Allowing Danzo to manage Root had eventually turned the organization into Danzo's personal domain.
If the village followed Danzo's opinions on how to deal with the Uchiha clan, who knew what kind of consequences it might bring?
"Hmph, Hiruzen… you will regret this!"
Shimura Danzo slammed the door as he left.
In his eyes, Hiruzen had long since forgotten the teachings of the Second Hokage.
This weakness toward the Uchiha would sooner or later bring disaster to the village.
"…Sigh."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked out the window.
In the distance stood the stone monument of the Hokage, carved with his own face.
After a moment, Hiruzen summoned an ANBU ninja, who handed him a report containing Seiji's information.
Inside were detailed records of Seiji's performance at the Ninja Academy.
The Next Day — Ninja Academy
"The next match will be Kakashi versus Might Guy."
As Umino Iru announced the names, two boys stepped forward from the group.
One had short white hair—Kakashi.
The other wore a green tight-fitting suit—Might Guy.
The two formed the Seal of Opposition and began their sparring match.
Below the field, Obito cracked his knuckles impatiently.
For the past few days, he had been training day and night, just to show everyone what he could do today.
"Obito, don't lose to the new guy, Uchiha Seiji."
Shiranui Genma joked while chewing on a wooden stick.
"Hmph! Today I'm going to prove myself!"
Obito pointed proudly at his own face.
"From now on, I won't be the dead-last in this class anymore!"
"Hey, seriously?"
Genma looked at Obito's confident expression and actually believed him a little.
Both Obito and Seiji belonged to the Uchiha clan, but Seiji had only recently transferred into the class.
Their training experience wasn't even close.
Even if Obito was the class's dead-last, beating Seiji shouldn't be a problem… right?
"Don't embarrass yourself."
"Just watch me."
Obito turned his head, searching for Nohara Rin in the crowd.
All he wanted… was for Rin to notice him.
"The next match: Seiji versus Obito."
"Hey! Were you even listening, Obito?"
Umino Iru raised his voice.
"Coming! Coming!"
Only then did Obito realize the instructor had called his name several times.
He quickly squeezed through the crowd and stepped into the sparring field.
"Don't say I bullied you later."
Obito said while forming the Seal of Opposition.
"This is a normal sparring match. Of course not."
Seiji returned the gesture, signaling he was ready.
The moment the signal was given—
Obito rushed forward.
Straight punch!
Seiji slightly shifted his body and avoided it.
Obito spun around and followed with a whipping kick.
Seiji lowered his stance, blocked the kick with his left hand, and grabbed Obito's leg with his right—trying to throw him to the ground.
Midair, Obito quickly pulled a kunai from his ninja pouch.
Clang!
The two kunai collided, sparks flying.
The battle quickly turned into a back-and-forth exchange.
This was Seiji's first real sparring match.
His movements were still somewhat unfamiliar.
Yet during the fight, he felt no real pressure.
After all…
There was a reason Obito was called the dead-last.
In the databook Tō no Sho, Obito's total stat score was only 36, based on the eight ninja attributes.
Coincidentally, that was the same total score Sakura Haruno had as a genin.
Of course, statistics couldn't completely define a ninja's strength.
But it was clear that Obito was currently very weak.
His real growth would only come later—
After experiencing the battlefield and awakening the Sharingan.
"Who do you think will win?"
The fight between two Uchiha naturally attracted the attention of the entire class.
"Obito, probably. He's still an Uchiha after all."
"Yeah, I think so too."
Students whispered among themselves.
"Kakashi, who do you think will win?"
Rin asked curiously.
"Hard to say."
"But Seiji probably has the higher chance."
Kakashi adjusted the scarf around his neck, which had become messy during his earlier match with Guy.
"Eh? Why?"
Rin blinked in surprise.
Even she had assumed Obito would win, just like most of the class.
Someone who had trained for a long time should naturally be stronger than someone who had just arrived.
"Most people here still haven't even reached the academy's graduation standard."
Kakashi began explaining calmly.
"The Three Basic Techniques."
"I see…"
Rin nodded as she understood his point.
"So everyone's basically fighting with taijutsu, or using shuriken as ranged weapons."
Her bright eyes turned toward Seiji as she carefully observed him.
"…He looks a little stronger than last week."
She wasn't completely sure.
Before, Seiji had seemed rather thin.
Now, his body looked well-proportioned and stronger.
"Exactly."
Kakashi nodded.
"His taijutsu talent is very good. That advantage compensates for his lack of experience."
Sure enough—
Not long after Kakashi finished speaking, the situation in the battle changed.
Obito gasped heavily for air as he jumped back and threw three shuriken.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Seiji calmly deflected them one by one with his kunai.
Ever since awakening the Sharingan, even without activating it, Seiji's body had gradually been strengthened by its ocular power.
That power slowly nourished his limbs and improved his physical condition.
Even his normal eyesight had become much sharper.
To him, the shuriken thrown by the exhausted Obito looked painfully slow.
"Is that all you've got, Obito?"
Seiji asked calmly.
He hadn't even used his Sharingan yet.
"Hmph! I was just going easy on you earlier!"
Obito wiped the sweat from his forehead and stubbornly replied.
But inwardly he was shocked.
Why did Uchiha Seiji have so much stamina?
Wasn't he tired?!
Obito glanced at Seiji again.
Seiji had barely even started sweating.
"…Is this what people from the Land of Lightning are like?"
Obito clicked his tongue.
Before he could rest any longer—
Seiji suddenly rushed forward with a kunai in hand.
Obito hurriedly raised his own kunai to block.
At that moment—
Seiji planted his left foot firmly on the ground and swung his right leg in a powerful kick.
Bang!
Obito was sent flying and crashed onto the ground.
"Ow! Ow! That hurts!"
"You lost."
Seiji held his kunai against Obito's neck.
After a brief pause, Umino Iru finally announced the result.
"The winner… Uchiha Seiji!"
Even he hadn't expected this outcome.
Was Seiji really that strong?
That kick alone had left Obito clutching his waist in pain.
"Thank you for the match."
Seiji sheathed his kunai and returned calmly to the crowd.
The trait [Long-Distance Runner (White)] increased the strength of his legs by 5%.
Combined with the physical talent of the Yotsuki clan, the power of his kicks had increased significantly.
After the result was announced, the once noisy crowd became noticeably quieter.
The development was simply…
too unexpected.
Could the newly transferred Uchiha Seiji actually be a genius like Kakashi?
Many students found the same thought appearing in their minds.
End of Chapter 15