Have you awakened your eyes?

As a group of students scrambled out of the classroom, Iruka on the podium absentmindedly put away the attendance register. He paused at the doorway.

He noticed a few students were still sitting motionless in their seats.

These children were Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuga, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and the one he found most difficult to accept, Naruto Uzumaki.

"What's with you guys..."

Iruka frowned, puzzled. He looked around and found that four out of the five students who remained were all focused on the person in the corner of the last row.

Hearing his voice, the five students in the classroom immediately turned their gazes towards him, none of them speaking.

"Never mind, just remember to go home early."

Iruka shook his head and walked out of the classroom. He had to go report to the Hokage and, at the same time, ask for advice on how to teach Naruto.

"Naruto, Choji and I have developed a new tactic recently. How about it? Interested?"

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

As soon as Iruka disappeared, Shikamaru and Choji stood up together and invited Naruto.

"I don't have a problem with it, but today is the first day of enrollment. Aren't you guys going home to celebrate with your parents?"

Naruto smiled slightly and agreed. He sensed that the Third Hokage outside the wall had already left.

"What's there to celebrate? Class was too boring, and what they teach at school is just so-so."

"Yeah, it's better to just stay home and eat snacks."

"Then let's go. We'll head to the usual training ground and see your new tactic."

Naruto said, taking a step into the aisle. Shikamaru and Choji followed him out of their seats. But then, Naruto was called out again.

"Naruto Uzumaki!"

This time, it wasn't Iruka calling his name.

It was Sasuke Uchiha. He had also walked to the middle of the aisle, blocking Naruto's path.

"Huh?" x4.

Four voices of confusion echoed in the classroom.

Naruto first glanced at Sasuke, who had called him, then shifted his gaze to Hinata in another direction. She had just made a sound, but now Hinata was looking down.

"What do you want?"

Sasuke said proudly, "I challenge you!"

"What? Challenge me?"

Naruto felt a bit surprised. He looked at Sasuke calmly. After a quick review of the plot in his mind, he suddenly realized that as a candidate for Indra's chakra reincarnation, Sasuke was actually the most normal person in the Uchiha Clan.

Although arrogant and chuunibyou, he wasn't obsessive or extreme in the early stages of Shippuden. If it weren't for the plot making him a manipulated avenger, his values were actually quite sound.

He loved deeply and hated deeply, with little pretense. He spoke his mind, honestly and directly. Besides his competitiveness and love for acting cool, there weren't many other faults.

"What? Scared to accept?"

Sasuke saw Naruto's strange gaze and a flash of shame and anger crossed his face. He resorted to provocation.

"Can you tell me why you're challenging me?"

"My brother said I'm no match for you. I want to prove to him that I'm stronger than you!"

"Just for that?"

Shikamaru and Choji exchanged glances. Challenging someone just because their brother said the other person was stronger seemed a bit ridiculous.

"Just tell me, do you accept the challenge or not!"

"My brother said I'm stronger than you, so you challenge me. Did he also tell you that the Hokage is stronger than you? Why don't you challenge the Hokage?"

"That's different!"

"How is it different? Or are you actually afraid to confront the Third Hokage and are just someone who bullies the weak and fears the strong?"

"I-I'm not..."

Sasuke's expression became flustered. He didn't know how to respond.

Naruto shook his head. He and Shikamaru and Choji were just stalling to deal with the Third Hokage. He had no interest in such childish after-school challenges from Sasuke.

"You're from the Uchiha Clan..."

Hearing this, Sasuke's face immediately showed a proud expression. "Hmph! That's right!"

Naruto looked directly at Sasuke and said coldly, "Then have you awakened your Sharingan?"

Sasuke's face instantly fell, and he lowered his head. "I-I haven't awakened it yet..."

"Then I'm not interested in you. Please let me pass."

"Not interested in me..."

This statement made Sasuke incredibly dejected. After a moment of emotional turmoil, he blankly moved aside.

Naruto didn't spare him another glance. He called out to the two behind him and walked to the doorway in a few steps.

"Naruto-kun~"

"Hm?"

Naruto paused his steps.

Shikamaru and Choji exchanged strange glances again. Was she going to challenge Naruto too?

Hinata walked up to Naruto, her small face flushed red.

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

"Yeah, I remember. Do you still get lost, Hinata?"

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

Hinata suddenly realized she hadn't introduced herself and looked up in surprise.

"Yeah, when the teacher called roll in class, I saw you stand up."

"Oh, oh."

"Let's go, we'll take you home first."

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

Naruto shook his head, and under the surprised gazes of the two beside him, he took Hinata's hand and they walked out of the classroom together.

Shikamaru and Choji made eye contact. They found Naruto's attitude towards Hinata a bit strange, but didn't think much of it. As they walked out the door, Shikamaru glanced back.

Sasuke was still standing there, lost in thought.

Naruto held Hinata's hand until they were not far from the school entrance before letting go. Seeing Shikamaru and Choji walking slowly behind them, he casually asked, "Hinata, have you awakened your eyes yet?"

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

She felt like this sentence sounded familiar. Earlier in the classroom, Naruto-kun had asked Sasuke-kun the same thing.

A glint flashed in Naruto's eyes. The true power of the Byakugan, once evolved to a certain level, was no less than the Rinnegan. The Hyuga Clan of Konoha didn't have the correct evolutionary method for the Byakugan. Although it had high strategic value, it could only serve roles like Konoha's radar unit.

Speaking of which, ever since the Third Hokage took office, the major noble clans in Konoha had been continuously weakened. The Hyuga Clan had been targeted, both openly and covertly, within Konoha.

Two years ago, after that extortion incident with Kumogakure, the rift between the Hyuga Clan and Konoha had been gradually widening.

Their position was even more awkward than the Uchiha Clan's. The Uchiha at least got the Police Department, but what about the Hyuga Clan? From the First Hokage to the present, they didn't even have the most basic political voice.

Within the entire clan, neither the main family nor the branch family had any members who had ever joined the Anbu or Root.

The Hyuga Clan felt like guests in Konoha, and in a way, were even more out of place than the Uchiha Clan. Unless it was during wartime, they would generally only be responsible for their own clan.

This was quite interesting.

"What are you thinking about, Naruto-kun?"

"I'm thinking about you."

"Ah~"

Upon hearing this, Hinata swayed and looked like she was about to collapse. Naruto quickly grabbed her shoulders to steady her.

"What did Naruto-kun just say?"

"It's nothing. I was thinking that you'll definitely awaken your eyes soon, Hinata."

"I will work hard."

Hinata, with her head lowered, replied weakly, her voice barely audible.