Denouncing Uchiha Katsuo

"He really got beaten up, but it looks like he's looking for someone to stand up for him! Heh-heh..."

Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth and smiled wickedly. That was the expression he wore whenever he came across something that interested him.

"Did he go looking for that guy?"

Jiraiya suddenly asked. His impression of Katsuo could only be described as awful...

He still remembered how Katsuo had smeared snot all over him last time!

At the classroom door, Katsuo asked:

"Where is that guy Hiashi?"

The moment he spoke, a response came from the distance.

"I'm here. I was looking for you too!"

The one who answered him was none other than Hyuga Hiashi!

Looking over, Katsuo saw a dense crowd of students following behind Hiashi. At his sides stood two members of the Hyuga Branch Family, each a full head taller than him.

Clearly, they were sixth-year students and were already fully qualified to graduate as Genin.

One of them was even considered a genius of the Hyuga Clan, one of the very best students in the academy.

Katsuo crossed his arms before his chest and asked calmly:

"This is the confidence behind your provocation?"

Katsuo suddenly closed his eyes, shook his head, and chuckled. His expression was proud and elegant, the curve of his lips seeming both mocking and disdainful.

That attitude deeply wounded Hiashi's pride, and an inexplicable rage rose within him.

"Katsuo, don't think your Uchiha Clan is so impressive. You're nothing but a bunch of thug scum! What gives you the right to collect protection fees from everyone? What right do you have to bully your classmates in the academy? This is Konoha's academy, not your Uchiha Clan's academy!"

Hyuga Hiashi spoke with righteous severity. Worthy of being the heir of a great clan raised with elite education, his impassioned rebuke immediately set most of the people present talking.

"That's right, what gives you the right to collect protection fees?"

"Yeah! What right do you have to collect protection fees?"

"You even took two hundred from me! I only get three hundred a month for spending money..."

"If you want to act arrogant, go back to your Uchiha Clan and do it there!"

"Down with the Uchiha!"

With a single statement from Hiashi, the crowd was instantly fired up!

Many students from Class 1-1 nearly all spoke up to condemn him. Only now did they realize that everyone had been forced to pay protection fees. They were not the only ones who had suffered!

Before this, they had all swallowed their anger. In their eyes, Katsuo was far too monstrously powerful. He was a real ninja who could spit fireballs with the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique. Even many second-year students were no match for him, and the top student in the second year had been directly "scared" unconscious. How could they dare resist Katsuo?

Besides, this guy had beaten up someone from his own clan!

He even beat his own people. Who would dare provoke someone like that?

Most importantly, after he beat someone up and caused such a huge scene, he still came to class as usual the next day as though nothing had happened. The heir of the Uchiha Clan had not come back for revenge either...

That was terrifying!

They were all children of great clans, with Jonin backing them at home or behind the scenes. They were not fools. More or less, they all knew Katsuo was no ordinary person, so no one wanted to be the first to stick their neck out!

Even the heir of the Uchiha Clan had endured that kind of injury and humiliation. What did it matter if they were charged two hundred for protection fees?

Endure it!

That was the shared thought of nearly everyone in Class 1-1!

Yet Hiashi had stubbornly stepped forward. As the heir of the Main Family, he had been pampered since childhood. Last time, he had suffered no actual injury, but that gaze had been immensely humiliating. He could not swallow that insult.

Money was only a trivial matter to him. He did not care that Hizashi had gone to pay the money, but he would not simply let Katsuo's "humiliation" of him pass.

Who was he? The heir of the Main Family, the absolute master of the Hyuga Branch Family. He had plenty of people under his command.

Within the academy, even Nawaki, heir of the Senju Clan, might not have held more influence than him.

Moreover, Nawaki had brought this beating upon himself. Because of the protection fees, he had angered everyone. A large number of his lackeys had stopped following him and gone over to Hiashi instead...

That was why he had been beaten black and blue. The ones who hit him the hardest were actually the lackeys he had once led...

Of course, he was also a victim... The true culprit was still his Boss—Uchiha Katsuo!

He was merely his Boss's lackey. Whatever Boss told him to do, he did...

He was a brat to begin with. The prospect of collecting protection fees, of doing something bad that let him swagger around and show off, thrilled him just thinking about it!

It was his first time doing something like this. How could he have known it would get him beaten up? How could he have known it would provoke everyone's anger?

He had always naively believed that Boss would protect him. All he had to do was carry out the orders!

That fit the mindset and behavior of a five-year-old brat perfectly. He was a qualified lackey!

Watching his furious classmates, Nawaki began to panic!

At that moment, a strong hand landed on his shoulder.

"Don't panic!"

Katsuo reassured him calmly. There was not the slightest trace of panic on his face despite having provoked public outrage and caused such trouble.

"Anyone else who wants to resist me, step forward now!"

Katsuo suddenly raised his head and asked arrogantly.

His voice was not loud, but his words were outrageously arrogant!

What a real man! Just as expected of my Boss, Senju Nawaki's Boss!

Watching Katsuo remain unflustered even with disaster looming before him, and hearing his arrogant words about fighting to the end, Nawaki suddenly had that thought.

At that moment, he suddenly felt that he had followed the right person. Even if he got beaten up again next, he would think it was worth it!

It's no big deal!

Nawaki roared inwardly.

Katsuo's words made the entire crowd explode.

"He's way too damn arrogant..."

"Beat him up!"

"Yeah, let's all go together and beat him up!"

"Charge! Get him!"

"There are so many of us! What are we afraid of? Get him!!!"

Many people shouted and clamored, yet not one of them dared to rush forward. After all, nobody wanted to be the first to stick their neck out. Even the real instigator, Hiashi, had not moved yet!

At that moment, Katsuo took a step forward. His eyelids lifted slightly as his dark eyes swept coldly over the crowd. His eyesight had been honed through training. Even without activating the Three-Tomoe Sharingan to enhance it, his gaze remained incomparably sharp. Those were the eyes of the Uchiha Clan. In the ninja world, when it came to killing with a glare, no one could rival them!

Furthermore, he had already begun to grasp the use of will. Eyesight condensed from unwavering resolve could shake one's conviction without them even realizing it!

That one step and that one glance from Katsuo abruptly silenced the previously aggressive cries. Everyone present suddenly fell quiet, and many even unconsciously took a step back!

That was how clashes of momentum worked: when you advanced, I retreated; when I advanced, you retreated. One side waxed while the other waned.

Clearly, Katsuo was the dominant side now. Although the other side had strength in numbers, they were still young and inexperienced. Once fear took root in their hearts, it was difficult for them to contend with Katsuo in momentum.

Hyuga Hiashi was very good at judging the situation. Seeing his allies grow wary and fearful, he immediately stepped forward. He wanted to stir up everyone's emotions and give them the courage needed to defeat this terrifying opponent!

"Everyone, don't be afraid! My Hyuga Clan will take the lead. Let us all condemn the evil Uchiha Katsuo together! From now on, we won't have to suffer his bullying..."

The more Hiashi shouted, the more excited he became. His face flushed, and he was clearly getting carried away. If he could lead everyone to defeat Katsuo this time, then Class 1-1 would definitely be ruled by the Hyuga Clan!

Furthermore, he would be striking at the Uchiha Clan from the side. That would bring enormous benefits to the Hyuga Main Family in the future!

After all, the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan were both prestigious clans of ocular techniques. They were both great clans, and they had always been competing openly and secretly, neither willing to submit to the other.

Just think about it: someone who had beaten the heir of the Uchiha Clan was now being dealt with by him. Wouldn't that prove that Uchiha Fugaku was clearly inferior to him?

He would have suppressed Uchiha Fugaku. In the future, which smaller and mid-sized clans should pledge themselves to whom? Who should they follow? Did that even need asking?

And most importantly, the other side was the Boss of the heir of the Senju Clan. Didn't that indirectly show that even the heir of the Senju Clan was inferior to him? In the future, what clan would dare refuse to give the Hyuga Clan face? Refuse to give Hiashi face?

At the thought of all that, Hiashi trembled all over, thrilled beyond measure. Today would be the day Hyuga Hiashi made his name!