Early in the morning, Danzo stood in the doorway, narrowed his eyes at the drenched Bing San, and called, "Come back and eat!"
Bing San came to a halt. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and shook the dew from himself. Then he gradually slowed down and returned to his room to change.
At the table, Danzo's furrowed brow relaxed a little. "I've arranged for people to protect you in secret, but don't go running off wherever you please. It's dangerous outside!"
"Understood, sir." Bing San put down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and got ready to go to school.
As soon as he stepped outside, he ran into Asuma, whose face was bruised and swollen. Bing San was puzzled and went over to ask what had happened.
Asuma slurred, "Hmph. The old man only knows how to give in to those people. He doesn't care what we think at all!"
The corner of Bing San's mouth twitched. Asuma seemed destined to clash with the Third Lord.
As soon as he got to school, he heard his classmates talking:
"Did you hear? Kakashi applied to graduate too."
"Kakashi's only a little over five. Why does he want to graduate already?"
"Kakashi's father killed himself out of shame after being accused of a crime. Kakashi seems to have been affected by it, so he wants to graduate and become a Ninja."
Bing San narrowed his eyes and looked at Shikaku, who was gazing up at the sky beside him. "Shikaku, what's wrong with you?"
"Did your first time leave you completely drained?"
Shikaku rolled his eyes. "Don't make things up, kid. I'm a good boy who keeps himself pure.
"My family wants us to graduate and come home as soon as possible!"
Bing San narrowed his eyes, thinking, Has the situation become so tense that it's on the verge of exploding? Or has something happened? Could it be related to Hatake Sakumo's death?
Bing San was about to press him for more when the teacher came in. Everyone had no choice but to sit quietly.
That afternoon, a group of children stood on the training ground, waiting to draw lots for their matches.
Suddenly, Asuma, his face bruised and swollen and his words slurred, jumped out of the crowd and pointed at the Hyuga brothers. "I want to fight you one-on-one!"
Hyuga Go pointed at Asuma's comical face and said, "Ha ha ha! You? You can't even do the Three Body Techniques, and you want to challenge my big brother? Big brother, let me teach this brat a lesson."
They were brothers, even twins, but they didn't look alike at all—and their personalities were even more different.
Hyuga Kuji narrowed his eyes at Asuma. "Go, stop causing trouble for me. There's no need to pay any attention to someone this troublesome."
Uchiha Feng chimed in. "Exactly. You should take a good look at yourself before challenging us. Go home and drink your milk."
Asuma's face flushed with anger, but he couldn't think of anything to say. The teacher merely shook his head, then said, "Everyone, come draw your lots."
Bing San shook his head. What a bunch of bored kids!
When they drew lots, Bing San got the first spot on the Heaven side, while Uchiha Feng got the first spot on the Earth side. The two of them stood opposite each other, ready to fight.
Asuma suddenly shouted, "Bing San, if you give those bastards a good beating, I'll make you our leader!"
Bing San cursed inwardly, You're the leader. Your whole family's the leader!
Bing San looked at Uchiha Feng without saying a word. He really had no interest in fighting them.
Suddenly, the children seemed to have found their organization, like a bunch of freedom fighters, and began cheering loudly!
Uchiha Feng and Hyuga Kuji, who had been cast as the villains, looked displeased.
Bing San wasn't too happy either. That leader title sounded damned unlucky. He didn't want it!
Uchiha Feng, standing opposite him, looked as black as the bottom of a pot. In a low voice, he said, "You lot—just you wait. Kid, I've decided. I'm going to teach you all a good lesson and show you the huge difference between noble bloodlines and lowly commoners."
Without waiting for the teacher to call the start, he hurled three wooden shuriken at Bing San.
Bing San turned sideways and ducked to avoid the shuriken, then raised a hand to guard his left side.
He held his right fist in front of his chest. It was the fighting stance Yong Ren had taught him.
There was a sharp smack as Bing San blocked Uchiha Feng's right fist with his left hand, then swung his right leg at him.
Uchiha Feng leaned aside, and Bing San's kick missed. Seizing the opening, Uchiha Feng grabbed Bing San's left arm and yanked and swung it hard, pulling him forward off balance.
Uchiha Feng drove his left knee toward Bing San.
Bing San hurriedly raised his right hand to block. Another sharp smack rang out as the knee hit his hand, and he stopped it.
Bing San shifted his weight and sprang to one side, creating some distance.
In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged a round. Enraged, Uchiha Feng had driven Bing San back.
Uchiha Feng adjusted his stance slightly, then casually pulled out a wooden Kunai. "Is this all you can do? Even if the Shimura family has risen to prominence for a time, you're still nothing but nouveau riche."
Bing San only rubbed his aching wrist and didn't answer. The second round began.
Bing San was a little annoyed. He hadn't even said anything.
Bing San quickly threw a wooden kunai and charged forward right after it.
Uchiha Feng quickly knocked the kunai aside, then clashed with Bing San.
Bing San took two punches, and Uchiha Feng took a kick. The two of them separated again.
Luckily, Orochimaru had modified Bing San's body a second time. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to keep up with Uchiha Feng's speed.
Now that Bing San had enough speed and strength, he'd only taken a slight disadvantage because of his lack of experience.
The two separated again. Bing San had a bruise on his face, while a shoe print marked Uchiha Feng's stomach.
After another two rounds, they separated once more. This time, Uchiha Feng didn't waste words. He stood still and began forming Hand Seals: Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger.
Uchiha Yue, a somewhat devious little girl, frowned and said,
"That's the Great Fireball Technique. Looks like big brother's getting serious. That little runt isn't going to die, is he?"
The moment Bing San saw his opponent begin forming hand seals, inspiration struck. He pressed his hands together in the Tiger seal and shouted, "Water Release: Water Arrow Technique!"
Uchiha Feng finished forming hand seals, glared at Bing San, and shouted, "Die! Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The teacher narrowed his eyes and murmured, "How is that possible? He didn't form any Hand Seals? This kid!"
A fireball about thirty centimeters in diameter burst from Uchiha Feng's mouth and instantly collided with the water arrow, which was about half a meter long.
In an instant, thick fog blanketed the entire training ground. The children hurriedly strained their eyes to watch this rare clash of techniques!
But the heat was unbearable, and the thick fog made it impossible to see anyone.
Seizing the opportunity, Bing San gritted his teeth and charged through the unbearable heat toward Uchiha Feng. He crouched as he closed in, planted his right foot, drove his strength up from the ground through his waist and right arm, and swung his right fist upward with all his might.
Bing San shouted, "Hao You Gen!"
Everyone heard a heavy thud, and the crowd immediately broke into a commotion.
A child asked anxiously, "Who won?"
Another child said dejectedly, "It was definitely the Uchiha, after all—"
His words were cut off as the teacher dispersed the fog. The children gaped at Bing San, his whole body red from the heat, standing where he was, while Uchiha Feng lay on the ground with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Bing San shook out his clothes. The slight pain in his body made him feel refreshed all over.
Bing San held out his hand and said, "Sorry, Feng. I won!"
Uchiha Feng smacked Bing San's hand aside and gritted his teeth as he tried to get up. Just then, Hyuga Kyuya helped Uchiha Feng to his feet and said to Bing San, "You're pretty good! Want to join us?"
Bing San shook his head. Only then did the children come to their senses and start shouting, "Leader! Big-headed leader!"
Bing San stood awkwardly in the middle of the field. He really didn't want that stupid title!
Before you continue