"Obviously, I was the one who was wronged, but he said Iruka handled it correctly."
Second Pillar felt that something was off.
However, Second Pillar's long-standing admiration for Uchiha Itachi and trust in Uchiha Itachi made him want to believe Uchiha Itachi—to believe what Uchiha Itachi had said.
"But he's my brother."
"My brother can't be wrong, right?"
Second Pillar fell into conflict.
The night passed quietly.
"Start simulation!"
[At age 6, you displayed exceptional talent.] [At age 6 years and 1 month, you took the initiative to confess to Yamanaka Ino. Yamanaka Ino gladly accepted.] ... [At age 6 years and 4 months, Yamanaka Ino invited you to visit the Yamanaka Clan.] [You arrived at the Yamanaka Clan.] [You infiltrated the Yamanaka Clan's secret chamber.] [You stole the Yamanaka Clan's secret technique scroll.] [You were discovered.] [You committed suicide.] [Yamanaka Inoichi, Anbu Ninja, Hiruzen Sarutobi... were utterly dumbfounded.] [Yamanaka Ino was very sad.] [You died.] [Please choose one of the following two options as your reward.] [1: Nothing.] [2: The item you were holding when you died.]
"I choose 2!"
The next moment, a scroll appeared in Uchiha Setsuna's hand.
Uchiha Setsuna opened it directly.
"Mind Body Switch Technique."
"Mind Disturbance Technique."
"Mind Connection Technique."
Uchiha Setsuna nodded.
"Not bad. These few ninjutsu are all extremely practical."
"Once I learn these ninjutsu, it will be much easier for me to make moves in Kirigakure."
"By then, it'll be about time to push Kirigakure's progress further."
"Too bad I didn't obtain the Yamanaka Clan Sensory Technique."
Besides that, there were many other ninjutsu in Konoha that Uchiha Setsuna wanted.
But obtaining those ninjutsu would not be easy.
He had been able to obtain the Uchiha Clan's ninjutsu scrolls because Uchiha Setsuna himself was a member of the Uchiha Clan.
He had been able to obtain the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques because of Yamanaka Ino.
As for the others...
Uchiha Setsuna thought seriously about it.
In Life Simulation, joining the Anbu might give him a chance to obtain some ordinary ninjutsu.
Joining Root would allow him to acquire several Wind Release ninjutsu.
But things like the Nara Clan Ninjutsu, the Akimichi Clan Ninjutsu, and the Scroll of Seals that Uchiha Setsuna desperately wanted...
There was basically no hope.
Those people were highly guarded.
Neither Nara Shikamaru nor Akimichi Choji liked Uchiha Setsuna from the very beginning the way Yamanaka Ino did.
The moment Uchiha Setsuna approached them proactively, he would certainly arouse suspicion.
In the original story, Naruto had been able to steal the Scroll of Seals. Uchiha Setsuna felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi had most likely arranged it; otherwise, it would have been impossible.
If a Genin could steal something so important, then spies from the other ninja villages would have cleaned Konoha out long ago.
"Setsuna, do your best. Get a good score today."
Uchiha Kayan stood at the door.
"Okay, Grandpa."
But Uchiha Setsuna added silently—that was impossible.
If he performed too well, people would notice him.
Uchiha Setsuna felt there was absolutely nothing wrong with judging Uchiha Itachi and the Konoha High Command with the greatest possible malice.
When he entered the classroom, many students were rubbing their hands together, eagerly anticipating the monthly exam.
Iruka entered the classroom carrying a thick stack of test papers.
"Good morning, students."
"Good morning, Teacher."
Iruka was very pleased when he saw the anticipation in the students' eyes.
"We will now begin the first monthly exam of your Ninja Academy lives. I hope everyone can achieve good results."
"Do your best!"
After saying that, Iruka handed out the test papers.
Each person received one paper, and there were not many questions on it.
After all, Uchiha Setsuna and the others had only been studying for one month, and the material taught had been limited.
Uchiha Setsuna took a glance.
None of these questions posed any difficulty for Uchiha Setsuna.
"I can't score too well, but I can't score too poorly either."
"I'll get some questions right, some wrong, and leave some completely unanswered."
"I'll aim for a score around the middle of the class."
Uchiha Setsuna looked ahead.
"Among the poor students, I'll use Naruto and Kiba Inuzuka as references."
"Among the top students, I'll use Sakura and Hinata as references."
"I'll stay somewhere between them."
As Uchiha Setsuna answered the questions, he observed his surroundings, using the others' performances to determine what level he should display for this monthly exam.
No one noticed Uchiha Setsuna's actions.
After all, even Iruka was only a Chunin.
Uchiha Setsuna's overall strength was at the Jonin level—he was even among the top Jonin.
Few Jonin possessed as many formidable ninjutsu as Uchiha Setsuna.
Second Pillar calmed himself and answered the questions seriously.
Sakura looked at Second Pillar's back.
Hokage Office Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked toward the Ninja Academy.
"Today seems to be the monthly exam scheduled for Iruka's class?"
The next moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts stirred.
"Telescope Technique!"
A crystal ball appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The image of the classroom appeared within the crystal ball.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze moved continuously.
First was Ino-Shika-Cho.
The Sarutobi Clan had close ties with Ino-Shika-Cho. Hiruzen Sarutobi paid great attention to the next generation of Ino-Shika-Cho, hoping they would continue to unite around the Sarutobi Clan and remain its right-hand men.
After that was Naruto.
Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, as well as Minato Namikaze's son.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi did not grant Naruto preferential treatment.
Because whenever he saw Naruto, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help thinking of someone.
Biwako Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's wife.
She had died in the Nine-Tails Attack, and it was precisely because of Naruto's birth that she had died.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze shifted to Second Pillar.
"Fugaku Uchiha's second son."
"Another genius."
"The person Itachi cares about most."
"How fortunate."
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced in Uchiha Setsuna's direction, but only for a moment before directly passing over him.
To Hiruzen Sarutobi now, Uchiha Setsuna was not even worth a second glance.
"The Hyuga... If the Uchiha could be like the Hyuga Clan, that would be wonderful."
"Konoha wouldn't have so many troubles."
Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled the incident where Kumogakure Ninja had tried to abduct Hyuga Hinata.
Back then, the Hyuga Clan had readily handed over Hizashi Hyuga as a scapegoat.
"If it had been the Uchiha, that would have been completely impossible."
"The Uchiha are all extremely selfish."
"They don't care about the village at all."
A figure stood atop Hokage Rock. It was Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Itachi looked down upon all of Konoha.
"The environment within the Uchiha is truly too terrible. Even Sasuke has been affected."
"If this continues, Sasuke will inevitably be corrupted."
"I can't let that happen."
Before you continue