An angry Kakashi

Seeing the terrifying look on Shinku Yuhi's face, Chihane decided to lie low somewhere else for a while. Otherwise, if Shinku caught him when he went home, he probably wouldn't get a good night's sleep for a month.

"Makoto Uchiha actually lost! And they call him the Uchiha Clan's once-in-a-decade genius? That's it? That's all he's got?"

Up on the platform, Jiraiya stared down in astonishment, a mocking expression spreading across his face!

The other jonin's mouths twitched at the sight.

Beside him, Tsunade fought back the urge to kick Jiraiya away and ignored him.

She turned to look at Chihane in the arena, her beautiful eyes suddenly shining with admiration.

Chihane's moves, his fighting style... they really were right up her alley.

He met his opponents head-on. If he learned her monstrous strength, his abilities would probably take a huge leap.

If not for her fear of blood, she would have chosen to lead Chihane's team without a moment's hesitation.

"Hehehe... what a splendid fight. A clash between geniuses is a rare sight indeed."

Orochimaru gave a sinister smirk. "I wonder just how far he can grow... but if he's on the team, I might be interested in leading it myself!" (Don't ask me how to make a sinister smirk. Just picture the Crooked-Mouth Dragon King.)

With that, Orochimaru glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, then turned and left.

Orochimaru's parting words made Tsunade's expression shift slightly. Her brows drew together, and she, too, looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi beside her.

Ever since Danzo had left, Hiruzen Sarutobi had worn a thoughtful expression. No one could guess what was on his mind.

In the Ninja Academy's combat ranking assessment, Chihane had overwhelmed Makoto Uchiha and decisively claimed first place.

Within a single day, Chihane's reputation as a genius spread throughout Konoha!

That night.

At the Hatake home.

Thinking of the look Shinku Yuhi had given him at the end, Chihane felt a chill all over despite the warm weather. He firmly decided to leave and lie low, but when he thought of Kakashi, he decided to leave him a letter before going.

"My little brother Kashi... because... therefore... that's everything. Signed, Chihane Hatake."

After finishing the letter, he hurriedly packed his things and fled. Before leaving, he was still thinking about how, once he became strong enough, he would take Kurenai Yuhi home every day and flaunt their affection in front of her family.

Meanwhile, Kakashi had just returned from a mission outside the village when he heard the news. As usual, Chihane was bound to prepare a whole table of dishes to celebrate.

At the thought of the feast waiting at home-braised pork, sweet-and-sour ribs, deep-fried pork tenderloin... Kakashi couldn't help shedding tears from his mouth.

He quickly said a word to Minato Namikaze, then raced home.

"I'm home!"

Kakashi pushed the gate open hard and called out into the empty courtyard.

Looking at the empty courtyard and the equally empty house, Kakashi couldn't help wondering whether he had come to the wrong place. But the wooden posts standing in the courtyard confirmed that he hadn't. Where was Chihane, then? And where was the table full of food?

"Chihane Hatake!!"

Upon entering the living room, Kakashi spotted the letter on the table. After reading it, his expression instantly turned cold.

Still, his most urgent concern was figuring out how to deal with Shinku Yuhi, who would be arriving soon.

The two families had always been close, and Kakashi had been on the receiving end of Shinku Yuhi's discipline plenty of times. Realizing that Chihane had irresponsibly run away, he immediately sensed trouble and decided to hide at Minato-sensei's house for a while.

Just then, he heard the gate opening. Kakashi looked back and saw none other than Shinku Yuhi, the very man he had been worrying about, approaching with a dark expression.

"Uncle Shinku, you're here! Are you looking for my brother? He went out, so he isn't home. How about I tell him to come see you when he gets back?"

Kakashi gave Shinku Yuhi a sheepish smile.

"Really? What a coincidence. Just when I show up, he happens to be out? I'd better look for him myself!"

"Genjutsu! Fox in the Heart Technique!"

As he spoke, Shinku Yuhi caught Kakashi in a genjutsu and walked into the house. Left behind, Kakashi wandered around the courtyard without realizing it, as though he had entered a maze.

Shinku Yuhi soon discovered that Chihane really wasn't home and left using the Body Flicker Technique. As he departed, he distinctly felt that he had forgotten something!

Only Kakashi remained, still wandering through the courtyard alone. Finally, the next morning, with no chakra left to sustain it, the genjutsu broke on its own, and Kakashi felt as though he had finally made it home!

Chihane Hatake, I'm going to kill you!

Kakashi seethed at the thought.

Meanwhile, after leaving home, Chihane went straight to Might Duy and said he wanted to undergo a month of special training with him, staying at his house during that time.

Might Duy agreed, of course, and shouted excitedly, "This is youth!"

At the Uchiha Clan compound.

A solemn atmosphere hung over the grounds.

In a room near the center, Makoto Uchiha stood with his head lowered.

Before Makoto Uchiha stood a man with his back to him, his hands clasped behind him.

This man was Makoto Uchiha's father and the deputy captain of the Konoha Military Police Force... Uchiha Hanshan.

"Makoto! I heard from the clan that you lost to that boy from the Hatake Clan today!"

"Father..."

Makoto Uchiha stood there guiltily, his body trembling slightly.

Uchiha Hanshan turned and stared at him coldly. "You couldn't even beat a mere dead last. You've utterly disgraced our Uchiha Clan."

"Chihane isn't a dead last. He's strong!"

Hurt by Uchiha Hanshan's rebuke, Makoto Uchiha still tried to defend himself.

After all, the words this man most often said to him were, "That's my son!" He had never reprimanded him so harshly before.

Uchiha Hanshan stared coldly at Makoto Uchiha, his voice stern. "Do you understand?! Right now, neither you nor that brat matters. What matters is the Uchiha Clan's reputation. We cannot disgrace it!"

"The clan has always called you a once-in-a-decade genius. If you're so easily defeated by a brat who doesn't even know ninjutsu, how can the Uchiha Clan hold its head high in Konoha?"

His words carried a chill cold enough to freeze the air.

They also revealed just how much he valued the clan's honor. This was the Uchiha Clan-a clan that valued its glory more than life itself.

"I'll defeat him and reclaim the glory I lost."

Makoto Uchiha spoke with determination in his eyes.

"Enough! The clan's orders have already come down. Apply for early graduation tomorrow! Join the Konoha Military Police Force. Lord Fugaku will teach you personally. Once you're strong enough, you can reclaim what you lost!"

"Early graduation? Isn't that just running away? Father, please believe in me..."

"Enough! The clan has decided to focus its resources on Shisui Uchiha from now on. Accept the arrangement!"

Uchiha Hanshan spoke with a slightly dejected air.

"Shisui, huh? I understand, Father."