Kaito's reason for not wanting to be a Chunin wasn't because of the stale meme that "Konoha's Genin are the strongest."
There was a genuinely objective reason for this choice.
This matter involved the very first threshold of the "Will of Fire" that all true Uchiha ninja had to face.
Notice the eyes of these children.
Uchiha Fugaku had discovered Kaito's peculiarity.
Unlike Uchiha Obito and other peers, Kaito did not show excitement, anticipation, or interest.
On the contrary, his expression was as calm as a pool of still water.
...
Early the next morning.
Uchiha Fugaku's house.
"Father, good morning."
Uchiha Yo came to the living room and greeted her father.
"Un." Uchiha Fugaku nodded and stopped his daughter. "Yo, I have something to say to you."
Kaito's performance last night had puzzled Uchiha Fugaku a bit.
"That child, Kaito, seems to lack interest in the Chunin Exams. If you have time today, go ask him if he's having any difficulties."
While Obito, Tekka, and other peers were full of fighting spirit and wanted to participate in the Chunin Exams, Kaito's face was full of... disdain, which confused Uchiha Fugaku.
"No problem, Father." Uchiha Yo took her seat.
One does not speak while eating or sleeping. Amidst the sounds of bowls and chopsticks, the family of three spent their morning together...
...
Half an hour later...
Knock knock knock.
Kaito, who was training, heard a knock on the door.
"The door is unlocked."
Kaito said a sentence, too lazy to even get up to welcome the guest.
Creak... Uchiha Yo pushed open the door, first glanced at the courtyard, then walked towards the living room.
When she slid open the half-closed living room door, she saw... Kaito sitting cross-legged in the center of the living room, striking a contemplative pose.
On the surface, Kaito seemed to be thinking, but in reality, the Lightning Release chakra in his body was circulating non-stop. Aside from sleeping, Kaito was training every moment.
Every minute and every second, Kaito was growing and becoming stronger at an astonishing speed. Like using an experience multiplier cheat in a game, in this humble house known to no one, Kaito's strength was advancing by leaps and bounds.
"Kaito, have you... eaten?"
Looking around the simple living room, Uchiha Yo couldn't help but ask.
"I ate soldier pills."
"..."
Kaito's answer suffocated Uchiha Yo.
Soldier pills, high-compression nutrients.
Just as described in the official databook Scroll of Soldiers, soldier pills actually taste awful.
If they weren't unpalatable, then the maker must not have followed the true original recipe.
"That won't do."
Uchiha Yo frowned.
Soldier pills were for marching and could only be used for emergencies.
Although they had the miraculous effect of allowing a "Genin" to fight continuously for three days and three nights, they couldn't be eaten as regular meals.
"Soldier pills are cheap and easy to eat... No need to wash pots and bowls after eating, no need to make a fire to cook..."
Kaito listed a bunch of advantages of soldier pills, leaving Uchiha Yo speechless.
"What? Did you come today preparing to cook for me?"
Kaito looked up, smiling at the girl in front of him.
Today, Uchiha Yo had changed into warm clothes, making Kaito realize the change in weather.
Of course, that wasn't the main point.
The main point was... the black thermal bodysuit, which looked like black silk tights.
The whole set of tight-fitting clothes ruthlessly outlined Uchiha Yo's budding figure.
Truly... erotic.
She wore a strapless outer garment around her upper body, accentuating the shape of her chest.
The gorgeous patterns on the clothes fully displayed the nobility of the Uchiha.
Becoming the daughter of Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto, Uchiha Yo was different after all.
Material wealth had changed her from the shabby girl in his memory into a girl radiating beauty.
Sure enough, the saying "raise daughters with wealth" made sense.
"Who would cook for you..."
Uchiha Yo looked away.
Huh? A precursor to tsundere?
Sorry, tsundere has been out of the meta for dozens of versions... Kaito thought, his heart unmoved.
"Don't change the subject."
Uchiha Yo walked over and sat down. Across the low table, the two faced each other.
"Kaito, do you have any thoughts about this Chunin Exam?"
Uchiha Yo got straight to the point, preparing to ask Kaito directly about his plans.
In their small group of three, Kaito, who had a good brain, had always held the position of strategist.
"Yo, what do you think will happen after we pass the Chunin Exam?" Staring into those big eyes, Kaito threw out a question.
"Of course, we'll join the Konoha Military Police Force and become a member."
When Uchiha Yo mentioned the Police Force, a look of yearning couldn't help but appear on her cute face.
Most Uchiha's ideal was to join the Police Force. But they didn't know... this department was just a cage built by Senju Tobirama.
Once an Uchiha clan member became a Chunin, they had to enter the Police Force's territory, nailed firmly to the position of law enforcer, which easily offended people, for their entire lives.
According to official data, only three people broke free from this shackle.
Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Itachi, and Uchiha Obito. But they merely jumped from one cage into another.
After the three became Chunin:
One didn't join the Police Force but continued to act as an ordinary Chunin.
One entered Root under Danzo's conspiracy.
One continued to be led by Minato Namikaze.
To reiterate, Uchiha Kagami, Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Obito—these four Uchiha... were all "good citizens."
The Konoha higher-ups had sinister intentions, treating these four specially.
"Able to think with the mindset of a Hokage at age 7, surpassing the narrow-minded clan."
It sounds nice, but essentially it was flattery, brainwashing, PUA (Pick-Up Artist tactics/psychological manipulation), and false promises... Their goal was nothing more than to use them to destroy the Uchiha.
If Uchiha Itachi really could think with a Hokage's mindset at age 7, then why wasn't he the Fifth Hokage?
"And then? Is your ideal to work in the Police Force for your entire life?"
Kaito continued to ask.
Uchiha Yo, do you want to enter the factory and screw bolts for a lifetime?
Stared at by those beautiful eyes, Uchiha Yo always felt a sense of being seen through.
"Of course not."
Uchiha Yo shook her head.
"After working for a long time and getting older, I have to consider marriage... Maybe I'll be like Mother and become a full-time housewife..."
"I'm the same," Kaito suddenly said.
Uchiha Yo froze: "Eh?"
"My dream... is to be a 'full-time Genin'." Kaito rested his chin on his hand, looking at the sky outside.
The clouds in the sky floated to and fro; they were very free.
"I always feel... you are fooling me."
Uchiha Yo's expression was slightly dull.
What is a full-time Genin?
"We are companions, aren't we? Is there anything you can't say..."
Companions?
First of all, only the weak need companions.
Of course, Kaito kept this sentence in his heart.
Secondly.
"Joining the Police Force means patrolling during the day, catching suspects, and intriguing against vegetable vendors and old ladies... At night, dragging a tired body and a brain with severe mental exhaustion home, do you have the energy to train?"
Kaito's expression slowly became solemn.
The Police Force is a place that severely wastes time.
Mental exhaustion caused by trivial matters will change a person's temperament greatly. Over time, you're ruined.
Rather than spending every day like that, it's better to be a ten-thousand-year Genin, with all time under your own control.
Under normal circumstances, Genin won't take mandatory missions. You do what you want every day, and no one cares if you starve to death.
More importantly...
Whether to join the Police Force or not should be my choice.
No one can deprive me of my freedom.
"I... want to remain a Genin."
Kaito stated his plan word by word.
This time, he would continue to walk a path different from the countless futures he observed. Refusing to join the Police Force, starting by being a ten-thousand-year Genin.
"Rest assured."
Seeing the somewhat stunned Uchiha Yo, Kaito shook his head.
"I won't drag you and Tekka down. I will participate in the Chunin Exam; I must participate..."
Saying this, Kaito grinned, revealing a gentle smile.
To increase the pupil power of the opened left eye, one relies on "Killing".
Is there any place more suitable for open killing than the Chunin Exam?
If I don't go on a killing spree at this time, I would be doing a disservice to this left "Sharingan."
"Everyone has their own aspirations. Yo, if you respect me, please understand my decision."
"..."
Uchiha Yo wanted to persuade him, but seeing Kaito's determined eyes, she understood that she couldn't change his mind.
Looking back with every step.
It took Uchiha Yo a long time to leave.
In the end, Kaito's determination remained unchanged.