Tatsuya Yamashiro thought he had misheard, a trace of doubt flashing across his face. A six-year-old kid who had just enrolled in the Ninja Academy wanted to graduate early?
Even Kakashi Hatake, the most illustrious prodigy in the Academy's history and now an elite Jonin of Konoha, had stayed for a full year before submitting such a request. Moreover, that had been during wartime, when the village desperately needed every available asset on the battlefield.
Yet Jie Uchiha wanted to apply for early graduation on his very first day?
'He's a troublemaker!' Tatsuya concluded, subconsciously dismissing Jie as an attention-seeking brat. The idea of graduating on the first day was too absurd.
But when Tatsuya saw the unwavering determination on the young Uchiha's face, the world suddenly spun around him.
It was real! Someone actually wanted to graduate on their very first day!
"Sensei!"
"Someone help, Sensei fainted!"
"Sensei, are you okay?!"
After a flurry of chaos in the classroom, Tatsuya finally submitted Jie Uchiha's early graduation application.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Looking at the report in his hands, Hiruzen Sarutobi seriously doubted his own memory. If he recalled correctly, today was Jie Uchiha's first day at the Academy. Yet the boy wanted to graduate immediately?
Hiruzen felt reasonably certain he hadn't developed dementia yet, or at least, it wasn't severe enough to cause hallucinations. But since Tatsuya had actually dared to submit the report, it had to be genuine.
The thought that the Uchiha clan had produced another genius—one whose potential might even eclipse Kakashi's—gave the Third Hokage a throbbing headache. He took a long drag from his pipe, pondering in silence. Eventually, a flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes.
"If you want to graduate early, let's see what you're really made of," Hiruzen muttered.
Making his decision, he firmly stamped "Approved" on the application. He then glanced toward the door.
"Go fetch Kakashi Hatake," he ordered the Anbu guard stationed outside.
Since both were geniuses, he wanted to see who was superior: the prodigy of the Uchiha clan, or Kakashi, the pride of the Hokage's faction.
The day quietly slipped by. As the sun began to set, Jie Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha walked home together.
Jie's mood was vastly improved compared to that morning. He hadn't expected Hiruzen to agree to his application so readily. Although it came with the condition of passing an assessment, Jie didn't fear any test the Hokage could throw at him.
After three months of rigorous training, Jie had completely mastered his current arsenal. Whether it was the Wind Release jutsu stolen from the Shimura clan or the ancestral Fire Release jutsu of the Uchiha, he could cast them effortlessly. If he ever encountered a truly formidable enemy, his trump card—the Five Release: Great Combo Jutsu—would teach them the true meaning of power.
Furthermore, three months of continuous extraction had significantly boosted his reserves. His chakra capacity had tripled since he first integrated the Sage Body, placing him on par with a typical Special Jonin of the Uchiha clan.
Combined with his fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan, Jie firmly believed that no one in the current Hidden Leaf Village could best him, except for the veteran elite Jonin.
'What should I do once I become an official ninja?' he mused. 'Go on missions like a regular Genin?'
Absolutely not. As the heir to the Uchiha clan, he wasn't about to waste his time pulling weeds and shoveling manure on D-rank missions like a fresh graduate.
'Maybe I'll inherit the family business and join the Police Force.'
Jie thought that sounded rather appealing. Whenever he felt bored, he could lead a squad of Police Force guards and swagger through the streets unchecked. If anyone dared to get in his way, he could just pull the ultimate trump card: "Do you know who my dad is?"
Just thinking about it filled him with excitement.
"Brother, why did you apply for graduation today?" Itachi asked, snapping Jie out of his daydream. The younger Uchiha had been quietly following him the entire way, racking his brain over this exact question. He just couldn't understand why his brother would skip the Academy entirely.
"You don't understand, Itachi," Jie said, shaking his head.
"For civilians, the Ninja Academy is a rare opportunity. It's their one chance to change their destiny through sheer talent and hard work. But we aren't like them. From the moment we were born, we stood at a height the vast majority of people can never reach."
Jie looked down at his younger brother, his tone turning serious. "For us, the Academy is just a distraction—a greenhouse designed to keep us safe. It's a harbor to shelter you during your weakest, most vulnerable years."
"But your big brother has already moved past that stage," Jie declared with a confident smirk. "I need greater challenges to push my limits and become even stronger."