Two days later, in the afternoon, under the blazing sun, Neji Hyuga carried a slender bamboo pole on his back. One end of the thin bamboo was tied with fishing line, while the other end had a hook attached to it. With this bamboo-made fishing rod on his back, Neji walked out of his forest cabin, passed the track, and headed toward Konoha Ninja Academy.
"What class am I in? What class am I in?"
"Did I pass?"
"Can I enroll?"
"Waaah, sob sob sob..."
"How can my name not be there?"
"I want to be a ninja! I want to be a ninja!"
"..."
An enrollment and class assignment notice had been posted on a bulletin board at Konoha Ninja Academy. Children who saw their names jumped with joy, while those assigned to Class A happily compared themselves with others. After all, Class A was the best class.
Some children without the aptitude to become ninjas cried unhappily. From time to time, parents led them away, constantly comforting or scolding their children.
Neji had excellent eyesight. Before he even reached the bulletin board, he saw that he had been assigned to Class A.
The notice also stated that enrollment would begin in three days.
After taking one look, Neji turned to leave with his bamboo fishing rod on his back.
"Dad, I got assigned to Class A! Hehe." Tenten, who had two buns in her hair, squeezed out of the crowd and proudly reported to her father. She saw Neji glance this way from beneath a tree by the Ninja Academy gate before turning and leaving.
Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting mottled rays over Neji's figure beneath the quiet tree. He looked so lonely and still.
"Haha, good! Dad will personally prepare more ninja tools for