Uchiha's Mad Laughter

Hinata Hyuga wandered aimlessly down the street.

Before, when she skipped class, Teacher Beizawa was there—she didn't have to think about anything, just follow him. But now she was alone.

After walking for a while, Hinata had an idea. She went back to that small grove.

This time, fear no longer surfaced in her mind.

Hinata took a deep breath and began Tree Climbing Training.

Maybe it was the shift in her mindset, but today she felt unusually smooth.

By noon, she reached the treetop for the first time.

Hinata clenched her fists and waved them, a smile spreading across her small face.

She glanced at the sun, realized the time, and quickly jumped down, running toward the Ninja Academy.

"Teacher Beizawa!"

Hinata jogged into the office.

"Right on time?"

Beizawa set down his lunchbox and teased, "Looks like my meal-summoning jutsu has reached perfection."

"I..."

Hinata's face flushed, unsure how to explain.

She really hadn't run that fast just because she was hungry for lunch.

"Come eat."

Seeing her flustered look, he couldn't help but laugh.

Hinata felt even more embarrassed, but her body obeyed, sitting down across from him.

"Where were you this morning?"

He handed her a pair of chopsticks and asked.

"I finished the Tree Climbing Training."

Reminded by his words, she quickly looked up at him and said.

"Good job. You're the first to complete it—even Sasuke can't match you."

Beizawa met her gaze, sensing her emotions, and praised her.

The corners of Hinata's mouth couldn't help but lift, her little feet swinging in the air.

It wasn't her first time receiving praise, but it was the first time from someone she truly respected.

In her heart, Beizawa now ranked just below Hyuga Hiashi.

"Improving your Chakra Control will help you master the Gentle Fist."

Beizawa thought for a moment and said, "Of course, just climbing trees isn't enough."

"I'll work hard!"

Hinata's eyes lit up.

If she could master the Gentle Fist quickly, it would surely satisfy Father.

Beizawa knew what Hinata was thinking.

She and Sasuke Uchiha were the same—both wanted their fathers' approval.

But the challenges they faced were also the same.

As the saying goes, comparisons can drive you mad.

Sasuke had Itachi Uchiha as a benchmark; Hinata had Neji Hyuga as hers.

And Neji was undeniably a rare genius.

In the original story, he learned the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and the Rotation—techniques only the Hyuga Main Family could learn—entirely on his own.

"Have you awakened your Byakugan?"

Beizawa bit into a fried shrimp and asked.

The Uchiha Clan's awakening required talent and emotional stimulation, but the Hyuga Clan's awakening was simple—just training.

In theory, every ninja in the Hyuga Clan could awaken it.

But once they did, they had no path for advancement, unlike the Uchiha Clan with its One Tomoe, Two Tomoe, Three Tomoe, and Mangekyo.

That was why Neji fell far behind Sasuke in the mid-to-late stages.

Not that he had a late stage.

"No."

Hinata shook her head.

Beizawa wasn't surprised to hear that.

In the original story, Hinata Hyuga first used the Byakugan during the Chunin Exams.

Though the exact timing of her awakening was unknown, it wasn't too early.

Beizawa took a bite of rice, chewing slowly.

He knew nothing about the Byakugan or the Gentle Fist, so naturally he couldn't help Hinata Hyuga.

But fortunately, he already had hope.

As long as he completed that task for Hinata Hyuga, he could obtain the Byakugan.

"There's a monthly exam in April."

Beizawa thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you want to take first place?"

"Me?"

Hinata Hyuga was slightly startled, a look of confusion on her face.

"I can give you special training."

The new method Beizawa had thought of to build courage was a school-wide speech.

A speech undoubtedly required courage, especially in front of so many people.

And after the monthly exam, there would be a segment for outstanding students to give speeches.

"Thank you, Teacher Beizawa."

Though Hinata Hyuga didn't quite understand, she didn't want to refuse Beizawa, so she agreed.

"It's nothing."

Beizawa smiled, but didn't mention the speech.

Time came to the afternoon.

Today's practical combat class was still Ninja Tool Throwing, but not kunai—shuriken instead.

Each type of ninja tool had its own characteristics, so they had to spend time practicing anew.

But for the geniuses of the ninja clans, it wasn't much of a challenge.

The secluded training ground of the Ninja Academy.

At first, it was just one-on-one coaching for Sasuke Uchiha, but now Hinata Hyuga, Ino Yamanaka, Naruto Uzumaki, and Yakumo Kurama had been added.

"Naruto and Yakumo, go run laps."

Beizawa instructed. "Ino and Sasuke, practice Tree Climbing."

"Yes, Teacher Beizawa!"

Naruto Uzumaki's execution was maxed out; he turned and ran off.

Yakumo Kurama watched his lively, energetic figure with envy.

Following what Beizawa had taught her, she started a slow jog around the training ground.

"Teacher Beizawa."

Ino Yamanaka asked curiously, "Isn't Hinata practicing Tree Climbing?"

"She's already completed Tree Climbing Training."

Beizawa said with a smile.

"Amazing!"

Ino Yamanaka couldn't help but exclaim.

She had also done Tree Climbing Training herself, so she knew how difficult it was.

Sasuke Uchiha's body tensed, and he unconsciously clenched his fist.

He had fallen behind Hinata Hyuga?

The one always considered a genius felt a pang of unwillingness. He quickly turned and started climbing the tree.

"Sasuke-kun, wait for me!"

Ino Yamanaka followed after him.

"Hinata, go to that tree."

Beizawa explained, "It's still Tree Climbing Training, but you need to dodge the ninja tools I throw at you."

As he spoke, he took out two wooden kunai.

"I understand!"

Hinata Hyuga nodded firmly.

Climbing a tree with someone interfering was undoubtedly twice as difficult.

But her personality was one of gentleness mixed with strength—she wouldn't run from a challenge.

Hinata Hyuga channeled chakra to her feet, then climbed up the tree.

"Hinata, watch out."

Beizawa said as he threw a kunai.

He was considering that Hinata Hyuga had just started training, so he gave her an early warning.

Once she fully adapted, he would stop.

Hinata Hyuga heard this and quickly dodged.

Half an hour later, Sasuke Uchiha successfully climbed to the top of the tree.

He couldn't help but let out a breath, a smile spreading across his face.

Soon, he thought of something and quickly jumped down.

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!

Sasuke Uchiha arrived at an open space and eagerly formed hand seals.

Chakra surged out, condensing into a fireball.

Sasuke Uchiha was stunned.

Before, when he used Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, the fireball was only a bit bigger than a fist, but now it was two and a half times larger than a basketball.

If it hit an enemy, it would likely inflict heavy injuries.

Most importantly, this fireball was already a quarter the size of the one Itachi Uchiha had demonstrated with Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique.

If training for a week yielded this result, then in a month, would he earn his father's praise?

The thought of Fugaku Uchiha saying, "That's my son," made Sasuke Uchiha instinctively press his forehead and tremble.

Finally, he couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into wild laughter.

Beizawa's mouth twitched. He looked up at the sky—sure enough, it was a bright, clear day.

Just then, four lines of text appeared before his eyes.

Code
[Your Lifelong Rival, Sasuke Uchiha, is smug and has issued a challenge to you.]
[Current Mission: After Sasuke Uchiha's Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique surpasses Itachi Uchiha's, you use this fire style to surpass him.]
[Mission Reward: Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation.]
[Accept?]

Oh, come on. What are you doing?

This system, why is it so wicked?

But Beizhao liked it.

Besides, even just for the reward, he had to do it.

Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation was a fire-style ninjutsu with a B-rank learning difficulty.

In the original work, it had a track record.

During the Fourth Great Ninja War, over twenty water-style ninjas—most of them Jonin—combined their efforts with Water Style: Water Wall just to block Madara Uchiha's Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation.

In short, learning difficulty didn't determine power; this fire-style ninjutsu had a very high ceiling.