Chapter 28: Early Graduation

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Early Graduation

Uchiha Clan Territory.

"You want to graduate early? Why? Didn’t you say you wanted a few more years to grow stronger?"

Uchiha Setsuna looked at Uchiha Xuan with confusion.

Why did this child change his mind every day? Was this how geniuses were?

"Because I need combat experience now. An Uchiha who hasn’t been tempered by real battle—how can they truly be called an Uchiha?"

Uchiha Xuan’s expression was calm, as if he were stating the simplest of facts.

"I see. Originally, I was thinking that after you graduated, you could join the Police Force like Uchiha Fugaku to gain experience and buy more time for your growth.

But since you have your own ideas, go ahead and do as you wish. However, you should understand what you’ll face after graduating early during this period, right?"

Uchiha Setsuna nodded gently upon hearing this. He admired Uchiha Xuan’s determination, but as an elder, he still had to say what needed to be said.

"War."

Uchiha Xuan lowered his head slightly.

"Exactly, war! Xuan, although you are undoubtedly a genius, in my eyes, you are still a flower sheltered in a greenhouse.

Your strength has grown rapidly, but you have yet to witness true cruelty. The brutality of war cannot be fully conveyed with just a few words or sentences.

Death is the most trivial thing on the battlefield. It is a place filled with all kinds of ugliness and... malice. Knowing this, are you still prepared to graduate early?"

Uchiha Setsuna stared intently at Uchiha Xuan, his expression calm.

"I... am an Uchiha, after all."

Uchiha Xuan raised his hand, a red gleam flickering in his eyes as his Three-Tomoe Sharingan gently rotated, revealing an oppressive Ocular Power.

"Three Tomoe!!! Xuan, you’ve awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan?! When did this happen?!"

Uchiha Setsuna, who had been calmly awaiting Uchiha Xuan’s response, was instantly overcome with shock the moment he clearly saw the crimson eyes in Uchiha Xuan’s sockets.

"Not long ago."

Uchiha Xuan’s tone remained indifferent.

His Three-Tomoe Sharingan had indeed awakened recently. Since mastering the Golden Light Mantra, the awakening and progression of his Sharingan had always been based on the advancement of his Spirit and Vitality Cultivation, completely different from the emotional fluctuations required for ordinary Uchiha to awaken theirs.

This time, however, it seemed to have been influenced by some emotions, though not significantly. Given his current level of Spirit and Vitality Cultivation, the awakening of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was already imminent.

.....

Not long ago, by the banks of the Naka River.

"I’ll soon be heading to the battlefield. If there are any disturbances in Sunagakure, with that old hag Chiyo there, I won’t be able to leave that front. The situation on the battlefield changes in the blink of an eye; even I cannot guarantee I’ll return alive.

Xuan, when I heard you reject my request, I was happy because you didn’t treat our relationship as a bargaining chip that could influence your decisions."

Moreover, the battlefield truly isn’t a place for an eight-year-old boy like you. As for Nawaki’s safety, I really did come up with an utterly absurd plan.

Sending an eight-year-old to the battlefield... if Great-Grandfather found out, he’d probably make me quit gambling for years. That would be terrifying.

Well, Xuan, for now, all I can teach you are some more advanced Medical Ninjutsu. Since I’m heading to the battlefield, I probably won’t be able to instruct you in person. So, I’ve written down all those techniques and left them on the desk where you usually read.

Oh, right. Last time at the barbecue, with those idiots Orochimaru and Jiraiya around, we ended up drinking too much and didn’t really enjoy the food. When I get back this time, you owe me another meal."

The girl’s words, tinged with laughter, drifted to the boy’s ears on the breeze. The warmth from the scroll had faded, yet for some reason, Uchiha Xuan felt it was still scalding to the touch.

........

"Graduate early?"

Namikaze Minato, grilling fish over the campfire, looked at Uchiha Xuan in surprise.

"Yes. To keep growing stronger, I’ll eventually need to see blood."

Besides, it had been a while since his last Card Draw. Ever since he started studying Medical Ninjutsu—because it and the Sealing Arts were so complex—he hadn’t actively sought out fights to rack up his Card Draw Count.

Uchiha Xuan, poking the fire with a stick, spoke softly.

"I see."

Hearing this, Namikaze Minato nodded gently, then fell into a complicated silence, staring blankly at the flames.

In the firelight, the figure of a red-haired girl appeared. She was a recent transfer student... she had such beautiful hair, and she shared the same dream as him.

But Xuan was his good friend. Teacher Jiraiya had said the war had already begun quietly. If Xuan graduated early, he would definitely be sent to the battlefield. As a good friend, how could he let Xuan go to such a dangerous place alone?

Wait, am I actually hesitating?!?!

A moment later, after wrestling with his thoughts, Namikaze Minato let out a soft sigh, turned to Uchiha Xuan, and declared loudly,

"I’m applying for early graduation with you!!"

"???"

Uchiha Xuan, who had been playing with the fire while pondering whether the Yin Seal could be further modified to store a separate reserve of his own Qi, was jolted back to reality by the sudden shout.

Turning to look at Namikaze Minato’s determined face, Uchiha Xuan was utterly baffled.

What’s with this kid? Why’s he suddenly all fired up?

....

Hokage’s Office.

On Sarutobi Hiruzen’s desk lay two early graduation application forms, already stamped with the red seal of approval.

These were the applications from Uchiha Xuan and Namikaze Minato.

"Submitting graduation applications right at this time... is this Madam Mito’s intention, or is it... Uchiha Xuan, will you be the next Kagami?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe, his expression unreadable through the hazy smoke as he gazed at Uchiha Xuan’s name on the application form before him.

Click.

As he pondered, the office door opened.

"Hiruzen, the war... has begun."

In the doorway, Danzo Shimura stood with a grave expression.

"Just this morning, Hanzo of the Salamander, representing the Land of Rain, declared war on both the Land of Wind and our Land of Fire. At the same time, ninja from Iwagakure have appeared within Rain’s borders. Additionally, according to intelligence reports, Sunagakure has been making frequent moves. Their target likely isn’t the Land of Rain, but Konohagakure."

Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could respond, Danzo Shimura spoke up, his tone cold and tinged with a hint of ferocity.

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