The next day, because two geniuses from the Uchiha clan were taking their graduation exams, many classes were suspended. Instead, students gathered around the training field to watch the spectacle.
The ones taking the exam, naturally, were Uchiha Itachi and Tahara Rokuro.
Given that both were regarded as prodigies of the Uchiha, the academy's higher-ups decided to make their tests more challenging. Rather than the usual match against a standout genin, both would face active chūnin in direct combat. It was a level of difficulty clearly raised above the norm.
The first to step up was Itachi.
Uchiha Kei, wide-eyed with curiosity, nudged Rokuro lightly.
"Rokuro, do you think Itachi can win? His opponent looks pretty strong."
Rokuro smirked slightly. "The young master may be a pain, but his strength is the real deal. As for his opponent… average talent, worn-out potential. The only thing he's got going for him is experience—and experience means nothing in front of true genius."
As a transmigrator, Rokuro had a good grasp of the elites in Konoha's future.
Itachi's opponent was a background extra—someone who'd never even appeared in the original timeline. Not from a bloodline clan, and certainly not one of those hot-blooded lunatics like the Might family. His skill level was obvious at a glance.
For Rokuro, Itachi was his greatest rival at this stage.
If Itachi couldn't even defeat a chūnin who'd already hit his ceiling, Rokuro would laugh himself awake in his dreams.
"How can you tell his potential's exhausted? You know him or something?" Kei retorted instinctively. Bickering with Rokuro had practically become part of her daily routine.
"Ah, Kei," Rokuro said with a faint smile. "In this shinobi world, there are only three ways to become truly strong."
"Three ways?" she asked, tilting her head.
Not only Kei, but all the kids around perked up, their ears twitching with curiosity.
"The first path," Rokuro began, "is through bloodline. The most obvious example is us—the Uchiha. Ninja born into clans with special blood inheritances don't need to study all those miscellaneous jutsu. Just mastering their family techniques and awakening their bloodline powers is enough to keep getting stronger."
He pointed to his eyes.
"Take our Uchiha clan for instance. Once you awaken the Sharingan, you're already chūnin level. When you reach the three-tomoe stage, your strength naturally rises to that of a jōnin. That's the power of bloodline."
He then gestured toward the chūnin across the field.
"That man clearly isn't from a bloodline clan. That path's closed to him."
"Then what about the second path?" Kei asked quickly. "There are plenty of jōnin in Konoha who weren't born into clans! Like the Legendary Sannin—besides Lady Tsunade, the other two weren't bloodline ninja either!"
Rokuro chuckled. "Patience, Kei. Didn't I just say there are three paths? The bloodline route is the simplest, but the remaining two—though harder—can still be walked."
He held up two fingers and continued.
"The second path is effort. The best example is Might Duy—yes, the same man who, during the Third Great Ninja War, fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and kicked them so hard they went from seven to three."
The kids gasped, their eyes lighting with recognition.
In life, Might Duy had been mocked as the Eternal Genin. But after that battle, he became a hero to countless common-born ninja—second only to Namikaze Minato.
His son, Might Guy, had since been nurtured by Konoha's leadership—one reason why, during the Fourth Ninja War, he was able to literally kick Madara Uchiha, wielder of the Rinnegan, into oblivion.
"But was Guy's effort really greater than his father's?" Rokuro continued. "Not necessarily. The key difference was money. Duy was poor all his life. And taijutsu demands a perfect diet and medicine. Without proper nutrition, your body can't grow stronger efficiently. That's why Duy, even after opening all Eight Gates, only managed to kill four of the Seven Swordsmen."
"Meanwhile, his son, with resources and backing, almost kicked the entire series to its finale."
He smiled faintly.
"Might Duy's effort was unmatched, but effort alone doesn't pay for protein or bandages."
Kei nodded in realization. Physical training was different from ninjutsu—it required massive time and endurance. "So… that chūnin probably didn't take the effort path either, huh?"
"Exactly. When have you ever seen him doing taijutsu drills? Running laps around the village like the Might family? If he did, everyone in Konoha would know him by now."
Just like back then—everyone might've laughed at Guy and Duy, but they were known by all.
"The first path is bloodline, the second is effort…" Kei tugged at Rokuro's sleeve impatiently. "What about the third? Tell me already!"
She shook his arm playfully, bouncing like a child—though, at her age, certain "features" hadn't developed yet, leaving Rokuro rather disappointed by the lack of, well, scenery.
"The third path," Rokuro said, smiling mysteriously, "is science. That one's a bit more complicated to explain. Look, they're starting the match. I'll tell you later."
Everyone turned their eyes to the field.
Itachi and the so-called "average" chūnin had already stepped into position, both weaving signs rapidly.
The chūnin struck first—three shuriken whistled through the air toward Itachi in a probing attack.
Itachi reacted faster. He flicked out three kunai, each colliding midair with a shuriken before altering its trajectory, all flying back toward the chūnin.
"The Aerial Deflection Shuriken Technique," Rokuro murmured.
The chūnin's eyes widened. He quickly drew his own kunai to block the incoming projectiles—but by then, Itachi had already finished forming seals. His chest expanded.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A blazing sphere over two meters wide roared toward the chūnin.
Panicking, the man used Body Flicker to leap high into the air.
But before he could breathe in relief, Itachi's hands blurred again. Eight shuriken flashed from his palms, streaking toward the airborne chūnin who had nowhere to dodge.
Sweat beaded on the man's forehead. He spun his kunai wildly, deflecting the projectiles with raw strength and core control.
The eight shuriken scattered, embedding themselves into the ground and tree trunks nearby.
The chūnin exhaled, beginning to drop back to the earth
but froze midair, eyes widening in horror.
Thin metallic wires gleamed in the sunlight, crisscrossing around him like a spider's web. They'd been tied to those shuriken.
By the time he realized it, his limbs were already bound tight.
Before he could break free, Itachi leapt up and landed lightly behind him, pressing a kunai against his throat.
The outcome was decided.
"Even without awakening his Sharingan," Rokuro said quietly, "his natural perception, reaction speed, and battle IQ are enough to outclass a chūnin. His talent really is the strongest of our generation."