Three Months Later

Life at the Ninja Academy was so dull that Uesugi Yayoi was desperate to learn Shadow Clone.

Unfortunately, his family had no records of the technique.

Uesugi Yayoi had already learned most of what they taught at school at home.

His parents hadn't died when he was young; they had passed away only six months ago.

And little Uesugi Yayoi had always been a book-loving, well-behaved child. He had built a solid foundation.

He didn't need to worry about chakra extraction. As for using it, he kept his Mirror Eye active and practiced often, so he could just about handle it.

Word Spirit—Mirror Eye. This Word Spirit had powerful analytical abilities. Its transcription and copying abilities weren't useful to him, but keeping it active in daily life also helped him train.

It was like a positive buff, allowing him to imitate and learn the teacher's lessons very effectively.

As for shuriken throwing, he was just about passable. Out of ten Kunai, he could hit the bull's-eye with eight, but Uesugi Yayoi wasn't satisfied with that.

Study, training, meditation: his routine never changed.

Konoha Forest became a place he visited every day.

Besides studying what the teachers covered at school, he also did extra research in the library and even found quite a few medical books at home.

His mother had apparently been a medical ninja. The family's collection of books could only make one marvel: no wonder the Senju were so learned.

Medical knowledge was something Uesugi Yayoi urgently needed.

Over the past few months, Uesugi Yayoi had figured things out. He couldn't sit idly by when it came to his bloodline; he had to take the initiative.

But he couldn't let anyone else learn the secret of his Dragon Clan Bloodline. Otherwise, he could already picture a mad scientist suddenly showing up at his door.

For example, the Ninja World's scientific figurehead, Orochimaru.

Uesugi Yayoi didn't want to spend every night dreaming about snakes.

So what could be more discreet than becoming his own doctor?

From then on, Uesugi Yayoi decided to give up martial arts and take up medicine.

His daily routine was very regular. He went to school and read during the day, then headed to the forest after class to train.

Uesugi Yayoi felt that a doctor who couldn't protect himself was bound to be incomplete. A good doctor knew a thing or two about self-defense.

Especially in a place like the Ninja World, where the strong preyed on the weak.

So he couldn't give up either physical strength or professional knowledge.

With the Dragon Clan and Ten-Tails bloodlines bolstering him, his physical fitness was excellent, and he recovered his stamina quickly. He could basically keep training until nightfall.

His daily, unremarkable training helped him master the strength that had surged with his bloodline awakening, while building on it to increase his strength further.

Uesugi Yayoi knew that this sudden surge in strength was only temporary, just a normal consequence of his bloodline awakening.

Soon—perhaps in as little as six months—his rate of growth would slow down.

So he had to cherish every second. He also had to develop good habits and not become intoxicated by the strength his bloodline gave him now.

When dusk faded, Uesugi Yayoi started getting ready to go home. He'd read for a while, then meditate before bed to settle his mind. He would never let his fatigue carry over to the next day.

But this regular lifestyle also meant he had almost no friends. He'd smile and greet people, but when it came to the ninja games his classmates played...

He would have to be forgiven. He simply couldn't bring himself to play. He'd rather spend that time reading another book.

For Uesugi Yayoi, exploring the supernatural was an extremely fascinating pursuit.

He was interested in everything, from the alchemical techniques of his previous life to the chakra medicine of this one.

And having an extraordinary energy like chakra made Uesugi Yayoi thoroughly enjoy himself every day.

"Good morning, Rin."

Three months wasn't a particularly long time, but it wasn't short either. At least, Uesugi Yayoi had managed to exchange a few words with the cool Hyuga girl.

"Good morning, Miyoshi-kun."

Hyuga Rin nodded and returned his greeting. Every movement and gesture of hers was elegant.

Uesugi Yayoi couldn't help marveling at the children of a great clan.

"And me, too."

Feeling someone poke him, Uesugi Yayoi turned slightly and saw the purple-haired girl behind him, her hair tied in a high ponytail, smiling at him.

"Sorry."

Uesugi Yayoi scratched his head and replied, a little embarrassed.

"Good morning, Yan."

Yan—a Uchiha who was nothing like a Uchiha.

She was gentle. Unlike the usual Uchiha, who wore their arrogance plainly on their faces, she made people feel warm and relaxed.

She treated her classmates much as he did. Uesugi Yayoi called it catlike indifference.

As the saying went, smiling at everyone was almost the same as not smiling at all.

She only smiled at you, said not a word, and kept to herself. Yan didn't fit in either, and she didn't play ninja games.

So Yan's sudden approach today left him at a loss.

"Do your best, Miyoshi-kun."

Then, for no apparent reason, Yan said that and returned to her seat, where she began daydreaming.

Hyuga Rin turned her head slightly to look at Yan and Uesugi Yayoi. Her pale eyes seemed to ask,

"What happened?"

"I have no idea."

Uesugi Yayoi was confused too, but at least Yan had only said one thing before sitting back down.

After Uesugi Yayoi returned to his seat, Yan looked his way again. Her timing was remarkably precise—not a second off.

As the teacher walked in, another day of their trainee ninja life began.

The human body was a finely tuned machine.

With his Mirror Eye active, Uesugi Yayoi copied the chakra techniques the teacher demonstrated.

Then he silently took out his textbook and began reading.

"Why are you always reading these books that aren't for class?"

Hyuga Rin asked quietly when she saw Uesugi Yayoi take out a medical book.

It wasn't just once or twice. He did it all the time.

As far as she could remember, Uesugi Yayoi only watched the teacher's demonstrations once, and he only read the textbook once.

Then he'd take out one of his own books and read it all day long, without fail.

"Maybe he's a genius."

Hyuga Rin had once thought so herself. After all, there were geniuses who could learn something after seeing it only once, and these basic lessons were simple.

But on the first exam, Uesugi Yayoi had barely passed.

There were forty students in the class, and Uesugi Yayoi ranked twentieth.

Rin thought that since he was her desk mate, she should give him a timely reminder. But he had only smiled faintly and carried on as before.

Rin didn't consider herself an easygoing person, so she didn't remind him again.

But the midterm exams were coming up. If he kept this up, he'd fail.

"Well, how should I put it? I already studied this subject at home.

I've already learned it all, so it's only natural to spend this time reading, right?"

Uesugi Yayoi had planned to make up some excuse, but seeing how earnestly she was trying to warn him, he put down his book and offered a straight-faced excuse instead.

When it came to this aloof little Hyuga girl, Uesugi Yayoi had to admit that appearances could be deceiving.

Hyuga Rin looked incredibly cold, but she was actually very easy to talk to. This inexplicable concern was a good example.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Yan, who everyone thought was as gentle as water, seemed warm on the outside but was actually indifferent to others.

They were complete opposites.

Rin's personality had been misjudged because of the impression she'd made on the first day of school. It wasn't until she couldn't help reminding him that he realized what his desk mate was really like.

Uesugi Yayoi found it novel to meet two little girls who were complete opposites.

To be honest, Rin's serious side was kind of cute.

"Really?"

"Mm."

Uesugi Yayoi nodded repeatedly.

"All right."

Rin thought her desk mate made sense, so she decided to slack off with him.