The Next Day — Konoha Ninja Academy
The Ninja Academy was unusually crowded.
Word had spread quickly throughout Konoha that two six-year-old members of the Uchiha clan had applied for early graduation.
That alone would have attracted attention.
The fact that both children were rumored to already possess combat abilities comparable to experienced shinobi had transformed what should have been a simple graduation assessment into a major event.
Shinobi, clan representatives, Academy instructors, and several of Konoha's most important figures had gathered to witness it.
Outside the Academy grounds, three familiar figures walked together.
Jiraiya stretched his left arm as he walked, repeatedly opening and closing his hand.
He clenched his fist.
Released it.
Then clenched it again.
A grin spread across his face.
"I have to admit, Tsunade," Jiraiya said. "This thing feels almost exactly like my old arm."
Tsunade glanced sideways at him.
"It should."
Jiraiya rotated his shoulder experimentally.
During the final battles of the Third Great Ninja War, Ōnoki's Particle Style had completely disintegrated Jiraiya's original left arm. There had been nothing remaining to reattach or regenerate.
Creating a replacement had required a considerably more experimental solution.
The result was an entirely organic replacement arm.
Jiraiya raised it dramatically.
"Maybe it's even better than the original."
A quiet chuckle came from beside them.
Orochimaru had joined the pair somewhere along the road.
"Still," he said, his golden eyes briefly examining Jiraiya's arm, "the results are fascinating."
Jiraiya immediately pulled his arm away.
"Stop looking at it like you want to cut it open."
Orochimaru smiled.
"I said nothing."
"You didn't have to."
Tsunade sighed.
Some things, apparently, survived even a Great Ninja War.
As the three Sannin approached the Academy, Orochimaru changed the subject.
"It appears the Uchiha clan has produced another generation of remarkable geniuses."
Jiraiya nodded.
"I heard about them. Two six-year-olds applying for early graduation."
He scratched his chin.
"Apparently, both of them already have the strength of mid-level Chūnin."
"Approximately," Orochimaru replied.
"And one of them already awakened the Sharingan?"
"Shisui Uchiha," Orochimaru said. "A descendant of Kagami Uchiha."
Tsunade's expression became slightly more interested.
"Kagami?"
Orochimaru nodded.
"Shisui is currently believed to be the youngest Uchiha in recent history to awaken the Sharingan."
Jiraiya whistled.
"At six years old?"
"Indeed."
The three continued walking.
Then Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"But those two aren't the ones Sensei is most concerned about."
Jiraiya looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"There is another."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"Another what?"
"A third genius."
Orochimaru's smile widened slightly.
"One who concerns Sensei considerably more than either Itachi or Shisui."
Jiraiya and Tsunade both stopped walking.
"Who?" Jiraiya asked.
Orochimaru continued toward the Academy without answering.
"You'll know soon enough."
Jiraiya stared after him.
"I hate when he does that."
"So do I," Tsunade muttered.
They followed.
Inside the Academy Training Grounds
The stands surrounding the training field were already filling.
At the highest section sat Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Beside him were Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.
The seat that might once have belonged to the fourth member of their political circle remained conspicuously absent.
Danzō Shimura, the self-proclaimed Darkness of the Shinobi, would certainly have attended an event involving three potentially dangerous Uchiha prodigies.
Unfortunately for him, Danzō was currently resting in pieces.
Koharu leaned toward Hiruzen.
"You cannot simply allow these children to graduate without precautions."
Homura nodded.
"The Uchiha clan is already becoming increasingly difficult to control."
Hiruzen remained silent.
Koharu continued.
"Have you forgotten Ren Uchiha?"
Hiruzen's expression darkened slightly.
"We cannot create another Ren Uchiha," Koharu said. "These children must be monitored carefully."
"They will be," Hiruzen replied.
But Itachi and Shisui weren't the primary reason Hiruzen had organized today's assessment.
His eyes moved toward the entrance of the training grounds.
He was waiting for someone else.
Obito Uchiha.
That boy had increasingly occupied Hiruzen's thoughts.
The similarities were uncomfortable.
Like Ren, Obito had originally been considered an unremarkable member of the Uchiha clan.
Average grades.
Average combat ability.
Constantly overshadowed by more talented shinobi.
Then something changed.
Obito's growth had become explosive.
His Sharingan awakened.
His combat ability skyrocketed.
And after Rin Nohara's death, something inside the boy had changed as well.
Hiruzen had seen the reports.
The cheerful, loud child who constantly proclaimed his dream of becoming Hokage had become quiet and withdrawn.
Another seemingly average Uchiha suddenly becoming exceptional.
Hiruzen had no intention of allowing history to repeat itself.
Today's graduation assessment served another purpose.
Itachi and Shisui were being tested for graduation.
But Obito was being tested for something far more important.
His strength, mentality, and his loyalty.
Fortunately, Hiruzen believed Obito remained salvageable.
The boy had dreamed of becoming Hokage since childhood.
That dream could become an anchor.
If properly guided, Obito's loyalty could be directed toward Konoha rather than toward the Uchiha clan.
Hiruzen intended to make certain of it.
More important figures began arriving.
Several elders of the Uchiha clan entered the stands.
Fugaku Uchiha walked among them, his expression composed despite the fact that his own son would soon be fighting.
Then came Minato Namikaze and Nawaki Senju .
Sakumo Hatake arrived shortly afterward.
Kushina Uzumaki followed.
The three Legendary Sannin entered together, immediately drawing attention from the spectators.
Finally, two younger shinobi appeared at the entrance.
Kakashi Hatake.
And Obito Uchiha.
Kushina's eyebrows rose.
She looked toward Obito.
Then toward the sky.
Then back toward Obito.
"Obito."
He glanced at her.
"You're early."
Obito said nothing.
Kushina smiled slightly.
"I was beginning to think I'd never live long enough to see this day."
Normally, Obito would have immediately protested.
He would have shouted that he wasn't always late.
Today, he simply walked past her.
Kushina's smile faded.
Kakashi noticed.
Neither said anything.
Hiruzen eventually stood.
The conversations throughout the Academy grounds gradually disappeared.
"Today," Hiruzen began, "we gather to witness something that represents the very foundation of our village."
His voice carried across the field.
"The next generation."
Hiruzen spoke of Konoha and the Will of Fire passed from one generation to another.
Orochimaru looked mildly bored.
Finally, Hiruzen reached the actual purpose of the gathering.
"Two Academy students have requested permission for early graduation."
Two small figures stepped onto the training field.
Itachi Uchiha.
Shisui Uchiha.
Despite being only six years old, neither appeared intimidated by the crowd watching them.
"Because of their exceptional performance," Hiruzen continued, "their graduation examination will take the form of combat assessments against active Konoha shinobi."
Murmurs spread through the spectators.
Hiruzen raised one hand.
"Kakashi Hatake."
Kakashi stepped forward.
"Obito Uchiha."
For a fraction of a second, several members of the Uchiha delegation exchanged glances.
Obito walked onto the field.
Itachi looked toward Kakashi.
Shisui looked toward Obito.
The matchups would be determined by drawing lots.
An Academy instructor approached with a small wooden container.
Itachi reached inside first.
Then Shisui.
The instructor unfolded the first paper.
"Itachi Uchiha..."
"...versus Kakashi Hatake."
Kakashi's visible eye shifted toward the six-year-old standing across the field.
The second matchup was now obvious.
"Shisui Uchiha versus Obito Uchiha."
For the first time since arriving, Obito showed a noticeable reaction.
His eyes moved toward Shisui.
The younger Uchiha smiled.
Obito didn't return it.
High above them, Hiruzen watched carefully.
Itachi and Shisui believed they were here to prove themselves worthy of becoming genin.
They weren't the only ones being evaluated.
Meanwhile — The Land of Rain
Rain fell endlessly from the grey sky.
Three hooded figures wearing dark raincoats walked through the muddy streets of a small settlement.
Ren carried a large bag over one shoulder.
He stopped beside an elderly woman sitting beneath a damaged wooden shelter and handed her a wrapped package.
"Here."
The woman opened it.
Food.
Her eyes widened.
"Thank you."
Ren simply nodded and continued walking.
Behind him, Kaori and Satoshi were doing the same.
They had brought considerably more food than necessary for a diplomatic visit.
But after seeing the condition of the people living here, none of them had been willing to keep it inside the Shadow Realm.
Ren looked around.
Children stood barefoot in the mud.
Buildings damaged years ago had never been repaired.
Several people looked visibly malnourished.
The constant rain only made everything appear more miserable.
Ren pulled his hood slightly lower.
"This place has gotten worse."
Kaori looked toward him.
Ren continued.
"The last time we were in the Land of Rain was during the Second Great Ninja War."
His eyes moved across the settlement.
"It was already bad then."
He watched a young boy immediately tear open one of the food packages they had distributed.
"But this..."
Ren frowned.
"This is worse."
Satoshi remained silent.
Ren turned toward his father.
"How do you think the negotiations with Hanzō will go?"
Neither Ren nor his parents had received any reliable information suggesting that leadership in Amegakure had changed.
As far as they knew, Hanzō of the Salamander still ruled the Hidden Rain.
"I don't know," Satoshi replied.
He extended one hand beyond the protection of his raincoat.
Cold rain struck his palm.
"the rain is unusual here."
Ren glanced toward him, then looked upward toward the endless storm clouds.
"They know we're here."
Satoshi looked toward the distant silhouette of Amegakure.