Clan Authority: Uchiha Mikoto
The morning after the dramatic revelation of Sora's affinities was tense in Kenshin and Hitomi's home. The fact that Sora was a prodigy with the potential for Fire and Lightning at the age of four was not a matter a Chūnin could handle alone. The decision to enroll the child in the Academy, skipping two years of age, required the approval of the clan authority.
Hitomi, with the application letter in hand, headed to the heart of the Uchiha compound to see the only person who could facilitate the process without alerting the more paranoid elements of the Council: Uchiha Mikoto, the wife of the clan leader, Fugaku, and a figure of great respect.
The meeting took place in a quiet tea house, away from prying eyes.
"Thank you for seeing me, Mikoto-sama," Hitomi said, bowing deeply.
Mikoto, a woman of serene beauty and great intelligence, gestured for her to sit. "Kenshin sent me a message this morning. Something about Sora's potential that requires immediate action."
Hitomi swallowed and handed her the letter. "My husband and I agree that we cannot hide his talent, but we also cannot recklessly expose it. Sora, at four years old, has manifested astonishing chakra control and, most alarmingly, dual elemental affinity: Fire and Lightning."
Mikoto read Kenshin's letter, which succinctly but accurately described the demonstration, emphasizing the chakra control. Her expression remained stoic, but her eyes widened slightly at the mention of Lightning.
"Chakra... at this age. He is a generational talent, Hitomi. My son, Itachi, is also a prodigy, but his manifestation was gradual. Sora's potential is a blessing and a burden in this era."
"That is why we want to enroll him in the Academy for the cycle starting in one month. He will go with the five and six-year-olds who already have their chakra unlocked. We need his precociousness to be seen as genius, not as monstrous."
Mikoto nodded slowly. She understood the politics (although she never got involved). Hiding an Uchiha prodigy in the current climate of distrust risked him being kidnapped or used by third parties (Hiruzen). Presenting him publicly, although small, put the talent under the jurisdiction of the Third Hokage.
"I will take care of the enrollment. I will ensure that the report does not exaggerate the magnitude of his talent, but focuses on his control and his Fire affinity. The Hokage must see him as the future of the Clan, not as a threat that must be neutralized. But you must understand, Hitomi: by sending him so early, the expectation placed on Sora will be immense."
"We know, Mikoto-sama. But it is for his safety and the honor of the clan."
With that approval, Sora's path to the Academy was cleared. His high INT (28), which had anticipated the need for Mikoto's approval, had secured the perfect alibi.
The Secret Training of Preparation
The month before entering the Academy was the most intense in Sora's short life. The public facade was that of an excited child studying the history of the Village. The reality was a brutal and silent training regimen.
Sora used Basic Chakra Control to practice the Wall Walking Technique in his grandfather's abandoned house in the back corner of the compound.
[Chakra Control Training: Wall Walking]
This exercise was fundamental. Not only did it burn calories and increase END, but the System recorded it as the fastest way to increase Chakra potential. Every drop of sweat was EXP.
Sora couldn't afford to perform hand seals yet; the risk of his parents or Kenshin seeing him secretly practicing jutsu was too great. But the System allowed him to master the theory and basic principles of energy manipulation.
He focused on his primary affinity: Fire. He spent hours concentrating chakra in his mouth, mimicking the muscular movement needed for the Great Fireball Jutsu.
[Study and Pre-manipulation of the Great Fireball Jutsu (Rank C): Progress 15%]
His four-year-old body was the obstacle. Fire jutsu required a large amount of chakra and strong lung pressure.
"I need more Chakra," Sora thought. "More END. I have to level up."
At the end of the month, his System interface lit up:
Congratulations! The User has exceeded the EXP requirement for their control level.
Level: 1 (Inactive Genin) - Level: 2 (Inactive Genin)
Chakra: 60 / 1000 - 100 / 1000 (Base Capacity Increase)
Strength (STR): 3.7 - 3.9
Agility (AGI): 3.7 -3.9
Endurece (END): 2.8 - 3.1
The jump to 100 chakra was massive for a four-year-old child. His body felt a cellular- level click. His muscles, bones, and lungs were instantly strengthened. Now he could withstand the training that his Genin peers would have to wait years to achieve.
This is what will save me from the extermination, he thought. Endurance is the basis of all Genin training.
The First Day: The Disguise of the Precocious Genius
The day of Academy enrollment arrived. Sora, in his Village uniform and with the knowledge of a veteran, walked with his mother towards the school.
Upon entering the classroom assigned for beginners, the murmur of the five and six-year-olds was palpable. Everyone was looking at him: the four-year-old Uchiha.
The instructor, Gintoki Sarutobi, with his scarred face and air of authority, took roll call. Sora sat in the front, the most visible seat.
"Uchiha Sora," Gintoki called out, with a slight rise in his voice. "The youngest student of this generation to enter with manifested chakra."
The first week was dedicated to theoretical fundamentals. And here, Sora's INT (28) shone unreservedly.
While other children struggled to understand the difference between the "three basic techniques" (Henge, Bunshin, Kawarimi), Sora understood the difference in chakra use with the precision of a scientist:
"The Henge is superficial manipulation for form. The Bunshin is emission for the non-corporeal replica. The Kawarimi is high-speed mass transfer. Three different applications of elemental chakra control."
Sora took perfect notes and could quote passages from the Shinobi Oath from memory.
[Fundamentals Lesson: 100% Retention.]
EXP Gain: 75 (Due to Level 2).
Sora, however, was careful with physical practice. In the gym, when asked to do basic push-ups and running, Sora demonstrated the Intelligence of a seven-year-old, but limited his STR and AGI to a "four-year-old prodigy" level.
The message he was sending to the Village was: Sora is a mental genius, a prodigy with impressive chakra control, but he is still small. He is talented, yes, but not a threat requiring Root's intervention.
Sora knew he had four years of margin to master the Fire and Lightning techniques, and he needed to grow stronger before the Sharingan awakened, preventing him from doing anything that would automatically catapult him into Danzo's sights.
He looked at the clock on the classroom wall. But what he was looking at was not that clock, but the System message superimposed there, that clock that only counted down.
ESTIMATED COUNTDOWN
4 Years, 308 Days, 18 Hours.