Gray fled in a panic.
Damn it, the Uchiha Clan's way of thinking was nothing like normal people's. Especially after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, kindhearted Uchiha became even kinder, their hearts filled with love for all.
The more obsessive Uchiha became even more obsessive, taking things to extremes.
"Shisui is a Fourth Hokage kind of character. Right now, aside from using Kotoamatsukami to control Fugaku Uchiha and stop the rebellion, he's more likely to try to talk the others out of it when the Uchiha Clan rebels."
"But he has no idea that controlling Fugaku Uchiha alone won't do a damn thing. Unless he uses Susanoo to kill every member of the Uchiha Clan, those lunatics won't listen to reason."
Gray shook his head. If the Uchiha Clan could be reasoned with, the world would have been at peace long ago.
Take Uchiha Madara, for example. He'd abandoned his entire clan just to leave the Leaf. And Itachi, who'd rather sacrifice the whole Uchiha Clan for the sake of peace in the Leaf.
Then there was the cold, badass Uchiha Sasuke—or the tsundere Little Sasuke he was now—who would later rather betray his village and seek refuge with Orochimaru, even though Orochimaru would kill him, all for the sake of revenge.
You could say that 99 percent of the Uchiha Clan...
were obsessed to the point of madness.
"I'm not getting involved with you, damn it. Danzo the old pervert is watching me from the front, the Third has me under surveillance all day, and ahead of me are the Uchiha Clan massacre and Uchiha Madara's resurrection. I need to get those damn sign-in rewards and get stronger!"
Uchiha Gray knew exactly what his goal was. If he couldn't get stronger, all of this would be pointless.
Likewise, he'd already claimed sign-in rewards at most of the places in the Leaf.
To improve his sign-in rewards, he'd have to leave the village. But he was still a student who hadn't graduated from the Ninja Academy. So graduating as soon as possible, taking missions, and finding new sign-in points were essential.
The next day.
Uchiha Gray stuck to his principle that sending a Shadow Clone to school didn't count as being late.
After grumbling, Gray's Shadow Clone reluctantly headed out.
An hour later, a figure furtively cracked open Gray's door, a strange grin on his face. Swinging his arms back and forth, he suddenly leaped high into the air and yelled, "Gray, you're slacking off again and sending a Shadow Clone to school!"
As usual, Gray opened his eyes and moved as swiftly as the wind, leaping away with nimble ease. He folded his arms and leaned against the wall, his gaze full of disdain.
The figure hit the ground with a thud, grimacing in pain.
"Gray, you bastard! You're a Genin too, so how come you always dodge my attacks?" Uchiha Shinsei complained, looking thoroughly annoyed.
Seeing Gray's disdainful expression only annoyed him more.
We're both at the bottom of the class. Why do you always have to act so cool?
"Heh." Gray sneered, rolling his eyes. "As if you never skip class. Come on."
Uchiha Shinsei was one of his few friends in the Uchiha Clan, but he was a total clown—basically a more over-the-top, chūnibyō version of Uchiha Obito.
Unlike Obito, Shinsei also had the Uchiha Clan's pride.
So he acted like a chūnibyō around Gray, but around everyone else, he was a sarcastic show-off.
After listening to Uchiha Shinsei grumble the whole way, the two arrived at the Ninja Academy just as the first class break began. They dispelled their Shadow Clones and shamelessly took their seats.
"Hey, hey, look! Those two Uchiha brats are being obnoxious again. They think they can show up late and skip class just because they're from a big clan and know the Shadow Clone Technique!"
"Exactly! So what if they're Uchiha? If they didn't have the Uchiha name, how would they ever learn a jutsu like that?"
Seeing Gray and Shinsei brazenly use Shadow Clones to slack off in class, a bunch of kids gritted their teeth in frustration.
"Don't you dare talk about Gray! Gray's already learned the Shadow Clone Technique, while you can't do anything yet. What gives you the right to criticize him?"
"Exactly! You can talk about Uchiha Shinsei all you want, but you absolutely can't talk about Gray!"
A group of girls immediately joined the fray. One look at Gray's fair, handsome face sent their combat power soaring to keyboard-warrior levels.
The boys were instantly furious.
What was the most unbearable thing for men and boys alike?
Obviously, it was when girls defended another guy right in front of them!
The whole classroom turned into a marketplace, buzzing with chatter.
Uchiha Shinsei: "???"
It was bad enough that you were taking Gray's side, but damn it, could you stop putting me down to praise him?
You're making me look like nobody likes me.
"Hey, hey! I'm incredibly handsome too, you know. Countless beauties throw themselves at me!" Uchiha Shinsei snarled, planting one foot on a desk and shouting at everyone.
The room fell silent. Everyone stared blankly at the show-off, Uchiha Shinsei, for three seconds.
Then they looked away in disdain.
The boys didn't consider him a threat at all, and the girls didn't care about him. The argument resumed.
Uchiha Shinsei: "..."
Gray rolled his eyes. By his reckoning, he was an adult, so he had no time to bicker with a bunch of kids. His gaze drifted casually toward Uchiha Itachi on the other side of the room.
That's right. Uchiha Itachi and Gray were the same age—both eight.
Normally, Itachi also sent a Shadow Clone to school, but today he'd come in person.
That meant he definitely had something special to do today. Could it be the same as Gray, and he was here to take the Genin exam?
Uchiha Gray pondered.
Applying for the Genin exam early now was different from doing so later. The Third Shinobi World War had just ended, so anyone applying early would face a more difficult exam, and there would be a limit on how many students could take it.
If Uchiha Itachi was applying for the Genin exam too, there might only be one spot, and the two of them would have to compete for it!
"What are you brats making all that noise for? Keep it up, and I'll beat you!"
Compared to the gentler teachers at the Ninja Academy in later years, the teachers after the Third Shinobi World War had ended were much rougher. Given the impact of the war, that was only natural. During the war itself, teachers at the Ninja Academy might even have cursed students out.
The Extra Teacher glared fiercely. All the kids shivered and obediently sat down. Even the clownish troublemaker Uchiha Shinsei pursed his lips and fell silent.
"Teacher."
To everyone's astonishment, Uchiha Itachi calmly raised his hand and stood up.
"Itachi, is there something you'd like to ask? I'd be happy to answer." Gifted ninja received special treatment no matter the era. The Extra Teacher beamed amiably. Itachi was the top student of their year, and if he achieved great things in the future...
Then having been Uchiha Itachi's teacher at the Ninja Academy would bring him plenty of pride!
"I'd like to apply for early graduation. Neither the lessons in the textbooks nor the Three Basic Jutsu are of any use to me anymore. I'd like to graduate early!"
The Extra Teacher was stunned. So this is the world of geniuses?
While everyone else was still worrying about the exams, they were already setting their sights on the next level!
"Good, I approve!" He was thrilled; this was a point of pride for him. "As expected of a genius from the Uchiha Clan. Itachi, I'm sure you'll become a Genin. Unlike those two Uchiha slackers!"
Calling Gray and Shinsei dead last wasn't entirely fair, but damn it, everyone else was studying hard. Uchiha Gray was a chronic class-skipper, while Uchiha Shinsei was the ringleader of the troublemakers.
Compared to Uchiha Itachi, who got excellent grades and was well-behaved, they were a menace!
Uchiha Shinsei seethed, fire blazing in his eyes.
Uchiha Gray rose calmly to his feet, as if he could no longer endure the oppression.
Uchiha Shinsei instantly grew excited.
"Gray, are you finally starting a rebellion? Whoa! Overthrow the tyrannical rule of this moron of a teacher! Get him, Gray!" Uchiha Shinsei whipped out a gleaming Kunai.
He wasn't just saying it. He'd wanted to overthrow the system for ages. Then he'd never have to come to school again!
The Extra Teacher broke into a cold sweat. It looked like these two were serious!
Surely even a teacher had to respect his students' dignity. If the Uchiha Clan found out about this, he'd probably get beaten to a pulp one day.
Under Uchiha Shinsei's eager gaze, Gray calmly said, "Teacher, I'd like to take the exam too."
The Kunai in Uchiha Shinsei's hand dropped to the floor with a clatter.
Before you continue