About to Graduate

At the dining table, Xuanhui chewed on braised pork, his eyes fixed on the grilled fish on the plate.

Across from him, the couple lovingly fed each other.

"This ring is so beautiful! Why did you suddenly think of buying me a ring, honey?"

Nara Yamanaka sat on her husband's lap, picked up a piece of braised pork from her bowl, and brought it to his mouth.

Uchiha Uzumaki chewed his food while pinching his wife's rosy cheek, his gaze practically glued to her.

"Haven't I been busy lately? Things have been a little chaotic over in the Land of Rain, and the missions have been pretty demanding.

I was worried you'd miss me too much at home, so I bought you a ring.

When the time comes, you can look at it and think of me!"

Listening to their soft chuckles, Xuanhui suddenly found the grilled fish in his mouth far less appetizing.

Still, something his father said did catch his interest.

"Dad, has it been really chaotic around Hidden Rain Village lately?"

The flirting between the couple temporarily stopped, and his wife looked curiously at her husband as well.

"It has. There have been a few more ninja around the border lately, and even the bandits and robbers have been keeping a lower profile."

"Dad, be careful. War's going to break out before long."

The couple's expressions both changed at those words.

"Really, Xuanhui? Did Lord Third tell you that?"

"No, Dad, don't go spreading this around! But I think war will break out very soon."

Xuanhui repeated the reasons he had given Hiruzen Sarutobi that afternoon.

The couple fell into thought as well.

Although their son was only eight years old, he had been smart since childhood—smarter than his mother, even!

If it was their own child saying it, Uchiha Uzumaki felt he should believe him!

"Alright. I'll be more careful."

Nara Yamanaka pinched her husband's chin and turned his face toward her.

"Nothing better happen to you!"

"Yes, dear!"

"Give me a kiss..."

Xuanhui put down his chopsticks...

He was full.

After returning to his room, he did not choose to read again. Instead, he sat cross-legged on his bed.

For him, cultivation was now the highest priority!

He would not graduate from the Ninja Academy until this year. The ninja path was far too long, so it would be best if he could be promoted to chunin next year!

If he wanted to achieve that, he had to make good use of every moment.

His current strengths...

His intelligence was relatively high, inherited from the Nara Clan.

His physical strength was relatively strong, the result of several years of training.

Leaving intelligence aside for now, his knowledge base was fairly solid too...

He had a one-tomoe Sharingan. If he wanted it to evolve... according to the original story, he needed intense mental stimulation!

As long as his heart suffered a powerful shock, that should be enough, right?

As for the Mangekyo Sharingan... he had no siblings, so he would not consider that for now. He could leave that problem to the future Orochimaru.

He currently had Lightning, Fire, Yin, and Yang chakra natures. At this stage, ninjutsu training was far more important than anything else.

Xuanhui set a simple plan for himself.

First, he would reinforce his foundation and practice Lightning- and Fire-style ninjutsu. The secret techniques of the Nara Clan and Yamanaka Clan leaned toward support, so he would not practice them for the time being.

At the same time, he would use the Sharingan to assist with taijutsu and weapon training.

As for the Chunin Exams... he could ask Orochimaru to help register him later. Learning a few more ninjutsu should be enough to pass!

With the Nara Clan's intelligence and his adult soul,

Wouldn't studying and competing against children his own age be a breeze?

If he remembered correctly, most of the ninjutsu Orochimaru practiced were Wind-style.

The Third probably knew Lightning- and Fire-style techniques, but... the Uchiha Clan should have more techniques, and they would suit his Sharingan better.

At this time... Fugaku Uchiha?

He should be about the same age as Minato Namikaze and himself. Maybe he should get out more!

That left things simple. Before graduation in a few months, he would first practice B-rank ninjutsu. If his progress was fast, he would learn one or two A-rank techniques.

Today, he would first get more familiar with rapidly activating his chakra!

Xuanhui closed his eyes, and familiar energy flowed through his body.

Gradually, he felt that running his chakra was becoming more and more effortless...

At Training Ground Seven on the western edge of the village, a breeze swept through, stirring up fallen leaves.

In the center of the field, Orochimaru stood with his hands behind his back, looking calm and at ease.

Opposite him, Xuanhui faced a formidable enemy. His feet were spread apart, and his scarlet Sharingan stared intently ahead. He held one kunai in his mouth and another in his hand.

Several months had already passed.

"Come!"

Orochimaru smiled at Xuanhui as if provoking him.

Xuanhui's body suddenly moved, and in the blink of an eye, he shot forward from where he stood.

"Running circles around me? Interesting!"

Orochimaru casually turned with Xuanhui's movements, but his gaze never left the boy's body.

Whoosh!

A sharp sound tore through the air as Xuanhui violently threw the kunai in his left hand.

It flew straight for Orochimaru's throat!

His keen Sharingan locked onto Orochimaru's body as he gripped the other kunai in his right hand and closed in along an S-shaped path.

Seeing this, Orochimaru extended his right foot to the side and naturally lowered his body. The kunai skimmed over his head!

Now!

The instant Orochimaru moved downward, Xuanhui's other kunai followed close behind. It even carried Lightning-nature chakra!

That would make the kunai fly faster and strike harder!

"A boring feint, Xuanhui. Did you think I wouldn't see through it?"

The kunai hit... a puff of smoke?

More precisely, it was a log!

The Substitution Technique!

Orochimaru descended from above, his fierce kick crashing down directly over Xuanhui.

"Tch! I knew it wouldn't be that easy!"

Xuanhui instantly used the Substitution Technique as well.

But Orochimaru spat out a mass of snakes in another direction. He had already detected Xuanhui's escape route.

The snakes wrapped directly around Xuanhui's limbs, and he struggled as he fell to the ground.

"That's why you're still too inexperienced!"

With a teasing look on his face, Orochimaru stepped on Xuanhui and watched the creature writhing beneath his foot.

"And... I know you're a clone!"

Without even turning his head, Orochimaru twisted his shoulder and shifted his body to the side.

He extended two fingers and effortlessly caught the third kunai stabbing toward him from directly behind... the one Xuanhui had been holding in his mouth!

"Teacher Orochimaru! You used your hands! You lost!"

Xuanhui leaped out of the smoke, unable to contain the delight on his face.

"Well, there's nothing to be done about that. I'm just too used to using my hands!"

Orochimaru put on a regretful expression.

But he was right. Without using his hands, his fighting style really did feel awkward.

If it had been Jiraiya or Tsunade, they definitely would have had an easier time handling it.

"You graduate tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah."

"I've been rather busy lately too. Looks like we'll have to meet less often for lessons from now on!"

"It's fine. We can use the library's Summoning and Reverse Summoning Techniques anyway, so meeting up won't be difficult."

"Ah! You've reminded me!"