After listening to the Second Hokage–era style condition spoken by Sarutobi Hiruzen, Chiya's eyes narrowed sharply.
Let all students of the new Uchiha school collectively enter the Chūnin Exams in two months?
This was essentially a challenge wrapped inside a condition.
As everyone knows
Prodigies like Uchiha Itachi, who graduated from the Academy at age seven, became Chūnin at ten, and Anbu Captain at thirteen, were extreme exceptions.
For the vast majority of Konoha ninja, the path is fixed and predictable:
First, a full six years of study at the Ninja Academy.
After graduation, they train with their assigned jōnin-sensei, complete D-rank and C-rank missions, learn team coordination, and slowly gain real-world experience.
Only after accumulating sufficient combat practice and tactical growth does one register for the Chūnin Exams.
Even in the manga itself
Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Shikamaru and the others didn't take the exam immediately. And even when they did take it
Despite their talent and the support of experienced teachers,
only Nara Shikamaru passed on his first attempt, and even then he passed due to tactical brilliance, not overwhelming combat strength.
Most shinobi fail multiple times.
Becoming a Chūnin by the age of twenty is already considered excellent.
But
The condition proposed by Sarutobi Hiruzen
actually required these brand-new Uchiha students to achieve an eighty percent pass rate in their very first Chūnin Exam!?
And not only that
They were required to participate collectively.
What did that imply?
It meant even first-year and second-year children kids barely beginning basic chakra molding would be forced into the same exam that tested combat ability, survival through death zones like the Forest of Death, and direct elimination rounds.
This wasn't just difficult.
This was a demand beyond reason something no normal human could possibly accomplish.
Worse still
Hiruzen actually had the nerve to claim that if they failed, it merely "proved the teaching level of the new school was average."
Shameless didn't even begin to describe it.
"If you feel too reluctant, you may give up,"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said, seeing Chiya's expression harden.
There was a faint, almost smug curve to his lips.
He believed his plan was flawless.
In this way
He could close the new Uchiha institution, making all of Chiya's early efforts meaningless.
He could also use the failure as justification to cancel the clan's long-standing preferential tax exemption, a policy originally granted because of their service as the Military Police Force under the Second Hokage.
Killing two birds with one stone
No, crushing two Uchiha birds with one Hokage decree.
Of course
Chiya could choose to give up.
But it was Chiya who proposed the idea to begin with.
To withdraw now would be humiliating an admission of incompetence in front of Danzō, Hiruzen, and the entire Council.
"How now?"
Hiruzen asked mildly.
"Weren't you speaking so confidently just a moment ago?"
"Why have you fallen silent?"
At this moment, Danzō finally understood Hiruzen's strategy clearly and silently approved.
---
So Danzō immediately cooperated with Hiruzen Sarutobi's tactic and began pressing Chiya ruthlessly, hoping to force him into an emotional decision.
How could Chiya allow these two old schemers to watch him falter?
He raised his chin slightly, nodded without hesitation, and agreed.
"Haha! Truly, a hero emerges even in youth!"
"In that case, I shall wait to hear good news from you!"
Seeing Chiya accept the conditions, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately laughed, his tone warm but his eyes calculating.
He even offered a few words of "encouragement."
In his heart, however, the Third Hokage thought:
The kid is still young after all too easily provoked by pressure.
Chiya did not bother wasting any more words on the two aging veterans.
He simply turned around and left in stride.
...
After returning to Uchiha clan territory,
The moment the elders learned of the two conditions imposed by Sarutobi Hiruzen, they erupted in anger.
"Patriarch, we are facing two serious problems."
"First, we may be unable to provide educational resources superior to the Konoha Ninja Academy."
"Even if we have funding, good instructors cannot simply be bought with money."
"Second, the time limit is far too short. Only two months these children have no time to grow!"
Uchiha Ryunosuke summarized grimly.
"Leave the educational resources to me."
"I will personally find several highly capable instructors."
Chiya said this calmly.
Then he paused, and added:
"As for the time being too short… I cannot completely agree with that."
"Although the academy's curriculum is six years, most of that time is spent on foundational knowledge. Otherwise, the graduation exam would not be limited to the Three Basic Techniques."
"While two months aren't long, if combined with the elite training I plan next, it will absolutely allow every child to undergo rapid improvement in a short period."
"And do not forget, we are the Uchiha holders of a powerful Kekkei Genkai."
"Uchiha is a clan capable of miracles!!"
Chiya's voice rang with iron conviction.
The last sentence alone made the blood of many elders surge with pride.
At the same time, they remembered
The Sharingan was a latent miracle within every Uchiha.
Once it awakened, their strength increased explosively in a short time.
This was a potential hidden in every clan member's body.
Soon an elder asked, "Patriarch, what exactly do you mean by elite education?"
Chiya replied, "The so-called elite education… is to draw out as much of each child's potential as possible."
"Although our Uchiha excel at Fire Release, not every child has only Fire-nature chakra. Many possess Lightning, Wind, Earth, or Water affinities."
"So next, I must find instructors proficient in Water Release, Earth Release, Fire Release, Lightning Release, and Wind Release."
"In addition, taijutsu, shurikenjutsu, trap-making, puppet handling… all must be included!"
"We must strive for the most comprehensive development of every child."
After speaking, Chiya stood up, clapped his hands lightly, and declared:
"In my view, pressure is also a force that compels people to move forward, so I do not reject pressure. At the same time, I hope all elders can unite with me and face every challenge that awaits!"
"Patriarch, rest assured we are your strongest support!"
"We will steadfastly support every decision the Patriarch makes!"
"Long live the Patriarch! Long live Uchiha!"
"..."
Chiya had never intended to deal with every problem alone.
A leader who carries everything by himself may seem noble,
but such a leader also isolates himself.
What he wished to build
was a Uchiha clan united like forged steel.
Only such a Uchiha
is truly terrifying.
---
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