Applying for the Graduation Assessment (Part Two)

Umino Ikkaku was so furious he kept slapping the table. He tried several times to stop Arashi, but Arashi either used a Shadow Clone to deal with him or simply ignored him in person and did whatever he wanted. With Ikkaku's level of strength, he was no match for Arashi at all.

The Uchiha clan was also in an uproar. The conservative clansmen who had already been dissatisfied with Arashi now jumped out even more fiercely to accuse Fugaku of failing to discipline him.

Fugaku's expression was ugly too. He had not expected Arashi to use such an extreme method to solve the problem.

But he understood Arashi's personality, and knew that forcibly stopping him now would only backfire.

All he could do was temporarily suppress the clan's dissatisfaction and keep a close eye on how the situation developed.

At last, the impact of this matter successfully reached the Hokage's office.

After listening to the Anbu's detailed report, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wore an exceptionally complicated expression on his wrinkled face.

"Beating up all his classmates and extorting money from them? His reason being that his parents sacrificed themselves, so he needs compensation?" Sarutobi Hiruzen set down the pipe in his hand, his fingers lightly tapping the desktop. "This Uchiha Arashi... truly is a troublesome little brat."

Koharu and Homura, standing beside him, also had their brows tightly furrowed.

"Lord Hokage, this child's temperament is far too violent, and he has no regard for law or discipline. He must be severely punished!" Koharu said in a deep voice.

"Indeed. The Uchiha clan has already been somewhat restless lately. Now that such a thorn has appeared, it makes things even more troublesome," Homura echoed.

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not immediately draw a conclusion. He thought of what had been mentioned in the Anbu report: Arashi's strength, which far surpassed that of his peers, and the fact that he had refused Orochimaru.

"A five-year-old child did something like this merely for money?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze was deep. "Or is it that... he has some other purpose?"

"Hiruzen, I heard about that Uchiha brat. A violent temperament? Perfect. Root happens to be short of a promising 'blade.' Hand him over to me. Let Root's rules grind him down, and in less than half a year, I guarantee he'll be more obedient than any Anbu."

A figure appeared silently at the entrance to the Hokage's office. The hem of his dark robe swept over the floor, carrying the gloomy air of someone who had spent years in dark chambers.

He did not even wait for an announcement before walking straight to Sarutobi Hiruzen's desk, a calculating glint flashing through his murky single eye.

The fingers Sarutobi Hiruzen held his pipe with paused slightly. Amid the curling smoke, his brows knitted tight. "Danzo, have you forgotten what happened half a year ago?"

His voice was low, carrying unquestionable firmness:

"The human experiments Root conducted on the border of the Land of Fire not only failed, but also got all the researchers killed."

"The major clans applied pressure together, and I promised in front of all their clan heads that we would never again use members of ninja clans as test subjects. Only then was the storm suppressed."

"You've only just managed to step from underground back into the open, and you already want to stir up trouble again?"

Danzo's mouth twitched. The light in his single eye dimmed, but he still said unwillingly, "That brat is different. He's a troublemaker who took the initiative to cause trouble. Sending him into Root would be 'discipline,' not experimentation—"

"There is no difference." Sarutobi Hiruzen cut him off, his pipe tapping lightly against the desktop. "The Uchiha already harbor resentment toward the Hidden Leaf Village. If you forcefully stuff one of their clansmen into Root, it will further intensify the conflict between the Uchiha and the Hidden Leaf Village, and it will once again disappoint the major ninja clans." He raised his eyes to look at Danzo, his gaze sharp. "There is no room for discussion on this matter."

Danzo fell silent for a moment, his nails digging deep into his palm. In the end, he gave a cold snort, turned, and left. His robe stirred up a chill wind, leaving behind only one gloomy sentence:

"You'll regret this, Hiruzen. Letting the Uchiha wolf cub run wild will become a disaster sooner or later."

When Uchiha Arashi received the summons from the Third Hokage, the corner of his mouth hooked up.

"It's finally here."

He knew that his plan had succeeded halfway.

This time, the guards at the Hokage Building did not stop him again.

Led by an Anbu member, Arashi walked into the office that symbolized the highest authority in the Hidden Leaf Village.

The office was filled with a thick smell of tobacco.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, sat behind the enormous desk, calmly looking at him.

The two advisers, Koharu and Homura, stood to the side with solemn expressions.

"You are Uchiha Arashi?" Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, his voice aged yet dignified.

"Yes." Arashi raised his head and met the Third Hokage's gaze without the slightest fear, no stage fright in his eyes.

"I hear you beat up all your classmates at the Ninja Academy and stole their money?" Sarutobi Hiruzen went straight to the point.

"Yes." Arashi admitted it calmly.

"Why did you do that?" Koharu could not help asking sharply. "Do you know how vile your actions were?"

Arashi did not look at Koharu. His gaze remained on the Third Hokage's face as he slowly said, "Because I need money."

"Need money?" Homura gave a cold laugh. "Would the Uchiha be short of pocket money for a little child like you?"

"My parents sacrificed themselves for the Hidden Leaf Village." Arashi's tone suddenly became somewhat hoarse, and sorrow appeared on his face.

"They were heroes. They died to protect the Hidden Leaf Village, to protect the Will of Fire."

"But their son cannot even get the chance to graduate early, inherit their will, and contribute his strength to the Hidden Leaf Village."

He paused, and both his eyes and his voice grew impassioned. "The academy says I'm too young and don't meet the rules. I went to find Lord Hokage, yet I couldn't even get through the gate. I only wanted to prove that I have the ability to graduate, the ability to become a ninja, to carry out missions, and to protect the Hidden Leaf Village! Is that wrong too?"

"As for the money," the corner of Arashi's mouth curled into a mocking smile.

"Since the Hidden Leaf Village does not need my strength for the time being, I have to find a way to support myself, don't I? Every day, I need a large amount of expenses to sustain the intensity of my training."

"Most of those classmates still have their parents alive and live without worries. I took a little money from them as their contribution to the orphan of heroes of the Hidden Leaf Village. Shouldn't they do that?"

"Isn't this exactly the embodiment of the Will of Fire? Helping one another and getting through hardships together!"

His speech was grand and righteous, cloaked in noble principles.

Koharu and Homura were choked speechless.

This child... had actually started playing the victim. And he could make extortion sound so fresh and refined, even dragging in the "Will of Fire"?

A trace of surprise flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, then he returned to calm.

He looked deeply at Arashi, as if he wanted to see through the heart of this five-year-old child.

"You want to graduate early because you think the Ninja Academy's courses are too simple and a waste of time?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.

"Yes." Arashi answered without hesitation. "Only the weak need to learn step by step. I am already prepared."

"Well said, 'already prepared.'" Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up his pipe, lit it again, and took a deep puff. "Since you're so confident, I'll give you a chance."

Arashi's eyes lit up.

"The Ninja Academy's graduation assessment usually includes three items: the Three Body Technique, shuriken throwing, and combat drills," Sarutobi Hiruzen said slowly.

"Since you want to graduate early, the assessment will have to be made more difficult."

"I will arrange for you to take the graduation assessment next Monday. If you can pass, I will approve your early graduation."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage!" A genuine smile finally appeared on Arashi's face.

"However," Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone changed, and his gaze became sharp, "I'll say the ugly words first. If you fail the assessment, or if the strength you display during the assessment is not enough to convince me, then not only will you be unable to graduate, but you will also have to accept the corresponding punishment for what you have done at the Ninja Academy."

"I understand." Arashi raised his head confidently. "I will not fail."

In his view, no matter what level of difficulty the assessment had, he would shatter it with one punch.

"All right. You may go back." Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand.

Arashi bowed slightly, turned, and left the Hokage's office.

Watching his departing back, Koharu could not help saying, "Hiruzen, are you really going to let him take the graduation assessment? He's only five!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a smoke ring, his gaze distant. "Whether he is a genius or a madman, we'll only know after testing him. Uchiha... another child I can't see through..."