Hyuga Rei

Uchiha Chiri turned her head, her gaze lingering on Watanabe's courteous face.

Something was off about this kid!

If anyone had told Uchiha Chiri before today that a student at the Ninja Academy could withstand her Illusion Technique head-on, she would never have believed it.

Yet it had happened, and she still hadn't figured out what was going on.

"No need to thank me. You did well."

Uchiha Chiri returned to her usual cool expression, replied to Watanabe, and went back to the judges' seats.

Gekko Hayate and the other Anbu Ninjas were busy recording each examinee's score behind her. The commotion in the stands grew louder and louder, crashing like a tidal wave as everyone marveled at Watanabe's performance.

"Chiri, thanks for all your effort."

The Nara Clan Leader, the Hatake Clan Leader, and the others offered Uchiha Chiri their condolences, and even Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and nodded to her.

"I thought no one would be able to get a perfect score with you as the examiner. I didn't expect you to be so surprisingly lenient with these kids, Chiri."

The clan leaders thought Watanabe had earned a perfect score partly because Chiri had gone easy on him, though, of course, his own strength had played a part too.

On second thought, it was only natural. How could the Senju Clan's future son-in-law be ordinary?

Chiri raised an eyebrow but didn't tell them that she had used her Illusion Technique with all her strength.

Why didn't my Illusion Technique work on him?

The more Chiri thought about it afterward, the more uneasy she became. The problem she'd just exposed was actually quite serious.

Illusion Technique was her strongest area. If it failed against an enemy, it would be like losing one of her arms.

She watched Watanabe on the Training Ground without showing her concern, and decided she had to find out why he was immune to her Illusion Technique.

After more than ten minutes of work, Gekko Hayate and the others finally finished tallying the examinees' scores. A total of eighty-five people had been eliminated in this round of Illusion Technique testing, while Watanabe had earned a perfect score without question.

"Watanabe, you got a perfect score on the Illusion Technique test?!"

After Jiraiya and Hiruzen woke up and learned Watanabe's score, they were both shocked.

"I underestimated you. I had no idea you were this good."

Jiraiya suddenly found Watanabe unfathomable. The class's once-unknown dead-last had turned into someone who amazed everyone, both above and below him.

Hiruzen's feelings were complicated. He couldn't tell if he was envious or jealous.

He had pushed himself to the limit just to make it four steps, while Watanabe had managed ten. The gap between them was enormous.

"So his name is Watanabe."

Hyuga Rei secretly studied Watanabe as he talked with Jiraiya and the others. Remembering her conversation with her father the night before, her pale, gleaming eyes filled with resolve.

"You won the Illusion Technique test, but I'll beat you in the practical test."

"No one my age could possibly beat me—except Tsunade!"

Hyuga Rei's fighting spirit flared as she marked Watanabe as an opponent she absolutely had to defeat. After all, this was her only chance to escape the Caged Bird.

"The practical test starts at twelve noon. Everyone gets four matches. You'll earn twenty-five points for each win, and anyone who loses three matches will be eliminated..."

Gekko Hayate explained the rules of the practical test. After the first two rounds of screening, fewer than a hundred examinees remained.

"Watanabe, good luck. Your score is excellent so far. If you do well in the practical test too, you might really have a chance of becoming the Hokage's student."

During the break, Jiraiya cheerfully encouraged Watanabe at the ramen shop, sincerely hoping he could achieve his goal.

Hiruzen, who sat beside them, wore a somewhat forced smile. After two rounds of testing, his score had fallen far behind, and he had little hope of becoming the Hokage's student.

Orochimaru remained silent as ever, quietly eating his noodles.

"The practical test should be fine. I've been sparring with Tsunade for a while, and I'm a lot stronger than I used to be."

Watanabe was pretty straightforward with Jiraiya, so he let him in on a little of what he could do, so Jiraiya wouldn't be too surprised that afternoon.

"No wonder you suddenly got so good, Watanabe. Tsunade's been helping you," Hiruzen said sourly.

Watanabe readily admitted it. "That's right. Tsunade's helped me a lot."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Jiraiya started feeling jealous too. "That's the charm of a rich woman. I'd love to pursue one myself. Hyuga Rei from the class next door seems great, and she's pretty..."

"Who's talking about me?"

A soft, sweet voice rang out, and Jiraiya jumped in surprise.

The four of them turned around and saw a pretty, pale-eyed girl standing behind them. She looked rather slender.

"Were you talking about me?"

Hyuga Rei blinked and asked Orochimaru, who was closest to her, with curiosity.

Orochimaru thought for a moment, then answered calmly, "Jiraiya said you were a rich woman and that he wanted to pursue you."

"Pfft!"

Jiraiya spat out a mouthful of broth and nearly choked to death.

Hyuga Rei covered her mouth and giggled, then looked at Jiraiya with interest. "You're Jiraiya, the little white-haired boy, right?"

"Cough, cough!"

Jiraiya tried to cover his embarrassment with a cough, then casually laughed it off. "We were just joking. We didn't mean anything by it."

"Joking? You don't want to pursue me?" Hyuga Rei asked, puzzled.

Her question made Jiraiya's heart flutter. He hesitated, then asked, "Could I...?"

"Giggle, of course not!" Hyuga Rei laughed, looking radiant and beautiful.

Jiraiya: "..."

I've got a curse to spit, but I don't know if I should say it.

"But—"

Hyuga Rei abruptly changed the subject and turned her gaze to Watanabe. Shyly, she said, "If Watanabe-kun were to pursue me, I might consider it."

Jiraiya: "..."

He was really about to curse now. Why did rich girls keep throwing themselves at Watanabe one after another? Couldn't they at least look at him?

Watanabe reminded her, "Rei, this is the first time we've spoken. It's not appropriate to joke like that."

Hyuga Rei replied innocently, "What does our only just having met have to do with me admiring Watanabe-kun? I think you're different from everyone else."

Watanabe frowned. Weren't rich young ladies supposed to be aloof and haughty, like Tsunade?

Her direct way of speaking was a little hard to handle.

"Give up, Watanabe already has a girlfriend. He can't pursue you." Jiraiya waved a hand listlessly, getting back at Hyuga Rei for putting him down.

"Oh, what a shame." Hyuga Rei's expression shifted from innocent to regretful.

Watanabe couldn't make sense of her, so he could only respond with silence.

"Watanabe-kun, could I ask you for a favor?"

"What is it?"

Hyuga Rei said sheepishly, "You're so strong, Watanabe-kun. If I run into you during the practical test, I'm sure I'll lose badly."

"So I'd like to ask you to go easy on me. If we face each other this afternoon, please be gentle. At least don't hurt me too badly..."

Watanabe looked up. All he saw in her pretty face was embarrassment and shyness, as if she were truly afraid of getting hurt in the practical test.

Something was off about this girl. There was definitely something wrong!