"Congratulations, Chishimo, Shisui!"
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
"Haha, I knew you guys could do it!"
After the battle, Uchiha Obito, Rin Nohara, and others gathered again. Since the dust released by Chishimo earlier had not completely dispersed, to avoid affecting other people's assessments, the assessments for everyone else were delayed.
As soon as they had free time, these newly made friends couldn't wait to gather around and offer their blessings.
Chishimo smiled and said, "We're just a step ahead. I believe with everyone's strength, you'll all successfully become Genin!"
"We'll take your good wishes then!" Rin Nohara teased.
"Of course! I'm the man who's going to become Hokage, a mere graduation exam is nothing!" Uchiha Obito pushed his thumb against his nose and started bragging again.
Shiranui Genma, standing nearby, nodded in agreement, while Kurenai Yuhi seemed to hesitate, wanting to speak but ultimately remaining silent.
Chishimo's gaze shifted, noticing Kurenai Yuhi's unusual behavior. Although he didn't understand why this little girl, with whom he hadn't spoken much, seemed to have something to say to him, since he noticed, he decided to go over and ask.
"Uchiha Chishimo, Uchiha Shisui!"
Just as Chishimo was about to step forward, he was called by the proctor. Helpless, he could only deal with the current matter first.
"What is it, Sensei?" Chishimo and Shisui both looked at the proctor slowly walking towards them.
"It's like this: both of you have truly become Genin. So, please find time in the next two days to go to the Hokage Office to take photos and collect your certificates." As he spoke, the Sensei handed two Ninja headbands to them respectively.
"Understood, thank you, Sensei!" Chishimo and Shisui exchanged glances, took the headbands, and nodded slightly to the Sensei.
The proctor waved his hand and turned to call out to the other graduates.
"Everyone, the dust from earlier has been cleared by the Wind Release Senseis. Please hurry and continue with your assessments!"
"Nani? How is it so fast? I haven't chatted enough with Chishimo yet!" Uchiha Obito said with a dejected expression, completely lacking the heroic spirit he showed when he made his ambition earlier.
"Stop with the nonsense!" Rin Nohara grabbed Obito's ear irritably. "Instead of complaining, you should think about how to deal with your opponent later!"
"Ow, ow, Rin, you're hurting me, gently!" Uchiha Obito grimaced, but still couldn't break free, being dragged away, in pain yet happy.
Chishimo watched Rin Nohara and Uchiha Obito walk away, then turned his head to look in the direction of Kurenai Yuhi and Shiranui Genma, watching them also walk away, and shook his head.
It seems he can only wait until next time to ask for clarification.
With the graduation exam successfully passed, Chishimo had no interest in staying there.
"Shisui, I'm planning to head back, coming along?"
Shisui pondered for a moment, then finally nodded.
The two said goodbye to their Sensei and left the training ground.
The twilight deepened slightly, the setting sun like blood, the sunset at the edge of the horizon appeared to be rimmed with gold, its hazy light entering one's retina, dreamlike and unreal.
Perhaps because it was dinner time, pedestrians were rushing home to reunite with their families. Walking along, the normally bustling streets had only a few scattered people, making them exceptionally quiet.
Chishimo and Shisui, walking side by side, seemed to be influenced by the quiet atmosphere and remained silent as well.
Looking at the soon-to-disappear setting sun and recalling everything that had happened in this life, Chishimo suddenly felt a sense of unreality. He rubbed his face before emerging from this illusion.
Chishimo secretly warned himself that the Third Ninja World War was a crucial period that would determine his, his family's, and even his clan's destiny, and he absolutely could not afford any slack.
"What's wrong, Chishimo? Your expression has been a bit off ever since just now!"
Uchiha Shisui seemed to sense Chishimo's emotional change and asked with some concern.
"I'm fine, Shisui!" At Shisui's reminder, Chishimo returned to his usual easygoing self. "I was just thinking, with the constant friction at the borders of the major nations, if nothing unexpected happens, the Third Ninja World War will probably begin soon!"
Upon hearing this, the smile on Shisui's face was also covered by worry.
"Yes, at this rate, a major conflict is only a matter of time!"
"Hey, Shisui, what do you think about the Village and the clan?" Looking at the unconcealed worry on Shisui's face, Chishimo asked seemingly casually.
But it was this seemingly casual remark that made all the hairs on Shisui's body stand on end instantly.
Is he asking about my views on the conflict between the Village and the clan?
Chishimo is the clan head's disciple, so it's not surprising that he knows about such things.
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Shisui's mind.
"Why are you so nervous?" Chishimo looked at Shisui's instantly tense face, finding it a bit amusing. "I was just asking casually."
Seemingly realizing he had overreacted, Shisui gave an awkward laugh.
"How could I not be nervous? No one in the clan would ever bring up such a question."
Chishimo chuckled, but his expression immediately became serious again.
"If possible, I also hope the Village and the clan can coexist peacefully, but things might not develop in the direction you imagine. If that day truly comes," Chishimo turned his head, his serious gaze seemingly trying to see through Shisui, "how will you choose?"
It seemed as if Shisui was made uncomfortable by Chishimo's gaze, or perhaps touched by Chishimo's words, as his expression showed some struggle, even a hint of pain.
After pondering for a long while, he finally replied with a firm tone: "No, I will never let such a thing happen. I will do everything in my power to resolve the conflict between the clan and the Village!"
Shisui's eyes met Chishimo's without flinching, and the resolve in them made even Chishimo exclaim in admiration.
"Sigh!" Not getting a direct answer from Shisui, Chishimo chose not to press further, only lamenting Shisui's naivety in his heart.
Resolve the conflict? Easier said than done. How could grievances passed down through two generations be resolved so easily? Unless the high-ranking officials on both sides are completely replaced, there's no hope.
However, Chishimo was quite relieved by Shisui's attitude. Although in Shisui's heart, the Village and the clan were equally important, he would absolutely never do something like abandoning one to protect the other, which was completely different from Uchiha Itachi.
After all, Uchiha Itachi was a ruthless individual willing to destroy his own clan for his younger brother; in his heart, his younger brother probably came first.
If it wasn't Uchiha Itachi who was given the order to exterminate the clan, but Uchiha Shisui, would the outcome have been different?
Chishimo didn't know; he just looked up again at the setting sun, which had dimmed a few more shades, and fell into thought.
...
Hokage Office.
A middle-aged man was holding a large clip, kneeling semi-prostrate before Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk.
If Chishimo and Shisui were here now, they would recognize that the kneeling man was precisely the Sensei who had proctored their exam earlier.
"Hokage-sama, these two children are without exception geniuses who are no less than Kakashi Hatake!"
Hearing the Sensei give such a high evaluation, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not surprised at all. After all, he had witnessed the battle between the two, and even he was somewhat surprised by their strength; they truly deserved such praise.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly took a puff from his pipe, leisurely saying, "Hmm, they are indeed two excellent children! Do you have any thoughts on their team formation?"
"This subordinate would not presume, but this subordinate simply believes it would be better to separate such excellent children into different teams, so that they can simultaneously motivate the children in both teams."
"Hmm, your suggestion is worth considering." Hiruzen Sarutobi took another puff from his pipe, his gaze deep, and fell into thought.