Chapter 14: ch14
"Grandson, do you want to graduate early?" Isaac Uchiha asked.
This question left Ethan Uchiha in silence as he contemplated his options. He had spent several years in the ninja academy, and while he could continue until the standard graduation age of ten, he realized that the opportunity for early graduation was enticing.
Reflecting on past experiences, he recalled that he had gained a significant amount of pretending points due to Hiruzen Sarutobi and his grandfather observing him in secret. Without their attention, his ability to earn points would be limited.
His theory was that the strength of those around him influenced the number of pretending points he received when he performed. If he remained in the ninja school, he might only earn around +99 pretending points each time he acted. While that amount was substantial, he figured he would need to pretend more than 80 times to fully fill the experience bar for his Three Tomoe Sharingan.
Once he upgraded to Mangekyō Sharingan, the power required would likely be immense. He speculated that the transition from Three Tomoe Sharingan to Mangekyō Sharingan would demand about 100,000 points. If he remained at the academy, advancing at that rate would be nearly impossible.
Thus, after considerable thought, Ethan resolved, "Grandpa, a person as exceptional as I am is like a firefly in the dark night—impossible to hide. Instead of wasting my time in the confines of ninja school, it's better to graduate early. I am Ethan Uchiha, destined to become famous in the ninja world!"
"Very well, my grandson! I'll inform Sarutobi of your decision tomorrow," Isaac said, pride shining in his eyes. He wasn't concerned about the Uchiha clan's expectations; graduating early was a feasible choice.
In the era of conflict, many children had seen combat by the age of five. With his Three Tomoe Sharingan and a chakra level on par with a jōnin, Ethan was already a formidable individual—early graduation was simply a matter of course.
Isaac had previously arranged for a jōnin to assess Ethan's progress, and the report had shocked him: Ethan's chakra had surged to jōnin levels in a short time. He marveled at this talent, realizing that had it not been for Hiruzen Sarutobi's insistence on a normal graduation, Ethan might have already been a Kage-level ninja.
Meanwhile, Ethan heard the familiar sound of the system in his mind:
"Ding! The host has successfully pretended, earning +666 pretending points!"
"Ding! Points have been distributed: Three Tomoe Sharingan +333, Fire Extinguishing Technique +333."
"Ding! Three Tomoe Sharingan (2339/10000) is not yet fully experienced. Please continue to act, host, to upgrade your abilities!"
"Ding! Fire Extinguishing Technique (334/1000) is not yet full. Please continue to pretend, host, to upgrade this ability!"
Unknowingly, what he had said to Isaac was recognized as an act of pretending, resulting in a boost to his points. However, he realized that his current skills still required further development.
The journey of pretending remained long and challenging for him.
Afterward, the two engaged in casual conversation about family matters, but Ethan was more focused on the specifics of his early graduation assessment. He anticipated a considerable crowd during the evaluation, with many strong individuals present. If he could showcase his abilities at that moment, he would have the opportunity to earn even more pretending points.
With that thought, his excitement grew, and he eagerly looked forward to the upcoming early graduation assessment.