Have You Awakened Your Eyes?

Watching the students scramble out of the classroom, Iruka absentmindedly put away the attendance sheet at the podium. Just as he reached the door, he suddenly froze.

He had noticed that several students were still sitting motionlessly in their seats.

They were Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuga, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and the one student he found hardest to accept—Uzumaki Naruto.

"You all..."

Iruka frowned in confusion. He looked around and discovered that four of the five remaining students were focused on the person in the corner of the last row.

After hearing his voice, all five of them turned to stare at him at once. No one spoke.

"Forget it. Remember to go home early."

Iruka shook his head and walked out of the classroom. He still had to report to the Lord Hokage and, while he was at it, ask how he should handle Naruto's education.

"Naruto, Choji and I have developed some new tactics recently. What do you think? Interested?"

"That's right! Naruto, not only can I use the Human Bullet Tank now, but I've also mastered the Partial Expansion Jutsu! Your Shadow Clones don't have much of an advantage anymore!"

The moment Iruka disappeared, Shikamaru and Choji stood up together and invited Naruto.

"I don't mind, but today's the first day of enrollment. Aren't you going home to celebrate with your parents?"

Naruto agreed with a faint smile. He had sensed that the Third Hokage outside the wall had already left.

"What's there to celebrate? Classes are too boring, and what the school teaches is nothing special anyway."

"Yeah, it'd be better to sit at home and eat snacks."

"Then let's go. We'll head to our usual Training Ground and see your new tactics."

As Naruto spoke, he stepped into the aisle. Shikamaru and Choji followed him out of their seats, but just then, Naruto was called out again.

"Uzumaki Naruto!"

This time, it was not Iruka calling his name.

It was Sasuke Uchiha. He had also stepped into the aisle and blocked Naruto's path.

"Hmm?" X4.

Four puzzled voices sounded in the classroom.

Naruto first glanced at Sasuke, who had stopped him, then turned his gaze toward Hinata. One of those voices had come from her, but she was currently lowering her head.

"What do you want?"

Sasuke said arrogantly, "I challenge you!"

"What? Challenge me?"

Naruto found it somewhat surprising. He looked calmly at Sasuke, then ran through the plot in his mind and suddenly realized that, as the chosen reincarnation of Indra's Chakra, Sasuke was actually the most normal member of the Uchiha Clan.

Though arrogant and embarrassingly edgy, he truly had not been obsessive or extreme in the early stages of Shippuden. If not for being written as a manipulated avenger, his values were actually quite sound.

He loved deeply and hated deeply too. He had no hidden schemes, said one thing when he meant one thing and two when he meant two. Aside from being competitive and fond of acting cool, there was little else to criticize.

"What? Afraid to accept?"

Seeing the strange look in Naruto's eyes, embarrassment flashed across Sasuke's face. He actually tried to provoke him.

"Could you tell me why you want to challenge me?"

"My brother said I'm not your match. I want to prove to him that I'm stronger than you!"

"Just for that?"

Shikamaru and Choji looked at each other. Challenging someone just because one's older brother said that person was stronger was a little ridiculous.

"Just say whether you dare to accept or not!"

"Your brother said I'm stronger than you, so you want to challenge me. Did he tell you that the Lord Hokage is stronger than you too? Why don't you challenge the Hokage?"

"That's different!"

"How is it different? Or are you actually too afraid to challenge the Third Hokage, and you're just someone who bullies the weak and fears the strong?"

"I... I'm not."

Panic appeared on Sasuke's face. He did not know how to respond.

Naruto shook his head. He was spending time with Shikamaru and Choji to deal with the Third Hokage. He had no interest in childish after-school fights like Sasuke's.

"You're from the Uchiha Clan."

Hearing that, pride immediately flashed across Sasuke's face. "Hmph! That's right!"

Naruto stared straight at Sasuke and said coldly, "Have you awakened your eyes?"

Sasuke's expression instantly fell. He lowered his head. "I... I haven't awakened them yet."

"Then I'm not interested in you. Please move aside."

"Not interested in me..."

Those words left Sasuke deeply dejected. After his expression shifted several times, he moved aside in a daze.

Naruto did not spare him another glance. Calling to the other two behind him, he took several steps toward the door.

"Naruto-kun~"

"Hmm?"

Naruto paused.

Shikamaru and Choji wore strange expressions again. Was she going to challenge Naruto too?

Hinata took several steps toward Naruto, her little face flushed red.

"Naruto-kun, we've met before."

"Mm, I remember. Does Hinata still get lost now?"

"Uh, I don't get lost anymore. Ah~ Naruto-kun knows my name!"

Hinata suddenly realized that she had not introduced herself yet and instantly raised her eyes in surprise.

"Mm. When the teacher called attendance in class, I saw you stand up."

"Oh, oh."

"Come on. We'll take you home first."

"Ah~ I... I can go by myself."

Naruto shook his head. Under the astonished gazes of the two beside him, he took Hinata's hand and led her out of the classroom.

Shikamaru and Choji exchanged looks. They found Naruto's attitude toward Hinata somewhat strange, but did not think much of it. As they walked out, Shikamaru glanced back.

Sasuke was still standing there, lost in thought.

Naruto released Hinata's hand only after they had walked some distance away from the school gate. Seeing Shikamaru and Choji dawdling behind them, he casually asked, "Hinata, have you awakened your eyes?"

Hinata lowered her head and said softly, "My training isn't enough yet. I haven't awakened the Byakugan."

The question felt oddly familiar. Naruto-kun seemed to have asked Sasuke-kun the same thing in the classroom just now.

A glint flashed through Naruto's eyes. Once the Byakugan evolved to a certain level, its true power was no weaker than the Rinnegan's. The Hyuga Clan of Konoha lacked the proper method for evolving the Byakugan, so despite their high strategic value, they could only serve as something like Konoha's radar force.

Come to think of it, ever since the Third Hokage took office, all the major clans of Konoha had been steadily weakened. The Hyuga Clan had been openly and covertly targeted all along.

The extortion incident involving Cloud Village two years ago had further widened the rift between the Hyuga Clan and Konoha.

Their position was even more awkward than the Uchiha Clan's. At least the Uchiha had obtained the Police Department, but what about the Hyuga Clan? From the First's time until now, they had not even possessed the most basic political voice.

Among the entire clan, neither the main family nor the branch family had ever produced a member who joined the Anbu or Root.

The Hyuga Clan was like a guest within Konoha. In some ways, they were even more out of place than the Uchiha Clan. Unless it was wartime, they generally only took responsibility for their own clan.

That was rather interesting.

"What is Naruto-kun thinking about?"

"I'm thinking about you."

"Ah~"

Hearing that, Hinata swayed, looking as though she were about to collapse. Naruto hurriedly caught her shoulders and steadied her.

"What did Naruto-kun just say?"

"Nothing. I was thinking that Hinata will definitely awaken her eyes very soon."

"I'll work hard."

With her head lowered, Hinata answered weakly, her voice nearly inaudible.