News of the Konoha White Fang spread quickly through the village. In just a few days, many people had learned of it. Yet what the Villagers discussed was all distorted and varied, like gossip.
At taverns, restaurants, and casual chats by the roadside, the Konoha White Fang's affair seemed to have become Konoha's hottest topic of gossip.
When Hyuga Mirai returned to the clan, Hyuga Kiyomi called him over to practice the Gentle Fist. Clearly, the talent Hyuga Mirai had displayed in Medical Ninjutsu was enough to set him on the path of a Medical-nin, yet Hyuga Kiyomi still used the excuse that "a guard's strength cannot be too lacking" to make Hyuga Mirai train the Gentle Fist with her.
Bang!
Boom!
Boom!
Hyuga Mirai once again "barely" held out against Hyuga Kiyomi for a while before losing. This time, however, he had put more effort into it. Even after Hyuga Kiyomi used the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms, he still managed to block over twenty strikes before finally being defeated.
After all, Hyuga Mirai was also a genius of Class B and often took leave under the excuse of training. It would have been strange if he had not improved at all.
"I still can't compare to you, Kiyomi-sama."
After being knocked to the ground by a palm strike, Hyuga Mirai simply sat there without immediately getting up. Acting was both a technical and physically demanding job, especially in front of a Hyuga Jonin. If Hyuga Mirai had not understood the Gentle Fist better than Hyuga Kiyomi did—and deliberately allowed himself to be hit several times—his flaws might already have been exposed.
Hyuga Kiyomi slowly exhaled, then kept a stern little face as she told Hyuga Mirai, "You have improved a little, but you still need to train harder."
"Yes, I understand, Kiyomi-sama." Hyuga Mirai agreed at once, then said with some distress, "But Medical Ninjutsu takes up most of my time. It seems the gap between Kiyomi-sama and me will only grow wider from now on."
After hearing this, Hyuga Kiyomi did not know what to say. Her grandfather, the Fourth Elder, supported Hyuga Mirai's development as a Medical-nin. With Hyuga Mirai's talent and the Hyūga Clan's influence, he might one day secure a position as a Vice Dean or even Dean of a hospital.
At that point, the Hyūga Clan's influence in Konoha would increase considerably. Hyuga Kiyomi knew that as well.
"By the way, Kiyomi-sama, have you heard about the Konoha White Fang?"
During their break, Hyuga Mirai picked up a cup of tea and slowly took a sip before asking. Even drinking tea within the Hyūga Clan was not enjoyable; one had to follow proper etiquette and savor it slowly. Making even the slightest sound of gulping it down would earn a scolding.
Upon hearing Hyuga Mirai's question, Hyuga Kiyomi elegantly set down her teacup, straightened her posture, and replied, "Why are you interested in that?"
"Whenever I go out these past few days, I always hear many Villagers discussing the Konoha White Fang."
Hyuga Kiyomi gave a slight shake of her head and said, "Those matters have nothing to do with our Hyūga Clan."
"I was merely curious about how great a loss the Konoha White Fang's mission failure brought to the Land of Fire."
"Don't dwell on it," Hyuga Kiyomi said. "Only the Third Hokage knows the details of an S-rank mission. Even the Jonin commander would not know. Even if the mission failed, not the slightest bit of information related to it would be leaked."
"The Konoha White Fang was unlucky too. The people he saved actually turned around and bit him. The higher-ups could only deal with it this way. Hmph!"
Hearing Hyuga Kiyomi say that, Hyuga Mirai was slightly surprised inwardly. He had always thought this Young Miss of the Main Family was a dense girl who only knew how to train. He had not expected her to have such insight.
The Konoha White Fang truly was a pity.
Suddenly, countless Villagers had begun discussing him, yet no one knew the specifics. They merely claimed that the Konoha White Fang's actions had caused enormous losses to the Land of Fire. But the Konoha White Fang had carried out an S-rank mission. Missions of that level were under strict secrecy orders, and even the Hyūga Clan could not uncover the details.
Yet the news had suddenly spread throughout the village, and even Villagers were taking part in the discussion.
With war drawing near, even though the Third Kazekage had not yet disappeared, the tension along the border was unmistakable. Hyuga Mirai did not believe Konoha's higher-ups had received no intelligence.
At a time like this, was it true or false that people were loudly proclaiming throughout the village that the Land of Fire had suffered grievous losses?
If it was true, then this behavior was far too foolish. They had openly let even the Villagers know that the Land of Fire had suffered badly. How could spies from other countries possibly remain unaware?
If it was false, then the Konoha White Fang had been terribly wronged. Within just a few days, nearly every villager was cursing him.
Though perhaps he was not entirely wronged. To stir up such massive rumors within Konoha, to the point that even the Military Police Force could not contain them, only a handful of people could have done something like this.
"Don't think about it anymore. It has nothing to do with our Hyūga Clan."
Hyuga Kiyomi shook her head. Though she had learned about the Konoha White Fang's situation from her grandfather's explanation, that was precisely why she found it disgusting. To learn politics, one first had to understand politics. Her grandfather had carefully explained the Konoha White Fang's predicament to her, and Hyuga Kiyomi sincerely felt it was not worth it for him.
"Next month, I plan to apply for the graduation examination. When the time comes, I may form a Ninja team with others who graduate in the same class."
Hyuga Mirai asked in surprise, "So early?"
"It isn't early. Kakashi has become a Chunin." Hyuga Kiyomi's tone became somewhat firm. "And your talent in Medical Ninjutsu has inspired quite a few people. If they want to surpass you and Kakashi, they can only become Ninja as early as possible."
"There's nothing about me worth surpassing. Besides, it's better to stay at the Ninja Academy for a while longer."
Hyuga Mirai shook his head. At seven or eight years old, they were already thinking about leaving the village to kill people. Ninja were truly a deranged bunch.
Hyuga Kiyomi gave Hyuga Mirai a dissatisfied glance and said calmly, "You will graduate then as well and form the same team as me!"
"I have to graduate too? But didn't Sosuke-sama tell me to go to Konoha Hospital—"
Hyuga Kiyomi calmly interrupted Hyuga Mirai. "I asked grandfather. He will speak to the Third Hokage and have you form the same team as me. You may be very talented in Medical Ninjutsu, but you cannot neglect your strength either. After forming a Genin team, you can still go to Konoha Hospital."
Then I really should thank you, Young Miss.
Hyuga Mirai sighed inwardly. She had disrupted his plans again, but his expression did not change. He calmly agreed.
There were quite a few geniuses in Hyuga Mirai's class. Among them, many had attained Genin-level strength after two years at the academy and qualified for graduation.
Moreover, with the encouragement of two geniuses like Kakashi and Hyuga Mirai, although the talent Hyuga Mirai displayed was that of a Medical-nin, attaining such medical proficiency at the age of seven made the other Ninja Clans envy him even more.
Kakashi had graduated after one year and become a Genin, then become a Chunin the following year. Hyuga Mirai had interned at Konoha Hospital and learned B-rank Medical Ninjutsu in less than two years, gaining the abilities of a medical Chunin.
If they continued fooling around at the Ninja Academy, they feared they would have to remain forever overshadowed by those two. For those self-proclaimed geniuses in Class A, that was wholly unacceptable.
Thus, several months later, several more students at the Ninja Academy applied for graduation. Five succeeded, while one failed.
Uchiha Tekka, Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, Hyuga Kiyomi, and Shiranui Genma graduated successfully. Uchiha Obito failed the graduation examination.
Aside from Uchiha Tekka, who was in his fourth year, the other four had only attended the Ninja Academy for two years.
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