"...The clan has very high expectations for you."
"The standard curriculum of the Ninja Academy might be moving a bit too slowly for you."
"This money is an additional subsidy from the clan. Use it to purchase higher-grade ninja tools, secret medicines, or to hire private tutors."
"Your task is to demonstrate the talent and strength befitting an Uchiha at the academy."
"If possible... you should consider becoming the first to graduate early."
Motomu was dazed as he headed home, clutching a bag of money.
The conversation from moments ago was still swirling around in his head.
To put it simply, it meant:
You, go graduate early and show off the Uchiha brilliance.
"But damn it, I'm only six years old!"
"Is it even possible for me to graduate before a genius like Kakashi?!"
The Clan Leader's words had suddenly placed a mountain of pressure on Motomu's shoulders.
As he walked home, Motomu managed to puzzle out the reason behind the Clan Leader's sudden move.
Among the recent generations in Konoha, the Hokage's line had the Sannin and Minato. Their rival clan, the Hyuga, had the brothers Hiashi and Hizashi. Even among the civilian ninja, there were legendary figures like Hatake Sakumo.
Yet the Uchiha clan didn't have a single standout genius they could brag about.
Combined with the constant border skirmishes from enemy nations and the looming threat of war, Uchiha Tetsuya's anxiety had reached a breaking point.
As soon as he heard rumors of a potential genius being born in the clan, he had sniffed it out and tracked Motomu down.
'There's no such thing as a free lunch.'
Correspondingly, Clan Leader Tetsuya's investment was quite substantial.
For just the first month's trial period, he had been given a full fifty thousand ryo in cash!
It was a thick stack, almost too many to count.
'Could I have made this much money as a factory worker in my past life?'
'Not a chance!'
Opening the wooden box under his bed, Motomu thought for a moment and pulled another ten thousand ryo from this windfall—on top of the sixteen hundred he already had—to budget for new ninja tools.
Tonight, he was going to aggressively level up that 'Big Eyeball' of his.
He wondered how many levels it would take before the 'Big Eyeball' learned a new move.
Right now, Tackle and Leer were pretty much useless.
'If I could just get something like Confusion, I could really make things interesting.'
Knock, knock, knock—
Motomu glanced around and quickly shoved the box deep under the bed.
"Who is it now?!"
"Big brother, it's me, Obito!"
Obito's voice was muffled, clearly speaking with a bun in his mouth.
When Motomu opened the door, the boy even tried to hand him one.
"No thanks, I've already eaten. Keep it for yourself."
He shoved the bun back into Obito's mouth.
Seeing Obito's cheeks stuffed with two buns like a hamster, Uchiha Motomu fought the urge to laugh.
Uchiha Motomu suppressed a chuckle.
After Obito struggled to swallow the 'killer bun,' he adjusted the orange goggles on his forehead.
"Bro, I heard from some of the other kids in the clan that there's an exam at school today."
"Apparently, we'll have to spar with other students."
Motomu paused for a second on his way to the Academy.
"A placement exam? That's perfectly normal."
"Besides, I've been training you for ages. You don't even have that much confidence?"
Obito scratched his head and muttered quietly.
"Well, neither of us can beat Guy... where's this confidence of yours coming from, bro?"
Motomu: "..."
'Obito, if you don't have anything good to say, keep your mouth shut. Do you really think I'm the same as before now that I've awakened the Sharingan?'
'If I were, these eyes would have been opened for nothing.'
Just as Motomu was considering whether to show Obito the power of the Sharingan...
...a kind, elderly voice called out to Obito from the sidewalk.
"Little Obito, come help a grandmother out."
"Ah! Right! Coming, Grandma Muko!"
"Bro, help me carry my enrollment papers! I'll be there in a bit!"
Konoha Main Street ran north to south, cutting through the heart of the village.
This was the path Motomu had to take every day from the Uchiha compound to the Academy near the Hokage building.
More importantly, it was the prime location for Uchiha Obito to encounter 'help an old lady cross the street' quests.
Watching Obito rush to the old woman's side with over-the-top enthusiasm, Motomu felt visible lines of exhaustion on his forehead.
He looked away, pretending not to know him, but then he spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
A mother was walking with a girl who had brown, chin-length hair and purple markings on her cheeks. She looked gentle and sweet.
The girl was currently staring at Obito with her large, dark brown eyes, looking quite curious.
But before she could get a good look, her mother pulled her along.
"It's Rin."
'Looks like the story is finally getting started!'
'There are about seven years left until the Battle of Kannabi Bridge when Obito turns thirteen.'
'The countdown to the birth of "Half-Obito" has officially begun.'
In the split second while Motomu was lost in thought...
"Wah!"
A little girl suddenly jumped out in front of him, mimicking a terrifying beast.
Motomu's dazed pupils constricted as his dark eyes focused on the intruder.
The energetic girl wore a sleeveless black mesh shirt, a red amulet around her neck, and her purple hair was tied in a high ponytail, though a few stray locks still framed her face.
She pointed a finger at Rin, whom Motomu had just been watching, and scolded him with fake sternness.
"Staring at girls with those perverted eyes isn't very Uchiha-like, you know!"
"Heh. And didn't any adult teach you that it's rude to interrupt someone's train of thought?"
"Am I right, little miss?"
Motomu gave her a sidelong glance, thinking, 'You're not exactly a model of politeness yourself.'
"You... I!"
The little girl was clearly flustered; guilt and frustration played across her face.
"If that's all, I'm leaving."
Motomu already had a good idea of who she was the moment he saw her.
Purple hair, familiar appearance.
There were only a few characters with that hair color in his memory.
It was either Uzuki Yugao or Mitarashi Anko.
Motomu decided to test her.
After all, the fun was in the deduction.
As a fan of mystery games, he wasn't going to miss out on such an entertaining opportunity.
"Wait!"
"I... I'm sorry."
"I didn't mean it."
Little Anko apologized while rushing to catch up to the walking Motomu.
"Hey! I said I'm sorry! Now it's your turn to apologize to that girl!"
"I'll buy you some tri-color dango if you shut up."
"Huh?"
The little girl froze, clearly not expecting that turn of events.
Especially since it involved her favorite treat.
"In that case... I suppose I can agree to that."
Motomu was speechless.
'No need to guess. Anko, you really are a sucker for a bribe.'
'No wonder she gets so round in the future!'
'Such a cute kid, how did she end up that way?'
'Just what exactly does she eat?'
At the dango shop counter, Uchiha Motomu took two skewers of tri-color dango from the shopkeeper.
He turned and handed one to the girl, who was looking on with expectant eyes.
"Here."
"My name is Uchiha Motomu."
"And yours?"
"I can't very well treat you to a snack without knowing your name, can I?"
Little Anko took the skewer, instinctively sniffing it first before taking a large bite.
"Nom!"
"Hiss! It's hot! I'm Mitarashi Anko, a new student this year. Nice to meet you!"
"Oh, right! You Uchiha live in that massive compound... does that mean you're all super rich?"
Looking at the little glutton, Motomu understood instantly.
Good grief.
Even in another world...
I'm still being haunted by people asking for handouts as if I'm some rich guy.
Motomu felt the money in his pocket intended for tuition and gear.
He decided then and there to ruthlessly crush her wicked expectations.