Uchiha vs. Hyūga.
They opened with a blockbuster; the village clearly wants these two—the best after Kakashi and Guy—to set the example for everyone else.
From a distance, several high-ranking envoys sent by the village were already watching.
'A duel between the two great Dōjutsu clans?'
'The Uchiha and the Hyūga both claim to be Konoha's number-one noble Family—this fight just got interesting.'
'Most of their clansmen are currently tied down at the front against Kirigakure, buying time for the village—let's hope their children are just as outstanding.'
These observers followed the fight in silence.
They carried a vital mission: to evaluate whether this graduating class could be sent to the battlefield.
The front lines were growing desperate; even a behemoth like Konoha was feeling the strain.
'Hmm? Sharingan!'
Moments later they were stunned.
A ten-year-old girl had awakened the Uchiha Clan's Kekkei Genkai?!
'Such talent… Remarkable. We thought this year's Uchiha crop would produce no real Genius—what a pleasant surprise.'
The leader gave a small, satisfied nod.
'Lord Shibi, should we report to Lord Hokage? A child like this merits close attention,' whispered a masked ANBU.
'No. Wait until all matches are finished; I'll deliver a full report to Lord Hokage myself.'
Aburame Shibi's face was hidden beneath a deep hood, his voice low.
Uchiha Ichie's Sharingan caused a major stir.
Awakening at ten was undeniably Genius; many Uchiha never awaken at all.
The clan had been humiliated by the oddball Obito, but Ichie's Awakening shattered every rumor at a stroke.
Uchiha was still Uchiha: Geniuses born generation after generation!!
'So it's the Sharingan… but I won't lose—my Byakugan is just as mighty!'
Hyūga Riyōbo swallowed his unease and spoke with grim resolve.
Everyone knew an Uchiha with Sharingan was a different creature from one without.
Ichie merely smiled and shook her head, leapt back, and snapped through Hand Seals.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Right out of the gate—the Uchiha's signature Ninjutsu!
The onlookers gasped again.
A fireball the size of a person roared toward Riyōbo, flames blazing so brightly they lit the arena.
In that split second Ichie flicked her gaze toward a certain spectator, then just as quickly looked away.
'…'
A look of surprise and admiration crossed Bai Lu's face.
Insane—what price had this girl paid this past year? How much nuclear radiation had she devoured to force her body to evolve?
Even her Sharingan looked slightly off—forced out when every indicator said she wasn't ready.
He clearly remembered that in the original story only Obito after his fall had awakened Mangekyō at twelve.
Now ten-year-old Ichie—Itachi's future sister-in-law—had appeared, derailing canon.
'Using radiation to accelerate a Kekkei Genkai? Ichie must be a one-in-a-million fluke; not dying is already lucky. But the research value… who knows what role Chakra—omnipotent energy binding spirit and matter—plays between them… the God Tree line and the Otsutsuki line…'
Bai Lu brooded silently.