Preparations Before Graduation

Uchiha You's life settled into calm. He used Shadow Clone Technique to attend school while he practiced ninjutsu at home.

This year had been the fastest period of growth in his strength. Daily exposure to sunlight steadily enhanced his body, and he could even imitate Might Guy's Front Lotus. He usually kept his arms wrapped in bandages, which were his finest weapons.

A dark figure darted continuously through the forest, heading for the massive waterfall ahead.

"Phew!"

His feet stood firmly on the slick rocks as he delicately controlled the chakra beneath them.

This was Uchiha You's mandatory daily training.

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

Water flowed past beneath his feet. Uchiha stood amid the raging lake waters, then swiftly formed hand seals.

"Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique!"

The fireball soared into the sky and clashed with the waterfall. Thick mist erupted where they met, turning the surroundings into a hazy blur.

A figure sprang up through the spreading mist. Over the past year, Uchiha You had undergone a dramatic transformation.

He had changed into traditional Uchiha Clan attire. Simply standing at a distance gave others the illusion that he was not to be approached.

"The results are better than I imagined."

Unfortunately, Uchiha You could only access C-rank ninjutsu. People occasionally monitored him throughout the year, merely 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 exceptional talent before others, lest another incident like the previous one occur.

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

If his body were a container, then only by increasing its capacity could it hold more radioactive elements.

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

"Hmm?"

Just as he was about to move on to the next phase of training, a surge of knowledge suddenly flooded his mind. One particular scene within it left him stunned.

"It really came quickly."

Meanwhile, at the Ninja Academy, the Shadow Clone could no longer hold on due to excessive chakra consumption and 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 spot where the smoke vanished. Unfortunately, he did not possess the Byakugan. Otherwise, he might have noticed what was unusual about that brat.

"All of you get a good rest today. The graduation examination is tomorrow, and I don't want any of you getting eliminated!"

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

The Ninja Academy's graduation exam was simple. Besides the kunai-throwing test from last year, students also had 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 less than those of A-rank ninjutsu!

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

Chishu fell silent for a moment after saying that. Sending off another group of students made him feel a little more gloomy.

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

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

"Lian, your ambitions are 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!"

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

After class, Minato Namikaze and Kushina left the school together. They happened to see Uchiha You rushing over in a hurry, large patches of water still clinging to him and making him look unusually bedraggled.

"You, you're late."

Minato Namikaze looked at his close friend, his eyes holding a trace of envy. In others' eyes, Minato was an outstanding student, but his chakra was nowhere near as absurd as Uchiha You's. He could not sustain a full day of classes with a Shadow Clone.

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

"Hahaha."

Hearing the two of them, You's face became somewhat awkward. It seemed Teacher Chishu would not be looking kindly upon him during tomorrow's exam.

"I believe Teacher Chishu won't use his position 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. There were no students helping him this time; everyone had rushed out as soon as class ended.

You had no interest in making trouble for himself, so he let Teacher Chishu clean the place alone!

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

The three of them were all geniuses at the academy and had a solid grasp of the Three Basic Techniques. Minato Namikaze's command of them was especially quick, even faster than Uchiha You's.

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

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

"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 talk nonsense. You is right here."

Kushina's face flushed crimson.

A fatal blow!

Despite that, You still joined their little party that evening.

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

Kushina's guardian was Tsunade. She knew there would be many powerful ninja among the team leaders this time, so she said to the two beside her:

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

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

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

"The Legendary Sannin?"

After finishing his food, Minato stared at Kushina in astonishment. The Legendary Sannin's title had not yet echoed throughout the shinobi world, but within the village, they were deeply respected. Every one of them was a powerhouse.

With the Legendary Sannin taking disciples this time, You 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 a great deal of basic medical knowledge.

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

As for why an Uchiha Clan member would not be his teacher...

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 unsuited to be team leaders.