"Ding! Your Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique has automatically finished cultivation after your persistent efforts!"
One month later, the Chunin Exams began, held in Konoha Village.
Uchiha Sora and his two teammates participated in the exams as scheduled.
They passed the first written test smoothly, and in the second survival test, Uchiha Sora cruised through the whole time, letting his two teammates show off their skills while he stayed in a support position.
In the subsequent tournament, Uchiha Sora intentionally exposed a flaw, allowing his opponent to defeat him and get eliminated.
For the following finals, Uchiha Sora became a spectator, cheering on his only teammate to make it through the eliminations, Yūgao Uzuki.
In the end, Yūgao Uzuki won the finals with her outstanding swordsmanship and successfully promoted to Chunin.
Hirai Mitsuteru and Uchiha Sora remained Genin.
After becoming a Chunin, Yūgao Uzuki treated the two of them and their Jonin teacher, Jōzuka Masaki, to a big meal the next day.
In the days to come, Yūgao Uzuki, now a Chunin, would go on to execute higher-level missions to hone herself.
Hirai Mitsuteru was very envious of this.
"Sigh, Sora, Masaki-sensei is going to execute high-level missions this year too, leaving only us two pathetic Genin behind. We probably won't have many chances to execute missions together in the future, right?" After the meal, everyone went their separate ways, and Hirai Mitsuteru patted Uchiha Sora's shoulder, saying sentimentally.
Uchiha Sora smiled faintly: "As long as you work hard, there will always be chances to get promoted, no need to rush."
"Yeah, actually, I don't think I'm very suited for executing those dangerous missions. I think when I can become a Chunin, I'll apply to be a teacher at the Ninja Academy." Hirai Mitsuteru nodded and said.
"Being a teacher is good, I support you!" Uchiha Sora smiled and said.
"Really? You don't think I'm lacking ambition?"
"Haha, everyone has their own ideals. Besides, being a teacher at the Ninja Academy isn't that easy; by the time you want to be one, you might not even be able to get the position!"
"Haha, Sora, since you said that, I'm even more determined in this goal!" Hirai Mitsuteru laughed out loud: "Then, when we meet again next time, I hope I can become a teacher!"
The two parted ways, each heading in a different direction to go home.
A smile appeared on the corner of Uchiha Sora's mouth. His two teammates had their own new lives, so it was time for him to enter a new stage as well.
There were too many things he needed to improve.
After his Sharingan automatically cultivated into a two-tomoe state, there had been no sign of further evolution; this likely required some catalyst.
As for Chakra, the progress was quite fast; he now possessed at least the Chakra levels of an average Jonin, and his physique had the Sage Body bonus, while his Taijutsu and swordsmanship were also growing steadily under automatic cultivation.
In terms of Ninjutsu, besides the basic Three Body Technique, a few Fire Release techniques, and the Shadow Clone he learned from Yūgao Uzuki, he only had one A-rank Ninjutsu, Rasengan.
As for Genjutsu, he knew even less.
His comprehensive strength was actually not weak, but Uchiha Sora was still dissatisfied with his current state.
Especially the lack of a trump card to save his life.
"If only I could get my hands on the scroll of seals!" Uchiha Sora thought to himself.
The scroll of seals contained many Forbidden Techniques and S-rank Ninjutsu. If he could learn the Flying Thunder God Technique, he wouldn't have to fear Obito lurking in the shadows.
Therefore, what Uchiha Sora needed to do next was find a way to obtain the training method for the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The scroll of seals was kept at the Third Hokage's house, and there were Anbu guarding the perimeter; with his current abilities, it was impossible to steal it.
And his identity as a member of the Uchiha Clan destined that he couldn't approach the scroll of seals through conventional channels.
Suddenly, Uchiha Sora thought of a plot point from the original work.
That was the Kumogakure negotiation incident.
This could be said to be one of the most humiliating events in the history of Konoha Village.
The general situation was that while visiting Konoha Village to sign a peace treaty, Kumogakure suddenly made a move against the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan's main family, attempting to abduct her, but was discovered by Hyuga Hiashi, who killed the Cloud Ninja on the spot.
And the exposed Kumogakure bit back, threatening war and demanding that the Hyuga Clan hand over Hiashi's corpse. In the end, Konoha Village chose to submit, sacrificing Neji's father to trade for peace.
This matter should happen soon.
Because Uchiha Sora remembered that the day Konoha and Kumogakure signed the treaty was actually Hyuga Hinata's birthday, which was at the end of the year.
From now, it was only about three months away.
When that day came, as long as Kumogakure made trouble for the Konoha high-ups and the Hyuga Clan, most of Konoha's energy would be focused on this matter, and he would have the opportunity to steal the scroll of seals!
So starting from now, Uchiha Sora had to prepare for stealing the scroll of seals three months later.
Actually, there wasn't much to prepare. Uchiha Sora, who knew the plot well, already possessed the right timing and geographical advantage. If he used some methods then, the success rate of getting the scroll of seals would be extremely high!
However, before that, Uchiha Sora had to improve his Genjutsu and Sharingan.
Powerful Genjutsu combined with the Sharingan could definitely make an ordinary Ninja fall without anyone noticing, which would be a great help when sneaking into the Third Hokage's house.
Thinking of Genjutsu, Uchiha Sora naturally thought of Uchiha Shisui, a person even more talented than Uchiha Itachi.
In the entire Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Shisui was the undisputed number one expert, currently serving in the Anbu.
It was just that Uchiha Sora and Shisui were not familiar with each other; the two had almost never interacted.
To find Shisui, he probably had to go through Itachi.
After all, Itachi and Shisui were very close right now.
...
"Itachi, long time no see. How have you been lately?" Three days later, Uchiha Sora met up with Itachi, and the two met in the small forest where they often trained.
Ever since they graduated, both had their own circles, and the time they had to interact decreased, so they hadn't seen each other for at least half a year.
Uchiha Itachi's personality seemed to have become a bit more reticent.
"Itachi, I heard your Sharingan has awakened. Can you show me?" Uchiha Sora continued.
Itachi nodded, closed his eyes, and opened them again. Instantly, his eyes turned scarlet, and each eye had a black tomoe.
"Two-tomoe Sharingan, not bad. As expected of Itachi!" Uchiha Sora gave a small compliment.
Uchiha Itachi didn't know that the friend in front of him had awakened his eyes even earlier than him by two years.
He looked up silently and said: "Sora, do you know? These are cursed eyes. While they bring me great power, they also keep making me lose things."