The Catfish Plan

After school, Yamano wrote a report on Ebisu's progress and handed it to Team Leader Huìdài.

"Team Leader, Ebisu has grown quickly under the Catfish Plan. I think it's an effective and innovative teaching approach."

Huìdài read the scroll and nodded with satisfaction. "You've done well, Yamano."

That evening, Huìdài took the Catfish Plan report to the Sarutobi Clan compound.

She wanted to tell the Sarutobi Clan's senior members that Young Master Asuma Sarutobi's Wager with Uchiha Ling was not a bad thing. If they made good use of Uchiha Ling, Young Master Asuma Sarutobi could benefit from the Catfish Plan too.

Unfortunately, she could not meet any of them that night. They were all busy guiding Young Master Asuma Sarutobi through his training.

Young Master Asuma Sarutobi was diligent, at least. Every night, he trained until his shirt was soaked through.

As Huìdài was about to leave, she saw Young Master Black Chimp appear with the Body Flicker Technique.

"Young Master, I hope you'll read this scroll about the Catfish Plan. If it goes well, Young Master Asuma Sarutobi will make tremendous progress. Uchiha Ling is the catfish in his class. He keeps everyone on their toes and makes them more active."

"Oh? Let me see."

After reading it, Black Chimp said, "Good. Very good. I'll see my father and discuss Asuma Sarutobi's training plan with him."

Huìdài was delighted. Once again, she had come to Lord Hokage's attention.

"I'll persuade Father to watch Asuma Sarutobi's final match against Uchiha Ling. He ought to pay more attention to Asuma Sarutobi.

"Speaking of which, Uchiha Ling used to keep such a low profile. Was he overshadowed by Kakashi Hatake? Why has his strength improved so suddenly?"

Huìdài replied, "He is a member of the Uchiha Clan, after all. Both of Uchiha Ling's parents were Jonin. He has good genes."

Black Chimp nodded. Give the Uchiha Clan an opening, and strong emotions could drive its members to awaken the Three Tomoe. No wonder Uncle Danzo, Uncle Homura, and the others were wary of them.

He left the compound and headed for the Hokage Building.

It was midnight. His father would certainly still be working there.

The Hokage's Office was thick with smoke. The bag of tobacco leaves the Third had brought that morning could not possibly have lasted him. Black Chimp wondered how many times an assistant had fetched more today.

Mother had said she wanted to curb Father's smoking, but with the Shinobi World War beginning anew, there was no stopping him.

On the left side of the desk stood a pyramid of scrolls a meter high. Five thick stacks of documents sat on the right.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned amid the paperwork, smoking as he studied a scroll.

During working hours, Black Chimp addressed his father by title. "Lord Hokage, I have something to report."

"Go on."

"The Ninja Academy's Final Exams are in five days. After Asuma Sarutobi lost to his classmate Uchiha Ling, the two made a Final Exam Wager.

"Lord Hokage, perhaps you could visit the Ninja Academy tomorrow to observe the End of Term Sparring Exam?

"I think Asuma Sarutobi..."

"Black Chimp." Hiruzen Sarutobi cut him off.

"Iwagakure and Kirigakure have declared war on the Hidden Leaf Village. Kumogakure is deciding whether to strike Iwagakure or us first.

"At a time like this, you want me to visit the Ninja Academy to watch two children fight?

"I recall you saying Uchiha Ling is an orphan. If Asuma Sarutobi loses, what am I supposed to do? Use my position as Hokage to pressure an orphan?"

Black Chimp hurriedly replied, "Of course I'm not asking you to go on Asuma Sarutobi's behalf.

"What I mean is, with the Shinobi World War underway, the Ninja Academy has submitted a list of older students for Early Graduation.

"You could assess the abilities of those prospective Genin.

"And while you're there, if you have the chance, you could see what Asuma Sarutobi has achieved this term."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression softened. Black Chimp had raised a good point. A group of students would graduate early at the end of the term.

It was an important matter. He had nearly forgotten it.

He took the scroll Black Chimp offered him. It contained a teacher's account of classroom management, focused on using the Catfish Effect to raise the class's average strength.

Hiruzen Sarutobi read it with keen interest. It was indeed a good approach.

"Very well. I'll attend the Ninja Academy's Final Exams in five days, with particular attention to the students seeking Early Graduation. Their assessments should be stricter, not looser. We mustn't put those children in danger.

"The Hidden Leaf Village was founded so children would no longer have to go to war. Unfortunately, the pressure from enemy villages is too great. We have no choice but to push them before they're ready."

Hiruzen Sarutobi closed the scroll and sighed.

"Hatake Sakumo took his own life just before the Shinobi World War. The Hidden Leaf Village lost a battlefield commander and a Kage-Level Ninja. The consequences have been enormous.

"Even Homura has suggested sending the Uchiha Clan to the battlefield..."

The mention of the White Fang of the Leaf left Black Chimp sighing inwardly too.

How could anyone be so stubborn?

So fragile.

The White Fang of the Leaf had Kage-Level strength, yet his resolve had failed him so utterly.

When Black Chimp returned to the compound, Asuma Sarutobi was still training. He was doing handstand push-ups to strengthen his arms.

At the Uchiha Clan Compound, Uchiha Ling had not let up either.

After one round of Supercompensation, his body had grown considerably stronger.

The improvement had come so abruptly that he was still unused to it. Sometimes he moved too forcefully by accident.

He had to get used to his new strength as soon as possible, before the Final Exams.

For several days of sparring classes, no one challenged Uchiha Ling. The others' enthusiasm for sparring dwindled as a result.

Yamano did not force the issue. He let the students train freely and prepare for the End of Term Sparring Exam in their own ways.

Many of them gathered around Asuma Sarutobi.

Obito Uchiha could barely contain his excitement. "Asuma Sarutobi, your special training must be working, right? Guy had such a hard time when you sparred with him last time.

"This time, you've got to knock Uchiha Ling down a peg. I'm sick of the sight of his face!"

Ebisu looked as though he wanted to say something, but did not dare.

Nara Saku felt relieved. Uchiha Ling had behaved himself these past few days, so Nara Saku would not have to draw his attention for the rest of the term.

Kurenai Yuhi watched Uchiha Ling too. If only I had more chakra, I could learn Genjutsu from Father. My Taijutsu is too weak for me to spar with Uchiha Ling.

Asuma Sarutobi was brimming with confidence. He, too, had experienced the Supercompensation that Teacher Huìdài said would break him through his plateau. He was no longer who he used to be.

The next few days passed quickly.

On the day of the Final Assessment, the students saw the Third enter the school with ANBU and accompany the Principal up to the fourth-floor rooftop.

The field had been divided into examination areas. Every student could look up and see the Third's hat and Hokage Robe.

The Third had come in person to watch this term's final sparring matches!

The teachers were so nervous they could barely speak, let alone the students.

Yamano stood there, frowning. "Form two or three rows!"

"Teacher, two rows or three?"

"Yes!"

Asuma Sarutobi looked up at his father on the rooftop and at his older brother beside him, wearing the Black Chimp Mask. Excitement surged through him.

Uchiha Ling! Even my father is here. I'm going to show you what I can do!