Ten… no—nine out of ten things were wrong!
Although he was speaking to Ino, Uchiha Kage's attention was still fixed on Hinata.
Hinata's especially shy toward me today. Could it be because, during yesterday's sparring, my hand accidentally touched her chest… so now she's developed some special feelings for me?
No, no. There's no way that the voluptuous Hinata from last night's "dream" is the smaller, timid Hinata standing in front of me now.
"Kage, I heard that after today's graduation exam, we'll be divided into three-man squads. Wouldn't it be great if we ended up on the same team?"
As always, Yamanaka Ino clung to Uchiha Kage's arm, openly displaying affection in front of their classmates.
"Yeah."
But that was, unfortunately, impossible.
Uchiha Kage muttered inwardly.
Ino would join the newly formed "Ino–Shika–Cho" team with Shikamaru and Choji—something decided long ago.
Just like Naruto today: he'd fail the graduation exam during the day, but at night he'd learn the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique after getting his hands on the forbidden scroll. That, too, was already set in stone.
I get it now—what Orochimaru meant in the original story by a "windmill that doesn't move"…
"Don't you want to be in the same group as me?"
Seeing that the boy beside her showed little reaction, Ino began to doubt whether he cared about her at all.
"No, of course I do. If it were possible, I'd definitely want to be on your team."
Ideally, it would be Hinata, Ino, and me—guided by Yuhi Kurenai as our jōnin instructor.
Of course, that's pure fantasy. In reality… there's no way I'd be placed with the Twelve Guardians.
"Me too!"
Hearing Uchiha Kage's firm answer, Ino narrowed her eyes in delight.
See? Kage likes me too.
"What!? The graduation exam is today?"
Naruto was yelling at the top of his lungs, as usual.
"To be precise, today's the last part—the ninjutsu test," Shikamaru mumbled, slumped over his desk without motivation.
Becoming a ninja… what a drag.
"Damn it, why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Iruka-sensei already did. You just forgot," Choji replied between bites of potato chips.
The test was just the Clone Technique. Surely there was no one who couldn't pass it——or so he thought.
"Ah! Now I remember. Yeah, it's today! I'm screwed… I haven't prepared at all."
Naruto slumped in despair.
If only it were the Transformation Technique instead…
Unfortunately, the Clone Technique was his absolute weakest.
"Don't worry. Even if you prepared, you still wouldn't pass."
Sasuke didn't care about his classmates, but when he saw Naruto's sulking face, he couldn't resist adding insult to injury.
"Don't underestimate me, bastard! I can totally pass this exam!"
Although Naruto inwardly quailed at the thought of the Clone Technique test, Sasuke's taunt lit his fighting spirit ablaze.
"Damn it! Damn it! Everyone passed except me…"
Turns out that even if you burn yourself out, it's still impossible to master a ninjutsu you were never meant to learn.
Naruto's Clone Technique produced nothing but a pale, lifeless figure—earning him an immediate fail from Iruka.
He could only watch as the others received their Konoha forehead protectors, symbols of honor and ninja status.
They'd planned to meet after school, he, Uchiha Kage, and Sasuke, to discuss last night's "dream" mission.
Now, Naruto didn't even have the courage to face them.
They were already genin, while he was still…
Like this, I'd only hold them back.
Creak…
The same old swing in front of the school gate—its shaded corner far from the noisy crowd of parents.
But this time, the person who appeared beside Naruto wasn't Uchiha Kage—it was someone else entirely.
"Huh? Mizuki-sensei? You're saying… as long as I learn a jutsu from the Forbidden Scroll, I can graduate and become a genin?"
"Has the 'plot' started already?"
Walking through the crowd, Uchiha Kage noticed movement from Naruto's direction.
Looks like tonight Naruto will indeed use the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
"But I didn't expect that I'd also…"
On the way home, Kage cautiously activated his Byakugan—and was slightly surprised to find a "tail" shadowing him from not far behind.
Though well-concealed, they were still clear as day under Byakugan's gaze.
"Looks like Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't tell Danzo about the 'Future Notes'… Otherwise, Danzo wouldn't waste time sending someone after a supposedly useless, blind Uchiha."
Fine. Tonight, I'll give Danzo a taste of my scorn—just enough to worsen the already shaky relationship between him and Sarutobi.
But for now…
"…I think I'll make this stalker of mine suffer a little."
"Hayate! I'm on a mission—don't get in my way!"
Uzuki Yugao was following the Third Hokage's orders to keep watch on Uchiha Kage.
Seeing him pass the school exam and become a genin had actually made her happy.
There really are no mediocre members of the Uchiha clan.
But just as she prepared to leave the school with him and continue tailing, her ANBU partner Gekkō Hayate suddenly appeared in her path—interrupting her mission.
"Sorry, sorry. I just wanted to ask if you'd get dango with me—there's a new shop in town."
He'd planned to play a little trick on her with his stealth, but seeing how serious she was, Hayate quickly apologized.
"But what kind of mission would you have at the Academy?"
Konoha had been peaceful for years now, and ANBU's most common duty was street patrol. With teachers around, there was no need for ANBU at school.
"This is a direct order from the Hokage. Are you saying you want to break the rules and spy on my mission?"
"No, no! Of course not!"
"Then move."
Noticing Uchiha Kage nearly out of sight, Yugao felt a spike of anxiety.
This guy's gotten soft after too much peace… If an enemy really did infiltrate the village someday—
She couldn't help but feel worried for Gekkō Hayate.
Although their relationship wasn't officially romantic because of their ANBU positions, all that was left was a final confession.
But now wasn't the time for that.
Throwing him a cold glare, she darted away in a blur between rooftops and trees.
"Isn't today a day off? What mission would the Hokage give her?" Hayate muttered, scratching his head in confusion.
As an "evil" Uchiha, being targeted again and again was nothing new.
Naturally, Uchiha Kage wouldn't just sit and wait to die.
I need something clever—not revealing too much of my true strength, but enough to make them pay dearly.
Glancing at the looming Forest of Death ahead, Kage suddenly had an idea.
He'd always carried ninja tools for self-defense—better safe than sorry.
A simple trap won't hold him… but if I…
Slipping behind a large tree, he began his preparations.
Meanwhile—
"There is indeed a problem."
Bzz…
A small insect flew back from the forest, landing on the finger of the hooded figure.
"They actually sensed me and deliberately led me into the Forest of Death…"
Aburame Ryoma's eyes hardened beneath the shadow of his hood.
"And the intel says this kid has unusually high chakra reserves—not matching the 'weak and sickly' profile we were given. Danzo-sama was right… this Uchiha orphan is hiding something."
"Huh? You set up a trap this quickly?"
A perfectly constructed trap lay before him—dangerous enough to snare the unwary.
So, you're hiding nearby, waiting to strike? My insects have already found your location. Whatever your plan is—it's the futile struggle of an ant.
Boom.
Feigning panic, Ryoma deliberately triggered the trap, his gaze fixed on Kage's position.
Sure enough—movement!
From the blind spot behind him, the young Uchiha lunged with a kunai.
"How shallow."
And impatient, too—springing out before the trap even activated. Typical of youth.
With a curl of his lip, Ryoma unleashed: "Secret Technique: Insect Sphere!"
A swarm erupted from his sleeves and legs, engulfing the charging figure—
Bang!
White smoke.
A shadow clone!?
Then the real one is—
To the side!
Reacting instantly, Ryoma spun and counterattacked with kunai and a fresh swarm.
Ding!
Something felt wrong.
Bang!
"This one's also a clone!?"
No—this was a substitution. And the "substitute" was… a trap?
From above, Kage's voice came: "The first trap was just bait."
The stake Ryoma had struck earlier splintered apart, releasing thin wire that bound him tight. Dozens of explosive tags hung from it like festive streamers.
"Detonate!"
The forest roared.
When the smoke cleared, Ryoma still stood—injured, but alive—his insects having shielded most of the blast.
Pat… pat…
Dead bugs littered the ground. Blood dripped from Ryoma's left shoulder—an insult in itself.
To be wounded like this by a fresh genin…!
"Don't run, brat!"
Breaking free, he gave chase, murderous intent flaring.
"Huff… huff…"
So many tags, and he's barely hurt… Is this the fabled "smoke but no damage"?
Kage grumbled inwardly as he fled.
He calculated his position, then activated his Byakugan, scanning for a certain blond boy carrying a scroll.
That trap was just the appetizer. The main course is coming.
Rustle…
Right on cue, just before Ryoma caught up—Kage collided with someone running through the forest.
"Naruto!?"
Holding his head, Kage stared in surprise at the boy now sprawled on the ground.
"Kage!?"
It was, of course, Naruto—having "stolen" the Forbidden Scroll from the Hokage building.
"What are you doing here?" they asked simultaneously.
Of course, Kage was faking his surprise.
"Brat, let's see where you run now!"
Enraged, Ryoma lunged, kunai aimed for Kage's throat—
—and somewhere in the Hokage's office, an old man peering into a crystal ball finally saw the scene unfold.