Preparations Before Graduation

Uchiha Yuu's life settled into calm routine. He used a Shadow Clone to attend school while he practiced ninjutsu where he lived.

This was the year his strength improved the fastest. Daily exposure to sunlight steadily increased his physical toughness, to the point that he could even imitate Might Guy's Front Lotus. He usually kept his arms wrapped in bandages, and those bandages were his best weapons.

A dark figure darted continuously through the forest, heading for the Great Waterfall ahead.

"Whew!"

His feet stood firmly on the slick rocks, subtly controlling the chakra beneath them.

This was a required part of Uchiha Yuu's daily training.

He occasionally served as Tsunade's experimental assistant. He taught her some of his insights into ninjutsu, especially chakra control. He was already fully qualified to graduate early.

Water flowed beneath his feet as Uchiha stood amid the surging lake waters, then quickly formed hand seals.

"Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique!"

The soaring fireball collided with the waterfall, and their impact erupted into a thick mist that turned the surroundings into a hazy landscape.

A figure leaped through the spreading mist. Over the past year, Uchiha Yuu had undergone earth-shaking changes.

He had changed into traditional Uchiha Clan attire. Simply standing at a distance gave others the impression that strangers should keep away.

"The effect is even better than I imagined."

Unfortunately, Uchiha Yuu only had access to C-rank ninjutsu. Someone occasionally monitored him over the past year, no doubt to assess the extent of his talent and where his strengths lay.

So he had learned to keep a low profile. He would not reveal his extraordinary talent before others, lest what happened last time occur again.

"The elements in my body have reached their critical limit."

If his body was compared to a container, then only by improving its capacity could it hold more radioactive elements.

The two complemented each other, but Uchiha Yuu's body had reached its limit. His age was a constraint, and he had never neglected any physical training he could do.

"Hm?"

Just as he was about to begin his next training session, a stream of knowledge suddenly flooded into his mind. One of the scenes within it left him stunned.

"It really came quickly."

Over at the Ninja Academy, the Shadow Clone could no longer hold on due to excessive chakra consumption. It finally dissolved into a puff of smoke.

"That brat used a Shadow Clone to attend class again! Just let me catch him!"

Chishu stared at the place where the smoke vanished. Unfortunately, he did not have the Byakugan. Otherwise, he would have noticed what was different about that brat.

"All of you get plenty of rest today. The graduation exam is tomorrow, and I don't want any of you to be eliminated!"

"Anyone who fails the exam will learn exactly what cruelty means!"

The Ninja Academy's graduation exam was simple. Besides the kunai-throwing skills tested last year, students also needed to master the Three Basic Techniques, the most fundamental abilities.

But the Three Basic Techniques should not be underestimated. When used according to the situation in battle, their effects were no weaker than A-rank ninjutsu!

"I hope you brats will become qualified ninja in the future."

Chishu fell silent for a moment after saying that. Seeing off another batch of students filled his heart with a little more gloom.

He only hoped that, years later, he would still see these students at reunions rather than learn that they had died on missions.

"Don't worry, Teacher Chishu. I'll definitely become a qualified ninja."

"Lian, your ambition is so low. I'm going to become Hokage."

"Hmph, you want to become Hokage? Keep dreaming!"

"Anyway, I've already mastered the Three Basic Techniques. Just watch me tomorrow!"

This was their final class. Tomorrow was the day of the exam, and many people were destined to be too excited to sleep that night.

After class, Minato Namikaze left the school with Kushina. They happened to see Uchiha Yuu hurrying over, his body covered in large wet patches and looking exceptionally disheveled.

"Yuu, you're late."

Minato Namikaze looked at his close friend, his eyes carrying a hint of envy. In the eyes of others, Minato was an outstanding student, but his chakra was not as absurdly plentiful as Uchiha Yuu's, enough to support a full day of classes through a Shadow Clone.

"The Shadow Clone Technique really is outrageous. But when your Shadow Clone disappeared, Teacher Chishu's face turned completely black."

"Hahaha."

After hearing them, Yuu looked a little embarrassed. It seemed Teacher Chishu would not be giving him a friendly face during tomorrow's exam.

"I believe Teacher Chishu won't abuse his authority for personal revenge. After all, I'm his most prized student."

He glanced back at the school and happened to see Teacher Chishu cleaning up. This time, there were no students helping him; as soon as class ended, everyone had run off.

Yuu had no interest in making trouble for himself, so Teacher Chishu could clean up on his own!

"I don't know how strong you are now, but you're definitely already comparable to a Genin. Want to celebrate in advance?"

The three of them were all geniuses at school and had mastered the Three Basic Techniques solidly. Minato Namikaze's Three Basic Techniques were especially fast, even faster than Uchiha Yuu's.

His neural reflexes surpassed those of ordinary ninja. As expected of the man who would one day be hailed as the Yellow Flash of the Shinobi World.

To get back at him for using a Shadow Clone to attend class, Minato Namikaze said mischievously:

"Forget it. I don't want to spend it with a single dog. Wouldn't it be better if tonight's party became a world for just the two of us?"

"Idiot, don't say nonsense! Yuu's right here."

Kushina's face flushed red.

A fatal blow!

Despite saying that, Yuu still joined their little party that evening.

It was their final chance to relax. Once today ended, they would take the exam. Those who passed would follow their squad leaders on missions, and no one knew when they would gather together again.

Kushina's guardian was Tsunade. She knew that many powerful people would be among this year's squad leaders, so she said to the two beside her:

"You two had better give it your all tomorrow."

"I heard the Legendary Sannin will personally lead teams this time. They're the Hokage's disciples!"

Her eyes were full of longing! As long as she graduated successfully, she would definitely become Lady Tsunade's disciple.

"The Legendary Sannin?"

Minato, who had finished eating, looked at Kushina in surprise. The Legendary Sannin's reputation had not yet spread throughout the Shinobi World, but within the village, they were highly respected. Every one of them was powerful.

With the Legendary Sannin taking disciples this time, Yuu could guess who his teacher would be.

After all, in others' eyes, his relationship with Tsunade was merely that of an ordinary doctor and patient, but they were actually quite close.

Over the past year, Tsunade had taught him quite a bit of basic medical knowledge.

In the Third Hokage's eyes, to draw him into the Hokage's faction, Tsunade would certainly be chosen as his teacher.

As for why it would not be someone from the Uchiha Clan...

Given the Uchiha Clan's temperament, they looked down on every ninja except their own clansmen. Their arrogant and conceited nature meant they were simply not suited to be squad leaders.