"Be a little more low-key?"
"That's right."
Uchiha Fugaku nodded. "I know that with your strength, it's easy for you to crush your classmates, but the tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Your talent is likely to make the village wary of our family. So… be more restrained during tomorrow's assessment."
After hearing Fugaku's words, Uchiha Mirai understood his intentions.
He had long known that Fugaku's seemingly calm demeanor hid a weak heart, but he had never imagined it was this fragile.
He was being asked to deliberately show weakness during the graduation exam.
A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind? Ridiculous!
"Weakness will not earn mercy from the strong—it only leads to harsher oppression," Mirai said lightly. "If you want to get out of trouble, you must never forget to throw a punch."
Speaking in the Uchiha clan's territory, he had no need to worry about Hokage interference, and he made no effort to soften his words.
He looked down on Fugaku's suggestion.
If giving in was truly useful, the Uchiha clan would not have been wiped out in the original timeline.
On the contrary, only by demonstrating true strength could one instill fear in those who sought to dominate.
"Do you understand what you're saying?" Fugaku asked in disbelief.
He could not fathom that a teenager could speak so boldly. If such ideas became public, the entire Uchiha clan might be implicated!
"Of course I understand," Mirai replied, his scarlet Sharingan slowly spinning in the darkness, radiating a cold, tyrannical aura. "The pride of the Uchiha will never be broken."
With that, he closed the door.
Blindly yielding only leads to crushing suppression until there is no way out—just like the fate of the Uchiha clan in the original timeline.
Fugaku frowned as he stared at the closed door. He hadn't expected to be taught a lesson by a child.
"Hahaha… Fugaku, I've already told you, this little one is extraordinary," a deep voice rang out in the darkness. "Well, do you believe me now?"
"Father!" Fugaku quickly bowed upon seeing Uchiha Tajima.
"Fugaku, you still haven't fully understood what children know. Remember, blindly yielding is never wise."
Fugaku hesitated. "But… ever since the second generation, the village has been wary of our clan. Won't someone like Uchiha Mirai increase their fear of us?"
"Humph!" Tajima's smile faded. "Fugaku, we have never failed the village. Keep that in mind."
Sighing, he changed the subject.
"My body won't hold much longer. After I die, you will become the head of the Uchiha clan. As the clan leader, you must be decisive. Uchiha Mirai will be a great asset in the future—you must build a strong relationship with him."
"Yes, Father," Fugaku responded quickly, though a trace of disdain lingered in his mind.
In Fugaku's eyes, Mirai was a ticking time bomb—destined to bring disaster to the Uchiha clan. Cutting ties sooner seemed the safer option.
…
Ninja School, Classroom
"Today is the day of the graduation exam. After passing, you will become a real ninja."
"Yeah! I can finally wear my own ninja forehead protector."
"Hahaha… After becoming a ninja, I'll take on missions. Just thinking about it excites me."
"Just wait. Soon, my name will be known throughout the ninja world."
"Stop bragging! First, you need to pass the exam."
"Speaking of which, I hope I'm not grouped with Uchiha Mirai… that would be troublesome."
"Yeah, fighting him is just bad luck."
Most students were excited for the graduation exam—the chance to officially become a ninja and inherit the Will of Fire was an honor.
At that moment, Uchiha Mirai walked into the classroom.
The room fell silent.
All eyes were on him until he sat down, then the murmurs gradually resumed—but at a much lower volume.
"Tsk~"
"It's guys like this that give the Uchiha clan such a bad reputation," muttered Uchiha Obito. "Who does he think he is, acting indifferent all day?"
"Obito!" Nohara Rin frowned. "Don't talk behind your classmates' backs."
Obito nodded reluctantly, but still scowled at Mirai. "You'd better not be in my group during the exam, or you might not even graduate."
Unlike the Twelve Little Strongmen in the original story, the graduation exam this year didn't test basic ninjutsu like Clone or Transformation Jutsu.
Instead, students were paired via lottery for two-on-two duels, and the examiners would decide graduation based on combat performance.
Obito, feeling provoked, clenched his fists.
"Dead last," Mirai said calmly.
"What did you say?!" Obito shouted, his face turning red.
He had always dreamed of becoming Hokage, and he hated being called "dead last."
"Obito, calm down," Rin advised helplessly, seeing him stomp on his desk.
"Rin, let me go! I have to teach this guy a lesson today!" Obito roared.
"Snort!"
"Obito, do you even have the strength to fight Mirai?" Kurenai Yuhi asked unhappily, sitting next to him. "If you're paired together, you might not even get a chance."
"Nonsense!" Obito said indignantly. "I've prepared a secret weapon. Uchiha Mirai won't stand a chance!"
"Secret weapon?"
"Scared? You'd better pray we're not in the same group, or I won't show mercy."
Before Obito could continue his boasting, the homeroom teacher, Oiwa Junshan, strode in.
"Everyone be quiet! Follow me to the playground—the exam will start soon!"
-End Chapter-
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