Uchiha Homura's Hostility

As soon as class ended, Minato Namikaze beside him got up and headed toward the back, where Uchiha Homura was sitting.

Soji truly had not expected Minato to be so decisive. He had just said that he would go make friends with Uchiha Homura after class, and now he was immediately doing so.

He could not help rubbing his forehead. Minato was clearly the typical man of action.

Soji could not help feeling curious either. He kept watching, wanting to see whether Minato's charm could win over the proud Uchiha.

The two chatted in fits and starts. Soji could tell that Minato would ask a question, and the other boy would answer it.

Though he had no idea what they were talking about, Minato kept smiling. Perhaps he had succeeded in making a friend?

Their conversation continued until class began. All the children returned to their seats, and Minato came back as well.

"How did it go? What did he say?"

Soji was very interested in this. Could the "social butterfly" still successfully strike up a conversation when facing the Uchiha Clan?

"Yeah, yeah, I suppose we got a preliminary understanding of each other."

Minato was speechless at the expression on Soji's face, which practically spelled out: I'm so nosy, I'm so curious, and I really want to know.

This showed that the helplessness went both ways. Soji was not the only one left at a loss by some aspects of Minato; Minato felt the same way about this new friend.

Soji wore an expression that said, Just as I thought.

"What kind of expression is that?"

Minato did not know whether to laugh or cry. He was about to lose it over Soji's expression.

"I understand."

After saying that, Soji patted Minato on the shoulder, then turned to face the teacher at the podium and prepared to listen attentively.

No! What exactly do you understand?

Minato really wanted to shout that in his heart, but reality gave him no chance.

"Minato, it's time for class."

The teacher's attention interrupted the question Minato had been about to ask.

"Okay."

Minato had never imagined that on the very first day of school, he would receive attention from the teacher—and be called out by name, no less.

As the instigator, Soji silently gave the teacher a thumbs-up in his heart.

This was the perfect teamwork between Soji and the teacher!

Actually, Soji had done it on purpose. He wanted to see what the future Fourth Hokage would look like when he finally cracked!

Now that he had gotten his wish, his sense of accomplishment was through the roof!

The little episode soon passed, and Soji began listening seriously as well.

Since it was the first day of school, the new students were naturally learning theory.

Although Soji also received all kinds of explanations from his grandfather at home, they were not as detailed or comprehensive as the teacher's lessons at school.

At Soji's current age, his strength was already sufficient. He could learn other ninjutsu and taijutsu within the Hyuga Clan. The only thing he lacked most right now was theoretical knowledge.

Thus, Soji studied especially seriously during theory class.

Besides Soji, the children from other clans were the same. Like Soji, they did not lack avenues for improving their strength. One reason their elders had sent them to the Ninja Academy was so they could learn theoretical knowledge.

As for the other reason, it was connections. No one knew who might suddenly rise to prominence in the future, and making more friends could help one avoid many detours later in life.

Aside from the clan children, the ambitious ordinary children also listened carefully. Unlike clan ninjas, the more they learned now, the better their chances of surviving when they faced enemies in the future.

Although the Third Hokage had relied on clan ninjas when he first took office, that also made him realize that the ninja clans held too much influence over the village. Thus, after consolidating his political power, he began vigorously promoting ordinary ninjas.

After all these years of reform, Konoha had produced quite a number of talented Civilian Ninjas.

The most famous were Orochimaru and Jiraiya, who would later become two of the Three Ninja, as well as other Elite Jonin such as Danzō Katō.

Oh, no. The Second Ninja World War had not officially begun yet, so the title of the Three Ninja did not exist. That title would be earned during the Second Ninja World War.

Time always passed quickly when one was studying seriously. Before he knew it, it was noon, time for lunch and a break.

After lunch, Soji went alone to rest beneath a large tree at the academy.

The March afternoon was still pleasantly cool. Watching the other children playing in the distance, Soji felt thoroughly at ease.

He had never dreamed that he had been about to leave his school days behind in his previous life, only to enter school again in this life. Still, he did not dislike it.

"Life really is unpredictable," he could not help sighing.

"Oh? Is Soji lamenting life, or are you gloating now after setting me up this morning?"

Hearing that voice, Soji did not even need to look up to know it was Minato Namikaze. He could hear the strong resentment in it.

"Ah, isn't this Minato? Here to rest too?"

Soji hurriedly laughed it off, hoping to muddle through by acting cute.

"You really are something..."

Of course, Minato was not so petty that he would hold a grudge over such a small matter. It was merely friendly teasing between friends.

After that, the two happily chatted after lunch.

Soji then noticed a gaze from afar suddenly shooting in his direction.

He looked back and saw that it was Uchiha Homura, the boy who was not easy to get along with.

Then he saw the other boy walking toward them.

Noticing Soji's gaze, Minato followed his line of sight and happened to see Uchiha Homura approaching.

Soji had originally assumed that he was coming to see Minato. After all, Minato had gone over to talk with him during the previous break.

"Homura, over here." Minato waved at Uchiha Homura.

"Mm, Minato, excuse me." Once Uchiha Homura arrived, he first nodded to Minato and greeted him.

The Uchiha Clan was merely proud, not rude. They would not commit such a discourtesy as ignoring a classmate who had taken the initiative to speak and greet them.

After greeting Minato, Uchiha Homura turned his gaze toward Soji.

"You're the Hyuga Clan's genius, Hyuga Soji?" Though phrased as a question, his tone was certain, and his eyes carried a scrutinizing look.

Soji froze for a moment. This development is wrong. Why is he coming at me?

"If you mean Hyuga Soji of the Hyuga Clan, then that should be me. As far as I know, there isn't another Hyuga Soji in the clan. As for this so-called genius title, it's just nonsense spread by bored people. You don't need to take it seriously, Homura."

Soji answered his question in a casual tone.

"Mm, I can see that. You look skinny and weak, and pretty ordinary too." Uchiha Homura spoke in an even tone, saying something infuriating without batting an eye.

His face carried a trace of disdain, along with the particular arrogance unique to the Uchiha.

Soji was directly choked up by that matter-of-fact tone. No, he had merely been modest, and this guy immediately seized the chance to climb all over him?

Although the genius title had been forced onto him by the Clan Head and his grandfather, Soji considered himself among the best of his peers. There was no need to mock him like that.

If you don't know how to talk, then talk less. No one's treating you like a mute!

At the same time, Soji became certain that the other boy had not come to greet him at all. He had clearly come to provoke him.

It seemed that his genius title had irritated the other boy somewhat.

The Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan were known as Konoha's two great bloodline Dojutsu clans, and they had always been openly and secretly competing against each other.

The two clans constantly tried to one-up each other in private, but the Uchiha Clan had always managed to suppress the Hyuga Clan. It had been that way from the village's founding until now.

The Uchiha Clan had always called itself Konoha's strongest great clan. The Hyuga Clan had no choice but to acknowledge that, and they had always wanted to surpass them.

In Soji's view, based on the original story, unless something unexpected happened, the Hyuga Clan would never surpass the Uchiha Clan before the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall.

As for afterward, the entire clan would be gone. Surpass them? What was the point?

Besides, even in the later stages of the original story, the ones stirring up trouble throughout the ninja world were always members of the Uchiha Clan. Whether it was Madara Uchiha or Obito Uchiha, if they truly wanted to, wiping out the Hyuga Clan would not be difficult at all. In fact, just one or two Uchiha with awakened Mangekyō Sharingan could wipe out the entire Hyuga Clan!

Soji also knew that the next few years would see an explosive emergence of Uchiha geniuses. Leaving aside Fugaku Uchiha, who had already graduated from the Ninja Academy several years ago, there would be Shisui Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, and Sasuke Uchiha, all of whom would be future awakeners of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Therefore, Soji had already made peace with it. Competing with the Uchiha Clan now was completely meaningless and would only bring him suffering.

However, if an Uchiha his own age dared provoke him to his face, he would not be polite either. Brats who deserved a beating still had to be beaten, such as the one before him.

If Uchiha Homura wanted to test whether his genius title was deserved, Soji would not mind teaching him a lesson.

Soji truly did not believe that he had awakened the Byakugan at five years old, yet the other boy could awaken the Sharingan before turning six.

Besides, before the Sharingan evolved to three tomoe, Hyuga Soji had nothing to fear!

Seeing the somewhat tense atmosphere, Minato Namikaze, ever the peacemaker, hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Come on, Soji, Homura. We're all classmates, so don't hurt the harmony. If you want to spar, there'll be plenty of chances in the future. There's no need to rush it now."

Minato stood in front of Soji as he tried to persuade them.

"Tch, I know. What a pain. But you, Hyuga, remember this. My name is Uchiha Homura, and I will defeat you on behalf of our Uchiha Clan."

After saying that, Uchiha Homura nodded to Minato, then turned around, shoved both hands into his pockets, and walked away coolly.

Once he had turned around and those behind him could no longer see his face, Uchiha Homura put away his arrogant expression and instead revealed a thoughtful look.

He no longer looked like he had recklessly charged in just now.

It seems the Hyuga Clan's genius isn't undeserved. He's worth defeating, Uchiha Homura thought calmly.

In truth, people in the clan had long told Uchiha Homura about Soji. He had deliberately gone to provoke him today.

If Soji had impulsively tried to fight him in order to prove himself in response to the provocation, Uchiha Homura would have looked down on him instead. After all, those with strength but no brains often died the fastest on the battlefield.

Soji's calmness from beginning to end, along with the deep look in his eyes as he watched him, had made Uchiha Homura feel a moment of fear. Still, he had hidden it well.

The task the clan had given him was to defeat Hyuga Soji, the Hyuga Clan's so-called genius, in the Ninja Academy and thus once again raise the prestige of the Uchiha Clan!

"It seems Soji has earned Homura's recognition. After all, he came over and introduced himself," Minato teased Soji with an expression that clearly enjoyed the spectacle, even though he had been the one to stop their potential fight earlier.

"Thanks, but I don't want that recognition at all." Soji looked thoroughly depressed. Anyone would be in a bad mood after being provoked for no reason.

What was more, he still had to endure his friend's teasing afterward!

Soji would swear that Minato was absolutely getting revenge for him setting Minato up that morning!

Once the lunch break ended, the afternoon was also entirely theory classes.

After the afternoon lessons ended, Soji went straight home when his grandfather, Hyuga Kumokawa, came to pick him up.

It was worth mentioning that after school that afternoon, only one Uchiha clansman came to pick up Uchiha Homura.