had one tomoe right now. There was no point in wasting chakra on it.
"Okay, big bro!" Obito asked, "Aren't you coming with me?"
"I have to go to the Hokage Office Building and submit my graduation application." Ruohuo looked at Grandmother. "Once I become a ninja, I can take missions and earn money. Then I'll get you a bigger house."
"As long as you're safe, that's all that matters. What do we need a bigger house for..."
Grandmother's reply was calm, but her concern came through loud and clear.
Ruohuo smiled, hurriedly finished breakfast, and headed out.
He jogged the whole way, taking more than twenty minutes to reach the Hokage Office Building from the distant Uchiha Clan Grounds.
If he wanted to learn ninjutsu, he should go to the Hokage. Nothing wrong with that.
It was true that Konoha had rules requiring people to make contributions before they could obtain ninjutsu.
But don't forget: in Konoha right now, the final say belonged to the Third.
There was no way the Third would miss the little trick Fugaku had pulled with the graduation application.
Ruohuo had every reason to believe the Third would make the same choice, only with a more sophisticated approach.
Two Konoha Ninja stood guard at the front entrance of the Hokage Office Building, standing ramrod straight.
There were definitely Anbu on duty out of sight, too.
This was the safest place in Konoha. There was no way he could just force his way in.
So Ruohuo... strode right over.
Come on, he was still under newbie protection.
"Hey! Uchiha brat! What are you doing?"
The two guards paid no attention to this so-called newbie protection period and blocked Ruohuo from entering.
"I'm here to see Grandpa Hokage," Ruohuo said seriously. "I have something to discuss."
"Lord Hokage isn't someone you can just see whenever you want... Hurry up and leave. If you have a problem, go talk to your clan head."
That didn't sound unreasonable, if you ignored their impatient tone and the disdainful looks they were giving him...
So the Uchiha's reputation had really been smashed to pieces, huh?
Even the kids were getting caught in the crossfire?
Ruohuo was about to argue, but before he could open his mouth, he saw someone passing by.
The man had long, straight black hair, wore a robe and wooden sandals, and had the pale eyes and smooth forehead that confirmed his identity.
Hyuga.
A Hyuga with no Caged Bird Seal, and still so young.
That could only be Hyuga Hiashi.
Hyuga Hiashi paid Ruohuo no attention at the entrance. He didn't even spare him a glance as he walked straight inside.
He was even colder than the Uchiha. Ridiculous.
The two guards even bowed to him!
"Why can he go in?" Ruohuo asked.
"That lord is the head of the Hyuga Clan. Of course he can go in, brat," the guard on the left replied.
"Go get your clan head to bring you here, and I'll let you through right away."
His tone was just as impatient and contemptuous as before, but he hadn't said anything especially out of line.
Ruohuo thought for a moment, then took out his graduation application, unfolded it, and pointed to the signature.
"Does the signature count if he's not here? It's got the Konoha Military Police Force's official seal, too."
Maybe there was some sort of regulation.
When the two guards saw the official document and the seal, they exchanged glances, and the one on the right nodded.
"Let me see it."
"Here." Ruohuo handed it over.
"A graduation application?" The guard frowned, then looked at Ruohuo with even more impatience.
"Yep." Ruohuo pretended not to notice. "I'm here to ask Grandpa Hokage to approve my graduation."
"Go on, get out of here. Who cares what you came for? If you want to apply for graduation, go talk to your teacher. If you want to see Lord Hokage, get your clan head to come here!"
The guard threw the application at Ruohuo.
"You're this little and you want to graduate? Is there something wrong with all you Uchiha?"
After that,
if Ruohuo didn't do something, he really would be the rude one.
So you're not giving the newbie protection period any respect, huh?
Then just wait a moment!
Ruohuo silently picked up the application from the ground, carefully folded it, and put it back in his pocket.
Under the two guards' disdainful, smug stares, Ruohuo walked away, looking "dejected."
But after taking only a few steps, he stopped abruptly, then spun around!
"I knew there was something wrong with you two!"
Ruohuo shouted, "Grandpa Hokage is so kind and amiable! There's no way he'd let two bastards like you guard the door!"
"Tell me! Did you kidnap Grandpa Hokage?"
Ruohuo's voice rang out, reaching the Hokage's office right away.
And at that moment, there were quite a few people in the office.
They all heard the childish voice, brimming with anger, from downstairs. They exchanged glances, finding it a little amusing.
"What's going on..."
The Third was about to turn around and look. He didn't even need a Crystal Ball; he could see everything at the entrance through the office's floor-to-ceiling window.
"Brat, I'm warning you not to—"
"Hmph! You're feeling guilty, aren't you? Don't be afraid, Grandpa Hokage! I'm coming to rescue you!"
Pfft—
Someone in the office couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
The others didn't laugh out loud, but their faces were alight with amusement.
But soon, not one of them could laugh anymore...
"Will of Fire, grant me your strength so I can rescue Grandpa Hokage!"
They heard the childish voice suddenly yell out in a wildly dramatic voice, and then...
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
Before you continue