Ninja Academy

In the blink of an eye, the day of the Ninja Academy entrance exam arrived.

After refusing Yūhi Kurenai's request to take leave and accompany him, Yamei came to the Ninja Academy gates alone.

The entrance was already bustling with people, filled with adults and children.

Although the great ninja clans had their own teaching methods, they were still required to attend the Ninja Academy for further study.

As for civilians, entering the Ninja Academy was the key to becoming ninja and changing their fate.

As more and more people gathered around, Yamei kept sensing his surroundings and gradually spotted several familiar figures.

The young master of the Inuzuka Clan, Inuzuka Kiba, along with his dog, Akamaru.

Pink-haired Haruno Sakura, and Aburame Shino, whose presence was not particularly noticeable.

Pineapple-headed Shikamaru, burly Choji, Ino with her ponytail, and Hyuga Hinata, who was clutching a corner of her father's clothes.

As if sensing Yamei's gaze, Hyuga Hinata turned to look at him.

The moment she recognized Yamei, her eyes lit up, but she immediately grew shy and shrank back behind Hiashi.

Yamei had no intention of going over to greet her, especially with Hyuga Hiashi there.

He did not have much of a background. Being noticed by an odd ninja clan like the Hyuga Clan would not be a good thing.

"Have Naruto and Sasuke not arrived yet?"

As Yamei was thinking, a delighted voice rang out beside him.

"Huh! Lord Yamei, are you enrolling this year too? That's great! We'll be classmates from now on!"

Turning around, he saw blond-haired Naruto running over with an excited expression.

"So it's Naruto. Long time no see."

Yamei greeted him with a smile, while also noticing that Naruto's arrival had drawn everyone's attention this way. Most of those gazes were filled with disgust.

"Yamei!"

Ino naturally noticed him as well. Her eyes lit up, and she wanted to come over and talk to him.

But when she saw that her father was still beside her, and that he was frowning as he scrutinized Naruto beside Lord Yamei, she knew she could not act recklessly.

"Ino, do you know those two?" Yamanaka Inoichi asked, looking at the somewhat uneasy Ino.

Ino shook her head and pointed at Yamei. "I only know Yamei. I don't know the other one."

"Mm." Yamanaka Inoichi examined Yamei, though no one knew what he was thinking...

At his side, Nara Shikamaru looked lazy and carefree, but his eyes were constantly observing the people around him, as well as the changes in his father's and several uncles' expressions.

As for Choji... he was hugging a bag of chips and eating away, carefree and untroubled.

Naruto's previously excited expression fell, and he looked at Yamei apologetically. "I'm really sorry, Yamei... I... I think I brought you trouble."

Yamei froze for a moment, then reached out and ruffled Naruto's hair with a smile. "That doesn't sound like the Naruto I know!"

He still felt rather sorry for this guy.

If he had been in Naruto's position... sorry... he would have found it impossible to forgive!

Naruto's dim expression regained its fighting spirit. He clenched his fist and waved it. "That's right! I'm going to become Hokage!"

"Tch, another loudmouth."

"Damn it!! Who said that?"

Naruto turned around angrily and saw Uchiha Sasuke standing beside Uchiha Itachi with his arms folded, looking at him with disdain.

"It was you, wasn't it? You actually look down on me!"

"No, I'm not looking down on you. I wasn't looking at you at all." Uchiha Sasuke arrogantly raised his head.

"Ah! Damn it! Do you dare to fight me one-on-one?" Naruto roared, continuing to shout challenges.

"Tch, boring!" Sasuke snorted coldly.

Watching this scene, Yamei sighed inwardly. They really were destined rivals... sparks had started flying the first time they met.

He looked up at Uchiha Itachi, who was watching Sasuke and Naruto quarrel with a faint smile... It was hard to imagine that this man would become the cold-blooded ruthless figure behind the clan annihilation.

"Hello, you're Uchiha Itachi, right? My name is Hyakawa Yamei." Yamei stepped forward and extended his hand.

Uchiha Itachi paused, then shook Yamei's hand. "You know me?"

"I've heard of your name." Yamei's eyes brightened. After nodding to Itachi, he looked at Naruto. "Stop messing around. The school assessment is about to begin."

"Yeah..." Naruto nodded while shooting Sasuke a fierce glare.

"This Yamei... he's not ordinary..." Itachi had been observing everything.

The moment he met Yamei's gaze earlier, he had sensed something unusual in those pink eyes, though he could not describe what that feeling was.

Yamei also noticed Itachi watching him, but he did not pay much attention to it. Instead, he happily examined what he had gained.

Materials acquired: strengthened Sharingan Dojutsu Power, talent and comprehension in genjutsu, Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.

In that instant, he felt a surge of comfort in his eyes, and his understanding of genjutsu deepened once more! It had reached the point where it felt as natural as moving his own limbs.

"As expected of Uchiha Itachi. His understanding of genjutsu is simply terrifying! But now... it's all mine!" A smile appeared at the corner of Yamei's lips.

As for Sasuke... he had no plans to use Magic Hand on him for now.

He had nothing worth taking. Wasting his first opportunity would be shameful!

As people began entering, the Ninja Academy gates finally opened, and the crowd poured inside.

Soon after, several chūnin from the school came out to oversee the entrance assessment, including Iruka.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Umino Iruka. In the following entrance exam, you'll be tested in three areas: ninjutsu, taijutsu, and ninja tools!"

"However, since most of you have never encountered ninjutsu and have not even refined Chakra yet, the ninjutsu portion will instead test your talent for Chakra refinement!"

The children of the great clans showed little reaction to Iruka's announced rules, but the civilian children were filled with worry.

However, the exam would not stop because of their worries. With Iruka's announcement, the assessment officially began.

The students were divided into three groups by several chūnin for testing.

The first test was Chakra refinement. They were scored based on the time it took them to begin, enter the proper state, and refine their first wisp of Chakra.

For those who had already begun training, scoring above seven points was basically guaranteed! But for civilian children only now coming into contact with it... scoring five points was already impressive.

As for the latter two tests, they focused on ninja tool proficiency and physical strength. Yamei completed them effortlessly as well.

Just after finishing his tests and sitting down, an extremely irritating voice sounded beside him.

"Hey, you're Hyakawa Yamei, right? You're not bad!"

"..." Yamei subconsciously looked up at the sky...

"What does that mean? Are you looking down on me?" Sasuke's forehead bulged with veins! He rarely complimented anyone! Yet Yamei was actually ignoring him like this.

"No, I was just checking whether the sky was clear..." Yamei smiled.

"What does that mean?" Sasuke looked utterly confused.

"It means... Uchiha Sasuke, you're not bad too."

"U-Uchiha Sasuke?" Sasuke's small head was filled with enormous confusion.

"Yamei! What's going on with your eyes?"

Ino had finished her test as well and ran over happily, chattering away with Yamei.

Seeing this, Sasuke wanted to ask, but found it awkward to speak up again. He could only snort gloomily.