After paying tuition and receiving her textbooks, Hikari was assigned to Iruka's class.
Once her name was clarified, Mitsuda-sensei and Might Gai finally cleared up their misunderstanding.
Hikari was satisfied with the placement.
Ever since the Second Hokage established the Ninja Academy, it had carried deep political significance for Konoha.
Its purpose?
To develop civilian shinobi, break the clans' monopoly on jutsu, and gradually weaken their influence—like a frog boiled in warm water.
At the same time…
Only those who graduated from the academy could receive an official Konoha shinobi ID, becoming registered ninja recognized by the village.
And every clan head had to be one of them.
This rule was far more powerful than it seemed.
Without an ID, no matter how strong you were, you weren't truly Konoha. You couldn't access resources, missions, or status.
But with an ID?
The Hokage could assign you missions directly—stripping clans of their autonomy and forcing their elites under the village's control.
In the past, clan ninja could operate independently, ignoring the Hokage's orders.
Now?
Every clan heir had to attend the academy, bending the knee to the system.
The Second's plan was brilliant:
- Centralized power.
- Nurtured new blood.
- Forged bonds early.
By letting future leaders compete as children, Konoha avoided large-scale bloodshed over the Hokage title.
Hikari understood all of this.
By entering Iruka's class, she had stepped into Konoha's inner circle.
Her next move?
Dominate her classmates.
Become the undisputed leader of the new generation.
If she could do that, her origins as a missing-nin from Kirigakure would fade under her overwhelming talent.
By the time she reached her full potential, no one would dare question her.
Schemes and politics were just stepping stones—tools for the weak.
True power was what mattered.
And Hikari never forgot her real goal.
---
By the time Hikari and Gai left the academy, her name was already everywhere.
- Six years old.
- Jōnin-level strength.
- Seamless, hand-sign-less Water Release.
- Brutal taijutsu that crushed a teacher.
Oh, and she was blind.
Every detail about her was explosive.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage—and the academy's nominal headmaster—received the report immediately.
In his smoke-filled office, Hiruzen set down his pipe and picked up the file on Hikari.
Most of it was information he already knew:
- Identity: Formerly unknown, now Might Gai's adopted daughter.
- Appearance: Around 130 cm tall, blindfolded.
- Abilities: Water Release, taijutsu…
But one detail stood out:
Her taijutsu was monstrous.
Water Release + taijutsu.
That combination made Hiruzen's mind immediately jump to Kirigakure—the Bloody Mist, just across the sea.
"A Kiri-nin?"
The blindfold, the aura—it all fit.
Kiri had more bloodlines than any other village. If a new one allowed hand-sign-less Water Release, it wouldn't be surprising.
And with Kiri's history of hunting its own kekkei genkai users, her fleeing to Konoha made sense.
But what truly unsettled Hiruzen wasn't her strength—
It was her political instincts.
- Day 1: Somehow convinced Gai to adopt her.
- Day 2: Enrolled officially, then stomped a teacher to cement her reputation.
Now, the entire village knew:
"Hikari is Gai's daughter."
And Gai?
He was Hiruzen's loyalist—a man he'd personally promoted to jōnin, despite his lack of ninjutsu.
In the eyes of Konoha's elite, Hikari was now a Sarutobi faction prodigy.
- Civilian-born.
- Genius talent.
- Hokage's backing.
Sound familiar?
She was following the exact same path as the Fourth Hokage.
If she bonded with the future clan heirs in her class…
She could even compete for Hokage one day.
"How terrifying."
A chill ran down Hiruzen's spine.
A possible Kiri spy, with the potential to become Konoha's leader?
The Uchiha had spent decades failing to grasp what she'd achieved in a day.
"Gai… you've really given me a problem."
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe.
His suspicion grew:
She had to be from Kiri.
Only Kiri—the village that had lost four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to Might Dai's Eight Gates—would know Gai's true power.
Not only had she climbed aboard his faction, she was likely after the Eight Gates technique itself.
"What a move."
Against his will, Hiruzen felt a flicker of admiration.
His three students had inherited his strength, but none had his political mind.
The shinobi world was full of powerful fools—but true geniuses, sharp in both battle and strategy, were rare.
Rational. Intelligent. Skilled in Water Release.
And that silver-gray hair…
For a moment, he almost saw a shadow of the Second Hokage in her.
"Like a ghost of the past."
Two people, unrelated by blood, yet giving him the same feeling…
It was uncanny.
---
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Hokage-sama, Elder Shimura requests an audience."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
He quickly tucked Hikari's file under his hat.
"Let him in."
The door creaked open.
A one-eyed old man stepped inside—Danzo Shimura, his left arm in a sling, his right gripping a cane.
A bandage covered his right eye, and a cruel X-shaped scar marked his chin.
His presence was venomous.
"What is it?" Hiruzen rubbed his temples.
Blindfold. Cane. Missing eye.
Again, the parallels.
What was it about that girl?
Danzo didn't waste time.
"Hiruzen… the Uchiha are reaching their limit."
"So am I."
---
(＾▽＾)