I Think You Completely Don't Understand

A dull thud.

Sasuke Uchiha had fallen from the tree again.

Teacher Beizawa nodded slightly.

Even battered and bruised, Sasuke Uchiha didn't utter a single complaint.

To earn praise from Fugaku Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha, he was pushing himself to the limit.

Unfortunately, after a full lesson, he still couldn't manage to reach the top of the tree.

"Sasuke."

Beizawa stopped him. "Time's almost up. Practice again tomorrow."

"Teacher Beizawa, you go on ahead."

Sasuke Uchiha said stubbornly.

"Haste makes waste."

Beizawa shook his head. "Balance between tension and release is how you train better."

Sasuke Uchiha was taken aback at the words.

Even though he didn't fully understand, it sounded profound.

Coupled with the shock of Beizawa's earlier Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, he hesitated a few seconds before agreeing.

"When you get back, remember to find a Medical Ninja to treat your injuries."

Beizawa reminded him.

"Mm. Thanks, Teacher Beizawa."

Sasuke Uchiha limped out of the school grounds.

Beizawa returned to the training ground.

Since class was over, most students had gone home, leaving only Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga.

"Teacher Beizawa!"

Naruto Uzumaki sprinted over, excited. "I hit it!"

"Hit what?"

Beizawa raised an eyebrow.

"The bullseye!"

Naruto Uzumaki shouted.

"Congratulations."

Beizawa paused. "But don't get cocky. This is just the basics."

"Mm!"

Naruto Uzumaki nodded firmly.

"See you tomorrow."

Beizawa patted his shoulder. "Next practical lesson, we'll switch to moving targets."

"I'll do my best!"

Naruto Uzumaki, clueless about fear, waved cheerfully and turned to leave.

"Hinata."

Beizawa asked with a smile. "Nervous?"

"A little."

Hinata Hyuga looked at his gentle smile and felt her tension ease.

"Let's go."

Beizawa extended his hand.

Hinata Hyuga froze for a moment, then instinctively took it.

The warmth of his touch made her cheeks flush.

The two left the school and arrived at the agreed spot—a small grove.

Seeing the familiar surroundings, Hinata Hyuga's heart trembled.

This was where she'd run into those three Little Brats last time.

The only difference was that it had been snowing then, but today was clear.

"They're not here yet. Let's set up an ambush first."

Beizawa said after a moment's thought.

Hinata Hyuga looked up at him, confusion on her face.

"I am, after all, a teacher."

Teacher Beizawa cleared his throat and said.

Isn't it only right for a teacher to educate students?

Hinata Hyuga blinked, still not understanding.

"I can see you don't get it at all."

Seeing her dazed and adorable look, Beizawa pinched her soft cheek.

Hinata Hyuga's face flushed even redder, her fair skin tinged with pink.

"Hinata, remember this: if you want to conquer fear, you have to face it head-on."

Beizawa said in a low voice.

Hinata Hyuga pressed her lips together, then a determined expression appeared on her face.

The next moment she blinked, Beizawa had vanished without a trace.

For some reason, fear suddenly surged in her heart again.

She took a deep breath, turned around, and looked at the three Little Brats approaching from a distance.

"She actually came alone?"

Toranosuke looked around, his tone tinged with surprise.

"Does she think she can beat all three of us by herself?"

The little boy on the left snapped, "Boss, she's clearly looking down on us!"

"Hey!"

Toranosuke stepped forward and demanded loudly, "What's your deal?"

Hinata Hyuga stood frozen in place.

Though Beizawa had given her courage, she couldn't change her personality in just two days.

Now, gripped by fear, she forgot everything, her mind a blank.

Move! Hinata!

Hinata Hyuga screamed in her heart, but her whole body felt drained of strength, unable to budge.

"I'm talking to you!"

Toranosuke said irritably, "Are you mute?"

Hinata Hyuga flinched and instinctively stepped back.

In her heart, she prayed, Teacher Beizawa, save me!

"You've just angered a lion!"

Toranosuke lost his patience and reached out to grab Hinata Hyuga.

Just then, a fierce gust of wind howled.

Hinata Hyuga's hair was blown upward.

She instinctively raised both hands to hold down her flying hair.

But when she came to her senses, her eyes widened in shock.

That blast of wind had swept the three little boys up and slammed them into three trees.

"Aaaah!"

Toranosuke let out a beastly scream.

He felt like his whole body was falling apart.

The other two little boys were the same, pale-faced, caught between pain and terror.

Beizawa stepped out.

That gust of wind had been caused by him—Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.

This C-rank wind release technique had its power determined by the amount of Chakra input.

In the original story, Orochimaru used Wind Release: Great Breakthrough to whip up a gale that felled a small forest.

"Who... who are you?"

Cold sweat beaded on Toranosuke's forehead.

"Just a passing ninja."

Beizawa chuckled and said, "Three boys bullying one little girl—you've really disgraced your parents."

"No, that's wrong, you're a teacher!"

The little boy on the left sat up, suddenly remembering something, and said, "I've seen you at school!"

"Shameless! You actually got a teacher to help?!"

Toranosuke pointed at Hinata Hyuga, furious.

"Snow Leopard, shut up!"

Beizawa's gaze sharpened. "Still calling yourself a lion."

"This isn't fair!"

Toranosuke shrank his neck, muttering.

"Fair? You've hit the nail on the head."

Beizawa walked up to him. "I came here to do one thing: make things fair!"

Toranosuke flinched, scrambling backward.

"Three against one isn't fair. Hinata asked me for help—that's not fair either. So we're even."

Beizawa said slowly, "One month from now, right here, you and Hinata fight one-on-one. A fair duel."

As the saying goes, only by facing fear can you conquer it.

One month was enough for Beizawa to change Hinata Hyuga's character.

Once she beat Toranosuke, she'd truly grow.

"Well? Agreed?"

Beizawa reached out, fist clenched, and asked.

"Agreed!"

Toranosuke saw the fist the size of a sandbag and shouted quickly.

"That scarf you stole last time—where is it?"

Beizawa remembered his task and asked.

"I tossed it over there."

Toranosuke raised a finger, pointing left.

"See you next time."

Beizawa glanced over, spotted the scarf on the ground, and said with a smile.

But in the eyes of Toranosuke and his two cronies, it was like the grin of a demon. They scrambled and crawled as they fled.

Beizawa wasn't worried they'd call their parents.

He'd already looked into it—their folks were just ordinary civilian ninja.

And Toranosuke had struck first. As a teacher, protecting a student was only natural.

Even if this went all the way to Hiruzen Sarutobi, he'd still be in the right.

"Hinata, are you okay?"

Beizawa turned and walked up to Hinata Hyuga.

She'd been frozen in place from the start.

When she heard his voice and saw his warm smile, she finally moved—and hugged him directly.

Beizawa was slightly taken aback.

He could feel Hinata's trembling body.

After all, she was just a young girl.

Beizawa reached out and gently patted her head.