A D-rank mission? No, look again

As a disciple of the innately evil Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally understood what the Three-Tomoe Sharingan represented.

Three tomoe... represented the ultimate in dynamic vision, top-tier resistance to genjutsu, perfect combat anticipation through ocular techniques, and various additional special bloodline abilities.

Three tomoe... eyes that countless Uchiha Clan members struggled to attain even after spending half their lives trying, yet they had now appeared in a child who was still so young.

If he was already like this now, what about the future...

And... most importantly... Hiruzen had known absolutely nothing about this.

At that thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned forward slightly, his previously relaxed back tensing. His gaze locked firmly onto Shibi Aburame, his eyes full of gravity.

He waited for Shibi Aburame's answer.

"During my assessment of him, he used the Susanoo Armoring Technique, which members of the Uchiha Clan can only use after awakening their Sharingan. Moreover... he could cover his entire head. That means... his Susanoo armor can cover his whole body, and only a Three-Tomoe Sharingan has the ocular power to cover the entire body."

Faced with Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression, Shibi Aburame still nodded calmly, every word certain.

"I see... this child..."

At those words, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help slowly raising a hand to rub his aching brow.

This news was rather too shocking for him.

After all, he knew what kind of ninja the Uchiha Clan had produced.

A Three-Tomoe Sharingan at nine... then, would he reach the same heights as that man?

"Shibi, this child's future is beyond measure, so I want to give you a task in my capacity as Hokage. During your time as his jonin instructor, please do your best to help Asuma and the others form strong enough bonds with Uchiha Gen.

"You know about the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan. Although this child has never displayed any extreme behavior before, we have no way of knowing how he awakened three tomoe at this age, or what reason might have triggered it.

"You must understand, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan isn't something that awakens simply because a ninja is exceptionally talented. Much less... much less three tomoe.

"We cannot see into this child's heart at all. That is something we can only judge after spending a long time with him. With talent like this... if he goes to extremes, he could very well become the next Madara Uchiha. So, this child... I'll leave him in your care. Sorry for the trouble."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke quietly, his tone exceedingly grave.

At his words, Shibi Aburame slowly lowered his head and bowed solemnly, his voice steady and serious.

"Understood."

"Good. You may leave now. Oh, right, write up the details of that assessment and give them to me."

"Yes!"

After seeing Shibi Aburame off, Hiruzen Sarutobi was left alone in the office.

He took out his pipe and lit it.

Wisps of smoke slowly drifted upward.

"My teacher once said that the birth of the Sharingan is always rooted in extreme emotional upheaval: separation, pain, hatred, despair, or an obsession on the brink of death.

"Even awakening one tomoe requires that. Two tomoe and three tomoe require progressively more intense mental shocks to break through the shackles on one's ocular power again and again."

"Nine years old, a complete three tomoe..."

Through the drifting smoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi heavily uttered those words, his eyes filled with unfathomable worry.

"Child, will you be... a different kind of Uchiha, just like... Kagami?"

At five thirty in the morning, Konoha's early mist had yet to disperse. The morning sun pierced the overlapping treetops, scattering flecks of golden light over the bluestone plaza in front of the ninja building.

"Yaaawn... why did we have to set such an early time?"

Asuma Sarutobi yawned. He had been so excited about becoming a ninja that he had barely slept all night. On top of that, a certain damned old man had kept holding him back, telling him to get along with Uchiha Gen and Kurenai and so on, leaving him with hardly any sleep at all.

Uchiha Gen stood quietly to one side.

There are at least three ninja at chunin level or above watching me from hiding, and one of them is clearly hostile. Heh, whose men could they be? Such a tough guess. Observation Haki really is useful.

He had obtained Observation Haki from yesterday's check-in. He had not expected it to come in handy today.

Just now, he had only instinctively wanted to try out his newly acquired ability. To his surprise, simply spreading his Haki brought the entire stretch of plaza within a dozen or so meters into his perception.

Under his Observation Haki, three heartbeats hidden in different dark corners were clear and distinct. Judging solely by the density of their chakra flows, all three were above the chunin threshold.

Withdrawing his Observation Haki perception, Uchiha Gen lightly curled the fingers hanging at his side. His face remained as calm and indifferent as ever, giving others no sign that anything was amiss.

Uchiha Gen had long since mentally prepared himself to be watched.

After all, this could not have been more normal. That particular man did this in every Naruto fanfiction, and what was more, Gen was an Uchiha.

Before long, Shibi Aburame walked slowly toward them, wearing Konoha's standard thin jonin vest with a roomy, heavy trench coat over it.

The standard trench coat, sunglasses, and cuffed trousers distinctive to the Aburame Clan.

"Very punctual, and over ten minutes early, too. It seems you're also looking forward to the first official mission of your lives. Get yourselves ready, then. I've accepted a fairly decent D-rank mission for you."

Looking at the three who had all arrived, Shibi Aburame took out a scroll and spoke with a smile.

At his words, Asuma Sarutobi pursed his lips slightly, unable to help feeling a little disappointed.

"Huh? Just a measly D-rank mission? That's way too easy, sensei! Can't we switch to something higher-ranked? Preferably give us something A-rank right off the bat."

A D-rank mission? No... look again.

Uchiha Gen was also somewhat surprised. Logically, after testing his strength, Shibi Aburame should not have accepted those low-level missions.

"This is already the highest-ranked mission I could get you by going above your level. Don't underestimate this mission. This... also counts as a test for you, or rather... a test of whether you can truly become ninja."

Faced with Asuma Sarutobi's disappointment, Shibi Aburame merely spoke softly and calmly, slowly unrolling the scroll as he did.