บท 3: Chapter 2
Chapter 2
After the village was mostly rebuilt, the academy was reopened once again. Kaen was happy that he had a place to study, even if he didn't learn what the academy wanted. To not waste time, he started to study seals in the academy. They were basic seals that the academy's library could provide.
For now, his schedule was to exercise in the morning, attend the academy, and study seals and other jutsu. After the academy, he would do chakra control exercises. Kaen wanted to practice his jutsu the most, but he didn't have a secret place to do so.
As Kaen's chakra nature was fire, his jutsu were all explosive in nature. He had no place to do it secretly, for now, so he only practiced the basic fire jutsu that every Uchiha clan had learned. So instead, he started to watch some genin training with his Sharingan and stealing their skills.
Kaen was too afraid to use his Sharingan on chunin or jonin. It was too risky, he knew that experienced shinobi could feel when they were watched, and Kaen didn't want anyone to learn of his Sharingan for now. The more secret weapons he had, the safer he felt.
"Today, you all will take a test to evaluate your aptitude," Sensei said after the class started.
"What?"
It was a shock for everyone. After all, the academy was only reopened for a week, but there was already a surprise test. Kaen understood immediately why sensei would give a test. The village needed shinobi. So, they will try to find promising students who can be promoted to genin.
Kaen didn't think they expected anyone to pass this year except him. The test was given to everyone, but the higher-ups only wanted to see if Kaen was ready to become a genin. Too bad for them, but Kaen didn't think he was ready.
After sensei gave everyone the test papers, Kaen saw that the test wasn't that difficult. At least it wasn't for him. It was basic history and political knowledge—some mathematic and logical tasks and knowledge about chakra and how it could be used.
It was probably simpler than graduating exam. Well, he didn't even spend a year in the academy, so the mathematical and logical tasks were what they were looking for. They would evaluate his right mindset to be a genin if he could do these tasks.
"Ahhh, what the hell are these questions?" Kaen heard Hana Inuzuka's voice from behind him. "How should I know how to answer them?"
"Quiet, Inuzuka," Sensei shouted.
It was clear that sensei didn't care about other students, as he only looked at Kaen. Seeing through the test, Kaen answered the questions as simply as he could. He had to walk through thin ice. He didn't want anyone to suspect that he was hiding his capabilities, but he couldn't reveal them either.
Kaen used all the time he was given to answer the questions, barely managing to finish. At least, that is what it would look like to sensei. He answered all the questions, but he made sure to make mistakes. Some mistakes could be minor, some major. He made sure he knew about history and politics, but only in the simplest way possible.
"Time is up," Sensei announced. "Please put down your pens and give me back the papers."
"Ahhh," Hana Inuzuka groaned in frustration.
After sensei collected all the papers, Kaen saw him taking his papers out immediately and glanced at them. Kaen's plan seemed successful as he let out a disappointed sigh. Kaen was on top of the class, so sensei might have expected him to pass the test. Every teacher wanted his student to be a new prodigy.
"After a break, everyone is to gather outside. We will have practical lessons."
"Yeah." The students were happy.
Only they would be stupid enough not to see through what sensei has planned. After all, we were still first-year students and didn't have practical lessons. It was to test the student's skills. But to students, they finally have a chance to do what they always wanted.
…
First was kunai and shuriken throwing. The students from the clans did well, while civilian ones barely managed to hit anything. Sensei didn't instruct anyone; he wasn't here to teach them but to test them.
Throwing kunai and shuriken was the first thing Kaen learned in this world. When his time came, he hit every target, but not in the center. Kaen could have hit the targets in the dead center if he wanted to, but he wanted to show them that he was talented, but not enough to skip years of lessons.
Again, Kaen saw sensei letting out a sigh when he finished with his throwing. Kaen understood now why sensei wasn't a jonin. He couldn't hide his emotion even if his life depended on it. Kaen was disappointed for his sensei.
"All right, everyone, comes to the ring. Now it is time for taijutsu."
As everyone gathered around the ring, the students once again were excited. This is what they came to learn. They came to there learn how to fight, not history, science, or geography. So, they couldn't wait until their names were called and they could show off their skills.
Few students knew a basic stance, but again they were from clans. The civilian ones could only throw a punch or tackle and wrestle with other students on the ground. Kaen could not stand being near them after a fight. They were all dirty and disgusting. After a while, it was his time to fight.
"Kaen Uchiha and Hana Inuzuka, to the ring," Sensei called out to Kaen's opponent and him.
"You are going down," Hana Inuzuka said with a smirk when they did the seal of confrontation.
"Why?" Kaen asked, feigning ignorance.
"Because I will beat you up," Hana replied.
"Why?" Kaen once again asked.
As Hana Inuzuka stopped for a moment, confused about what to say, Kaen kicked her in the head. The girl fell to the ground, and the fight was over as Kaen stepped on her stomach. Sensei let out another disappointing sigh as Kaen didn't show the skill needed to become a genin. Ultimately, he grasped his last straw and called out another opponent for me.
"Taiko Uchiha replace Hana Inuzuka," Sensei said.
"Didn't I win?" Kaen asked. "Shouldn't other students have a chance to fight?"
"As there is an odd number of students, someone has to fight twice," Sensei gave an excuse.
"What does the prodigy is afraid of?" Taiko Uchiha asked.
"Of you," Kaen replied. "I heard of how strong you are, and I am afraid I will be humiliated in front of everyone. After all, who has not heard of Taikaka Uchiha?"
"It is Taiko Uchiha," He corrected me.
"Oh, sorry, Laika Uchiha."
"Stop it and start the fight," Sensei seeing Taiko getting angered, ordered us.
Once they had done their seal of confrontation, Taiko didn't waste time and started with a kick. Kaen became defensive and only blocked or dodged his opponent's hits. Kaen didn't throw a punch or try to kick his opponent.
Only when Kaen was pushed to the circle's edge did he grab Taiko's arm and throw him outside the ring. Taiko somersaulted and got on his feet. As he tried to run back into a fight, sensei stopped him.
"You are out of the ring, Taiko. You lost."
And so, the test was over. Kaen was satisfied with himself. He showed that he was still the best in his class but didn't put himself above others' reach. He proved that he was talented but not as special as Kakashi Hatake. He showed promise but still needed a few years to be nurtured.
…
After the academy ended today, Kaen didn't go to train. He was paranoid that someone might be watching him for further evaluation, so he only ran some laps around the village and did some basic taijutsu katas. Once he was done, he went home.
On the way home, he found a group of stray cats meowing for him again. Seeing them, Kaen went to a shop and bought some sausages to feed the cats. While he did so, he started to pet them. As he was about to leave, he stopped seeing a little kitten hiding under some trash.
Kaen picked up the kitten and saw that it was only fur and bones. The kitten couldn't be more than half a year old, so he was probably not used to a life of a stray. The kitten was small and scrawny, and Kaen knew it wouldn't survive for long if left alone. So, he took it back home. Even though he knew it would be hard to care for this kitten, he couldn't leave it alone to die.
As Kaen left with the kitten, a certain girl with purple hair came out of hiding and watched him go. Kaen had no idea about the girl as he concentrated on the kitten shivering in his hands.
…
Once Kaen returned home, he poured milk into a bowl and put it on the ground. He set the kitten before the milk and watched as the kitten drank. The kitten's fur was a light grey, and Kaen liked that color. After the kitten drank all the milk, Kaen took a pillow and set it for the kitten to use.
"I should probably name you," Kaen said as he watched the kitten curled up on the pillow. "How about Ash? It is simple enough."
The Kitten didn't listen, as it was probably asleep, so Kaen left to eat his dinner and practice sticking leaves to his body. He had already perfected the technique but still kept at it. He tested how long he could hold the leaves on his body for now. He had to wait for his roommates to return, so he could warn them not to mess with Ash.
…
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to the reports of the academy teachers beside him where the Konoha Council was. Danzo Shimura, Koharo Utatane, and Homura Mitokado it was their idea to test the students. He would not have pushed for them to graduate early if it were up to his decision.
The Third Hokage could only wish that the new genin didn't take on more than they were capable of. The most casualties came from genin, after all. Yet he could do nothing to stop this. Konoha needed shinobi more than ever.
After listening to the teachers' opinions, it was decided that most of last year's students would be immediately promoted to genin. Only a few more students could be promoted from the third to the fifth year. There were no first and second-year students that could be promoted.
"What about Kaen Uchiha?" Danzo Shimura asked.
"He is promising but still lacks skills to be on par with genin," The first-year teacher answered. "I believe he still needs a couple of years to blossom his potential."
"An assigned sensei could do that in a couple of months," Danzo didn't give up.
"If he didn't pass the test, he didn't pass it," The Third Hokage said. "We are not so despaired to shove unprepared students into a battlefield."
The Third Hokage's words were final. He was already tired of it but needed to show his strength. Sending unprepared children to missions would only undermine what the village needs. It would only show its desperation. The other council members agreed and dismissed Kaen Uchiha as a candidate to be promoted.
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