When Fujiwara Tetsuya returned to the clan's territory, adults from the three clans, Tanaka Jiro, Fujiwara Sachiko, and others, were already waiting at the entrance for his return.
As the meritorious informants, Uesugi Yusuke and Tanaka Rina also attended the adults' meeting for the first time.
Facing the worries of Tanaka Jiro, Fujiwara Sachiko, and the others, Fujiwara Tetsuya offered no explanation.
He led everyone directly to the open space behind the house.
When Fujiwara Tetsuya used Water Release: Water Prison Technique, even Tanaka Jiro quietly uttered, "Tetsuya, you've grown up!"
"Yusuke, Rina, for the next two days, I've asked Sanjido-sensei for leave to fully prepare for the Genin exam!"
"You still need to keep my Water Release Ninjutsu a secret!"
Just as Uesugi Yusuke and Tanaka Rina were about to slip away, Fujiwara Tetsuya turned his head and called out to them.
"Tetsuya! Hiding your strength, right? We understand!"
"Don't worry! We absolutely won't say anything!"
Upon hearing Fujiwara Tetsuya's words, Uesugi Yusuke and Tanaka Rina visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Tetsuya didn't focus his attention on their 'telling tales' incident.
The next morning, Fujiwara Tetsuya's figure once again appeared at Konoha's Training Ground 37.
Unlike last time, after mastering basic Water Release Ninjutsu, Fujiwara Tetsuya now possessed a certain ability to protect himself when facing the wild and fierce animals of Training Ground 37...
Ninja Academy.
After teaching the first class, Sanjido Suzuko clutched Fujiwara Tetsuya's application and, after a brief hesitation, walked towards the Hokage Building.
After verifying her identity, Sanjido Suzuko successfully entered Hiruzen Sarutobi's office.
However, at this time, there were clearly more people in the Hokage Office than Sanjido Suzuko had imagined.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Shimura-sama! Taneji-sama! Mito-sama!"
Looking at the four people in the room, Sanjido Suzuko immediately became much more serious, greeting each of them in turn.
These four, one could say, were the actual power holders of Konoha.
"Oh! It's Suzuko!"
"Shouldn't you be teaching at the Ninja Academy at this time? What! Is there something special?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi clearly had a deep impression of a beauty-level Ninja like Sanjido Suzuko.
To maintain his image, he even put down the smoking pipe in his mouth.
"There is indeed something!"
"Hokage-sama, please look!"
"This is an application for my student, Fujiwara Tetsuya, to graduate early! Please approve it!"
Feeling the oppressive gazes from all around, Sanjido Suzuko took a deep breath and handed the document in her hand to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Damn it!
Fujiwara Tetsuya!
This is all your fault!
This damned oppressive feeling!
Next time, I will never come to this Hokage Office alone again.
"Fujiwara Tetsuya?"
Looking at the young face in Fujiwara Tetsuya's photo on the application, Hiruzen Sarutobi unconsciously brought the still lit pipe back to his mouth.
First year?
Fujiwara Family! If he remembered correctly, they were next to the Tanaka and Uesugi minor Shinobi Clans.
Although they made some contributions in the First War, no powerful Ninja had appeared from them for many years since then.
Could this boy be a genius?
"Suzuko! What kind of person do you think Fujiwara Tetsuya is?"
"Hokage-sama, I believe Fujiwara Tetsuya will become a powerful Ninja far surpassing me in the future!"
"He definitely will!"
Thinking of everything she had seen from Fujiwara Tetsuya during this time, Sanjido Suzuko answered without any hesitation, raising her head with great certainty.
"A powerful Ninja, huh?"
"Alright, I understand! I will arrange this matter!"
"If there's a result, I'll send someone to inform you."
Blowing a smoke ring, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath.
He had never expected Sanjido Suzuko to give Fujiwara Tetsuya such a high evaluation.
If it were Senju, Uchiha, or Hyuga, it wouldn't be surprising!
But if it's a minor Shinobi Clan!
"Hokage-sama, if possible, please schedule Fujiwara Tetsuya's assessment for two days from now."
"Alright, I understand! I will arrange it!"
Although he didn't know why Sanjido Suzuko was so urgent, Hiruzen Sarutobi still agreed.
Perhaps, witnessing this assessment that day would also be a nice change of pace.
"In that case, I'll leave it to Hokage-sama! I'll take my leave now!"
Only when Sanjido Suzuko stepped out of the Hokage Building did she dare to breathe deeply, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
After confirming that the Anbu's gaze had left her, she quickly walked away...
Perhaps, no one could have predicted.
The convergence of destinies was about to turn.
Shortly after Sanjido Suzuko left, a Jonin entered the Hokage Office with two Genin.
"Hokage-sama, that's how the situation unfolded."
At this moment, Danzo and the other two had already left the Hokage Office.
After hearing the Jonin's report, Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled another heavy smoke ring.
"Is that so!"
"Alright, I understand! Yuhi Jonin, you've worked hard this time!"
"Yes."
Standing opposite Hiruzen Sarutobi was Yuhi Shinwa, a Jonin of the Yuhi Clan.
"Uchiha Mikoto Genin!"
Looking at the two Genin behind Yuhi Shinwa, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed slightly.
Witnessing life and death was something Ninja had to experience.
But bonds were not something that could be explained in a few words.
Many talented Genin in Konoha had gone through countless battles and had not fallen on the battlefield.
But because of the loss of their teammates, they became completely disheartened.
"Hokage-sama."
If Fujiwara Tetsuya were present, upon seeing Uchiha Mikoto, he would surely exclaim, "Black-haired, straight-haired beautiful girl."
At this time, Uchiha Mikoto, though only about twelve years old, her figure had already begun to develop.
Even wearing her Genin uniform, one could still see her slightly rising chest.
Her thick, jet-black long hair made Uchiha Mikoto's face appear even more delicate and lovely.
"You must cherish these bonds! I'm sure Yuno, even in the afterlife, wouldn't want you to be consumed by hatred and pain."
Looking at the single tomoe Sharingan appearing in Uchiha Mikoto's eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know how to persuade her to save this once cheerful little girl from her pain.
The Uchiha Clan!
The Sharingan, one of the strongest Kekkei Genkai in the Ninja World, was also a product of hatred, an ominous thing.
Because of this, countless members of the Uchiha Clan became arrogant, haughty, prejudiced, and deranged.
A gentle person like Mirror actually became an anomaly within the Uchiha Clan.
"Yes, Hokage-sama, I understand! I will adjust."
"Yuhi Jonin, I leave them both to you!"
"Hokage-sama, rest assured! I will look after them."
"Oh, and Mikoto Genin! There's a mission here, and now that I think about it, it would be perfect for you."
After a moment of silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled out Fujiwara Tetsuya's early graduation application form and handed it to Uchiha Mikoto.
The Uchiha Clan, with their Sharingan, should be sufficient to gauge Fujiwara Tetsuya's potential, wouldn't they?