As for the need for medical knowledge—naturally, it was part of the future plan.
Using medical expertise as an excuse to approach Tsunade was perfect. And once he got close to Tsunade, it would naturally lead him closer to Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
What Uchiha Hikaru had just told Uchiha Noboru wasn't a lie. Early on, he truly intended to shape himself into a highly gifted Medical Ninja.
Doing so would help avoid unnecessary conflict and reduce trouble, while also lowering the guard of high-ranking figures like the Third Hokage.
After all, an Uchiha who only showed talent in medical ninjutsu was far less threatening than one with the potential to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
It was also a way to get close to these key figures. After all, the Third had already taken notice of them and even accepted the trio—Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru—as his personal disciples.
Moreover, the Idle Training System could improve abilities unconditionally. With any luck, just a short period of idle training would be enough to make his medical skills surpass those of this entire era.
A doctor who can save your life may be the only one capable of doing so.
And if that doctor happened to be the greatest medical expert in the ninja world, then unless there were extraordinary circumstances, no one would willingly offend them—and many would even hold them in deep respect.
Uchiha Hikaru walked through the streets of Konoha, noticing many adults leading their children toward the Ninja Academy.
Some children were full of excitement, imagining their future as ninjas. They clung eagerly to their parents' hands, dragging them forward.
Meanwhile, the parents wore conflicted expressions—some even turned back midway, deciding to withdraw their children.
After all, the death rate for ninjas was high. And this latest Shinobi World War had been especially brutal—six or seven out of ten civilian ninjas never returned.
But being a ninja also meant higher income. Even a Genin could earn far more than a regular civilian.
For these civilians, getting into the Ninja Academy might be the quickest and most merit-based way to climb the social ladder.
So for the parents, it was a mix of hope that their children would be accepted, and fear for what that future might bring.
Following the crowd, Uchiha Hikaru soon found himself facing a familiar building.
The Ninja Academy stood right in front of him—and looked no different from what it would become in the future.
A large red gate marked the entrance, with a bold "Nin" (忍) character hanging above it and a signboard beside it.
Withdrawing his gaze, Uchiha Hikaru stepped calmly into the school.
Inside, a Konoha-uniformed ninja was busy registering children for enrollment.
Beside him, another ninja was maintaining order and loudly instructing the crowd.
"Move along! Once you're done registering, head to the training field for the assessment. Parents, please stay outside!"
Wearing the Uchiha clan crest, Uchiha Hikaru naturally didn't need to register alongside the civilian children.
His name had already been submitted by the clan, so he only needed to pass the test and wait for class assignment—one of the minor privileges of being from a noble ninja family.
Following the directions of the ninja keeping order, he made his way to the training field.
Hundreds of children were already gathered there, their constant chatter practically shaking the heavens.
Despite the noise and crowd, Uchiha Hikaru instantly spotted Tsunade among them.
Several Senju children were gathered around her, chatting and laughing without a care.
They didn't take the entrance exam seriously. After all, the test was likely just a basic physical assessment or a simple chakra control check.
For children of ninja clans—especially the Senju—physical training was never an issue. And even if they hadn't learned chakra control, they'd at least heard of it.
If someone truly lacked talent, they'd likely have been weeded out at birth.
Not far from them stood Jiraiya and Orochimaru, also waiting for their turn.
At this point in time, the three were strangers. But in the future, they would become bound by deep friendship.
Eventually, their differing beliefs would lead them down separate paths—but with Uchiha Hikaru now in the mix, perhaps things would unfold differently.
Just as Uchiha Hikaru was scanning the crowd for more familiar faces, a sharp whistle drew his attention.
A fearsome-looking ninja with a scarred face was blowing a whistle, walking toward the field with an intimidating air.
"Quiet down! The assessment begins now!"
"Line up! Fifty per group! Anyone making noise will be disqualified and sent home!"
The scarred man's face and threatening tone silenced the field almost instantly. Many children instinctively began forming lines.
Those from ninja clans weren't afraid, but there was no need to cause trouble either—so they obeyed just as well.
Soon, the once-chaotic training field was neatly divided into groups of fifty.
Seeing this, the scarred ninja finally eased his expression—though he still looked stern.
"My name is Toki Chi¹, and I'll be conducting your physical assessment today. First group, get on the track."
He waved his hand, signaling the children to follow him.
"Here are the rules: The basic requirement is to complete ten laps within ten minutes. The faster you run, the higher your score—and the better your class placement."
"Once you're done, head to the building behind me for the chakra extraction test."
'Pretty simple. Nothing difficult. But if I want to be in the same class as Tsunade, I'd better not hold back too much.'
After hearing the requirements, Uchiha Hikaru calculated his options. He'd need to run with the first group, or he wouldn't make it into the elite class.
While pondering, a bright green figure suddenly caught his eye.
A deep green jumpsuit, gleaming hair, and sparkling teeth made him stand out—and earned him plenty of odd looks.
Uchiha Hikaru also looked at him—though his gaze was filled with pleasant surprise.
'Didn't expect Might Duy² to be enrolling at the same time. Competing with cheats using pure willpower... The Eight Gates Technique, huh? The Might father-and-son duo really are amazing.'
Soon after, he watched Might Duy's underwhelming performance. While not the worst, he barely met the requirements.
Uchiha Hikaru wasn't surprised. Might Duy was never known for his talent—he'd remain a jack-of-all-trades Genin for most of his life.
But years later, he would defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—killing some, forcing others to flee—all thanks to his two decades of relentless training.
'Well, this is still the first step of the plan. Konoha truly is full of talent. Can't let the Third Hokage ruin it all.'
Finally, it was Uchiha Hikaru's turn. He stretched his limbs and walked confidently toward the track.