Ninja Academy, First Year Class 2.
The classroom was packed with little kids sitting in neat rows. Qinglong rubbed his head and followed Gekko Hayate into the room with a helpless look.
"Class, this is our new student. Let's give him a warm welcome!"
Teacher Hayate started clapping, and the students below joined in with a scattered patter of little hands.
Their childish chatter soon rose around the room.
"Is this the new student who just enrolled?"
"Maybe he walked into the wrong classroom. Are there really first-years this small?"
"He's so old and only in first grade. He must be terrible! Heeheehee!"
Gekko Hayate pressed down with both hands, quieting the students.
"Qinglong, why don't you introduce yourself first?"
After an awkward introduction, Qinglong sensibly walked to a desk in the back corner of the classroom and sat down.
Gekko Hayate began his lesson. At first, Qinglong was curious about what they taught at the Ninja Academy, but after listening to the teacher talk about the Will of Fire for a while, he got bored and felt like putting his head down to sleep.
The sunlight outside was pleasant enough, shining brightly over the playground. Beneath the trees, patches of dappled shade lay scattered across the ground.
"That's everything for today's lesson on the Will of Fire. Class dismissed!"
Qinglong didn't know when Teacher Hayate had left. He had been so bored that he was already slumped over his desk, on the verge of falling asleep.
"You're the new student?"
A childish voice rang out. A cute little white-haired girl appeared in front of Qinglong's desk, with several children a little older than her behind her.
"Listen up. I'm the boss of this class!"
"Kid, get lost."
Qinglong stared at the adorable little dumpling in exasperation. Didn't she know it was rude to interrupt someone trying to sleep in class?
"How old are you? And you're trying to act like the boss?"
The little girl gritted her teeth in anger.
"Age doesn't determine strength! I'm Hanabi Hyuga. I started first grade at four, and I'm going to become a genius of the Hyuga Clan!"
"You're already nine and only in first grade. How embarrassing!"
Hanabi Hyuga put one hand on her hip, leaned forward slightly, and made a face as she teased Qinglong. She looked adorable doing it.
Qinglong was speechless. He reached out and flicked the girl on the forehead.
"You're pretty impressive!"
With a single finger flick, he sent the little girl clutching her head and wailing.
"I-I challenge you!"
The little girl glared at him with her pale eyes and spoke with grave determination.
He was just thinking about how to tease the girl when the class bell rang.
This was a practical lesson. A row of short-legged elementary school students stood on the playground.
Some held child-sized kunai and shuriken, practicing the Throwing Technique at targets ten meters away.
Others practiced Taijutsu sparring in pairs.
"I challenge you!"
Hanabi Hyuga came over to Qinglong again.
"Sure!"
Qinglong didn't refuse. Sparring was part of practical lessons, and he was bored anyway, so he happily agreed.
The two stood on opposite sides of the playground. Little Hanabi seriously assumed the opening stance of the Gentle Fist.
Though she was young, she had always been competitive. Ever since she'd watched Hinata and Neji spar as a child, she had been determined to learn ninjutsu and become a powerful ninja.
And she really was a little genius. Even at her young age, she had learned the Hyuga Gentle Fist well enough to look the part. After all, she wouldn't have been able to enroll early at four and become the class boss otherwise.
Qinglong also assumed a proper stance and beckoned her with a finger.
"Come on, then!"
Little Hanabi gave a quiet huff. "The Gentle Fist of the Hyuga Clan is the perfect counter to Taijutsu. Watch out!"
"Byakugan!"
With a shrill little cry, Hanabi activated her Byakugan and charged, her short legs pumping!
A mischievous idea suddenly struck Qinglong. He stretched out his arm, and in the blink of an eye, planted his palm against little Hanabi's forehead.
"Smack!"
Even her Byakugan seemed to freeze in bewilderment. Her outstretched little hand was still some distance from Qinglong and couldn't reach him.
"Ah! Hyaah!"
Little Hanabi swung both fists wildly, but she still couldn't hit Qinglong.
This wasn't working at all. She quickly jumped back.
Thinking back to what had just happened, the little girl felt her face grow hot, and her cheeks turned bright red. What was that flailing about? Was Hanabi Hyuga really so childish?
A deep seriousness appeared on the young girl's tender face. Qinglong was an opponent she had to take seriously!
A faint smile appeared on Qinglong's face as he waited for her to attack again.
"Heh!"
Little Hanabi kept shifting from side to side, then charged again with a serpentine approach.
"Smack!"
A warm palm covered her forehead once more. Hanabi's Byakugan widened in surprise, then a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
I, Hanabi Hyuga, will never fall into the same trap twice.
"Gentle Fist!"
She let out another childish cry.
Little Hanabi struck Qinglong's arm with the Gentle Fist, releasing blue Chakra.
"Heh... heh... hi-yah..."
She could already picture the miserable sight of this arrogant guy's arm after her attack. A smile crept onto her lips as she struck harder and harder, growing more and more pleased with herself!
But she saw that her attacks weren't affecting him at all. His hand drew back slightly as he bent his middle finger.
"Smack!"
A flick struck little Hanabi on the forehead. The triumphant girl fell flat on her bottom, covering her forehead with both hands. Tears welled in her eyes from the pain, and her pale gaze brimmed with grievance.
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