Graduation

"You're Uchiha Jin?" At the Ninja Academy, an upperclassman blocked Jin's path and asked in a nasty tone.

Jin nodded. "That's right."

"Hmph! Evil Uchiha!" Without the slightest warning, the upperclassman swung his fist at Jin and knocked him to the ground with one punch...

Bang!

A puff of white smoke rose. Where was any sign of Jin?

"It's over. My shadow clone got hit." Jin set down his kunai on the training field and muttered.

Sure enough, before long, Mikoto brought Fugaku to the training field. The moment she saw Jin, Mikoto grabbed him by the ear. "Well, look at you, kid. You're still so young, and you've already learned how to skip class?!"

Fugaku, looking helpless and a little guilty, tried to calm Mikoto down. "Mikoto, calm down. Jin, well... there really isn't much point in him staying at the Ninja Academy anymore." After saying that, he shot a look at Jin, who was in so much pain he was practically clawing at his own heart and lungs.

"Right, right, right." Jin hurriedly nodded. "Sister Mikoto, I really can't learn anything at the Ninja Academy anymore... I'd be better off learning from Big Brother Fugaku! Like the Shadow—"

Before Jin could finish, Fugaku quickly covered his mouth and said, "Mikoto, you go take care of your work first. I'll take this kid to school and let the teacher educate him properly!"

After saying that, he snatched Jin from Mikoto's hand, quickly slung him over himself, and ran off.

Watching the two of them leave, Mikoto suddenly realized... wait... when had those two gotten so close? Also, were they hiding something from her?

Meanwhile, on the other side, with the fleeing duo.

Fugaku put Jin down on the ground and said irritably, "Did I teach you the Shadow Clone Technique so you could skip class? Fine, skip class if you want, but you actually got found out? Even if you got found out, you still wanted to tell Mikoto..."

"You can't blame me for that." Jin cut him off. "Those people caught me off guard and punched me right in the face. What was I supposed to do?"

"Enough." Fugaku waved his hand. "There are three choices now. First, you keep going back to school for classes. Second, you graduate early and join the Police Force. Third, you become a genin and have a jonin lead you."

"Uh..." Jin immediately felt a headache coming on. Studying was pointless even if he graduated. Joining the Police Force? He wasn't familiar with it. Following a jonin around to catch cats on missions? Too tiring...

"You brat." Fugaku could not help patting Jin on the head. "How about this? You train under a jonin from the village for a while, then return to the Police Force later."

"Can't I just... lie around at home?" Jin asked weakly. All he got in return was an eye roll from Fugaku. And what Fugaku said next nearly made Jin open his Sharingan on the spot...

"Lord Hokage wants to see you..."

Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, puffed on his pipe and looked at the ninja file in his hand, unable to help marveling. "Uchiha Jin, seven years old, and he can use shadow clones. What a fine seedling."

"Lord Hokage." A figure appeared beside him. The Anbu member, wearing a cat mask, said respectfully, "Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Jin have arrived."

"Let them in," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a nod.

"Yes."

In the Hokage's office, Jin stared curiously at the old man in front of him... Sure enough, his first impression was that of a kindly, benevolent, approachable old man...

Smack.

"Ah!"

Fugaku slapped Jin on the head irritably. "Do not be disrespectful to Lord Hokage!"

"Hahahaha." Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed heartily. "Fugaku, don't be so fierce with a child."

After saying that, Sarutobi Hiruzen walked up to Jin, crouched down, and benevolently stroked Jin's head. "Child, how old are you?"

Jin could not help secretly grumbling in his heart: You old man, are you putting on an act? You don't know how old I am? My file is probably still sitting on your desk right now...

But out loud, he still said obediently, "Grandpa Hokage, I'm seven this year."

"Seven years old. Child, you really are a genius." Sarutobi Hiruzen happily stroked his white beard. Thinking of the heart-wrenching news that had come from the front lines these past few days, compared with this seven-year-old genius, it instantly vanished like smoke.

Jin did not know what came over him. Looking at the old Third's white beard... as if possessed, he reached out and plucked it...

Smack!

Boom~

Fugaku clenched his fist and stared at Jin through gritted teeth. His poor little heart had nearly stopped beating... This was all Mikoto's fault for spoiling this guy rotten! Yes, exactly!

"Lord Hokage, this fellow is usually spoiled rotten by us. Please be magnanimous." Fugaku quickly dropped to one knee and explained.

"Fugaku, didn't I say not to be so fierce with a child?" Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and looked helplessly at Jin, who had already been sent flying and was lying face-first on the ground. "It's very normal for children to be a little mischievous."

Looking at Fugaku kneeling before him, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe and said, "Fugaku, tell me honestly... can this child Jin graduate from the Ninja Academy?"

"..." Fugaku glanced at Jin, who was lying on the ground after being "coaxed" to sleep by him, then pondered for a long while. Sarutobi Hiruzen did not rush him either, simply waiting quietly for Fugaku to give him an answer.

Finally, Fugaku's steady voice rang out. "Jin... took only three months to master chakra control. In addition, his chakra natures are fire, lightning, wind, water, and earth, and he has already mastered and applied all five... I believe he can absolutely graduate."

"Oh?" The chakra natures immediately surprised Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Then regarding where he should go, do you have any thoughts?"

"I will leave it entirely to Lord Hokage's decision," Fugaku said respectfully.

"Mm..." Sarutobi Hiruzen was somewhat troubled now, thinking of suitable jonin in the village... Jiraiya? Unreliable. Orochimaru... Uh... He was afraid he would lead such a fine seedling astray...

"Then how about this, Fugaku? Take this little fellow to the Hidden Sand battlefield and find White Fang. This child will be entrusted to White Fang," Sarutobi Hiruzen finally decided.

"As you command." Fugaku nodded. In any case, the Second War was about to end. Good seedlings all emerged through the baptism of war.

"Prepare yourselves and set off." Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his back to Fugaku. "You are all the future of Konoha. Protect yourselves well."

"Yes! Lord Hokage." Fugaku answered solemnly, then rose and lifted Jin with one hand before leaving the Hokage Building.

"Enough. How long are you going to keep pretending?" Fugaku said irritably.

Jin blinked and smiled awkwardly. In his heart, however, he was calculating: Having me learn from White Fang... that's not bad either.

"You heard it all, right? Gather at the village gate tomorrow morning and head for the Hidden Sand." Fugaku reminded him. Jin had nothing to say and only kept nodding.

Early the next morning, Jin quietly slipped out of the Uchiha Clan Compound and headed for the village gate. There was no other reason. Before he and Fugaku had parted yesterday, Fugaku had repeatedly warned him not to tell Mikoto that he was going to the front line too.

Only, when Jin arrived at the village gate, he saw Fugaku waiting for him, and... Mikoto.

"Sister Mikoto, why are you here?" Jin walked over to Mikoto's side as if nothing had happened.

"You... be careful." Mikoto's eyes were slightly red as she handed over the box of soldier pills in her hand. "When you come home, Sister Mikoto will make you something delicious."

Jin accepted the soldier pills, his heart deeply moved... Ever since he came to this world, Uchiha Mikoto had always treated him well without conditions...

If I don't have the ability to rewrite the fate of the Uchiha clan, then I must do everything I can to protect Sister Mikoto! Jin thought silently.

"Don't worry, Sister Mikoto. Big Brother Fugaku is here, so I'll definitely be fine!"