Snow began to fall.
It blanketed the rooftops, trees, and training grounds in a pristine white, softening the edges of Konoha's winter. Only the bustling clan compounds, and lively streets resisted the frost, their warmth and motion keeping the chill at bay.
The Ninja Academy remained open.
There were no seasonal breaks yet, only holidays for New Year's, Harvest Festival, and other major occasions. Students continued to attend with intent to play, learn, or train with quiet determination.
One morning, Shinichi and Sakumo's class joined the rest of the Academy for a Capture the Flag Tournament.
The was tailored by grade:
1st and 2nd years: Tagging opponent within designated territories to 'arrest' them.
3rd to 5th years: Full taijutsu allowed, no territory restrictions, with safe zones for recovery.
5th years: permitted to use transformation, substitution, and clone jutsu.
Senju Tobirama had personally refined the game, viewing it as a perfect simulation of real ninja missions; guarding targets, infiltrating enemy lines, and fostering teamwork.
Shinichi's shadow clone had always led his class to victory.
With Sakumo and Shinichi on the team, they were undefeated.
But this time, Shinichi's main body fainted during an experiment.
His clone dispelled.
And the game fell into chaos.
***
Shinichi had been practicing the Mystical Palm Technique on injured animals.
His Sharingan had matured, capable of observing chakra at a microscopic level. His chakra control was so precise, it could scan foreign lifeforms without causing harms.
He watched as Yang chakra accelerated cellular activity, healing wounds by consuming the lifespan(telomeres) of living cells.
*telomere length does not determine the overall age limit of an organism, but it impacts tissue regeneration and aging.
'It's healing by burning vitality… That's not true healing.'
He attempted to recreate damaged cells using Yang chakra alone.
But this process also cannibalized on existing cells to complete the repair.
And just like Mystical Palm Technique, it failed to repair nerve cells or certain essential organs such as the heart and the brain.
'Even with stored biological data… it's incomplete.'
He took a moment to recollect his thoughts before he resumed his work.
Shinichi scanned a rabbit's body with Sharingan and chakra, recording every cell in its healthy stated. He then sealed the data into a scroll via Sharingan dojutsu, a common Uchiha method for transferring memory and experience.
After wounding the hare, he released the scroll's genjutsu back onto himself.
Then attempted to recreate the rabbit's cells according to these data using Yin chakra and restore them with Yang chakra.
The broken leg healed.
Not through acceleration.
But through restoration.
'This isn't healing. This is rewriting.'
Excited, Shinichi repeated the process.
Yin chakra reconstructed the stored data.
Yang chakra dismantled the injury and rebuilt it into original state.
It drained a massive amount of chakra just to restore a small injury.
But it worked.
And most importantly, the restored states did not consume the cell's vitality and the damaged nerves were also restored.
This wasn't healing.
It was reversal.
---
Shinichi didn't stop there and proceeded to next stage.
He scanned the rabbit again storing its full biological blueprint to a scroll.
Then, he destroyed its heart and waited for an hour.
At that point, even Mystical Palm Technique couldn't revive it. Not to mention the nerve cells, the heart cells, even its peripheries, had deteriorated beyond repair.
Shinichi unlocked the scroll.
Absorbed the data.
Reconstructed the rabbit's living state with Yin chakra.
Overlapped it with the corpse.
Then used Yang chakra to restore it.
Suddenly –
A massive chakra drain surged through him.
"???!!!"
The jutsu spiraled out of control.
Shinichi couldn't stop the jutsu. It was too sudden.
His Yang chakra poured from him like flood.
He collapsed.
After a moment of silence.
The rabbit twitched.
Then hopped away.
Alive.
***
At the Academy, Shinichi's clone dispelled.
Sakumo's clone followed suit, alerting his main body.
Sakumo had been training, refining his elemental release incorporated kenjutsu. He had mastered wind and lightning transformation and shape manipulation weeks ago and was now weaving them into his kenjutsu.
He halted his training and rushed to Shinichi's location.
Only to find him unconscious.
Without hesitation, Sakumo carried Shinichi back to the Uchiha compound.
***
"Minami-san!"
"Sakumo-kun?"
"Kumo-nii?"
Sakumo laid Shinichi down gently and explained.
"We were training and Shinichi fainted. I think it's chakra exhaustion."
Minami checked her son's pulse, then sighed in relief.
"He's fine. Kaito. Just drained."
"Niichan's okay?!"
"Yes, sweetheart." Minami reassured Kaito and faced Sakumo with gratitude. "Sakumo-kun, thank you for bringing him home."
"No problem, Minami-san. I know Shinichi would do the same for me."
Minami smiled warmly as Sakumo left.
She had a lot to say when Shinichi woke up.
***
An hour later, Shinichi stirred.
He opened his eyes to see his mother's smile.
But it wasn't a smile.
"Ah ha haha ha ha. Is it too late to go back to sleep? Right?"
"I dare you… Uchiha S H I N I C H I!"
Her voice was chilling.
Shinichi shrunk under his blanket.
Sigh~!
"Shinichi, I know you are different. But don't do anything reckless like this again alright?! Although it is very rare, Chakra exhaustion can be fatal!"
"Okay. Mom."
"Promise me!"
"I promise to not reckless test new jutsu and risk death."
"Good! Now come eat. Your father's back from mission, and Kaito's waiting."
Minami knew Shinichi wouldn't stop experimenting.
She saw him manipulating chakra in every idle moment of his daily life.
She couldn't stop him.
But she could make him promise.
And hope–
That he'd learned something.
***
Snow blanketed the village.
Shinichi and Sakumo walked side by side through the crisp morning air, deciding to attend the Academy in person after yesterday's incident.
"Sakumo," Shinichi asked, "when you found me… did you see a hare nearby?"
"A hare?"
"Yes. A white winter hare. Was it still dead?"
Sakumo pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
"Shinichi, there wasn't any hare near you when I got there."
Shinichi's eyes widened.
'So… it worked. But the chakra cost.. it's different from healing. Yang chakra is the bottleneck. Maybe if I can convert Yin into Yang.. I can cast this jutsu without collapsing.'
He begun to mumble, collecting his thoughts.
This jutsu – a restoration technique – could potentially save lives.
Could save his family.
***
As they entered the classroom, murmurs rippled through the students.
"Did you hear? They used shadow clones to attend class."
"Are they going to be punished?"
"Isn't that slacking off?"
"I don't know, but Shinichi is so hot."
"Sakumo is soooo cooool!"
"Ugh… they're just better than us at everything."
The room fell silent as instructor Sarutobi Satoru entered.
He scanned the class.
Then called out.
"Shinichi. Sakumo. Come with me to the instructor's office."
Shinichi and Sakumo exchanged a glance.
Then followed.
***
The Day Before.
Hokage's Office.
After the shadow clones dispelled, Sarutobi Satoru had gone straight to the Hokage.
"Come in."
Sarutobi Satoru stood before Senju Tobirama, holding two student files.
"Thank you, Nidaime-sama. I have an important report regarding two Academy students."
Tobirama opened the files.
'Uchiha Shinichi. Hatake Sakumo. It's unlikely they've caused trouble… Did they stop attending?'
"What's the issue?"
"Yesterday, their shadow clones dispelled in class. I believe they've been sending clones to attend while training independently."
Tobirama frowned.
"Do they not get along with their peers?"
"No, sir. They're exceptional students. Charismatic even. They often lead and instruct their classmates."
"So there's no disciplinary issue?"
"No, sir. But… Shinichi fainted from chakra exhaustion while developing a new jutsu. Sakumo confirmed it." Satoru paused for a moment, then stated with determination. "I believe the Academy is holding them back. I propose we allow them to graduate early."
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Tobirama tapped his fingers on the desk – a habit when deep in thought.
"The academy was designed to unify the children from clans and civilian families. To forge bonds. To create a shared identity.
If we let them graduate early just because of shadow clone usage, it sets a dangerous precedent. Others may think clones alone are enough to become a shinobi."
Thump! Thump! Thump!
"But… their talent is undeniable."
Tobirama paused.
Then spoke.
"Let's do this instead. The year's end is approaching. We'll conduct an Academy-wide exam. Those who pass can skip grades or graduate early.
But limit it to 2nd grade and above. Completion of 1st grade is mandatory – for social bonding and village integration."
Tobirama paused for a moment before he added, "And each student may take the exam only once during their Academy years. And only with parental and supervisor approval."
With this, Tobirama nodded in satisfaction and turned to Satoru.
"Announce this reform to the Academy students and parents and Prepare the exam before year's end."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Sarutobi Satoru bowed and left.
His heart was light with hope.