Akira looked Yamabuki Yuki over.
“There’s no need.
Izumi will help me.”
Yuki gritted her teeth.
That night, the examination results reached several different people.
Konoha had only one Ninja Academy, and the overwhelming majority of its shinobi graduated from there.
As a result, many people paid close attention to the Academy’s students.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzō, the village elders, Konoha’s leadership, and the heads of the various clans…
Uchiha Akira was undoubtedly a name worthy of their attention.
Given the current situation between the Uchiha clan and Konoha, if Akira possessed exceptional talent and strength, he could eventually become an enemy of Konoha’s leadership.
“He’s this ordinary?”
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s brow shifted slightly.
“Compared with Itachi, Uchiha Akira’s talent is far inferior.”
“But that’s only natural.”
“How could the Uchiha clan continuously produce such exceptional geniuses?”
After seeing Akira’s results, Hiruzen immediately lost interest in him.
Danzō and the village elders made the same decision.
They were unwilling to waste their attention on someone without talent.
Hyūga Hiashi was the sole exception.
That was because he had already interacted with Akira.
“Is he truly this mediocre?”
Hiashi frowned.
“Hyūga Hikaru’s performance, on the other hand, is surprisingly good.
It’s rare for such a talented child to appear in the branch family.”
“That should be beneficial to the Hyūga clan.”
Hiashi placed the results aside and looked toward the Uchiha compound.
He understood the Uchiha clan’s situation clearly.
The conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha’s leadership had already reached a point where reconciliation seemed impossible.
Hiashi didn’t know how the situation would develop.
He was still conflicted and hesitant.
If the Uchiha clan lost its position, would the Hyūga become Konoha’s leadership’s next target?
But if the Hyūga openly stood beside the Uchiha, would Konoha’s leadership become even more hostile toward them and employ harsher measures against the clan?
No one had ever attempted something like this.
“I should wait and observe for now.”
Hiashi sighed, his brow tightly furrowed.
Akira’s reputation for mediocrity soon spread throughout Konoha.
Practically everyone interested in the matter learned that the genius Uchiha Itachi had an ordinary younger brother.
Some people spoke about Akira in particularly unpleasant terms.
Hearing the discussions around them, Uchiha Shisui looked at Itachi.
“Itachi, are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Itachi shook his head.
“There’s nothing wrong with being ordinary.
If possible, I would prefer for everyone to live ordinary, peaceful lives.”
Shisui nodded.
“That’s true.
Unfortunately, reality has turned even such a simple wish into an impossible luxury.”
“I truly wish this world had no wars.”
Within the Uchiha compound—
“That’s not true!”
“My brother isn’t useless!
He’s a genius—a hundred times more talented than Brother Itachi!”
“I’m never playing with any of you again!”
Sasuke glared angrily at the children before him and ran away.
His eyes were red.
He continued running until—
Thud!
Sasuke collided headfirst with Akira.
Akira crouched before him.
“Sasuke, who bullied you?”
“They did!
They were all bullying me!
They said you were useless.”
Akira froze briefly.
“Do you think I’m useless?”
“Of course not!
You must be a genius, just like Brother Itachi.”
“Then that’s enough.”
Akira stood and rubbed Sasuke’s head with a smile.
“I’m a genius—a hundred times greater than Itachi.
We both know that.”
“As long as we know the truth, that’s enough.”
Sasuke nodded emphatically.
“Mm-hmm!”
“I won’t play with them anymore.
Starting today, I’m going to learn how to become a shinobi too.”
“I’ll become extremely strong, just like you and Brother Itachi.”
“I’ll be a genius as well.”
“All right.
You’re a genius too, Sasuke—but you’re only ten times greater than Itachi.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll be ten times weaker than me.”
“Big Brother, you’re bullying me!”
Before long, Akira’s words spread throughout the compound.
Everyone became even more convinced that he was merely an ordinary child making ridiculous boasts.
Akira’s objective had been achieved.
“Akira, I’m sorry you have to endure this.”
Fugaku looked at him guiltily.
His child was clearly a genius, yet because of Fugaku’s request, Akira had to pretend to be mediocre.
Fugaku felt that he had failed in his responsibilities as a father.
He hadn’t protected Akira well enough.
Otherwise, Akira could have displayed his talent openly and proudly.
“Isn’t this rather entertaining?”
Akira smiled and shook his head.
Fugaku froze before smiling as well.
“You’re right.
It is entertaining.”
That night, Akira returned to his room.
Instead of sleeping, he sat cross-legged on the floor.
Chakra circulated throughout his body.
Akira could sense that he wasn’t far from awakening the three-tomoe Sharingan.
Suddenly, an overwhelming wave of drowsiness struck him.