Fujiwara Chima's Request

The rest of Team 99 didn't exchange any words. Yamashiro Aoba announced that all three of them had passed the true ninja test.

From this moment on, they were official Konoha Genin and could accept missions from the Mission Office.

They agreed to meet at the Mission Office in the Hokage Building at nine the next day, and then Yamashiro Aoba dismissed them.

Yamashiro Aoba and Sai left quickly, not showing much curiosity about what had just happened. Sometimes, asking too many questions wasn't a good thing.

Yuyou Uchiha rather liked this situation; he didn't want to waste his breath. Besides, if they asked him how he got his strength, he could only say it was the result of his long-term, persistent training.

It was probably ninety-nine percent sweat and one percent talent.

However, Yuyou Uchiha was a bit surprised that Fujiwara Chima, who always maintained a cool persona, didn't leave immediately.

Yuyou Uchiha smiled at Fujiwara Chima and waved goodbye, then headed home.

He wasn't particularly fond of such aloof people. He disliked that distant aura; it made them seem difficult to get along with, and he hated trouble the most.

Therefore, he didn't have any special feelings for Fujiwara Chima, other than appreciating that she was truly beautiful. But he harbored no improper thoughts; girls like Fujiwara Chima weren't his type.

After walking for a while, however, he noticed Fujiwara Chima following him.

Initially, Yuyou Uchiha thought they were going the same way. But when he turned into a small alley, Fujiwara Chima was still following him.

"Classmate Chima, is something wrong?"

Yuyou Uchiha turned around and asked Fujiwara Chima. She must have something to say if she was following him. Since she couldn't bring herself to say it, he would open the conversation.

He didn't want to be followed constantly; it felt very strange.

Fujiwara Chima, with her head lowered, blushed slightly. She stammered for a long time in response to Yuyou Uchiha's question, unable to speak.

"Are you perhaps trying to challenge me?" Yuyou Uchiha immediately thought of this possibility. In anime and novels, those with cool personalities often liked to challenge opponents who performed better than them.

He had certainly performed much better than Fujiwara Chima, so the probability of this being the case was quite high.

"No, classmate Yuyou Uchiha," Fujiwara Chima suddenly denied this possibility.

Then, Fujiwara Chima looked up, her beautiful large eyes fixed on Yuyou Uchiha, and said, "Classmate Yuyou Uchiha, you are very strong."

"Uh... I agree with you on that, Classmate Chima. I am indeed a tiny bit strong."

What could a man not admit? Besides, it was the truth. Yuyou Uchiha was not someone who liked to appear weak.

Although the "play it safe" strategy was popular now, if one always "played it safe," it wouldn't be playing it safe; it would just be being a coward.

"I want to ask you to teach me how to become stronger, Classmate Yuyou Uchiha," Fujiwara Chima said after bowing ninety degrees to Yuyou Uchiha.

"What?"

Fujiwara Chima's words struck Yuyou Uchiha as absurd. He had never expected this outcome: the cool Fujiwara Chima wanting him to teach her strength.

"Uh, Classmate Chima, I don't have any power to impart to you. If you want to become stronger, you should just train your skills harder! Goodbye."

Yuyou Uchiha flatly refused Fujiwara Chima's request without any hesitation.

Firstly, his power was not suitable for anyone other than himself to cultivate. Secondly, he had no relationship with Fujiwara Chima; he had no obligation and no desire to help someone he didn't know improve their strength.

Although they would be teammates in Team 99 later, it would be better to discuss these things once their relationship deepened.

Frankly, Yuyou Uchiha's impression of "friends" who asked for favors when the relationship was still unfamiliar was not good; he even felt a hint of disgust.

It was like in his previous life when he was in college. Some classmates he hadn't spoken to in years, whose faces he had forgotten, would suddenly add him on WeChat, and a few days later, send a message: "Are you there?" After a brief chat, they would say: "Is it convenient for you? I want to borrow some money."

At that time, seeing the message made Yuyou Uchiha feel as disgusted as if he had swallowed a cockroach. He cared about classmate relationships, but he strongly disliked people who treated classmate relationships like an "ATM."

This situation was similar. Fujiwara Chima had no relationship with him, yet she came asking him to teach her the power to enhance her strength. Even if he had it, he wouldn't just hand it over.

Fujiwara Chima also seemed not to have expected Yuyou Uchiha to refuse so decisively. She opened her mouth but had no reason to make him stay.

"Uchiha Yuyou Uchiha, if you can teach me the power to become stronger, I'll do anything," Fujiwara Chima quickly caught up to Yuyou Uchiha's steps and blocked his path with her arms outstretched.

Yuyou Uchiha looked Fujiwara Chima up and down, then his smile faded.

"You have nothing I need right now, so it's best for you to train diligently. Perhaps one day you will obtain the strength you desire. Also, remember that there are no shortcuts to success in this world, nor is there any free lunch. So, keep up the effort, Classmate Chima!"

Yuyou Uchiha refused Fujiwara Chima once again and, pushing past her obstruction, continued forward.

Fujiwara Chima bit her lip, and tears welled up in her eyes. This was the first time she had begged someone like this, and she had put all her chips on the table, yet he didn't seem to care at all.

Fujiwara Chima understood that if she wanted revenge, she needed to obtain power greater than her enemy's. That's why she chose to seek refuge in Konoha. Konoha was recognized as the most powerful ninja village in the entire ninja world, and it was here that she might obtain the strength she desired.

However, the process wasn't smooth. She successfully joined Konoha but didn't receive any special treatment. Initially, the people of Konoha only tested her strength and then dropped the matter. She wasn't given any ninja training, only some basic knowledge before being told to participate in Konoha's graduation exams and finally being assigned to Team 99.

Especially after learning that her team leader was only a Special Jonin, Fujiwara Chima knew she wouldn't be a priority for Konoha's development. This made improving her strength even more difficult. This was also why she had acted so coldly.

But after seeing the power Yuyou Uchiha displayed earlier, she understood what true power was. A young boy around her age possessed the strength she dreamed of.

So, she made up her mind at that moment to ask Yuyou Uchiha to teach her the power to improve her strength. This was because Yuyou Uchiha was the hope she could see.

But she was rejected, and very decisively so.

"I won't give up," Fujiwara Chima said firmly, reaching up to wipe the tears from her eyes.

Obtaining power was certainly not easy, and Fujiwara Chima was prepared to pay any price.