Chatting by the River

By the river, he baited the hook and set up the fishing rod.

This small river was not far from the village. Almost no one came here during off hours, and even if they encountered spies from another village, any disturbance would draw the Uchiha Military Police Force.

It was one of Hyuga Mirai's few training grounds, but after today, he could abandon this place.

In the days ahead, Hyuga Mirai needed to do everything he could to dispel Hyuga Kiyomi's desire to come out with him. Otherwise, the places where he could train alone would only grow fewer.

"Weren't you here to train?"

Watching Hyuga Mirai skillfully bait the hook and cast his rod, Hyuga Kiyomi asked with some anger in her heart.

"I used up quite a bit of stamina at Konoha Hospital this morning, and there isn't much food stored at home. Um, if Kiyomi-sama wants to train, I can be your sparring partner."

Hyuga Mirai shamelessly took advantage of the sympathy unique to children. First, he said he was tired, then he said fishing was for survival, and finally, he used the offer to spar with her to shut Hyuga Kiyomi up.

If Hyuga Kiyomi still insisted on sparring with him, then she would be showing no sympathy for those around her. And Hyuga Mirai would use his superb acting to lose to her, conveniently suffer a minor injury, and make Hyuga Kiyomi feel even more guilty toward him, helping with the brainwashing to come.

Using such scheming methods against a little girl made Hyuga Mirai feel a trace of guilt, but he tossed it to the back of his mind within three seconds.

Seeing Hyuga Mirai clap his hands and walk to the open space by the river, genuinely preparing to train with her, Hyuga Kiyomi's little face flushed slightly. She had not intended to force him; she had only asked!

"No need. Since you're not in good condition, rest for half the day."

After saying that, Hyuga Kiyomi walked to the riverbank and sat on the small stool Hyuga Mirai had prepared.

Hyuga Mirai sat beside Hyuga Kiyomi as well, but he strictly observed the etiquette between the Main Family and Branch Family. He was neither too close nor too far away.

"Come to think of it, that genius Kakashi in Kiyomi-sama's class seems to be applying for graduation?"

When Hyuga Kiyomi heard the name Kakashi Hatake, the composed expression she had worked hard to maintain immediately became a little unnatural.

Kakashi Hatake was the recognized genius of the Ninja Academy. Apart from his theory grades being slightly weaker than Hyuga Mirai's, he was outstanding in every other respect. He could even use several types of elemental ninjutsu, and his practical combat abilities had already reached the level of a Genin.

No matter how unwilling Hyuga Kiyomi was to admit defeat, she could not stubbornly claim to be stronger than Kakashi.

"Why are you asking about him?"

"I saw him on the street a couple of days ago," Hyuga Mirai said. "He's already become a Ninja. I saw his forehead protector."

However, Hyuga Mirai and Kakashi Hatake were merely acquaintances who nodded to each other. Though both had the title of genius at the Ninja Academy, Hyuga Mirai's was meant mockingly and was not acknowledged by Kakashi.

Even when they ran into each other on the street, they only exchanged nods.

"That guy really is impressive."

Hyuga Kiyomi pressed her lips together tightly. Though she was somewhat unwilling, she had to admit that no one in their year was Kakashi's match.

Even her Grandfather, the Fourth Elder of the Main Family, had said that she was not currently Kakashi's opponent.

"I heard he wants to apply for the Chunin Exams."

"The Chunin Exams?"

Hyuga Mirai froze for a moment at those words before immediately asking,

"He only just became a Genin, right? He's applying for the Chunin Exams already?"

Hyuga Kiyomi shook her head. "It's been two months. It's just that few people at the school know about it. I only learned the news through Grandfather."

Oh, so it had probably not been publicized.

Hyuga Mirai usually focused on studying at the Ninja Academy and barely interacted even with his classmates. When it came to shutting himself away, he could rank first in the entire school.

Then he had taken leave to intern at Konoha Hospital, leaving him with even less contact with the school. The information he received was probably second- or third-hand.

"I didn't expect Kakashi to be so amazing. He can become a Chunin at only six years old."

Though Hyuga Mirai wore an envious expression, he was thoroughly unimpressed inside.

Chunin were already the backbone of Konoha Village's mission force. A great number of B- and C-rank missions required Chunin to lead teams to complete them, and six-year-old Kakashi could not possibly shoulder the responsibility of leading a team.

If he could become a Chunin at six, then Kakashi likely spent most of his time training. Even his scant free time must have gone toward the theory classes taught at the Ninja Academy. Yet even so, his theory grades were still inferior to Hyuga Mirai's.

Hyuga Mirai had mastered all the knowledge taught at the Ninja Academy and learned quite a bit from the library as well, yet he still lacked the ability to lead a team.

If Konoha really let Kakashi pass the examination, that would truly be something to behold.

"Kiyomi-sama, what do you think of the Will of Fire?"

Hyuga Mirai suddenly grinned at Hyuga Kiyomi. His smile was radiant, his face seemingly filled with hope for the future.

"The Will of Fire?"

Hyuga Kiyomi stared blankly at Hyuga Mirai's sunny smile. Only after two seconds did she come back to her senses, turning her head and pursing her lips as she said,

"Of course it is good. It is the spirit expounded by the First Hokage, who brought peace to the chaotic age and founded Konoha Village."

"Yes. Where the leaves dance, the fire burns ever on. Its light will continue to illuminate the village and cause the new leaves to sprout."

Hyuga Mirai was not a young child who knew nothing. He had his own judgment and a mature worldview.

Sometimes, one should not look at what others said, but at what they did.

Konoha had been founded to give children a home where they could grow up safely, far from the battlefield. But after two Ninja World Wars, that original intention had vanished completely.

Once the Third Shinobi World War began, the students of the Ninja Academy would still be sent to the battlefield, and the Will of Fire would become nothing more than empty words.

There had indeed been frequent slaughter during the Warring States Period. The fighting between the Senju of the Forest and the Uchiha Clan had even sent children onto the battlefield. But that was only one corner of the Warring States period and could not represent the entire Warring States Period.

Aside from those two great clans, the Hyuga Clan rarely went to war with other Ninja Clans. Their clan had sources of wealth and strictly observed the etiquette of Nobles, so they would not easily send children to fight and kill. The three Ino-Shika-Cho clans were the same as the Hyuga Clan. They had their own industries and rarely fought other Ninja Clans during the Warring States period.

The Senju Clan and Uchiha Clan were another matter. Though they had their own industries, they also accepted commissions from the Nobles of great nations.

Where there were commissions, conflicts would arise. And where there were conflicts, fighting and killing would naturally follow!

The Senju Clan and Uchiha Clan seemed to be born enemies. They often accepted commissions that would bring them into conflict with one another, and that was how the hatred between the two clans formed.

This was not Hyuga Mirai's speculation. Konoha Library contained records from the Warring States period, and the miscellaneous books of the Senju Clan were especially detailed. They had likely donated them all, then had nowhere to store them, so they simply placed them all in Konoha Library.

The Hyuga Clan had some as well, but they were all trivial matters that could be made public. The more secret records were likely secrets passed down through the Main Family from generation to generation.

Hyuga Mirai had already read more than half the books in the library. Through the archives left behind by the various clans, he had learned of some events from the Warring States period and gradually come to understand the root cause of the Ninja World Wars.