9th September, 7:30am. Granny Honoka's home.
Obito trudged down the stairs, yawning halfway through. New morning, same routine.
He stepped into the kitchen where Granny Honoka was already at the stove, humming as she cooked.
"Isn't Kaen back from his… walk?" Obito asked, rubbing his eyes.
Granny chuckled.
"You already forgot, Obi-kun? He's with his aunt. He'll be back the day after tomorrow."
"Oh yeah… right." He stretched lazily. "House feels awfully quiet without him chirping around."
Granny chuckled again — though she hid the pinch of worry behind it.
===
Minato's Residence — 8 a.m.
Kaen stood beside Kushina's futon, staring at her with the unblinking patience of a cat watching its human sleep.
"She's late…" he whispered.
His eyes drifted to the alarm clock lying face-down on the floor. He bent, picked it up, and grimaced.
"Ah… leave it to Ka-chan and her sister to murder alarm clocks."
Still squatting, he tried fixing the bent metal bell with tiny, serious hands.
Kushina slowly opened her eyes — and the first thing she saw was Kaen trying to clean up her chaos.
Her lips curved into a sleepy smile.
"Kaen…"
He shot upright.
"Oba-chan, you're late. The sun's already up."
Kushina giggled, reached out, and yanked him onto the futon before he could escape. One second later he was trapped under the blanket, held like a plush toy.
"Bruh…" Kaen sighed in defeat.
Kushina blinked at him.
"Kaen… why do you talk so weird? What's bruh? What language is that?"
"Weird? Wait— everyone says bruh," Kaen said, baffled.
"No, they don't," Kushina replied, squinting at him. "You're the first person I've ever heard say it."
"Wait… but the town down the mountain we lived on? Everyone used it! Bruh was, like, mandatory vocabulary!"
"Maybe it's just their local lingo," Kushina reasoned.
"Mm… maybe." Kaen wriggled. "Oba-chan, let me gooo. I gotta get ready."
"And where is my little teddy bear running off to?" she teased.
"Academy! I already skipped yesterday… I can't skip again or the principal's gonna complain to Fugaku-san."
"Oh come on, it's no big deal. You're in second grade, right? Missing a day won't—" she yawned.
"Nope." Kaen stared at her. "I'm in the sixth grade."
Kushina snapped awake like she'd been hit with a lightning style.
"WHAT!?"
"Bruh, you didn't even know this?" Kaen said, deadpan.
"But— but you're SIX!" Kushina sputtered.
Kaen grinned proudly, flexing his tiny arms.
"Yep. Six years old and already in sixth grade."
Kushina was torn — baffled, a little upset, and honestly worried that Kaen was already so close to becoming a shinobi at such a young age.
But then he puffed out his tiny chest and acted exactly like his father used to, and… yeah. Who could stay mad at that?
===
Konohagakure Shinobi Academy — 9 a.m.
Classroom 7B.
Obito slumped beside Rin, who was staring dreamily out the window.
The rest of the class was in full morning chaos — shouting, running, arguing, exactly the same as every other day.
Then the teacher walked in.
Instant silence. Everyone scrambled to their seats.
He reached into his bag, pulled out a sheet of paper, and cleared his throat.
"Before we begin, I have an important announcement. The Third Hokage has issued an order for the immediate graduation of five students from our class."
The room snapped awake.
"Who.."
"I'm for sure in the five."
"No, dumbass I am."
"Both of you shut up, it's obviously me!"
The atmosphere flipped from half-asleep to bloodthirsty competition.
Except Obito, who honestly couldn't care less.
The teacher read aloud:
"Uchiha Obito. Nohara Rin."
A wave of boos erupted instantly.
Rin froze — she hadn't expected her name in a million years.
Obito turned red for a whole different reason.
With HER? Oh no oh no oh no—
"You two head to the training grounds and meet your jōnin instructor there. Next up—
Raido Namiashi.
Ebisu."
Raido stood like a celebrity arriving on the red carpet, the class cheering wildly. Even Ebisu looked smug.
"And lastly… Mighto Gai."
"WHAT!?"
The entire class shrieked in perfect unison.
Gai looked like he'd been struck by divine lightning.
"M-Me? Sensei… is it really me?"
"Yes, Gai. Somehow — somehow — they chose you."
The class booed even louder than before, but Gai didn't hear any of it.
His smile was so bright it could've powered the entire academy.
His father's teachings had finally borne fruit.
Laughing proudly, he jogged out of the classroom with his new teammates.
---
As Obito and Rin made their way toward the training grounds, Rin leaned closer.
"Obito-kun… why do you think we were graduated early? And without any exams?"
"I don't know, Rin-chan… but maybe something's going on in the village."
"What do you mean?" she asked, worried.
"I… I just know that yesterday our clan head, Fugaku-san, and a bunch of others were called to some big meeting…"
"A meeting? But wouldn't that be about serious village affairs? What does that have to do with our graduation?" Rin frowned.
"Guess we're about to find out," Obito said.
She's right… this feels way too convenient…
They stepped into the training ground — and immediately spotted a blond jōnin lounging casually against a tree.
"Is… is that our jōnin?" Rin whispered.
"Wait—I know him! He's Kaen's uncle!" Obito blurted.
Minato stood the moment he noticed them approaching.
"Hey, you two. How're you feeling?" he asked with his usual gentle charm.
"We're good, Minato-sensei! Are you our jōnin?" Obito asked, his ears heating up with excitement.
"Seems so," Minato replied with a smile.
Rin bowed politely.
"Ohayō gozaimasu, Sensei."
"Ohayō," Minato returned.
Obito quickly mirrored the bow, nearly tripping over himself.
Minato reached into his back pocket and pulled out two white scrolls along with two head protectors.
"One for you… and one for you," he said, handing them over.
Obito looked like he might actually explode from joy. His dream was unfolding right in front of him.
Rin placed her headband on with a beaming smile.
"Sensei, aren't genin teams supposed to have three Genin?"
"Yes." Minato glanced up at the tree behind him.
"Kakashi, you can come out now."
The branches rustled — and a silver-haired boy dropped down with flawless control.
Obito's brain short-circuited.
Wait… that's Hatake Kakashi. The kid who was with me in second grade… and then JUMPED ahead?!
Rin practically turned pink on the spot at the sight of him.
Kakashi folded his arms coolly.
"Let's see if this squad can even match my level."
Minato laughed nervously.
Yep… tough nut indeed.
===
Classroom 6A — 9 a.m.
Section A was the pride of the Academy — the class stacked with prodigies.
Itachi.
Rinka.
Shizo.
Haruto.
Kaen.
Each one a walking promise of their clan's future.
Which meant the rest of the class… well… was the usual chaos until the teacher arrived.
Kaen was slumped over his desk beside Itachi, stealing a pre-class nap.
Itachi sat straight, quiet and composed.
Rinka, on Kaen's left, reread her notes like the model student she was.
The teacher entered, and the room snapped back to order.
Itachi nudged Kaen lightly. Kaen jolted awake and stretched.
"Uzumaki Kaen," the teacher called.
"Yes, teacher?" Kaen stood up obediently.
"Your request was approved. You can attend the Chakra Science class — an instructor finally arrived."
Kaen's sleepy expression burst into pure joy.
FINALLY.
From the back rows came the predictable chorus:
"Chakra science? Lame."
"Nerd."
"Geek."
"Weirdo."
Rinka, who only recently learned Kaen's story, shot up from her seat with fire in her eyes.
"Shut up, you morons."
"Rinka, sit down," the teacher warned.
She huffed and sat. Itachi leaned slightly toward her.
"Don't waste your energy on them. Not worth it."
Kaen, halfway out the door, paused.
He turned and stared at the loudest boy.
One second.
Three seconds.
Five seconds.
Just a blank, deadpan stare. No blinking. No expression. Pure intimidation.
The boy squirmed.
"You wanna throw hands or something?!"
The teacher immediately stepped forward to hold him back.
Kaen just smirked — the smug of a little gremlin — then turned away without a word.
His aura? Untouchable.
Rinka blinked, impressed at how easily he handled it.
"See?" Itachi murmured, eyes forward. "Not worth your words."
Rinka nodded slowly, understanding perfectly now.
===
3rd Floor — Classroom CS-1, 9:15 a.m.
Kaen stepped into the hall, which was easily the size of two normal classrooms. Oddly few chairs for such a big room. The chairs that were there were scattered around like they'd been arranged by a drunk monkey.
This was the department meant to produce shinobi who would advance the world with chakra science… yet in fifty years, it had only managed to graduate seventeen students. Orochimaru included.
He looked around the empty hall, curiosity creeping in. His earlier intimidating aura melted away as a childish urge bubbled up.
"HELLO!"
hello… hello… hello…
His voice echoed beautifully across the room.
That was all the encouragement he needed.
"Pi… po… pa…"
He made random noises just to hear them bounce back. Just a kid being a kid.
Then—
"BWAAAHHH!"
An unfamiliar voice echoed so loudly Kaen jumped into a Janken stance on instinct.
"Who's there!?" he shouted.
From the back door, a young man in standard jōnin uniform strolled in casually.
"Relax, kid. It's just me."
Kaen exhaled in relief…
Until his eyes drifted back to the chairs.
He blinked.
There were fifteen a moment ago… now there are nine.
The jōnin approached, and Kaen felt a sharp tickle deep in his gut — the unmistakable warning of danger.
He slipped right back into his stance.
The jōnin just sat down on the teacher's desk.
"So, kid… why're you scared?"
"You did something," Kaen said, sweat beading on his forehead. "You did something when you walked in."
He sensed it? No… he analyzed it.
The jōnin thought, mildly impressed.
"No I didn't, kid. Check again."
Kaen turned left and counted.
Fifteen chairs.
Exactly as before.
He looked back—
The jōnin suddenly clutched his chest like he was having a heart attack. His eyes bulged, he slumped over the desk.
Kaen's eyes went wide.
"HEY—!"
He sprinted toward him—
And the jōnin vanished.
A tremor behind him.
Kaen whipped around—
The jōnin lunged at him.
Kaen instinctively threw a fire fist—
which passed straight through the man, who dissolved like smoke.
"Wait— why isn't my fist burning!?"
He scanned the room—
and noticed the faint shimmer of distorted air beneath one chair.
"That's it… genjutsu."
He formed the Kai seal.
"KAI!"
Suddenly he was back—
standing right at the doorway.
With a kunai at his throat.
Kaen froze.
"What— what just happened!? When did you—!?"
The jōnin smirked, lowering the kunai before strolling back to the desk.
"You were in my genjutsu from the moment you stepped inside."
Kaen's brain practically exploded.
"But— but the echoes! They were real! You mean THAT was also genjutsu!?"
The teacher nodded casually.
"Kid, you signed up for Chakra Science. What you just experienced is a taste of what's possible."
Kaen's eyes sparkled.
"WOAAAHHH!"
"First, introductions," the jōnin said, dusting off his flak jacket. "I am Sarutobi Nozomu. Rank: Special Jōnin. Lord Third personally assigned me to teach you. I look forward to beati— ahem, educating you as this class is formally an S-rank mission."
Kaen lit up like a lantern.
"Nozomu-sensei! I'm Uchiha Kaen! I'm an undergraduate and I just— I LOVED what you did back there! I'm really looking forward to learning from you!"
Nozomu smirked.
"Good."
Kaen shot his hand up. "Before we start, can I ask something?"
"Yeah, kid. Go for it."
Kaen tilted his head, curiosity overflowing.
"What does Special Jōnin mean?"
Nozomu stretched his neck, cracking it lightly.
"A normal jōnin is someone who's mastered shinobi arts across the board. A Special Jōnin is someone who excels far more in one or more specific fields — like I do in genjutsu and chakra science."
"OHHH! But aren't genjutsu and chakra science the same thing? Like that stuff you showed just now?" Kaen asked, full geek mode activated.
"No, not entirely," Nozomu replied. "They're intertwined, sure… but they're still different branches. Don't overthink it right now. There are at least a dozen specialization paths to choose from."
"OHH." Kaen nodded vigorously, processing every word like gospel.
As seconds bled into minutes and minutes into hours, the clock finally slid to 11:00 a.m. Nozomu stepped to the board and wrote the assignment in neat, deliberate strokes.
"Next class — bring a detailed list of real-world applications of Chakra Science," he announced.
Kaen scribbled it down like it was the map to a treasure chest, eyes bright.
"See you in two days, kiddo," Nozomu said as he left the room. Kaen bowed low, voice steady and polite.
"Arigatō gozaimasu."
He gathered his notes and shuffled to one of the lockers at the back. A puff of dust met his face; he sneezed, blew it away, wiped the shelf clean, and tucked his papers in with a careful, practiced motion.
"Yosh—now time for some taijutsu," he muttered, bouncing toward the training ground.
Today was sparring day.
Wonder how that new kid trains… he looked strong.
---
On the field, pairs were already forming. Itachi stood opposite Hyūga prodigy Haruto, their calm focus like two blades settling.
Kaen sat a short distance off, folding observation into his routine: watch, analyze, improvise. A small but essential step in whatever he was becoming.
Hyūga Genius vs. Uchiha Genius
Both boys slid into stance, hands forming the Kai seal in perfect sync.
"Begin!" the chūnin instructor called.
Itachi shot forward first — a straight, precise strike aimed at Haruto's ribs. Haruto braced, Byakugan active, reading every micro-movement.
But just milliseconds before contact, Itachi dropped low for a sweeping kick.
Haruto leapt.
Itachi spun, using the momentum to snap a double-leg kick that sent Haruto skidding back across the dirt.
Kaen jumped from his seat.
"Oi, Itachi, you genius—!"
Because those were *his* moves Itachi was mimicking.
Haruto smirked, sliding into the Eight Trigrams stance. Itachi pressed forward again, and every strike, elbow, and kick was deflected with graceful, circular precision.
Kaen folded his arms, watching intently.
He's letting Haruto think his blocks are working. He's feeding him the rhythm…
And there it was — a pattern.
Spin elbow.
Low kick.
Gut punch.
Then a Janken-style feint between a high kick and a side kick.
Haruto was adapting quickly. Maybe a little too quickly.
By the fourth cycle, Haruto read it perfectly. He intercepted the gut punch with a Gentle Fist strike to the forearm—
Exactly what Itachi wanted.
Before Haruto could follow up, Itachi pivoted left and dropped low. In a flash, he hooked Haruto's leg from behind and yanked him into a single-leg takedown.
Kaen's grin spread wide.
Itachi had been leveling up quietly — analyzing Kaen's style for two months and folding grappling into his own Uchiha flow.
Haruto blinked in confusion mid-fall.
Why would a smaller kid pull me to the ground?!
He twisted, trying to use Itachi's lighter weight to fling him off — but Itachi mirrored the motion, counterbalancing perfectly and dragging the Hyūga straight to the dirt.
Panic flickered through Haruto's eyes.
Hyūga were masters of stand-up combat — not ground fighting.
He tried to twist free.
Itachi seized the opening and locked in a tight armbar.
Haruto tapped instantly. For a Hyūga, the arms were everything.
The class erupted in applause — Kaen leading the clap with a proud smirk.
Itachi stood, dusted himself off, and looked directly at one person.
His cousin.
His rival.
Uchiha Kaen.
The look said everything.
I'm not losing next time.
Kaen smirked back.
I'm not either.
---
As Itachi seated back. Kaen looked at the new kid.
Silver, curly hair that caught the sunlight.
Wheat-brown skin.
A black-and-yellow jumpsuit so loud it practically screamed "I dare you to look away."
He sat alone against the academy wall, knee propped up, arms loose. Expression? Blank.
Not shy.
Not broody.
Just… observant.
Sharper than kids their age usually were.
He'd watched Itachi and Haruto throw down with laser-focused interest.
And now that it was over?
Totally disinterested in the rest.
Ten years old… good build… hands roughed up… yeah, he's been fighting outside class.
Kaen started walking toward him again, determined—
"Oi—!"
Kaen stopped mid-step and let out the world's most exhausted grandpa Hokage sigh.
Bro… I swear…
He turned.
Of course.
The same three clowns he humbled before.
"Spar with me, squirt," their "leader" said, puffing up like a budget toad.
Kaen stared at them. Not impressed. Not amused. Just… tired.
Before he could even answer—
"I can spar with you guys."
Itachi's voice cut through from behind. Calm. Confident. Very "big brother cleaning up toddler mess."
The trio froze.
They'd JUST watched Itachi dismantle a Hyūga prodigy.
"N-n-no… we wanna fight Kaen…"
"Y-yeah, gotta teach him a lesson!"
Itachi walked toward them with the kind of polite menace only a prodigy could pull off.
"It's alright," he said, smiling like a fox.
"You three can spar with me. All at once. I'm sure I'll learn something."
The three kids stiffened instantly — but they followed. They had to. There was no backing out now.
Kaen snorted a laugh as Itachi walked away with them, giving him a subtle thumbs-up over his shoulder.
Their rivalry was real.
Their chemistry?
Unmatched.
And with the distractions gone, Kaen set his eyes forward again…
Toward the kid who hadn't even looked up yet.
Alright… let's meet you properly, huh?