"Alright, that's it for today. Everyone, please be careful after school and get home early. Yes, that's all."
Iruka gave the students in the class a reminder, then picked up the textbook from the lectern and walked out of the classroom.
As Iruka stepped out of the classroom, the class erupted with deafening cheers, as if freed from prison, each face showing immense relief.
Even Uchiha Sasuke, who was an ace student, could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Unlike the others, the reason for Sasuke's relief was that he could finally end this boring lesson. Next would be his important personal training time.
It wasn't that he looked down on Iruka, but in a place like Ninja School, he truly had nothing useful left to learn.
The Three-Body Jutsu involved in the graduation exam, he had long since mastered it, unrivaled among his peers.
And as for the physical fitness test, he also ranked at the very top, except for some overzealous blond slacker.
His practical application of Taijutsu was also steadily at the top of his grade.
Continuing to study at Ninja School was unnecessary for him.
Unfortunately, unlike the wartime conditions several years ago, Konoha now strictly requires students to finish six years of courses before graduating from Ninja School.
This was the reason why Sasuke still needed to study at Ninja School, even though the knowledge there was of no use to him anymore.
Watching his classmates jovially walk out of the classroom side by side, Sasuke indifferently stuffed his hands in his pants pockets, unsurprisingly attracting the attention and cheers of the girls, and under the unobtrusive gazes of some boys, calmly left the classroom.
Hmph, a bunch of fools. Sasuke secretly labeled his classmates with this definition, expressing disdain.
He left the school and headed towards the forest not far from his residence. It was a place he frequented for training, part of the Uchiha Clan's heritage, now his private domain, which the village had no right to reclaim.
This way, training here avoided disturbances from idle people.
As for teacher Iruka's advice on being careful and getting home early, Sasuke ignored them.
Although he did feel that the village atmosphere was somewhat unusual lately, with adults occasionally gathering and speaking of sensitive terms like war, the Land of Demons and such...
But such matters were irrelevant to a student like him who hasn't graduated.
The war was too far away.
His only goal right now was to enhance his strength, kill Uchiha Itachi, and restore the Uchiha Clan's glory.
Everything else must fall behind this.
Unknown to Sasuke, in the shadows, two Anbu watched all of Sasuke's activities through concealed foliage.
Sasuke's training progress naturally fell under the surveillance of Anbu, meticulously recorded, the significant portions compiled into intelligence, and regularly reported to the Hokage.
After all, he was the last member of the Konoha Uchiha Clan, and the future of Konoha's Uchiha may very well need him to restore the clan's prestige.
Those responsible for watching over Sasuke did not dare to be careless but also avoided exposing themselves before Sasuke.
◎
Towards Uchiha Sasuke, Hiruzen's feelings have always been a complex mix of apprehension and expectation.
Sasuke is Itachi's brother, and Itachi's ninja talent was already beyond just exceptional. In his tenure as Hokage for decades, aside from the Fourth Generation Namikaze Minato, he had never seen anyone's ninja talent comparable to Itachi's.
As Itachi's brother, Sasuke's ninja talent was naturally also impressive. If he received proper guidance, his strength would quickly soar. Especially under the pressure of such an aggressive mindset for revenge, he would do anything to gain power.
But on the other hand, he is also wary of Sasuke's growth.
Mangekyo Sharingan.
In the current Ninja Realm, such eyes have already appeared twice.
One pair belongs to Itachi, his Dojutsu abilities remain unknown.
Another pair belongs to Uchiha Ruri, whose Dojutsu varies and aligns with Lightning Style. Yet, the true essence has not been investigated thoroughly, the intelligence is still too scarce, let alone devising any countermeasures.
The power of the Mangekyo Sharingan is excessively formidable.
The nature of Uchiha Clan ninjas is likewise unpredictable.
Even Shisui, who had passed away, only exposed the fact he possessed Mangekyo Sharingan when forced.
Thus, it's evident that Shisui was not fully loyal to Konoha, and Shisui's Mangekyo Dojutsu could fundamentally alter a person's will. Such Dojutsu placed in an Uchiha clan member with unstable factors would likely evolve into disaster for Konoha.
Ninjas like Itachi, who could unhesitatingly consider matters from the village's standpoint, are all too rare.
With Sasuke inheriting the same bloodline as Itachi, in the future he may also awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Only, will Sasuke firmly stand on the village's side like Itachi did?
Upon knowing the truth of the clan's annihilation.
No, according to the agreement, Itachi would prevent such a possibility.
But in the event Sasuke learns the truth...
If...
Hiruzen deeply furrowed his brows, pondering the intelligence Anbu presented about Sasuke, once again falling into the same indecision as in the past.
His hesitance gave Danzo a chance to exploit the situation—to directly order Itachi to eliminate the Uchiha Clan, bypassing the Hokage's authority—and successfully preventing the eruption of an internal conflict within Konoha. In terms of the bigger picture, Danzo was also a hero in maintaining Konoha's peace.