The next day, Chiba arrived at school with dark circles under his eyes.
He had spent the entire night calculating, but no matter how he planned, he couldn't manage to open the Fourth Gate at his current age.
Yes, he was too young. Opening three gates was already a struggle, and his body likely couldn't withstand the intense Chakra flow of opening four gates. Forcibly opening the *Fourth Gate* could have detrimental effects on his future physical development.
The *Eight Gates* were a forbidden technique that harmed both the user and the enemy equally. Opening the gates damaged the body, with each subsequent gate causing greater harm, culminating in the Death Gate, which guaranteed death upon opening.
Chiba's physical limitations due to his age hindered his progress in mastering the Eight Gates. He could only sigh in resignation; after all, he couldn't fast-forward time or hasten his body's growth.
However, Chiba wasn't disheartened. During this period, he planned to strengthen his basic physical fitness and condition his body. Perhaps in a year, his body would be robust enough to withstand opening the Fourth Gate.
After all, the true requirement for the *Eight Gates* wasn't age, but physical strength. Age didn't matter if physical strength was sufficient.
As Chiba walked to school, he was accustomed to the various stares and disdain from others. He didn't mind much, thinking to himself:
'As expected, nothing unusual happened on the street. The matter was concealed.'
Soon, Chiba reached the school.
The Ninja Academy didn't have classes in the traditional sense, only grades.
Students were grouped by the year they enrolled, and all students of the same grade were taught together in one large classroom.
At seven years old and in his second year at the academy, Chiba was in the second grade. Most of his classmates were seven or eight years old. He ranked 47th out of 50 students in his grade, making him fourth from the bottom.
He was among the students with the poorest grades, inconspicuous and overlooked.
Even those at the very bottom had a more notable presence than him.
In fact, being second-to-last sometimes garnered more attention than being second. After all, when students went home, parents often asked about their grades. If their child wasn't first, the first question was usually, "Who is first?" followed by, "Who is second?" and then, "Who is last?" Eventually, it came to, "If you end up like [the last one], I'll be furious!"
See, there was hardly any recognition even for third place. Being fourth from the bottom, Chiba was practically invisible. Moreover, with his status as the son of a traitor, it was a small mercy that other students didn't bully or trouble him more.
However, Chiba was content, sitting in his usual spot at the back corner near the door, where he could sleep undisturbed. His intense physical training drained him every day, leaving him exhausted. Even after sleeping, he felt groggy, his stamina not fully recovered. He had no choice but to continue his rest at school to restore his stamina.
The Ninja Academy curriculum included the three basic Ninja techniques, Shurikenjutsu, and basic physical training, all of which were assessed in the graduation exam.
Regular assessments were based on a teacher's evaluation of each student's performance, rather than specific exams.
Due to the exhaustion from his physical training, Chiba's performance in Shurikenjutsu, the three basic techniques, and physical training was deemed subpar by the teachers.
The top student in the second grade was considered a prodigy, second only to Kakashi. This student was Hirohiko Uchiha, the most promising genius of the class, expected to graduate at the age of eight, excelling in physical training, the three basic techniques, and Ninjutsu.
His swordsmanship had almost reached the level required for graduation. Once he could reach this level, he would be able to graduate.
Back then, Kakashi had surpassed this level when he was just five years old, graduating early to become a legend in the Ninja academy and a genius in the village.
Now, Hirohiko Uchiha was recognized as a genius who could also graduate early from the Ninja academy. Graduating early not only meant being valued by the village but also being seen as a key individual for future training, with the potential to become a formidable Ninja.
Even with the Uchiha clan's complicated position within Konoha, the village leaders would not hesitate. This stance served as a message to all Ninjas: the village would nurture talent, which in turn could inspire other Ninjas and strengthen their sense of belonging to Konoha.
However, Chiba was so engrossed in practicing the *Eight Gates* and developing the *Eight Gates Mode* that he paid no attention to his surroundings. Although he knew Hirohiko Uchiha was the first to graduate early, he didn't even know what Hirohiko looked like.
Why bother about graduating early or not? Chiba didn't care at all. At that time, he was more concerned with the Chakra in his body.
However, now that he had essentially mastered the *Controlled Eight Gates Mode*, he had started paying attention to this matter of early graduation.
If the village cultivated him as a promising talent, Chiba wouldn't be treated as expendable. In the upcoming wars, he wouldn't just be cannon fodder. Being seen as a future asset might even afford him some protection.
And with Chiba's talent for Ninjutsu, becoming a key trainee would make learning Ninjutsu much more convenient.
Then, why not give it a try!?
Chiba propped himself up on the table with one hand while holding a Konoha-sized steamed bun, larger than his hand, in the other, quietly munching away.
Lately, his appetite had significantly increased, seemingly never satisfied. These super-sized steamed buns, enough to fill an adult's stomach, wouldn't suffice unless he ate three in one sitting, leaving him quickly hungry again.
In Chiba's view, this was all good; eat more, grow faster, and the fourth gate was just ahead.
But for an orphan living on Konoha's welfare, in addition to the cost of weight-training gear, food had become a major expense. Money was tight.
Just as Chiba began to eat his steamed bun, a loud scream echoed in the classroom. Some of the early-arriving female classmates began to shriek and rushed to the door, greeting in unison, "Wow! Hirohiko is here!"
"So hot!"
"Hirohiko, can I sit next to you today?" one said, holding her chin with both hands, a look of infatuation on her face.
Entering the classroom was a young man in a short-sleeved shirt, with sharp brows, bright eyes, and clear features. Though still young, he was destined to become a heartthrob.
'This must be Hirohiko Uchiha, right?' Chiba thought to himself.
However, faced with the screaming admirers, Hirohiko Uchiha remained unaffected, walking straight to his seat at the front corner of the first row.
His unflappable demeanor only made the girls scream louder, their eyes filled with adoration.
"No, no more! My heart..."
"Yeah! So handsome!"
The continuous screams irritated Chiba's ears, causing him to frown slightly as he continued eating his bun.
This Hirohiko Uchiha, a genius with high expectations from the school and the renowned Uchiha clan, why did he look so troubled?
Indeed, Chiba noticed a frown on Hirohiko Uchiha's stoic face.
Just as Chiba found this peculiar, all the boys in the class had a strange gleam in their eyes, their jealousy of Hirohiko Uchiha suddenly turning into various expressions of hope and surprise.
At that moment, all the boys crowded towards the door.