Hinata's Growth

Beizawa's office.

Hinata Hyuga paced back and forth, holding her speech draft. Her face had turned pale from nervousness.

She stopped pacing only when the door opened and she saw Beizawa.

"Nervous?"

Beizawa stepped forward, patted her head, and asked.

"Mhm."

Hinata Hyuga felt embarrassed.

Beizawa had been giving her special training during this time, and had been incredibly dedicated.

But she had failed to live up to his trust. Now, facing the moment, she couldn't maintain a calm expression.

"It's normal to be nervous."

Beizawa smiled and said, "Let's eat first."

He opened the Summoning Storage Scroll and took out a large pile of food.

A tempting aroma filled the air.

Hinata Hyuga's stomach let out a faint rumble.

Her small face immediately turned red with embarrassment.

"Eat up."

Beizawa handed her a sushi roll and said.

"Thank you, Teacher Beizawa."

Hinata Hyuga took a bite of the sushi and, for some reason, found it very sweet.

She savored the taste in her mouth, glanced at Beizawa, and quickly averted her gaze.

Hinata Hyuga ate elegantly and happily.

She sat on the sofa, eating and gently swinging her feet.

The previous nervousness had unknowingly dissipated.

"I'm full, Teacher Beizawa."

Hinata Hyuga finished her milk, put down the glass, and looked at Beizawa.

"I'll teach you a way to relieve nervousness."

Beizawa picked up a rice ball and said, "When you go on stage, imagine everyone is a rice ball. That way, you won't be nervous."

"Huh?"

Hinata Hyuga was stunned.

Could such a method work?

"Let's go, we're going to the training grounds."

Beizawa put away the remaining food.

Hinata Hyuga's heart leaped again at his words, and nervousness inevitably returned.

She followed behind Beizawa, recalling the method from just now, and couldn't help but start murmuring.

"Rice balls, you are all rice balls."

Hinata Hyuga repeated to herself.

For some reason, she felt her nervousness lessen considerably.

On the training grounds, students from all six grades were arranged in neat formations.

Beizawa led Hinata Hyuga directly to the elevated platform.

"Beizawa."

Hisao Sarutobi saw him and called out a greeting.

Beizawa was now considered a prominent figure at the Ninja Academy and was deeply trusted by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hisao Sarutobi, as a ninja of the Sarutobi clan and the vice-principal, proactively extended a friendly gesture to Beizawa.

"Principal."

Beizawa responded with great courtesy.

The time reached 8:30, and the commendation ceremony officially began.

The first segment was a speech by a representative of outstanding students.

"Hinata, remember the method I told you."

Beizawa reminded her.

Hinata Hyuga didn't answer, only nodded.

She slowly walked forward and stopped.

Numerous gazes fell upon her, and she instinctively trembled, a sense of panic rising within her.

"Onigiri! It's onigiri!"

Hinata Hyuga took a deep breath and began her speech.

The formation for Second Year Class A.

Neji Hyuga listened to Hinata Hyuga's speech, a sense of surprise surfacing in his heart.

She actually had the courage to go on stage and successfully deliver her speech.

In Neji Hyuga's opinion, Hinata Hyuga was not suited to be a ninja.

She was too weak and lacked conviction.

Her only advantage was her good fortune, being born into the main family.

"Let me see how much you've changed."

Neji Hyuga suddenly thought of Mizuki's suggestion.

He hadn't been interested before, but now he felt a sliver of anticipation.

Mizuki's suggestion was simple: a friendly match between the two classes.

Half an hour later, the speech ended.

Warm applause erupted, and Hinata Hyuga seemed to awaken from a dream.

She had been completely immersed in her speech, forgetting entirely that there was an audience below.

Hinata Hyuga listened to the applause from all directions, a subtle feeling rising in her heart.

This felt pretty good?

She gripped her speech notes, waved them instinctively, and then stepped down from the stage.

"Teacher Beizawa!"

Hinata Hyuga's small face flushed with excitement.

"Congratulations on completing your speech."

Beizawa smiled and said, "See? They're all applauding for you."

"Mm!"

Hinata Hyuga nodded vigorously.

She felt as if she had opened the door to a new world at that moment.

If she were given another chance to give a speech, she was certain she would do even better.

"Do you have the confidence to defeat Toranosuke now?"

Beizawa changed the subject and asked.

"I... I can!"

Hinata Hyuga hesitated for a second, then said with firm resolve.

"Hinata, you've grown a lot."

Beizawa patted her head and said, "Let's return to First Year Class A."

The two returned to the formation of First Year Class A.

"Hinata, you did great!"

Ino Yamanaka praised her with a smile.

"Next time, I'm going to give a speech too!"

Naruto Uzumaki said with great anticipation.

He liked this feeling of being the center of attention, and if he could make everyone applaud for him, it would mean he had gained their recognition.

"You?"

Kiba Inuzuka snorted and said, "When it comes to giving speeches, my chances are much higher than yours."

"Next month's exam, we'll see who's higher!"

Naruto Uzumaki said confidently.

He wasn't believing in himself, but in Beizawa.

"It'll be me."

Sasuke Uchiha said out of the blue.

Everyone subconsciously looked at him, their faces filled with surprise.

In their impression, Sasuke Uchiha had always been very aloof, basically never participating in their discussions.

"Alright, let's not discuss this for now. Please remain quiet, the Principal is commending you."

Beizawa clapped his hands and said.

The second part of the commendation ceremony, and the most important part, was the commendations.

The top thirty students from each grade were read out by Hisao Sarutobi.

"Next, I invite the Principal to give a concluding speech for this monthly exam."

After commending the students, Hisao Sarutobi changed the subject and said with a smile.

A familiar figure appeared out of thin air, it was Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing the Hokage's robes.

Instantly, cheers erupted.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's public relations work was excellent, and he had extremely high prestige in Konohagakure.

Besides that, there was the surprise.

Because he shouldn't have appeared at an ordinary monthly exam commendation ceremony.

Generally, he only showed up for opening ceremonies and graduation ceremonies.

"I will briefly mention six points..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was very satisfied with their reaction.

This showed that everything he had done was worth it.

Beizawa twitched the corner of his mouth.

He already had a bad feeling.

As expected.

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke for two hours. If time were not limited, he could have continued.

The commendation ceremony ended, and everyone returned to their respective classes.

Just as Beizawa was about to leave, Mizuki blocked his path.

"Your class made quite a splash in this monthly exam. The students in our class want to exchange ideas with yours."

Mizuki asked with a smile, "How about we have a friendly match between our two classes? What do you think?"

"I don't think it's a good idea."

Beizawa refused directly.

"Wh-why?"

Mizuki's expression froze.

"You're asking why?"

Beizawa snorted coldly and said, "Second-years fighting first-years, I can't think of any other word to describe it besides shameless."

A year's difference was not easily bridged.

Beizawa wasn't an idiot; he wouldn't ask for trouble.

"Wait! We can negotiate!"

Mizuki caught up to him and said, "You can decide the time, place, and content of the friendly match!"

He also knew that the one-year gap was difficult to overcome, so he was very generous and gave Beizawa the initiative.