The years flew by.
In Konoha year 54, Sarutobi Shinya welcomed his own bloodline, whom he named Konohamaru.
This child was about 6 years younger than Naruto.
On June 2nd of the same year, Uzumaki Kushina gave birth to a daughter.
However, this child would bear the Uzumaki surname and was named Uzumaki Kana.
One of the reasons was that Uzumaki Kana, like Karin, possessed the pure red hair of the Uzumaki Clan.
Karin's registered name upon entering the Ninja Academy was confirmed as Uzumaki Karin.
Clearly, Uzumaki Kushina and the others intended to re-establish the Uzumaki Clan in Konoha.
Namikaze Minato understood and supported this wholeheartedly.
It was also in this year.
Namikaze Naruto, Karin, Uchiha Sasuke, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino, and a cohort of other newborns born after the war entered the Ninja Academy, beginning their grueling school lives.
Because after several years of reforms, the current Ninja Academy was completely different from its past.
Whether students were from ninja clans or commoners, it was impossible to have an easy time at school.
Under the guidance of Sarutobi Asuma's Shadow Clones, they would train rigorously, just as Sarutobi Asuma himself did when he was young.
Seeing students in the academy so leisurely, how could Sarutobi Asuma, who had endured hardship himself, stand by and do nothing?
These were the flowers of humanity; how could their time be wasted like this?
The more sweat they shed now, the less blood they would spill later during the Ninja World War, or when the Ōtsutsuki attacked, potentially saving their lives!
What? You've already mastered the foundational skills of ninja clans and are proficient in the Three Basic Ninjutsu?
No problem, you can skip grades and continue learning Chakra Nature Transformation.
What?
You've already mastered Water Walking and Tree Climbing?
No matter, you can climb cliffs while holding stones, or practice on turbulent river rapids!
Learning knows no bounds.
There's always something for you!
The path Sarutobi Asuma once walked, students like Naruto would also tread, until they couldn't persevere any longer and were eliminated.
It couldn't be helped; he was a very generous person, not hoarding knowledge at all!
...
Naka Shrine.
All members of the Uchiha Clan, except for those on missions outside the village, had gathered here.
Uchiha Itachi, who was already 12 years old and had just awakened his Two Tomoe Sharingan and graduated from the Genin Preparatory Class, was also present.
Uchiha Fugaku scanned the assembled clan members and then announced, "Today, I have a piece of news I wish to solemnly declare."
"That is... Uchiha Yashiro has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan!"
What?
Mangekyo!
The many Uchiha ninjas were shocked, and then they all turned their gazes towards Uchiha Yashiro, who was seated at the front.
Swish!
Uchiha Yashiro used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Uchiha Fugaku. Facing the crowd, and with a nod from Uchiha Fugaku, the Three Tomoe in his eyes rapidly spun, ultimately transforming into a brand-new Mangekyo pattern!
"My goodness!"
"It's really the Mangekyo!"
"Finally, someone else in our Uchiha Clan has awakened the Mangekyo!"
A clamor erupted.
Every Uchiha was shocked, excited, and thrilled, to the point that their Sharingan eyes automatically activated, casting a red glow into the somewhat dim space.
Amidst the crowd, only Uchiha Itachi remained calm.
At the same time, he felt a sense of doubt.
From his understanding, while Uchiha Yashiro's abilities were decent, there was no way he could have awakened the Mangekyo solely through his own capabilities.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Fugaku smiled as he looked at the excited clan members.
Indeed, he had concealed the origin of Uchiha Yashiro's Mangekyo.
This was to encourage the clan members and give them confidence.
At the same time, it was to prevent them from going down a dark path after learning the truth.
He wasn't afraid that Sarutobi Asuma would experiment on Uchiha clansmen.
But now, there were enemies outside the Uchiha clan.
That Uchiha Madara who controlled the Nine-Tails.
As the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku had to do his best to prevent clansmen from cooperating with certain individuals outside.
As for researching a Fūinjutsu to restrict the Sharingan, like the Hyuga Clan, he didn't consider it at all.
The Uchiha didn't need to protect themselves in such a cowardly way!
However, having only Uchiha Yashiro as a role model wasn't enough!
So.
As the murmuring gradually subsided, Uchiha Fugaku spoke again, "Besides Yashiro, Itachi has also awakened his Two Tomoe Sharingan, becoming the first person in the clan to awaken the Two Tomoe Sharingan through his own power!"
"Itachi, come up and show the clansmen your Sharingan."
Uchiha Itachi nodded, flashed onto the stage, and then activated his Two Tomoe Sharingan.
He could understand his father's intentions for doing this.
However, what shocked him was.
Next, Uchiha Fugaku also revealed his Mangekyo!
After a moment of silence, the shouts of the Uchiha clansmen almost blew the roof off.
"No wonder I felt a change in Father's Chakra before. I thought his pupil power had improved again, but I didn't expect him to awaken his Mangekyo!"
Uchiha Itachi looked at his father beside him, unable to hide his shock.
This meant that the Uchiha now had two Mangekyo Sharingan.
As far as he knew, the Uchiha clan at its peak was no more than this.
"Hahaha, now our Uchiha can truly be called the number one ninja clan, Konoha's strongest prestigious family!"
"Of course, this is two Mangekyo Sharingan, the Hyuga Clan is nothing compared to us?"
"By the way, if the Clan Head and Yashiro teamed up, they should be able to completely defeat Fourth Hokage-sama, right?"
"Of course, although Fourth Hokage-sama's speed is extremely fast, if the two of them teamed up, it would definitely not be a problem!"
"I wonder if the Clan Head and Yashiro could defeat Asuma-sama if they teamed up!"
"Probably not?"
"Asuma-sama is even more powerful than Fourth Hokage-sama. He easily defeated the Fourth Raikage and captured the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki!"
"The Fifth Hokage will definitely be Asuma-sama, but for the Sixth, Shisui or Itachi should be able to compete, right?"
"Now, our Uchiha are the strongest ninja clan. Shisui is Asuma-sama's disciple. Among their generation, no one in the village can compare to him, and Itachi is also like that!"
...
Uchiha Itachi frowned as he listened to the clansmen's discussions.
They've gotten arrogant!
The entire Uchiha seemed to be in turmoil.
"My father's actions might backfire..."
Uchiha Itachi worried inwardly.
At this moment, Uchiha Fugaku raised his hand to suppress all the discussions. He put away his smile and said solemnly, "The reason I showed you the Mangekyo Sharingan is not to make you arrogant, but to tell you."
"You also have the opportunity to obtain the Mangekyo Sharingan through your own power."
"The glory of our Uchiha can be maintained and enhanced through our own strength, through righteous strength!"
...
Half an hour later, the assembly ended. Uchiha Itachi left Naka Shrine with the crowd. Suddenly, a familiar figure caught his eye, and he was immediately delighted, running towards him, "Brother Shisui!"
Uchiha Shisui smiled and nodded, saying, "It seems I'm back a little late!"
Uchiha Itachi said, "It's okay, it wasn't anything particularly important anyway."
The two walked side by side, and Uchiha Itachi recounted everything that had happened at the assembly, finally expressing his concerns.
The two sat by the river, and Uchiha Shisui said with a smile, "Don't worry too much. It's only natural for people to become overconfident after gaining strength."
"However, with Teacher Asuma around, two Mangekyo Sharingan aren't a big deal."
"The Clan Head definitely understands this, otherwise, he wouldn't have revealed the fact that he awakened his eyes."
"After all, one Mangekyo Sharingan, plus your awakening of the Two Tomoe, is enough to boost the clansmen's confidence."
Uchiha Itachi said, "I'm just worried that the Uchiha clan will be ostracized by other ninja clans in the village again, and thus become dissatisfied with the village."
Uchiha Shisui listened and smiled, "Are you worried that the Uchiha will appear too powerful, causing hostility from other ninja clans, and thus causing the village to be wary of the Uchiha?"
Uchiha Itachi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
He knew very well that the reason the Uchiha were marginalized in the past was precisely because the Senju disappeared, Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama passed away, the Uchiha clan's strength was too powerful, coupled with the matter of Uchiha Madara back then... and now, he was afraid of a repeat.
Uchiha Shisui couldn't help but playfully tease, "Itachi, if Teacher Asuma were here, he'd praise you for having the talent to become Hokage!"
Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but feel a bit shy upon hearing this and quickly replied, "Hokage? Big Brother Shisui, wouldn't you be more suited for it?"
"No!"
Uchiha Shisui shook his head. "I can be a ninja who silently protects the village, but I'm afraid I can't be the Hokage."
"That position isn't something you can excel at just by being strong."
"You've felt the recent changes in the village, haven't you?"
Uchiha Itachi quickly nodded.
Even though he had just graduated and hadn't started any missions yet, just observing the situation within the village was enough to notice.
Uchiha Shisui chuckled, "If it were me, even with the same conditions, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish these things."
"Once you start your missions, Itachi, you'll feel that Hokage talent possessed by the Fourth Hokage and Teacher Asuma!"
With that, he stood up. "Alright, let's head back and rest!"
"You have a mission tomorrow!"
After speaking, Uchiha Shisui's figure vanished.
"How did Big Brother Shisui know I have a mission tomorrow?"
Uchiha Itachi was puzzled but soon realized, "Could it be..."
The next day.
Inside a classroom at the Ninja Academy, Uchiha Itachi and the other graduates waited for their jonin leader.
As expected, not long after, Uchiha Shisui appeared in the classroom and, smiling, read out three names: "Uchiha Itachi, Kurama Tenshi, Sarutobi Sanki, the three of you, follow me!"
Uchiha Itachi and the other two immediately followed Uchiha Shisui out, leaving a group of envious genin behind.
After all, Uchiha Shisui was a disciple of Asuma!
On the rooftop, after a rather cliché procedure, Uchiha Shisui led the three of them, Itachi, Kurama Tenshi, and Sarutobi Sanki, to the side of the Hokage Tower.
In front of a building, a guarding Konoha ninja meticulously checked Uchiha Shisui's authorization token before allowing them entry.
Uchiha Itachi was fine, but the originally excited and cheerful Kurama Tenshi and Sarutobi Sanki became a little apprehensive seeing such strict security.
Upon entering the room, they discovered that the space inside was much larger than it appeared from the outside.
Moreover, there were people stationed here.
"Teacher Shisui, what is this place? Why is it so strictly guarded?"
Sarutobi Sanki couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked.
"You'll know soon enough."
Uchiha Shisui smiled.
Then, they proceeded through a long corridor to an even larger room.
Furthermore, many people were already gathered on a high platform here.
"Shisui, we've been waiting for you!"
A ninja on the high platform called out.
"Sorry, we're a little late!"
Uchiha Shisui brought the three of them onto the high platform, apologizing with a smile.
Uchiha Itachi and the other two noticed that the people on the platform weren't just ninjas, but also merchants.
One minute later.
As a white light enveloped everyone, Uchiha Itachi's journey to the South Sage Continent began.
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