"You thought of me first? Well, thanks for that."
Uchiha Kagami muttered to himself, then glanced at his injuries. Right on schedule—just as the head nurse said, it would take about a week to heal.
"If they pass the graduation exam, then I'd like to trouble you, Kagami, to guide them for a while longer. Help them get used to mission protocols, and pass on some of your experience."
The frontlines had enough manpower for now. Even after Kagami recovered, there was no pressing need for him to return to the battlefield.
What's more, he seemed to have drawn the attention of certain organizations—he'd already been ambushed twice. The fact that the enemy was able to pinpoint his location suggested they had a formidable intelligence network.
Could it be another Hidden Village?
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but suspect the other four major villages. Outside of those, he couldn't imagine any others with the strength to target someone at the level of a Kage.
But if they were working inside the Land of Fire, those in hiding wouldn't dare to make a move so easily.
"Of all the people I could choose, you're the only one who fits, Kagami."
There was sincerity in Hiruzen's tone. He wasn't sugarcoating it—if others found out the Hokage's grand-disciple had a random jonin as their squad leader, they'd probably think he was being stingy.
"In that case, leave it to me."
Uchiha Kagami accepted without hesitation.
Being Uchiha Kaien's jonin instructor wasn't something he minded in the slightest. At first, he had taken the boy under his wing out of guilt—guilt over losing his close friend. But over time, that sense of obligation grew into genuine affection for this kind, obedient child.
Kaien possessed both outstanding talent and a steady temperament. Despite his age, he had already awakened the single-tomoe Sharingan. With time, unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan wasn't out of the question.
In fact, if certain events were to unfold... it was practically guaranteed. And Kagami spoke with confidence—because he himself had gone through it.
If he hadn't received the news of Kaien's parents' deaths, he might never have awakened his own Mangekyō.
For the longest time, Kagami had assumed that awakening the Mangekyō required sheer talent. But after gaining it himself, he realized that assumption had been wrong.
Talent was only one part of the equation. The other was powerful emotion.
Only by being consumed by overwhelming grief and loss could the eye be awakened. The emotion needed... might be best described as "love."
The Uchiha clan was a clan of love—capable of intense emotional bonds. And it was through loving something, then losing it, that they awakened their cursed eyes.
Looking through the history of the Uchiha, very few awakened their Sharingan naturally. Most did so through pain and loss.
Kaien's Sharingan was no different. The loss of his parents had been the trigger.
So Kagami's feelings toward Kaien were complicated. On one hand, he hoped the boy would one day attain the godlike power hidden in the Mangekyō. On the other, he wished he'd never have to experience that kind of suffering again.
[Affection from Uchiha Kagami +1]
...
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
Namikaze Minato was now standing at the training field, ready and focused.
The day after Kaien visited Kagami, they were informed who would be administering the graduation exam.
Upon learning that Uchiha Kagami—Kaien's uncle and a disciple of the Second Hokage—was the proctor, Minato had thrown himself into preparation. After all, this wasn't just any exam. The examiner was someone on par with the Hokage!
Not only that, he'd also be their jonin leader after they passed. So Minato was determined to give it his all—to earn the man's recognition.
"Don't worry, Minato. We've got this. You're overthinking it."
Kaien patted his teammate's shoulder, trying to ease his nerves.
"I know, but still... it's not every day you get judged by someone of that level."
Even facing Kaien's double-tomoe Sharingan gave him pressure—he could only imagine what someone with three tomoe could do.
Still, Minato reminded himself—they'd be fighting side-by-side today. Their teamwork would definitely impress the examiner!
"Heh. No need to be nervous," a familiar voice called out.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had appeared at the edge of the training field, smiling at the enthusiastic young men.
"This is your moment. Show everything you've got—ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu—go all out."
Right behind him, Uchiha Kagami stepped onto the field as well.
"I'll be the referee," Hiruzen added as he vanished from sight and reappeared at the center of the field in a flash. His speed was astonishing—Minato, already talented in body flicker techniques, couldn't help but look on in awe.
That's the level I'm aiming for...
Kagami took his position and calmly waited for the fight to begin.
Kaien, already used to sparring under Kagami's guidance, didn't bother holding back. He immediately formed hand signs and released a roaring fireball.
"Fire Style – Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Minato quickly reacted, channeling chakra to assist Kaien's attack.
"Wind Style !"
A gust of invisible wind surged from Minato's chakra points, whipping up a storm.
Wind feeds fire!
The already massive fireball grew even larger as the wind propelled it forward. Their combination technique hit like a blazing comet aimed straight at Kagami!
"A coordinated attack?!"
Both Kagami and Hiruzen showed flickers of surprise.
It was their first strike—and already, the two boys had displayed excellent teamwork and power beyond their years.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo