Under Konoha’s Shadow

Chapter 41: Thousand-Hand Kill

A few months passed in the blink of an eye, and the second year of the Ninja Academy was just a few days from ending.

Nara Shikagen stood at the front of the classroom and said with a listless expression, "Class, the final exams are the day after tomorrow. As you all know, this year is extremely special. Most of you have already learned the majority of the knowledge the school has to offer. If any of you wish to graduate early, you must apply to me before tomorrow. There will be a special graduation assessment the day after tomorrow. Those who do not pass the assessment will not be able to graduate and will have to return to continue their studies. I suggest that the lower-ranked students need not apply for early graduation. Go home and think it over carefully after school."

At Yamamoto Ryusei's new house, Uchiha Kagami, Komiya Yuki, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hyuga Natsuki, Inuzuka Rō, and Yamashita So were all discussing the matter of early graduation.

Uchiha Kagami spoke first. "It looks like the Hokage-sama is going to choose his disciples. Are you all planning to graduate early?"

Yamashita So shook his head in denial. "I think I'll pass. I'll stay in school for a few more years."

Ryusei nodded, then turned to the silent Komiya Yuki and asked with some surprise, "Yuki, are you going to graduate early?"

Yuki's gaze was firm. "I'm going to take the graduation assessment. Don't think you can leave me behind."

Looking at the stubborn Yuki, Ryusei felt a pang in his heart and gently stroked her hair. "Alright then. You can give it a try. Don't force yourself, and more importantly, don't get hurt."

Yuki blushed and whispered, "Mm."

The others were forcefully fed a mouthful of dog food and felt a little heavy in their hearts.

Hyuga Natsuki said with low spirits, "Of course I have to graduate early, but I definitely won't become the Hokage's disciple."

Natsuki was from a branch family. When the Hyuga clan sent him to the academy, they had no intention of having a Hyuga become the Hokage's disciple. Otherwise, they would have sent a disciple from the main family. Hashirama also knew this, so it was impossible for Natsuki to become his disciple.

Sarutobi Hiruzen said worriedly, "Even if we pass the graduation exam, it doesn't mean we can become the Hokage's disciple. There are so many people competing, and who knows how many disciples the Hokage-sama will take?"

Inuzuka Rō said resentfully, "Ryusei is already the Hokage's disciple, and he's still coming to compete with us for a spot!"

Ryusei said helplessly, "There's nothing I can do about it. If I can't pass the graduation assessment, I estimate Teacher Hashirama will kick me out the door."

Uchiha Kagami said in a low voice, "There's no such thing as competing for spots. It's all decided by strength."

Hiruzen asked in a small voice, "Ryusei, do you know what the graduation assessment will be like?"

Ryusei rolled his eyes at him. "Do you think Teacher Hashirama would tell me? But no matter what the test is, you just need to show your best side."

The others all nodded in agreement.

Hokage's Office

Hashirama Senju, for once, was sitting behind his desk, listening to Tobirama's report.

"Big Brother, how do you plan to conduct the early graduation assessment for the academy the day after tomorrow?"

Hashirama thought for a moment. "Since it's an early graduation, they must be very confident in their own strength. Let's send Chunin. If they can last ten minutes against a Chunin, they pass."

Tobirama asked doubtfully, "In that case, many children will be able to pass. Don't you think that's a bit too many?"

Hashirama waved his hand. "Children with that level of skill don't need to stay in school anymore. If there are many, we'll just assign more Jonin to teach them. It's not like we have to take them all as our own disciples."

Tobirama nodded. "Then how many people do you plan to take on, Big Brother?"

Hashirama thought for a moment. "The two of us will take six."

Tobirama flipped through the student files. "Ryusei will take one spot. After Madara Uchiha left the village, to stabilize the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Kagami must also take one. The other ninja clans also need to be brought in. So, among the remaining clans, since the Hyuga sent a branch family member, they won't be considered. One from the Ino-Shika-Cho, and one each from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. That leaves one spot."

Hashirama pondered for a moment. "What was the name of Ryusei's little girlfriend again?"

Tobirama pulled out Komiya Yuki's file. "Her name is Komiya Yuki. Like Ryusei, she's a commoner. But unlike him, her talent isn't top-tier. At most, she'll become an elite Jonin in her lifetime. And her current strength isn't that great, probably just at the Genin level. But holding out for ten minutes against a Chunin shouldn't be a problem for her."

Hashirama nodded. "Then we'll choose Komiya Yuki. As for the other children who pass the assessment, we'll find elite Jonin to teach them."

Tobirama nodded. "Then that's settled for now. By the way, this is a document from the Fire Temple regarding Madara Uchiha."

Hashirama was instantly excited. He took the scroll and, after reading it carefully, fell into a deep silence.

Tobirama asked, "Big Brother, what has Madara been up to? He's been traveling all over the Land of Fire, stealing secret scrolls and ancient documents. What is he looking for?"

Hashirama was silent for a long time before saying, "I don't know what he's looking for. It's just that when he left the village, he said, 'When two opposing forces cooperate, one can obtain all things in nature,' and then he said he was going to find the correct path to achieve his dream."

"'When two opposing forces cooperate, one can obtain all things in nature,'" Tobirama repeated, thinking. "What does that mean? Should we call the Uchiha clan over and ask?"

Hashirama shook his head. "Even Madara didn't know. I doubt they would either. There's no need to ask them."

Tobirama pointed at the scroll in Hashirama's hand. "Madara stole all the ninjutsu and documents from the Fire Temple. And we haven't even declared him a rogue. Now the Fire Temple has come to us. How should we respond?"

Hashirama frowned. "The fact is, we can't contact Madara right now. When he returns, we'll have him return the jutsu."

Tobirama nodded. "Then we'll just stall the Fire Temple for now. Big Brother, everything Madara does outside will be blamed on Konoha. Are you really not going to declare him a rogue?"

Hashirama still shook his head. "No. I will not declare Madara a rogue."

Seeing the stubborn Hashirama, Tobirama sighed. "Then we'll do as you say. I hope you won't regret it in the future, Big Brother."

Tobirama left to handle his affairs. Hashirama went to the Hokage Rock and looked down at the current Konoha, unable to help but recall the days when he and Madara would skip stones by the river as children.

He remembered how Madara couldn't skip a stone across the river as a child, how they were both discovered by their parents, and how they passed messages to each other to escape. And later, how they made a promise to build a village together.

After that, the friction between their two clans intensified. Countless clansmen died on both sides, and even their clan heads perished together. It was only after he and Madara became the new clan heads that they had the power to change the war.

It was just a pity that Tobirama had killed Uchiha Izuna, planting a permanent thorn in Madara's heart.

Hashirama thought of the chaos of the Warring States Period, then looked at the peace of the present. He thought silently, 'I will not let anyone destroy Konoha. That includes you, Madara. I hope we never have to come to that.'

Madara Uchiha was currently in an inn, looking at the documents he had stolen from the Fire Temple. He had searched through all of them but found no information about the "two opposing forces."

He tossed the documents aside and picked up the Fire Temple's ninjutsu scrolls, flipping through them. The ordinary ninjutsu were similar to others in the ninja world, but the "Advent of a Thousand-Armed Murderous Kannon" was rather interesting.

The technique involved summoning the Thousand-Armed Kannon and then having it manifest its true form as a Wisdom King, providing the user with absolute defense plus multi-armed attacks. It was an offense-as-defense style, somewhat like a low-spec version of Hashirama's True Several Thousand Hands. He just didn't know what kind of power it could unleash in his hands.

Madara took the scroll for the technique and went to a forest to practice, but he couldn't even get the basics down.

He muttered to himself, "Did those monks give me a fake scroll? It seems I'll have to pay another visit to the Fire Temple. If those monks don't know what's good for them, then I'll just kill them all and take my time searching."

Madara put away the scroll and headed towards the Fire Temple.