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"What?! You're saying Uchiha Rukawa's strength might already be on par with a chunin? Maybe even beyond that? Iruka, you're not joking with me, are you?"
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face was etched with disbelief as he stared at Iruka in front of him.
"Yes, Lord Third. I wouldn't dare joke about something like this. Based on my assessment, Uchiha Rukawa absolutely has the strength of a chunin."
Iruka answered respectfully, but his tone was firm.
"At the time…"
He carefully recounted Rukawa's performance earlier that day in detail.
"Good, good, good!"
Hiruzen broke into a wide smile, the kind of wrinkled, blooming expression only an old man could wear, and repeated the word three times in excitement.
"The Uchiha clan really is Konoha's greatest family! First Itachi, who became a chunin at ten. And now his younger brother Rukawa, who already has the ability of a chunin at just seven years old!"
"Good. This is wonderful!"
His face was beaming with joy.
"Lord Third, should we consider letting Rukawa graduate early?" Iruka asked cautiously. Fearing disapproval, he quickly added, "After all, Kakashi-senpai graduated at five and became a chunin at six. I think letting Rukawa graduate early shouldn't be a problem."
"No problem at all! Of course not!" Hiruzen agreed readily. "He's a prodigy on par with Hatake Kakashi. Naturally, he can graduate ahead of schedule."
"But you don't need to arrange it. Just focus on your teaching duties. When I have time, I'll personally test Rukawa myself."
He smiled kindly, his voice warm. "And I'll make sure he understands just how great the Will of Fire truly is."
"That's great! With you personally testing him, Lord Third, I believe Rukawa will definitely grow into an outstanding Konoha shinobi!"
Iruka's face was filled with admiration.
Hiruzen gave a small nod, signaling that Iruka could go.
After bowing, Iruka quickly left the office.
But the moment his figure completely vanished, the kindly, grandfatherly smile on Hiruzen's face disappeared as well—replaced by a dark, heavy expression.
Uchiha. Always the Uchiha.
Why does that clan keep producing monsters?
First the genius Shisui the Teleporter. Then Itachi, chunin at ten. And now this Rukawa kid at seven.
Hiruzen stood, walked to the window, and gazed toward the Uchiha compound, shadows clouding his eyes.
Hmph.
A clan this unstable shouldn't exist. Only with their removal could Konoha truly know peace and stability.
For the sake of Konoha… the Uchiha must disappear.
"Shinnosuke."
His voice was low but sharp.
In the next moment, a masked shinobi appeared behind him, kneeling on one knee.
"Father, what are your orders?"
It was Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Hiruzen's eldest son.
Still looking out the window, Hiruzen spoke calmly, "Tell Danzo… he can accept Itachi's condition. Let Rukawa live. But tell him to act soon. No more delays."
"What? Father, you mean it's already time to move against the Uchiha? But our preparations aren't complete yet. If we rush this, something could go wrong."
Worry flickered in Shinnosuke's voice.
The Uchiha were one of the most renowned clans in the entire shinobi world. Attacking them before everything was fully in place carried enormous risks.
"Ah…" Hiruzen let out a long sigh, his tone heavy. "I don't want to rush either. But the Uchiha are too unstable. If we don't cut them down soon, I won't be able to rest easy. And now, with yet another prodigy rising among them… if we let him grow, wiping out the Uchiha later will be far more difficult."
"But this is really pushing it…" Shinnosuke muttered, still uneasy.
"Enough. This isn't for you to worry about. Just pass my order to Danzo."
A cold glint flashed in Hiruzen's eyes. "I trust my old comrade has already prepared for this moment. After all, he's been obsessed with destroying the Uchiha for years."
"…Yes!"
This time, Shinnosuke didn't argue. He gave a firm nod, then vanished in a blur of shunshin, heading for Root to deliver the message.
Hiruzen lingered by the window a moment longer before returning to his chair. He picked up his long pipe and slowly exhaled thick smoke, the white clouds wrapping around his face.
"Uchiha Rukawa, seven years old… I hope you truly grasp the meaning of the Will of Fire. Otherwise, your clan really will face annihilation."
The rising smoke concealed his features completely, leaving his expression unreadable.
"....."