Uchiha Itama lifted his gaze and looked Yamabuki Yuki over.
"No need. Izumi will help me."
Yamabuki Yuki bit her lip.
Night fell.
The report cards had already reached various hands.
Konoha had only one Ninja Academy.
Most ninja came from here.
So many people watched the Academy's students.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, the elders, the village leadership, the clan heads.
And Uchiha Itama was, without doubt, a name worth their attention.
Given the Uchiha's current standoff with the leadership, if Itama proved gifted and strong, he could become an enemy to them.
"So ordinary?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's brows lifted slightly.
"Compared to Itachi, Uchiha Itama's talent is far inferior."
"But that is normal."
"How could the Uchiha produce prodigy after prodigy."
After reading the results, Hiruzen lost interest in Itama.
Danzo and the other elders chose the same.
They did not waste attention on someone without talent.
Hyuga Hiashi was the lone exception.
He had crossed paths with Itama.
"So he is this mediocre."
Hiashi frowned.
"Hyuga Hikaru did unexpectedly well. A rare talent from the branch family, good news for us."
He set down the report and glanced toward the Uchiha district.
He knew well the clan's situation.
The Uchiha and the leadership had reached a point beyond repair.
He did not know where it would lead.
He still wavered.
If the Uchiha fell, would the next target be the Hyuga?
But if the Hyuga stood with the Uchiha, would the leadership dislike them more and take harsher measures?
No one had tried such a thing.
"Wait and see."
Hiashi sighed, his brow furrowing tight.
Soon, Itama's reputation for mediocrity spread across the village.
Anyone who cared to follow knew.
The genius Uchiha Itachi had a mediocre younger brother.
Some spoke viciously.
Hearing the whispers, Uchiha Shisui looked at Itachi. "Are you all right?"
"I am fine."
Itachi shook his head. "Mediocrity is not bad. If possible, I wish everyone could live ordinary, simple, peaceful lives."
Shisui nodded.
"Yes. But reality makes even such a simple wish into a luxury."
"I wish this world had no war."
In the Uchiha compound.
"That is not true."
"My brother is not trash. He is a genius, a hundred times stronger than big brother."
"I will not play with you anymore."
Sasuke glared at several children, then ran off.
His eyes were red.
"What happened?"
Until
THUMP!
Sasuke ran straight into Itama.
Itama crouched down.
"Sasuke, who bullied you?"
"It was them. They all bullied me. They said you are trash."
Itama paused.
"Do you think I am trash?"
"Of course not. You are a genius like big brother."
"Then that is enough."
Itama stood and ruffled his hair, smiling. "I am a genius, a hundred times stronger than Itachi. We both know that."
"As long as we know it ourselves, that is enough."
Sasuke nodded hard.
"Mm."
"I will not play with them anymore. Starting today, I will study ninja arts too. I will become very strong like you and big brother. I will be a genius."
"Good. You are a genius, Sasuke, but only ten times stronger than Itachi."
"Why?"
"Because you will still be ten times weaker than me."
"Brother, that is bullying."
Before long, these words spread as well.
People only believed more firmly that Itama was mediocre.
Itama's goal was achieved.
"Itama, this wrongs you."
Fugaku looked at him, ashamed.
His child was a genius, yet had to pretend to be common at his request.
He felt he had failed as a father, had not protected Itama well enough to let him shine openly.
"This is fun, is it not?"
Itama shook his head with a smile.
Fugaku blinked.
Then he smiled too.
"Yes. It is fun."
Night.
Itama returned to his room. He did not sleep. He sat cross-legged.
Chakra coursed through his body.
He felt the third tomoe was not far away.
Suddenly.
A heavy drowsiness surged over him.