Uchiha Kei returned home in high spirits. First, he ate a bowl of expired instant noodles, then he stretched out comfortably on his shabby little bed.
He'd already managed to get Shisui and Itachi on board, which gave him a great deal of confidence.
The Mangekyō Sharingan was supposed to be incredibly powerful, but he didn't have enough chakra. For now, it was little more than an impressive-looking prop.
What others had wasn't truly his. Only what he had himself was real.
After thinking it over for a long while, Uchiha Kei opened the Shock Value panel.
He had exactly 1,000—enough for one draw.
With a grand wave of his hand, he started the draw!
"Ding! 1,000 Shock Value can be exchanged for a random ninjutsu. Exchange?"
"Exchange."
"Ding! You obtained the Complete Encyclopedia of Ninja Knowledge."
In an instant, a huge mass of knowledge was forcibly crammed into his mind.
The Complete Encyclopedia of Ninja Knowledge.
Uchiha Kei sat up and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
With all this knowledge, could he speed up his plans to leave the Ninja Academy and become a Genin?
His next step was to win over the various clans. What status would suit that purpose best?
Without a doubt—
A genius!
Would an Uchiha who became a Genin at eight and possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan count as a genius?
Obviously!
That afternoon, Uchiha Kei showed up at school right on time.
"What? You want to apply for graduation?"
Iruka's mouth fell open, and he cried out in disbelief.
"That's right, Iruka-sensei. I want to apply for graduation. Is there a rule against applying early?"
Uchiha Kei replied with a beaming smile.
"N-no, of course you can apply early. The problem is, you only enrolled yesterday..."
Iruka still couldn't hide his shock. His expression had gone stiff.
"I know. I've already learned all the ninja knowledge, and I've mastered the Three Body Technique. I'm sure I can become a qualified Genin."
"Well... well..."
Iruka mumbled, his thoughts in a jumble.
"Why don't you report it to the higher-ups, Iruka-sensei?"
Uchiha Kei couldn't help reminding him.
"Oh, right, right. I'll report it. Kei, go back to class for now. I'll let you know when I hear something."
As he watched Kei stroll back to class, Iruka couldn't help patting his head.
"Apply for graduation... apply for graduation..."
"Are all the Uchiha this crazy? Another one wants to graduate early?"
Back in class, Uchiha Kei ignored the hostile looks from several students and returned to his seat.
"Kei, about what happened yesterday..."
Naruto seemed unsure what to say.
Yesterday had been so humiliating. If Kei hadn't protected him, he might have died.
Of course, that was only because he didn't know the Nine-Tails could come out.
But that didn't change how guilty he felt toward Kei.
Uchiha Kei smiled and ruffled Naruto's hair. "Everything from yesterday's been taken care of. Don't worry."
At the same time, Uchiha Kei began to make new plans for Naruto's future.
It seemed it was time to find an opportunity to talk to the Nine-Tails.
If the Nine-Tails' surging chakra wasn't kept in check, Naruto wouldn't be able to train properly.
Konoha, Hokage Building.
"Hmph! Take a look! Is this what you call 'nothing to worry about'?"
Danzo slammed his hand down on the desk. "Five battle-hardened Anbu, two Chunin, and three Genin, and they still failed their mission!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his aching head. "Danzo, this is the Hokage's office. Can't you watch your behavior?"
"At a time like this, you're worried about appearances?"
Danzo scoffed at Sarutobi Hiruzen's words.
"I told you long ago that Uchiha Kei wasn't an ordinary child. The facts have proven me right!"
"Why else would he hide his strength unless he had something to hide?"
"That wicked Uchiha brat must be eliminated as soon as possible! Otherwise, he'll become a huge problem! He must be put on trial!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen rose helplessly and turned to look out over Konoha.
"With Konoha in its current state, we need to focus on recovery. Uchiha Kei is just a child. What could you possibly charge him with?"
A fierce glint flashed in Danzo's eyes. "A charge? What crime did Hatake Sakumo commit? If I said he was guilty, then he was guilty!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen spun around, his cloudy eyes flashing with intensity.
"Danzo, do you know what you're saying?"
"Of course I do!"
Danzo shouted. His narrowed eyes flew open, bloodshot. "Sarutobi, don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Ever since you became the Third, your desire for power has been greater than mine!"
"Why did Namikaze Minato die? Was Konoha really unable to stop the Nine-Tails?"
"Why did Hatake Sakumo, who was qualified to become Hokage, have to die? Was it because of me, Danzo?"
"Why did the Twelve Guardian Ninja fall into internal conflict?"
"Why did Chiriku leave Konoha and become a monk?"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, were all of these things my fault?"
The Hokage's office fell silent. Only Danzo's ragged breathing remained.
"I wanted to become Hokage. I've always believed that our teacher made the wrong choice."
After a moment, Danzo calmed down. He tossed out one last cold remark and turned to leave.
Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe and took a deep drag.
The light of the setting sun streamed into the room, casting a reddish glow across his face.
Bright and dim, in turns...
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Come in."
Iruka pushed open the door and entered.
"Lord Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. "Ah, Iruka. What is it?"
"Lord Hokage, it's like this." Iruka gathered his thoughts. "Uchiha Kei of the Uchiha Clan has applied to graduate early."
"Graduate early?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brow.
He'd entered the Ninja Academy yesterday and was applying to graduate today. That was quite a move.
Had his strength been exposed, so he no longer wanted to keep it hidden?
"I know it's a little premature, Lord Hokage. But don't worry. I'll go back and reprimand him."
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen frown, Iruka's heart gave a jolt. He hurried to smooth things over.
"No need."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe and slowly exhaled.
"Iruka, what do you think of Uchiha Kei?"
Iruka's mind raced.
Uchiha Kei had only been his student for one day, and he was always getting into mischief with Uzumaki Naruto.
But after yesterday's test and the presence he'd displayed that morning, Iruka knew that the seemingly carefree Kei might not be simple.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had asked out of the blue, so there had to be a reason.
"Kei's still young, but his strength is well beyond that of other kids his age."
"And he's more composed than his peers. He doesn't seem like an eight-year-old."
Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a cold chuckle to himself.
Composed? From what he knew so far, that hardly did him justice.
An eight-year-old who not only had the Three-Tomoe Sharingan but could also use a C-rank jutsu like Fireball Jutsu, and who stayed calm in a crisis.
Composed didn't begin to describe him. Plenty of Chunin and Genin couldn't measure up.
"In that case, let him graduate early."
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