[Ding! Overwhelmed the entire class and claimed first place]
[Fusion Rate +1%]
After returning from the academy, a familiar, pleasant notification rang out once again inside Yashiro's mind.
What surprised him was that this time, it wasn't another pitiful increase of 0.0-something.
It jumped a full 1% in one go.
"So my guess was right after all."
With this confirmation, Yashiro finally understood exactly what he needed to do next.
His mood instantly improved. With hands behind his back, he strolled leisurely toward the Sarutobi clan compound.
Several clan attendants followed closely behind him, obedient and silent as ever.
As for safety?
At this stage, Yashiro didn't need to worry in the slightest.
Not to mention the attendants he'd brought along—all of them chūnin-level at minimum—but hidden in the shadows were who-knew-how-many ANBU and Root operatives.
Anyone who dared make a move against him inside Konoha would truly be asking for it.
This was the real foundation that allowed Yashiro to live each day as a carefree, lawless heir.
As long as he didn't leave the village, he was effectively untouchable.
Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's office…
The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi returned, his temper exploded.
"That damn brat!""He's going to drive this old man to an early grave!"
What angered Hiruzen most wasn't Yashiro himself—but the rest of the class.
Right under his nose, several students who were easily capable of scoring full marks had deliberately held back, submitting pitiful sevens instead.
He'd originally planned to give a speech afterward—something about the Will of Fire.
After witnessing that farce, Hiruzen could only think one thing:
Fire my ass. Will of Fire? What a load of crap.
Just as his irritation peaked, the office door opened.
"Lord Hokage."
Iruka stepped inside.
Hiruzen quickly reined in his emotions. He picked up the pipe on his desk, took a slow puff, and spoke calmly.
"Oh, Iruka. What is it? Something the matter?"
Hiruzen valued Iruka highly.
After all, the class Iruka managed included heirs of major clans—as well as Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
Either point alone was enough to warrant close attention.
"Lord Hokage, I'd like to talk about Yashiro Sarutobi."
The moment he heard that, Hiruzen understood immediately what Iruka was about to say.
He chuckled instead.
"Perfect timing, Iruka. I was just thinking about that brat myself."
"You know, Yashiro didn't attend school even once last year."
"Letting him advance straight into second year doesn't sit right with me."
"How about this—why don't we have him repeat the year and place him in your class?"
Iruka froze.
He'd come to report Yashiro's vile personality and outrageous behavior.
How had this somehow turned into Yashiro being dumped into his class?
Before Iruka could even open his mouth to object, Hiruzen had already finalized the decision.
And just like that, Iruka walked out of the Hokage Tower in a daze.
He stared down at Yashiro Sarutobi's student file in his hands, utterly confused.
"…Why did I even come here?"
At the same time—
News of what happened at the academy spread rapidly throughout Konoha.
After all, Yashiro Sarutobi was the young head of the Sarutobi clan—and the Third Hokage's grandson.
There were plenty of eyes watching him.
Inside an Akimichi clan barbecue restaurant, the current generation of Ino–Shika–Chō, the backbone of the Hokage faction, sat together.
As they read the intelligence report, the three exchanged glances.
"Shikaku, you're the smartest—what do you make of this?""Yeah, what do you think?"
Nara Shikaku casually turned the meat on the grill, seemingly unconcerned.
After a brief silence, he finally spoke.
"Some things are better left acknowledged… not discussed."
"Don't forget who his maternal grandfather is."
The moment those words landed, Akimichi Chōza and Yamanaka Inoichi instantly understood.
They dropped the subject without another word.
As for the smaller clans in Konoha—They didn't even dare mention it.
Meanwhile, within the Uchiha clan…
Inside Naka Shrine—
"Hahahaha! Who would've thought Hiruzen Sarutobi's grandson would turn out to be such trash!"
"Not worth worrying about!"
"Exactly! Just a spoiled second-generation wastrel. If the Sarutobi clan ends up in his hands, looks like the Uchiha's good days are coming!"
A large number of Uchiha gathered inside the shrine.
Led by the clan's radical elders, laughter and excitement filled the air.
Only one man remained silent—
Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head.
In his mind, he unconsciously compared Yashiro Sarutobi to his own son.
Sasuke could crush that brat without effort.
Still, seeing his clansmen growing increasingly arrogant, Fugaku finally spoke.
"That's enough."
"He is still the Hokage's grandson."
"Don't get carried away."
The room gradually quieted.
However, the Great Elder suddenly spoke up.
"Fugaku, preparations must still be made."
"The Hokage faction is nothing but dead weight now."
"This is the perfect opportunity for the Uchiha."
"Don't miss it."
Fugaku fell silent.
The Uchiha were like a lone boat drifting in a stormy sea—One wrong move, and it would be total annihilation.
As clan head, he had walked on thin ice for years, constantly maintaining balance with the Hokage faction.
His goal had always been peace—not rebellion.
"I'll consider it," Fugaku said at last.
"But remember this—I am the clan head."
"Do not take unnecessary actions."
As his words fell, scarlet Sharingan eyes swept across the shrine.
Every single voice—including the Great Elder's—fell silent.
After all, Uchiha Fugaku possessed a fearsome title earned through bloodshed—
'Wicked Eye.'
Even the elders did not dare provoke him further.
The clan meeting ended on a sour note.
And when it was over—
Several shadowy figures slipped out from the Uchiha compound, vanishing silently into the night.