Obito, Showered with Praise

"Regarding Sakumo Hatake, we bear some responsibility. As for Kakashi, we must provide him with care and compensation!"

"Sakumo's White Fang should be passed down to Kakashi Hatake. I hope he can inherit his father's will."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, said.

The Konoha clan heads and Jonin all nodded.

Suddenly, an ANBU appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was initially surprised, then turned toward the young Uchiha Clan head, Fugaku Uchiha, with a smile.

"Fugaku, another genius has emerged from the Uchiha Clan. I heard there's a child in your clan named Obito who defeated Kakashi."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said kindly.

Upon hearing this, the young clan head Fugaku Uchiha was briefly stunned, then swiftly searched his memories for the name Obito among the clan members.

Ding!

Fugaku Uchiha remembered.

"Oh! Lord Hokage, I remember now. Obito is a good child. These past few days, he's been helping old ladies cross the street."

Fugaku Uchiha nodded with a smile.

But when he suddenly heard that Obito had defeated Kakashi, Fugaku Uchiha's expression stiffened.

"What? He defeated Lord Sakumo's son, Kakashi?"

Fugaku Uchiha asked in disbelief.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Yes!"

For a moment, Fugaku Uchiha's eyes widened. He was overjoyed, but also somewhat worried. He could not quite figure out Hiruzen Sarutobi's intentions.

At this point, Konoha's prejudice against the Uchiha Clan had already begun to show.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe and slowly asked, "What kind of child is Obito?"

"Very good!"

"Unlike the other cold Uchiha geniuses, he is an optimistic child. It's just him and his grandmother at home. Obito often helps old ladies cross the street, and all the elders in the clan like him very much."

Fugaku Uchiha answered quickly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. What Fugaku Uchiha had said was largely consistent with the ANBU investigation.

As the Hokage, he naturally kept an eye on the village's talented children. The ANBU's investigation had yielded only four words from the elderly people regarding Obito!

They were: showered with praise!

He was happy to see such an Uchiha genius.

An Uchiha child who was kind by nature.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and nodded. "Fugaku, the Uchiha Clan needs more geniuses like him. You should show children like this active concern!"

Fugaku Uchiha nodded.

"Since Obito can defeat Kakashi, the White Fang's son, he can apply to graduate early."

At this moment, Koharu Utatane, who was seated nearby, suggested.

Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered slightly. There was indeed a shortage of manpower for missions recently.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted Obito to spend some more time developing at the Ninja Academy.

"Let's see what Obito himself wants. If he wishes to graduate early, I'll personally assess him."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said after taking a puff of his pipe.

At his words, delight appeared on Fugaku Uchiha's face.

The Uchiha Clan and Konoha lacked a bridge for communication.

Since Hiruzen Sarutobi was paying such close attention to Obito, perhaps Obito could become a bridge between the village and the Uchiha Clan!

Obito had just returned to his room after dinner when he heard a knock at the door.

Obito's grandmother slowly went to answer it.

When she opened the door, Fugaku Uchiha stood outside Obito's home, holding gifts and smiling brightly.

At this time, Fugaku was not yet the expressionless man he would become. As a clan head who had only recently taken office, he naturally greeted his clansmen with a smile.

"Oh? Clan Head Fugaku, this old woman failed to welcome you properly..."

Obito's grandmother quickly gestured for Fugaku Uchiha to come in.

"Ah! Grandma, you're being too polite. You probably held me when I was little!"

With a broad smile, Fugaku Uchiha looked around as though searching for Obito.

"Clan Head Fugaku, coming by was enough. Why did you bring so many things?"

Obito's grandmother naturally noticed the gifts and supplements for the elderly in Fugaku Uchiha's hands, and she was rather surprised.

She and Obito were merely an elderly woman and a child living alone. Why would the clan head personally come to visit them?

"Well, Grandma, I simply came to see you. Elders like you throughout the Uchiha Clan should receive the clan's care!"

Fugaku Uchiha set down the gifts and entered with a smile.

The two sat down. Before long, Fugaku Uchiha impatiently asked, "Where is that child Obito?"

Obito's grandmother pointed toward the room and was just about to say something when Obito Uchiha walked out on his own.

"Grandma. Clan Head."

Obito Uchiha walked over.

Fugaku Uchiha's eyes lit up. "Hahaha, Grandma, you truly are blessed to have such a good grandson!"

"Huh?"

Obito's grandmother looked somewhat confused.

"You may not know this, but Obito defeated Kakashi Hatake, son of Konoha's White Fang, at school. He has brought great honor to our Uchiha Clan!"

Fugaku Uchiha said.

In this era, the Uchiha Clan did not have particularly many geniuses. At present, there was only Shisui Uchiha. Including Obito, that made two.

(I guess Shisui Uchiha was about the same age as Obito. Shisui Uchiha also participated in the Third Shinobi World War, and by then he had already awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. I think the two were around the same age.)

"Oh?"

Obito's grandmother was clearly startled. She looked at Obito for confirmation.

She knew her grandson's talent had not been particularly outstanding.

Obito Uchiha nodded in admission.

Then his grandmother smiled. "Little Obito, you're getting better and better!"

"Mhm, mhm. Even the Hokage knows about your grandson now! I came this time to ask whether Obito is willing to graduate early and become a Genin!"

Fugaku Uchiha said with a smile.

Obito's grandmother was slightly stunned, and even Obito beside her was taken aback.

Obito Uchiha had originally planned to graduate next year. He was only five years old this year!

If he graduated now, he would definitely set a new record for Ninja Academy graduates!

"Obito, are you willing?"

Obito's grandmother looked at Obito Uchiha, while Fugaku Uchiha beside her also looked toward him.

Obito pondered briefly before nodding. "I'm willing to give it a try!"

Clap!

Fugaku Uchiha's eyes lit up as he gave Obito Uchiha an approving look.

Obito's grandmother, however, was quite worried. "Obito, becoming a Genin means becoming a real ninja. There are many difficult missions..."

Obito gave her a smile that said there was no need to worry.

"Then I'll submit your graduation application to the Hokage right away!"

Fugaku Uchiha nodded as he spoke.

Ever since being defeated by Obito, Kakashi had become increasingly withdrawn. Even when Guy came to challenge him to a duel, Kakashi remained silent.

But Kakashi's training had also accelerated without pause. Whenever he pushed himself to his limits, he recalled the way Obito Uchiha had defeated him.

Those arrogant eyes...

Kakashi sat at his desk, feeling somewhat irritated as he looked at Obito Uchiha's empty seat.

"Where did he go?"

Kakashi frowned slightly.

Class was about to begin. Why had Obito Uchiha not arrived yet?

Ever since Obito changed last time, he had been even more punctual than Kakashi for every class!

He was practically an exemplary student.

His sudden lateness today sent Kakashi's thoughts running wild.

Had Obito Uchiha finally failed to keep up his good-student act?

Or had Obito Uchiha finally reverted to being the same old dead last?

At this moment, Rin was slowly passing by Kakashi.

"Rin!"

Kakashi suddenly called out to Rin.

Rin looked at Kakashi with a puzzled expression.

"Where did that guy go?"

Kakashi pointed at Obito Uchiha's seat and asked.

"Huh? Kakashi, didn't you know? Obito has already applied to graduate early!"

Rin said with a smile.

"Hm!!"

Kakashi's eyes widened in shock. "But isn't he the same age as us?"

At his words, Rin revealed a delighted smile. "I heard that because Obito is so outstanding, the Hokage personally assessed him and approved his advancement!"

"And Obito is taking the Hokage's test right now!"

As Rin spoke, her face was full of proud smiles for Obito.

She had watched Obito go from the dead last to the genius he was now, so she was naturally happy for him.

"Damn it!"

Kakashi furrowed his brow. He had originally planned to apply for early graduation next year, but he had not expected Obito to beat him to it!