**A Month Later - Hokage Building**
The Third Hokage sat in his office, his expression solemn as he listened to the latest report from the ANBU.
The recent activities of the Uchiha clan had become increasingly difficult for him to comprehend. As ninjas, they were now delving into business ventures? Moreover, they had started expanding their influence across various fields.
"What is their goal?" The Hokage's brows furrowed as he fell into deep thought.
"What's the situation lately?" he finally asked, turning to the ANBU operative in front of him. "You mentioned Uchiha Satoru earlier..."
The ANBU hesitated, an unusual pause that spoke volumes.
"Reporting... Uchiha Satoru has been gaining unprecedented influence in the Ninja Academy," the ANBU began cautiously. "Every student at the academy seems to admire him... almost to an unsettling degree."
The Hokage leaned forward, his gaze sharpening.
"It's not just admiration," the operative continued. "These students are beginning to place their trust in Satoru's judgment over the instructors. They've even started questioning fundamental beliefs. Questions like, 'Why do wars happen?' or 'Is the hierarchy of the ninja world fair?'"
He hesitated again before adding, "Satoru's teachings are completely at odds with traditional ninja principles. Ninjas are born as tools of war, the sword and shield of the village. But what he's saying... it challenges everything we've been taught."
The Hokage's expression darkened as the ANBU recounted what had been happening in the academy. The implications were clear—and deeply troubling.
"Huh?" The Third Hokage's face hardened, a rare display of genuine alarm. He remained silent for a long time, processing what he'd just heard.
As Hokage, he could feel the weight of those words more profoundly than anyone else. Decades of leadership had given him insight into the power of ideas, and this—this was unlike anything he had encountered before.
"To think... he's only five years old," the Hokage muttered, almost to himself. "Yet he's observing the world with a perspective beyond his years—far beyond even that of most Hokage."
But it wasn't just wisdom. It was something new, something revolutionary. And that frightened him.
The Third Hokage let out a long sigh, his fingers trembling slightly. Those hands—once steady as they performed countless jutsu on the battlefield—now quivered under the weight of this dilemma.
The ninja world was fragile, teetering on the edge of unrest. Ideas like Satoru's could ignite a spark that the world wasn't ready for.
**"This cannot continue."**
The Hokage made up his mind. Satoru couldn't be allowed to remain in the academy. His influence on the other students was too dangerous. They were beginning to lose their edge, their willingness to fight.
For a ninja, that was a fatal flaw.
But how to remove him without raising suspicion?
"I seem to recall that he applied for early graduation," the Hokage said slowly, his voice steadying.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the ANBU confirmed. "He submitted his application not long ago."
"Then approve it," the Hokage ordered, relief flickering briefly across his face. "Deliver the authorization to the academy."
Normally, such applications wouldn't require his direct approval. But he had delayed it intentionally, wanting to observe Satoru for a little longer.
It was ironic—he had been the one to approve Satoru's early admission to the academy. And now, he was the one expediting his departure.
As the Hokage dismissed the ANBU, he sank back into his chair, lost in thought once again.
---
**The Forest Grove**
Not long after receiving approval for his early graduation exam, Satoru lay sprawled on a tree branch in a secluded grove.
Finally.
After weeks of maneuvering, he had secured permission to take the exam.
It shouldn't have been this complicated. Normally, passing the tests would have been enough to qualify. But for some reason—perhaps interference from the Hokage—new restrictions had been imposed on first-year students like him.
Satoru knew the Third Hokage's eyes were fixed on the Uchiha clan, and likely on him specifically. The old man wouldn't let him leave the academy so easily.
So Satoru had devised a plan.
In just a few short weeks, he had cultivated trust and admiration among his peers, elevating his popularity within the academy. Gradually, he began introducing new ideas—challenging the status quo, planting seeds of doubt about the system they had been raised to accept.
He knew the Hokage would see this as a threat. The students were the village's future, and their ideals couldn't be allowed to stray too far from tradition. The Hokage would have no choice but to remove him.
Everything had gone according to plan. His early graduation was approved.
But as Satoru lay in the quiet grove, staring up at the canopy of leaves, he felt no sense of triumph.
The world was still the same—a flawed, broken system clinging to outdated principles. And despite his small victories, he couldn't shake the weight pressing against his heart.
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