that.Practical Combat Training

Shikamaru put his hands down and said, a little exasperated, "Didn't you just finish two bags of chips? You're such a hassle."

"But I'm really hungry. My stomach was just growling," Tentsui replied, sounding a bit hurt.

Naruto watched them from the side, covering his mouth and snickering.

"Hang in there a little longer; school should be out any minute now," Shikamaru said helplessly.

"Fine." Tentsui lowered his head and agreed.

About three minutes later, just as Shikamaru expected, the dismissal bell rang.

Yoru no Tsuki's eyes snapped open and she bolted toward the school gate. Tentsui and Naruto stared in shock.

"Is Sasuke in such a hurry to go home?" Naruto asked.

"Probably something important," Shikamaru scratched his head and said nonchalantly.

"Let's go, Tentsui. Aren't you hungry?" Shikamaru added as he stepped toward the gate. Hearing that, Tentsui let out an "Oh" and followed...

After leaving the Ninja Academy, Yoru no Tsuki followed the route she remembered to the Hyuga district.

Roughly half an hour later she arrived at the Hyuga district's entrance, where she happened to run into Neji and Hinata, who were just getting home from school.

"Hinata, is Uncle Hiashi home?" Yoru no Tsuki waved and asked.

Hinata turned around, surprised to see Yoru no Tsuki.

"Dad's in the backyard right now. I'll go tell him," Hinata replied.

"Thanks." Yoru no Tsuki nodded in gratitude.

Hinata went to inform Hiashi, while Neji watched Yoru no Tsuki warily for a moment before heading back inside.

A short while later, Hiashi emerged alone.

"Oh, it's Sasuke. Come on in, have a seat," Hiashi said warmly, gesturing for her to enter.

"I actually came to ask a favor, so I won't go inside. I still need to get home soon," Yoru no Tsuki waved her hand.

Hearing that, Hiashi didn't press the issue.

"I can guess what you need. I'll stand on your side and try to lessen the village's punishment on your clan. I can't promise it'll work, though."

Hiashi had already stated his stance before Yoru no Tsuki could speak.

"That's enough. Thank you, Uncle Hiashi. I'll head back now." After thanking Hiashi, Yoru no Tsuki waved goodbye and turned toward home.

She knew that, as clan head, Hiashi could only do so much, and that was all she could ask for. Anything beyond that was beyond her reach.

Hiashi stood there for a moment, watching Yoru no Tsuki's back, then thought of his daughter and sighed.

"Fugaku really knows how to teach his son!"

Hiashi crossed his arms and walked back home.

When she got home, Fugaku and Itachi were still out, but Mikoto was there.

After dinner, Yoru no Tsuki practiced a bit of Fuinjutsu and Byakugan, then began meditating. She'd done everything she could; what came next was out of her hands.

She hoped for a good outcome...

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Three days later, the village's punishment notice for the Uchiha clan was posted: the clan's budget would be cut by one‑fifth, they were to hunt down any rogue clan members themselves, and if they failed to do so within eight years, all Uchiha rights in the village would be revoked.

Yoru no Tsuki found the result acceptable. In eight years she might finally master her Bankai, reach Kage rank, and then find a way to eliminate Danzo and his old‑dog elders. The Uchiha would have it much easier in Konoha.

At the Ninja Academy training grounds

Iruka was leading his class in live combat drills. Next to them was Mizuki's class, a grade higher, also training.

Yoru no Tsuki yawned. She had originally planned to beat Mizuki's students in the drill to show Minato her strength and become a Genin right away, but after being instantly assassinated by an Uchiha, she abandoned that idea.

"Four peaceful years at the Academy, then we'll graduate as Kage‑level shinobi. That would boost safety dramatically," she thought.

The only downside was that she'd have to wait six more years before becoming a Genin and taking on missions, which would finally let her experience real combat. Compared to a dog's fate, that didn't matter much.

"Sensei Iruka, why don't we have both classes train together?" Mizuki said with a smile as he walked over to Iruka.

Iruka looked a bit uneasy. "Mizuki‑sensei's class is a year ahead of ours. Isn't it a bit odd to have them train together?"

"Not at all. Even though my class is older, they learn the same things as yours. It's just sparring, so there's no harm. Besides, don't you have a genius Uchiha and a prince in your class?" Mizuki patted Iruka's shoulder and laughed.

"Alright then." Iruka finally agreed, turned to Yoru no Tsuki's group, and announced, "Students, today we'll be training together with Mizuki‑sensei's class."

The reaction among the students varied.

Some, like Inuzuka Kiba, were thrilled, eager to get started. Shikamaru still thought it was a hassle. Most of the girls were nervous, fearing injury during the sparring.

Yoru no Tsuki glanced over and was surprised to see Neji in Mizuki's class—perhaps that's why Mizuki suggested the joint training. Neji had indeed been a standout in their cohort, though now his gap with Naruto and him was still noticeable.

"Any volunteers to go first?" Iruka asked.

new line.

Yew Moon felt nothing. Though he liked fighting, he wasn't interested in this childish make‑believe contest. Still, some people were clearly very excited about it.

"I'll go! Iruka‑sensei, let me go first!"

Kiba immediately raised his hand.

"Alright, then Kiba, you're up first."

Kiba confidently stepped into the middle of the training ground.

At the same time, Mizuki found a candidate from their class—a fairly sturdy trainee.

After the two took their positions, the one‑on‑one combat drill began. Neither of them had learned any ninjutsu yet; they were just testing their taijutsu.

Yew Moon, finding it utterly boring, simply closed his eyes and started meditating.

...some time later...

"Next up, Uchiha Sasuke!" Iruka called out, holding the attendance sheet, but no one responded.

"Uchiha Sasuke!" he shouted again, still no answer. He looked up and saw Sasuke leaning against a tree with his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.

Shikamaru, standing nearby, shook his head helplessly, and only then did Yew Moon slowly open his eyes.

The arena instantly erupted in a burst of laughter.

"Hahaha, the Uchiha clan's sleepyhead!"

"No, it should be 'the defected clan'!"