Time flowed like water.
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
This period had been both long and short.
After waiting for so long, Hyuga Sho had finally learned the remaining Ninja Academy Three Body Techniques: the "Transformation Technique" and the "Substitution Technique."
As the name implied, the Transformation Technique allowed someone to transform into another person's appearance. The final result depended on proficiency and how well one imitated their posture.
For the Substitution Technique, one prepared a log and carved a specialized formula onto it. When attacked, one exchanged positions with the log, negating a single attack.
Having fully mastered the E-Rank Three Body Techniques, Hyuga Sho's training had reached a bottleneck.
He had successfully planted the image of himself as a "hardworking" person in everyone's minds.
[Doka Degree: 9.2%]
After looking at the number before him, Hyuga Sho let out a long breath and lowered his stance.
Over the past month, he had poured all his energy into training.
The Three Body Techniques, Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Eight Palms, Ninja Tool Throwing.
Hyuga Sho had trained all of them to the bottleneck where his Doka Degree no longer increased.
"In other words... aside from actual combat, it seems I have no other way to improve now."
This was Hyuga Sho's sixty-sixth day in this world.
Compared to the past.
His physical abilities were completely incomparable.
His chakra amount, strength, speed, resistance to blunt impacts... all had undergone tremendous growth.
The current Hyuga Sho could instantly defeat ten of his former selves by himself.
Shattering a rock with one punch was nothing difficult.
Returning to his seat.
Hyuga Sho took out a sheet of paper.
The other students had long grown accustomed to Hyuga Sho's training.
Therefore, Hyuga Sho was able to conceal his next objective quite well...
On this sheet of paper.
Was intelligence Hyuga Sho had meticulously gathered over the past month.
There were thirty students in the class.
Excluding Hyuga Mami, Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, Nohara Rin, Might Guy... as well as several other girls and boys.
The remaining ten people entered Hyuga Sho's sights.
"Ebisu, Gekko Hayate, Uzuki Yugao, Yamashiro Aoba, Namiashi Raidō, Mitaraishi Anko, Shiranui Genma, Morino Ibiki, Yūhi Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma..."
These ten people.
Were the targets Hyuga Sho intended to challenge next.
The list had been arranged according to everyone's strength rankings during the Ninja Academy sparring classes.
"The weakest is Ebisu, and the strongest is Sarutobi Asuma."
But no matter who it was.
They were all stronger than the current Uchiha Obito.
Hyuga Sho had recorded which routes these ten people took home after school every day.
As well as their usual preferences.
If he could defeat these ten people, then he would have a strong chance of defeating Hatake Kakashi as well.
The Byakugan...
The Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai was exceedingly convenient for observation.
Even though Hyuga Sho's Byakugan was damaged, its maximum observation range of five hundred meters was enough.
"I'll find an opportunity to challenge Ebisu first."
Ebisu did not yet know.
That Hyuga Sho was about to come knocking and give him a beatdown.
During the break.
Ebisu, wearing a pair of round black sunglasses, was talking loudly and grandly.
He wore a very fashionable hairstyle.
His best friend was Shiranui Genma, who had a toothpick in his mouth.
The two usually came and went together and were almost always together.
Only after school, when they reached a fork in the road, did they bid each other farewell.
"Shiranui Genma is much stronger than Ebisu, so it wouldn't be wise to deal with them together."
Hyuga Sho practiced the Three Body Techniques while pondering.
Then there was the timing of the beatdown.
Should he challenge Ebisu alone at school, or stop him after school and tell him not to leave?
Of course, there was another method.
A disguise.
Once he put on a mask, he could make a move however he pleased.
A moment later, Ebisu and Shiranui Genma left the classroom. The two were probably going to the restroom.
Hyuga Sho stood up and left the classroom as well.
He followed them all the way to the end of the corridor.
Ebisu's booming voice carried over.
"I, Ebisu! Will absolutely not tolerate peeping toms!!!"
There was a child lying on the ground, bruised and battered.
Just now, Ebisu had knocked him down in only a few moves.
Posing dramatically, Ebisu adjusted his little sunglasses, his face brimming with pride.
Applause echoed all around.
Everyone praised him.
"Didn't expect him to be quite the gentleman."
Hyuga Sho muttered.
But in the next moment, Hyuga Sho took out a magazine unsuitable for children.
He had found this magazine in Ebisu's schoolbag.
Ebisu appeared to be a gentleman on the surface, but in truth... he was still a repressed gentleman.
A beast in gentleman's clothing—someone like Ebisu was exactly what that referred to.
When they returned to the classroom.
Ebisu was very pleased with himself, but moments later, he panicked.
Because...
He suddenly discovered that the unspeakable magazine he had secretly saved up his allowance to buy had vanished without a trace!!!
One had to know.
That was the first magazine he had bought after learning the "Transformation Technique," disguising himself as an adult and going to a bookstore~~~!
To buy this magazine.
He had trained diligently, practicing the Transformation Technique until midnight every day!
And yet, and yet...
"Ah... I'm dead..."
Ebisu immediately wilted.
He could not focus on a single lesson for the entire day.
When school was over.
Everyone else had already left.
Ebisu pulled out the extra note in his schoolbag.
He glared at the note and said viciously, "You're finished! Cataracts!"
Written clearly on the note were several words: "Your gentleman's magazine was stolen by Hyuga Sho."
At dusk, beside the little river, water flowed.
Hyuga Sho carried two schoolbags as he followed behind Hyuga Mami.
Today was another ordinary day after school.
Just as before, Hyuga Mami said nothing.
Hyuga Sho also worked hard to look honest and simple as he carried the bags.
"Cataracts~! Stop right there~!"
However, today's peace was destined to be broken.
Hyuga Sho and Hyuga Mami turned around.
The words "cataracts" had a wide area of effect. They did not refer only to Hyuga Sho; naturally, they included Hyuga Mami as well.
Ebisu stood in the road, his face solemn.
But two seconds later, under Hyuga Mami's icy gaze, his expression turned panicked.
"N-no... Mami, I wasn't talking about you... I was talking about—"
"Do you get to call me by my name? Are we that familiar?"
Before Ebisu could finish his sentence, Hyuga Mami choked off his words.
"Ah, I..."
Ebisu responded dryly. With no other choice, he could only turn his attention back to Hyuga Sho.
"I'm looking for him! Yes, him!!!"
Ebisu stretched out a hand and pointed at Hyuga Sho, who wore an "innocent" expression.
Before you continue