The Konoha Ninja Academy was founded under the vision of the First Hokage.
Publicly, its purpose was to nurture and standardize the training of new shinobi.
But its deeper intention was born from the scars of a war-torn generation—to spare children from learning the shinobi arts on the battlefield, as he once had.
In his eyes, a classroom was a form of freedom.
The curriculum itself was refined and solidified during the first year of the Second Hokage's term.
He, together with his prodigious student Hiruzen—who would later become the Third Hokage—were the true architects of its rigorous structure.
By the time Kaen arrived in Konoha, the Academy had evolved into a comprehensive seven-year course:
Year 1 – Students, typically age five, were introduced to Ethics, Language, and basic Taijutsu conditioning.
Year 2 – At age six, the core subjects of Language, Mathematics, General Knowledge, and foundational Taijutsu were drilled into young minds.
Year 3 – Training intensified with Advanced Language, Mathematics, the Shinobi Code of Conduct, Taijutsu, and the very basics of Ninjutsu.
Year 4 – Students delved into Advanced Mathematics, Mid-Level Taijutsu, practical Ninjutsu, and the critical study of Chakra Theory.
Year 5 – This year served as a crucial turning point, giving students a foundational taste of the three specialized departments they would choose between for their final two years: Active Duty, Medical Ninjutsu, and Chakra Science.
Kaen, according to the norm, appeared to be one year late in enrollment.
A week after his arrival in Konoha, he went to the Academy alongside Obito—who was already in his final year, sitting among kids two years older than himself.
On the way, Obito bragged about his semi-prodigious status, how he had skipped two whole grades because he was "built different."
Kaen was, admittedly, impressed.
When they entered the Academy grounds, Obito led Kaen to the first-year classroom before heading to his own senior class.
When the teacher arrived, he introduced the new Uchiha student to the class. Kaen stood, straight-backed and polite.
"I am Uchiha Kaen. My father was Uchiha Enji, a charcoal burner, and my mother was Uzumaki Takane, a teacher.
I was born in the mountains, and I came from there.
My favorite food is elk ribs, and my favorite drink is chocolate milk."
Then he sat down as if it were the most ordinary introduction in the world.
But as the lesson began, his attention faded—not because it was boring, but because he already knew all of it.
That day happened to be a test day.
The teacher noticed Kaen's restlessness and said gently,
"You don't have to take the test, it's your first day."
Kaen insisted. He didn't want to sit idle.
When the class ended and the teacher began gathering the papers, he picked up Kaen's out of casual curiosity—just to see where the new kid stood.
It stunned him.
It was a simple essay test. Where most children barely managed ten or twelve sentences, Kaen had written a clear, precise passage of twenty-five lines, structured like something far beyond his age.
Kaen walked out of the classroom, wiping a slight tear from his eye.
The essay topic had been "My Home."
It made him remember things he shouldn't have.
Outside, Obito caught up with him.
"So, cousin—how was it? You enjoy yourself?"
Kaen shrugged.
"Meh… it was boring. I'm going to ask Fugaku-san to let me skip grades too."
Obito nearly tripped.
"Woah—who goes to Fugaku-san willingly?!"
Kaen blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"Aren't you scared of him too? Man, at least I am."
Kaen narrowed his eyes, unimpressed.
"Kyodai, it's not like he's gonna bite you for it."
Obito puffed out his chest.
"You know, you should call me Ni-san. I'm older than you."
Kaen smirked.
"Forget it. I'm nobody's Otōto.
But if you wanna be mine—say it."
Obito glared, jaw tightening, but didn't respond.
He just kept walking toward home, muttering under his breath while Kaen followed, still wearing that cocky little grin.
Obito made his way home, while Kaen went straight to the Fugaku residence.
Itachi, who was about the same age as him, was sweeping the front yard. Kaen greeted him the way he used to greet kids back in the mountains—with a dap. Then he blinked, remembered their hospital interaction, and immediately bowed instead.
Itachi paused mid-sweep, a little startled, but returned the gesture politely.
"Hey, Itachi," Kaen asked. "Which grade are you in—the Academy, I mean?"
"I'm in fifth grade," Itachi replied without hesitation.
"Woah—how?!" Kaen's eyes widened like a kid who'd just seen a bigger toy collection than his own.
"I studied under Father and took the exams early," Itachi said, calm and simple as always.
"Can I study under him too?" Kaen asked.
Itachi blinked in surprise, then smiled faintly and gestured for him to come inside. Kaen followed, greeted Mikoto politely, and walked straight toward Fugaku's study.
Fugaku turned from his desk, his usual stern expression in place.
"Yes, Kaen. Speak."
Kaen straightened.
"Fugaku-san, I want you to help me skip ahead—to the fifth… no, the sixth grade."
Fugaku raised a brow.
"Oh? And why do you want to jump classes?"
"Because I think being in this grade isn't fair to others," Kaen replied earnestly. "This is my first time ever being in a classroom. I always studied under Oka-san. She used to say I was smart."
Fugaku leaned back slightly, testing him.
"So, you think you'll make it harder for others to compete?"
"Precisely," Kaen said, nodding."Oka-san always said school is a competition—your scores versus everyone else's. If I already know more than them, it wouldn't be fair to run in the same race."
Fugaku froze for a moment, surprised despite himself. He sighed, a rare chuckle escaping his lips.
"Guess you're not like your father after all. You're not cocky—you're reasonable."
Kaen tilted his head, thinking. He couldn't tell whether that was praise or a jab at his father.
"Fugaku-san," he asked innocently, "why do people keep saying I'm nothing like Oto-san? Where I came from, everyone used to call me Little Enji."
Fugaku smiled slightly.
"Maybe because they never met your Ji-chan. By the way, Kaen… do you remember where you came from?"
Kaen thought hard.
"Hmm… I think Oto-san once said Land of Frost… no, Lightning. Sorry, Fugaku-san, I'm not sure. But I remember we lived on a mountain. Oto-san used to burn wood and sell it downtown."
Fugaku touched his chin thoughtfully.
"That sounds like a border town—between Frost and Lightning."
Kaen's eyes lit up.
"Yeah! That's it!"
Fugaku gave a short nod.
"Very well. So, you think you're too much for the kids in your class to compete with?"
Kaen nodded firmly.
"Then I'll let you prove it," Fugaku said, his tone suddenly cold. "If you pass, I'll help. But if you fail, I'll take your words as arrogance—and I don't like arrogance from little brats with nothing to back it."
His voice carried a chill that could make even grown shinobi flinch.
Kaen just smiled. Compared to Enji, his father, Fugaku wasn't even close to scary.
"Itachi," Fugaku called.
Itachi, who had been sitting quietly outside the room, stepped in immediately.
"Yes, Chichi-ue."
"Go fetch the test papers I prepared for your assessment," Fugaku ordered.
"Which grade?"
"Fourth."
Without another word, Itachi vanished down the hall and returned moments later with the papers Fugaku had requested.
Then and there, Kaen was seated and handed the tests.The standard duration was one hour, but Fugaku gave him only forty minutes.
Kaen completed the entire test at the thirty-seven–minute mark—just one minute slower than Itachi's record of thirty-six.
Fugaku gathered the papers, set them on his desk, and began checking.It didn't take long for surprise to settle in.
The boy was right.Placing him anywhere within the first three grades would have been unfair—to the others.
When Itachi had taken this same test, he'd scored ninety-four out of a hundred.Kaen's result: ninety-three.And that was without any preparation.
Fugaku exhaled, a quiet sigh of both disbelief and reluctant admiration.Then he reached for a clean sheet of parchment and began writing a letter to the principal.
When it was done, he slid both the letter and Kaen's test paper into an envelope.
He handed it to the boy.
"Go to your principal tomorrow. Give him this."
Kaen bowed deeply, accepted the envelope, and left the room without another word.