So Cute—She'd Probably Cry for a Long Time If You Teased Her

As Tsukiji left, the students immediately shed their half-dead appearance and returned to peak condition.

Then they all swarmed toward Hoshiryu Uchiha.

Over the past few days, the name Hoshiryu Uchiha had spread widely throughout Konoha.

Whether it was being adopted by Mito Uzumaki or forcing back spies from another village, both had made his reputation as a genius spread like wildfire.

Especially among children, his name made their teeth itch with hatred.

Because he had become the "other people's child" that Konoha parents always talked about.

But in this cruel world, even children instinctively followed the footsteps of the strong.

Even though Hoshiryu Uchiha had hidden most of his strength, what he had revealed was enough to sweep through the Ninja Academy.

So anyone with even a little sense in their family gathered around him, hoping to build a good relationship with him.

Unfortunately, before Hoshiryu Uchiha could secretly revel in it, Tsunade drove most of them away with a murderous glare.

To Tsunade, Hoshiryu Uchiha was her playmate.

A child's possessiveness could sometimes be terrifying as well.

As the granddaughter of the First Hokage and the Second Hokage, Tsunade's status was among the highest in Konoha.

So once Tsunade began shielding Hoshiryu Uchiha, most people backed off.

But there were also those who were not afraid of Tsunade, and Uchiha Chiri was one of them.

She sat beside Hoshiryu Uchiha, able to speak to him just by turning around.

She deliberately put on an arrogant expression, but her face gradually reddened.

"Hoshiryu Uchiha, even though you're strong, I'll definitely surpass you."

Hoshiryu Uchiha looked speechlessly at the girl before him, whose acting was terrible, inwardly grumbling nonstop.

So I'm the person you said you wanted to surpass just now!

And this isn't your personality at all, is it? Why are you blushing? I didn't even do anything!

Just as he had no idea what to do, someone came over and eased his awkwardness.

The young Orochimaru was quite handsome, and his overly outstanding appearance had made him somewhat introverted.

But the words his parents had spoken before heading to the battlefield still echoed in his ears.

"My child, your talent is great, but the battlefield is not a reasonable place."

"The enemy will not spare you just because you are young. Talent that cannot be realized is nothing."

"Remember what your father and mother said. Hoshiryu Uchiha is the teammate who can help you survive. You must form a bond with him and try to be assigned to the same team when you graduate."

Orochimaru's parents were both less talented than he was and were only Chunin in Konoha.

Every time they went to the battlefield, they were practically stretching their necks beneath the Death God's scythe, gambling with their lives.

So, so that their child would not end up like them, they repeatedly urged Orochimaru to seek a better path.

Thus, the current scene came to pass. Orochimaru walked up to Hoshiryu Uchiha and began an awkward conversation.

"Hoshiryu-kun, you seemed distracted just now, so you probably don't know me. My name is Orochimaru. Please take care of me in the future."

Even Orochimaru came knocking on my door?

Hoshiryu Uchiha did not know the details of Orochimaru's parents' instructions. Seeing Orochimaru come to him of his own accord only strengthened his resolve to test him.

In truth, Hoshiryu Uchiha was overthinking things.

As the old saying went, when fortune arrived, heaven and earth would lend their strength.

Hoshiryu Uchiha himself had not realized that his appearance had already stirred up a storm in Konoha.

He had greatly underestimated his own influence.

At only six years old, he had driven off spies, and there were even rumors that he had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Even if such talent was not unprecedented, it was certainly among the very best.

At the very least, no second person like him had appeared in the decades before and after Konoha's founding.

And in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes—to make Hoshiryu Uchiha become another Hashirama Senju rather than another Madara Uchiha—

The people of Konoha had even changed their way of thinking and begun accepting the Uchiha Clan.

This had also made life unusually easy for the Uchiha Clan during this period.

The whispers that once filled the streets had all disappeared, and they could even get discounts when buying things.

Such positive changes had allowed Hoshiryu Uchiha to quietly accumulate prestige within the Uchiha Clan.

Mito Uzumaki's adoption of Hoshiryu Uchiha had also made many people completely lower their guard, hoping he would become a second Hashirama Senju.

That way, Konoha could enjoy several more decades of peace.

Before Hiruzen Sarutobi had even begun shifting his political direction, Konoha was already no longer operating according to his ideas.

The desire for peace was deeply branded into every person in Konoha who had been harmed by war.

This kind of greater trend was not something Hiruzen Sarutobi could change.

Once someone saw a tangible hope, they would seize it at all costs.

Hoshiryu Uchiha was that hope now.

It was only because Hoshiryu Uchiha was still young, and the rumors said he had not awakened the Mangekyo.

Otherwise, it would be hard to say whether Hiruzen Sarutobi could even keep his seat securely.

Just like now, influenced by this greater trend, Orochimaru also wanted to get to know Hoshiryu Uchiha.

Although Hoshiryu Uchiha felt somewhat uneasy because he did not know the truth, Orochimaru had come to him himself. How could he possibly turn him away?

Research-oriented geniuses were valued everywhere.

Orochimaru's words gave Hoshiryu Uchiha a way out of the awkwardness, so he naturally took it.

"My name is Hoshiryu Uchiha. It's an honor to be friends with you two as well. Please take care of me in the future."

Uchiha Chiri also came to her senses. What she had said just now really had been difficult to respond to.

Who said something like that upon meeting for the first time? Anyone who did not know better would think she was provoking him.

Her face reddening even more, she stammered, "R-right... I'm sorry. I-I... said the wrong thing just now."

Hoshiryu Uchiha smiled knowingly as he watched Uchiha Chiri reveal her true personality.

Uchiha Chiri looked so cute when she was shy. She would probably cry for a long time if he teased her.

Tsunade watched their interaction from the side, and when she saw Hoshiryu Uchiha's smile, she could not help but shudder.

She began praying for Uchiha Chiri.

After spending the past few days together, Tsunade had more or less figured it out.

Hoshiryu Uchiha had an awful personality and loved bullying her.

And every time he set her up, he wore that exact smile.

Uchiha Chiri saw the sympathy in Tsunade's eyes but could not make sense of it.

Naturally, Hoshiryu Uchiha saw that look as well. He glanced at Tsunade, frightening her into pretending to be an ostrich and ceasing her hints.

Tsunade had no desire to extend their wager indefinitely.

She understood the principle of sacrificing a fellow Daoist rather than herself.

Seeing that Tsunade knew better, Hoshiryu Uchiha did not feel like setting her up anymore.

There was already someone right in front of him whom he could tease, so why look elsewhere?

"It's fine. But Classmate Uchiha Chiri, you just said you wanted to surpass me, right?"

Uchiha Chiri nodded somewhat blankly.

After receiving her confirmation, Hoshiryu Uchiha smiled and continued, "If you go up to the podium right now and sing a song for me, I'll tell you the secret behind why I'm so strong."