Deep within the Academy’s training grounds stood a mock fortress designed to simulate an enemy stronghold.
Its walls were sturdy, its entrance heavily reinforced, and its position carefully chosen to test a young shinobi’s ability to move unseen.
For the graduation exercise, the objective was straightforward.
Infiltrate the fortress.
Retrieve the intelligence scroll hidden inside.
Escape without being detected.
At least, that was how the instructors expected the students to do it.
Asuma Sarutobi moved through the forest like a shadow.
His breathing remained calm and steady.
Every step was measured.
Every shift in posture deliberate.
He flowed from cover to cover without making a sound, constantly scanning the area for threats.
Even his training gear seemed to melt into the surrounding terrain.
Within moments, he arrived at the fortress entrance.
After a final sweep of the area, he quietly pushed the door open, slipped inside, and closed it behind him without the slightest noise.
The entire sequence was flawless.
Had someone blinked at the wrong moment, they might have missed it entirely.
Hidden nearby, a Chunin instructor nodded approvingly.
“Excellent.”
A pleased smile spread across his face.
“As expected of the Third Hokage’s son. Plenty of Chunin would struggle to match that level of infiltration.”
He immediately marked the evaluation sheet in his hand.
Outstanding.
This wasn’t a test of combat strength.
The Academy was evaluating a shinobi’s ability to operate behind enemy lines.
Reconnaissance.
Intelligence gathering.
Escort missions.
Sabotage.
Poisoning.
A ninja’s responsibilities extended far beyond fighting.
And Asuma had demonstrated exactly what the exam was designed to assess.
With graduation approaching, his final evaluation was already looking exceptional.
The instructor couldn’t help feeling proud.
A talented student reflected well on their teacher.
Especially when that student happened to be the Hokage’s son.
The examination continued.
Next came Obito Uchiha.
At first glance, Obito looked somewhat careless—a little impulsive, perhaps.
But the instructor had long since learned not to judge him by appearances.
Beneath that easygoing exterior lay remarkably sharp instincts.
Even without the Sharingan, Obito possessed an unusual awareness of sightlines and blind spots.
He naturally avoided areas where he could be observed.
He instinctively positioned himself where others would overlook him.
Every movement concealed his presence.
The instructor chuckled.
“An Uchiha is an Uchiha.”
Another excellent score was recorded.
Obito ranked near the bottom of the elite class.
But that meant very little when his competition consisted of monsters.
Today’s participants represented the Academy’s most talented students.
Asuma Sarutobi.
Obito Uchiha.
Kurenai Yuhi.
Rin Nohara.
The heirs of Konoha’s major clans.
Ordinary Academy graduates often spent their entire careers as average Genin.
Only a handful ever rose to become Chunin.
The elite program was different.
As long as they survived, becoming Chunin was practically guaranteed.
Some would eventually become Jonin.
Some might even reach the ranks of the elite Jonin.
And among the most gifted, a rare few could one day stand at the level of a Kage.
Each student had strengths and weaknesses.
But none possessed any glaring flaws.
Especially not in something as fundamental as stealth.
Sure enough, Kurenai, Rin, and the other elite students completed the exercise one after another.
The instructor’s smile grew wider with each successful evaluation.
Then he noticed the next examinee.
And his smile disappeared.
A tall figure walked into view.
Far too tall for his age.
Though only eleven or twelve years old, the boy already stood nearly as tall as some adults.
His bronze skin and lean frame radiated physical power.
Every muscle appeared compact and efficient, built for explosive movement rather than appearance.
Black hair.
Sharp eyes.
A youthful face carrying an almost irritating level of confidence.
Most importantly—
He wasn’t sneaking.
He wasn’t hiding.
He wasn’t even trying.
The training grounds were filled with shadows, trees, and carefully placed obstacles.
Ren Akihara ignored every single one.
He simply walked straight down the center of the path.
No cover.
No concealment.
No caution.
Instead of infiltrating enemy territory, he looked like someone heading home after a long day.
The instructor finally snapped.
“Ren Akihara!”
He burst from his hiding place and pointed furiously at the boy.
“Can you act like a shinobi for once?!”
Ren stopped and looked over.
The instructor nearly exploded.
“This is an intelligence retrieval exercise!”
His voice echoed through the training grounds.
“You’re supposed to infiltrate the fortress! Stay hidden! Gather information!”
He jabbed a finger toward the open path.
“You’re marching right down the middle of the road! What are you trying to do? Make sure the guards see you?”
Ren blinked.
Then he grinned.
“Not at all, sensei.”
He shrugged casually.
“I already infiltrated perfectly.”
The instructor stared at him.
For a moment, he genuinely wondered whether the boy had suffered a head injury.
“Perfectly?”
“Yes.”
Ren nodded as if the answer were obvious.
“I was just about to collect the intelligence scroll.”
The instructor nearly choked.
“What part of this is perfect?!”
“You didn’t hide!”
“You walked through the open!”
“You didn’t even use silent-foot movement!”
Any guard with functioning eyes would spot him immediately.
Unless the enemy happened to be blind, this plan had absolutely no chance of succeeding.
Then Ren smiled.
A dangerous smile.
The next instant—
He moved.
The ground cracked beneath his foot.
Boom!
His body shot forward like a released arrow.
The instructor’s pupils contracted.
Too fast.
One moment Ren stood several meters away.
The next, he was directly in front of him.
The Chunin’s instincts screamed in warning.
But his body couldn’t react in time.
A fist filled his vision.
BAM!
The punch landed squarely across his face.
The instructor froze.
His eyes rolled back.
Then he collapsed onto the dirt with a dull thud.
Silence.
Ren slowly lowered his fist.
Looking down at the unconscious examiner, he chuckled.
“See?”
He stepped over the fallen Chunin and pushed open the fortress door.
“As long as everyone who spots me gets knocked out…”
The door creaked open.
Ren strode into the fortress without the slightest hesitation.
“…it’s a perfect infiltration.”