Naruto: Choosing from Birth — 9

"So my presence was that low..."

"My feelings are complicated. So this is how you can pick up girls..."

If Uchiha Cheng had to be born, why did Minato Namikaze have to be born too...

At that moment, a figure wearing a white fox mask hid in a corner and watched Kushina Uzumaki enter the academy.

"That Uchiha brat is getting close to Kushina Uzumaki. Is it intentional or unintentional?"

Remembering the Hokage's instructions to keep a close watch on and protect Kushina Uzumaki, he was to report immediately if anyone deliberately approached her.

"Hm, brat or not, they've already had intimate contact. I have to report this."

After pondering for a moment, the Fox Masked Man vanished from where he stood...

Once again, Uchiha Cheng slipped into the classroom right as the bell rang. On the way over, he had been feeling out the hand seal speed he had just gained.

It had actually reached five seals per second!

One had to know that even Uchiha Itachi, widely acknowledged as the fastest hand-seal maker in the ninja world, could only manage six seals per second.

This would let him seize the initiative in ninja battles. One step ahead meant every step ahead!

Just then, Kushina, whom Uchiha Cheng had led on a lap around the academy, entered the classroom as well.

"Uchiha Cheng..."

Panting heavily, Kushina angrily rushed in front of Cheng, waving her little fists.

"What's wrong, Kushina? I told you, it's fine. I'm not mad at you anymore."

"Everyone who knows me knows I'm not petty. Even though you were the one who moved your mouth first just now and forcibly took my fir—cough... Forget it. It's all in the past."

Sitting at his desk, Uchiha Cheng waved a hand with an innocent look on his face.

"Huh? I moved my mouth first?"

"Caught you off guard, I..."

"That does seem to be what happened..."

Kushina held a breath in her chest. Thinking about it, it really did seem like she had been the careless one.

No, if he hadn't leaned in, how could that have happened?

"What's wrong, little sister? Did Cheng-nii bully you again?" Mikoto Uchiha, seated on the other side, asked softly.

"I... I..."

How was she supposed to explain this? Ugh, this felt awful—worse than having a fight. Kushina felt like her chest had swollen from holding it all in.

At that moment, Nakai Ishibashi, the practical combat instructor, walked into the classroom.

"Students, the weather is so nice today. Let's have a youthful race—starting from the academy gates, a twenty-kilometer marathon."

"The finish line is the newly built Shin River Reservoir. The first ten students to arrive will receive an extra surprise!"

"Now then, everyone stand—"

"Reporting in! Sorry, Sensei, I'm late!" Minato Namikaze reported from the doorway with an apologetic expression.

"What happened? You've never been late before." Ishibashi-sensei frowned.

"I... I lost my direction on the road of life just now!" Minato answered respectfully.

"Oh? So have you found the right direction now?"

"I have, Sensei. I won't give up. Wherever leaves fly, fire will burn. I will follow the fire in my heart."

After saying that, Minato Namikaze's gaze passed through the crowd and swept over Uchiha Cheng and Kushina, who were still quietly bickering.

Damn it! I got ignored again!

"Do you think I haven't read the Will of Fire's special nindo theory?"

"You can even make being late sound this artsy. How come I never noticed you were so good at talking nonsense? You're lecturing a practical combat teacher on philosophy and theory?"

"As punishment, run five laps around the academy first, then catch up with the main group heading for the newly built Shin River Reservoir."

"O-okay."

Minato Namikaze scratched the back of his head apologetically as he entered the classroom. He had explained himself seriously and hadn't lied at all, so why did Sensei seem angry?

As he passed by Kushina, he happened to see her turn around angrily after arguing with Uchiha Cheng.

"Ah... You scared me! Bastard, are you trying to sneak attack me too, you sissy?"

Bang!!!

Aah!!!

"Now then, everyone stand... Move out!" Ishibashi continued in his booming voice from where he had been interrupted.

The students filed out and headed toward the academy gates.

The last one to leave was Minato Namikaze, sporting a black eye and looking like he wanted to cry. He now had to run five laps around the academy first.

He really should have checked the almanac before leaving today...

Upon arriving at the academy gates, Ishimura-sensei gave a few more safety reminders.

He also reminded them that there were signposts all along the route to the finish line, so they only had to follow the signs.

Then, with a whistle blast, the students sprinted off.

The one who stood out and quickly overtook everyone was Uchiha Cheng!

He had no choice. There was a red female Tyrannosaurus chasing hard behind him. Girls really held grudges.

After running for a little over ten kilometers, they entered a forest in Konoha's back mountain.

Suddenly, a fork appeared ahead, with two muddy roads stretching onward.

The signpost on the left indicated Shin River Reservoir.

The signpost on the right indicated the Lumberyard.

"Ding! When facing the forks in the road often encountered in life, choosing the wrong direction makes all effort futile! Please choose!"

"1: Do nothing and head straight to Shin River Reservoir! Reward: Shadow Shuriken Technique!"

"2: Switch the signposts and head to Shin River Reservoir yourself! Reward: Sharingan upgraded to Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"

"3: Switch the signposts, create a Shadow Clone to lead the entire class astray, and teach them a proper lesson! Reward: Lightning Release: Chidori!"

PS: I suddenly noticed that some big shots give me 4 flowers and 20 flowers every day. That should be all the flowers they have, right? I'm so touched, my eyes are brimming with tears. I sincerely thank you all for your support. I'll work hard to update a few more chapters every day. There'll be another update tonight too.*

Option one was too boring. Pass!

He had awakened the One-Tomoe Sharingan from birth and gained ten times the ocular power.

So over the years, it had naturally advanced to the Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

Although the Three-Tomoe Sharingan not only granted dynamic vision but also allowed one to become a Copy Ninja,

its appeal was still not high enough for Uchiha Cheng in the face of the A-rank ninjutsu, Lightning Release: Chidori!

After all, Chidori could later evolve into powerful ninjutsu such as Chidori Stream and Chidori Sharp Spear.

Option 3!

Before his classmates caught up, Uchiha Cheng immediately created a Shadow Clone.

Then he swiftly switched the signposts.

Looking at the loosened dirt left from moving the signs, Uchiha Cheng was about to clear away the traces when he suddenly thought of Shikaku Nara, who was renowned for his intelligence!

Hehe, I'll leave you a flaw and see how you choose.

No longer bothering with those minor traces, he headed straight for the destination, Shin River Reservoir.

As for the Shadow Clone, it waited until the students behind could see it before beginning to exert itself and running toward the Lumberyard.

Hizashi Hyuga, Hyuga Hiashi's younger brother, was one body length ahead of the future Ino-Shika-Cho Trio—Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, and Choza Akimichi.

He glanced at the signpost pointing toward Shin River Reservoir and, without thinking much about it, chased after Uchiha Cheng's distant figure.

But Shikaku Nara looked at the signpost, hesitated, and stopped Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi from continuing forward.

"Something's wrong. With Uchiha Cheng's strength, he should have left us far behind long ago. Why did he suddenly appear in front of us again?"

"And look! The dirt around these two signposts is clearly loose. They must have been moved recently."

"Do you think Uchiha Cheng switched the signs? Did he make us all run the wrong way?"

Choza Akimichi went over and dug at the dirt beside the signpost. "No way, right? What would he gain from that?"