The classroom door slid open with a sharp clatter, revealing Chunin Instructor Daikoku standing at the podium. Instead of opening his lesson ledger, he scanned the room, his voice booming over the chatter.
"Alright, gather your things! In order to inspire all of you for the upcoming year, the Academy director has ordered our class—along with the rest of the lower ranks—to assemble in the main training arena. Today, you will witness the special graduation examination."
A wave of excited mutters swept through the rows as the kids scrambled out of their desks. Akira stood up casually, tucking his hands into his pockets as he joined the stream of students shuffling into the hallways.
As they emerged onto the upper spectator balconies overlooking the massive stone arena, Akira observed the sheer crowd size. Rows upon rows of Academy classes were crammed together, flanked by various active Chunin, Jonin commanders, and even civilians filling the stands.
Akira's pale eyes glinted as he quietly analyzed the situation.
"A blatant propaganda drive by the higher-ups..." Akira thought, his mind piecing together the administrative strategy. "They're putting on a show to ignite the students' spirits and push more fast-tracked graduations. The Nine-Tails rampage decimated Konoha's active military roster. They desperately need fresh bodies to replenish their ranks... and most of these rushed graduates are being groomed as nothing more than cannon fodder for the borders."
"Akira!"
A cheerful, bright voice shattered his inner calculations.
Akira didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. For the past six months, ever since she discovered his identity at the Academy, Uchiha Izumi had made it her absolute life's mission to follow and pester him during every single free break. No matter how cold, indifferent, or completely unresponsive he acted toward her, she simply refused to leave him alone.
Turning his head slightly, Akira gave a dry, minimal response. "Izumi."
"I knew you'd be sitting in the back!" Izumi beamed, stepping up beside him and leaning against the wooden railing. She looked down toward the elevated stone platform in the center of the arena, her dark eyes shining. "Everyone's talking about Itachi today. They say he's going to set a historical record! Isn't it amazing how incredible our clan's genius is?"
Akira remained completely silent, staring blankly ahead.
Noticing his total lack of enthusiasm, Izumi puffed out her cheeks in a small pout, crossing her arms. "Why do you always look so unbothered? You're just as smart as him, Akira! Why didn't you apply for the early graduation exam too?"
Akira looked up at the grey morning clouds drifting across the sky, his voice flat and devoid of ambition. "What's the use of becoming a full-fledged shinobi this early? There's no prize for dying young."
Izumi pouted even harder at his cynical answer, opening her mouth to argue—but a sudden blast of applause from the surrounding stands drowned out her voice.
Up on the main VIP balcony overlooking the arena floor, Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his red Hokage robes, flanked by his senior advisors, Homura and Koharu, as well as Danzō Shimura. Down below on the stone ring, a single young figure stepped into the light.
Uchiha Itachi stood calmly in the center, his expression completely unreadable despite the thousands of eyes fixed on him.
The head proctor stepped forward, his voice amplified across the arena. "Due to special wartime circumstances and a direct request from the Uchiha clan head, Uchiha Itachi's graduation test will consist of a live combat evaluation! To pass, he must successfully defeat an active, registered Genin!"
An audible gasp echoed through the student sections.
"A real Genin?!"
"He's only six years old!"
A few parents in the upper stands cast hesitant glances toward the Hokage's balcony, but Hiruzen and his advisors remained completely motionless, offering no objection.
Stepping onto the platform from the opposite entrance was his assigned opponent: Mizu Hake, a sixteen-year-old veteran Genin wielding a long ninja blade, his face set in a stern, competitive scowl.
"Begin!" the proctor shouted.
The fight lasted less than ten seconds.
Clang!
With blinding speed, Itachi launched a wave of shuriken. Mizu Hake drew his blade to deflect them, but Itachi instantly closed the distance, overpowering the teenager's defense with a swift, chakra-infused kick that sent the older boy sliding back across the stone.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!" Hake barked, slamming his hands onto the ring to create a solid barrier, blocking Itachi's incoming Fireball Technique.
FOOM!
The flames roared against the stone wall, creating a massive cloud of obscuring steam. But right as Hake peered over the edge of his earth barrier, he caught a direct glimpse of Itachi stepping through the mist—his single-tomoe Sharingan spinning smoothly inside his crimson irises.
A subtle Genjutsu caught Hake mid-breath. The veteran Genin froze in place, his eyes going completely glossy as Itachi casually placed a kunai against the older boy's neck.
"Winner: Uchiha Itachi!"
The arena erupted into deafening cheers. The Academy girls began screaming wildly, shouting confessions and praise from the balconies, while the elders and advisors on the high stage nodded in quiet approval. Nearby, Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha held small, proud smiles on their faces.
"He passes!" the proctor announced, holding up a black forehead protector.
However, Itachi didn't reach for the headband. He remained standing in the center of the ring, his dark eyes looking up toward the spectator balconies. Slowly, he raised his arm.
"Lord Hokage," Itachi's quiet, clear voice carried across the arena floor. "I have a formal request. Before I accept my headband, I wish to conduct one additional sparring match against an Academy student."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised by the unexpected appeal. Interested to see who could possibly hold the Uchiha prodigy's attention, the Third Hokage gave a slow nod. "Granted. Who do you wish to challenge?"
Instantly, a massive commotion broke out across the student sections.
"Is he talking about me?!"
"He wants to test us!"
Some students stood up proudly, boasting that Itachi recognized their strength, while others shrank back into their seats, terrified of being humiliated in front of the entire village.
Even Akira watched with mild curiosity, wondering which foolish kid had drawn the young Uchiha master's attention.
Itachi's dark eyes locked directly onto the rear balcony of the lower-year section.
"From Class 3-A," Itachi stated calmly, his voice ringing clearly in the quiet arena. "Hyūga Akira. Step down."
In the back row, Akira froze.
As hundreds of heads turned simultaneously to stare directly at him, and with Izumi gasping beside him in utter shock, a single thought echoed in Akira's mind:
"...I'm fucked."