Chapter 36 - A Journey of Humility

Izuna entered his house to the smell of dinner. As he walked in, his mother Akemi greeted him, "Welcome back, Izuna. How did your meeting with the Hokage go?"

Takashi then interjected, "Yes, did you manage to sign a summoning contract?"

Izuna, now in the kitchen with his parents, said, "Yes, I managed to get a great one. I got the First Hokage's summons, the bears of Aurora Valley."

Takashi, who was sitting down, instantly stood up, and Akemi, who was preparing the food, dropped what she was doing, and they both looked at Izuna.

Takashi then said with slight anger in his tone, "Hiruzen let you try that scroll."

Izuna, understanding his parents' worry considering the risk, said, "Yes, he did, but it's not his fault. He told me all the risks, and it was my choice in the end. Plus, it all worked out."

Takashi then said, "That doesn't matter. He shouldn't have even shown you that scroll. It is one of the forbidden scrolls."

Izuna had no idea it was a forbidden scroll, but it did make sense. He then said, "Father, mother, please calm down. In the end, it all worked out. There's no need to be mad, and you definitely shouldn't start something with the Hokage, especially with the war seemingly nearing."

Takashi then said, "What did you just say? Did Hiruzen tell you about the war as well?"

Izuna quickly shook his head and said, "No, he didn't. I just kind of gathered it from all the things I've heard and seen happening."

Akemi then stepped in and said, "Takashi, he's right. There is a war brewing, so now is not the time to start something in the village. And yes, Izuna, you are right, but this isn't something you should concern yourself with. You are still a child."

Izuna then once again shook his head and said, "No, it does matter. I was even thinking about graduating from the academy early."

Takashi then sat down and said, "No, that's impossible."

Izuna then said, "Why, Father? I can surely pass the exam, can I not?"

Takashi then looked up at Izuna and said, "I don't doubt your ability to pass the exam; it's just that the Hokage has recently passed a new rule in the village council. All academy students have to spend at least five years in the academy before they can graduate."

Izuna was confused. This definitely didn't happen in the show. He then asked, "Why?"

Takashi then said, "Well, as you now know, a war is coming, and since we currently believe to have enough ninjas for the war, the Hokage and the village council have decided that it isn't worth the risk to throw a bunch of young genins fresh out of the academy into the war just to die. If we had no other choice, it would be different, but right now, we have plenty of shinobi, and they can always cancel the order."

He then continued, "I heard this from our clan leader yesterday. I'm not exactly sure about the rest of the clans, but right now, we have a little over 600 members in our Uchiha clan, so I imagine that the other clans have at least that many as well, plus all the civilians. That means we have thousands of shinobi, so I agree, throwing young genins in the war to just be cannon fodder is a terrible idea."

Izuna then said, "But Father, I wouldn't be cannon fodder. I am strong, and I might not be ready right now, but I will be in a year or two."

Takashi then said, "That might be true, but rules are rules."

Akemi then stepped in and said, "Plus, there is no reason for you to enter a war at such a young age, and we don't even know if there will end up being a war, so don't rush things. Just keep training and enjoy your academy days."

Izuna then said, "Fine." He knew there was no point in arguing. He just knew that he would grow so much faster if he could get out of the stupid academy and finally get into a genin squad where he could start learning things from a skilled jounin instead of wasting hours sitting in the academy every day.

He was about to have the chakra of a jounin, so in theory, it wouldn't be too much longer before he could have the strength of a jounin if they would just teach him more higher-rank jutsus.

Takashi, seeing the reluctant look on his son's face, then stood up and said, "Izuna, follow me."

Izuna didn't know what his father was doing, but he followed him anyway.

After several minutes of walking, they found themselves standing on the pier where Izuna learned the Great Fireball Jutsu.

Takashi then said, "Okay, Izuna, show me your Great Fireball Jutsu."

Izuna then smiled and said, "Okay, Father." He had improved tremendously since his father had last seen him use this jutsu and was ready to show his progress.

Izuna then weaved the hand signs and shot out the great fireball that was now the size of the lake plus one quarter of the lake. He stood there, smiling at his father, ready to hear praise. He was old enough mentally where he didn't really need to hear praise from his father, but it was still nice to hear, and he was hoping to maybe get another more advanced jutsu out of this.

His father then gave off a slight smile and said, "You really are a genius, Izuna. It's been 2 years since you learned this jutsu, and you have increased it to this extent."

Izuna was about to thank his father when Takashi then said, "However, watch this."

Takashi then stepped forward and, with one hand sign, cast the Great Fireball Jutsu, and it was easily three times bigger than his jutsu. Izuna stood there in silence, just looking at the aftermath of the jutsu, his smile no longer on his face. He understood what his father was trying to tell him.

Just because he was a 'genius' didn't mean he still couldn't improve. It didn't mean there weren't people out there far better than him currently. He still had a long way to go.

His father then said, "Did you see that? I used the same amount of chakra as you, and I only used one hand sign. Why was mine so much larger?"

Izuna looked up at his father and said, "Because your chakra and elemental control is so much better."

Takashi then said, "Yes, just because you're good with the jutsu for your age doesn't mean you are even close to having mastered it. You still have a lot of work to do in chakra and elemental control, and I'm not saying that I expect you to be as strong as me right now, or even in a year or two, or even five. I'm just saying you still have things to progress in, so stop worrying about learning higher rank jutsus and focus on the ones you have and truly master them."

Izuna then said, "I understand, thank you, father." This was truly eye-opening for him. He knew his father was better than him right now, but he didn't realize the gap between him and an actual elite jounin.

The two then walked back home in silence, and when they got home, they ate their food. Izuna was deep in his thoughts; he knew that if he wanted to control his destiny in this dangerous, power-driven world, he still had a lot to do, and it wouldn't be easy.

Read ahead on my h/t/t/p/s:/w/w/w/.p/a/t/r/e/o/n/./c/o/m/Arcanist206. Currently 40+ chapters ahead.

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