Training Ground Duel

A few days later, at the Ninja Academy.

In class, Sarutobi Retsu was introducing the 360 major acupoints on the human body and the spirit pores distributed throughout the body; as well as the connection between these acupoints, spirit pores, and chakra circulation.

Uchiha Yuan listened attentively. This systematic knowledge resonated with his own cultivation experiences, giving him a deeper understanding of chakra refinement and circulation.

After a while, Sarutobi Retsu finished his lecture and announced the end of class.

Amidst cheers and noise, the students rushed out of the classroom like a swarm, playing and fooling around in groups on the campus.

Uchiha Yuan remained seated, his eyes filled with contemplation as he replayed the content of the lecture in his mind.

The lesson had given him a greater understanding of how to perform ninjutsu.

As everyone knew, most people in the ninja world expelled chakra from their mouths when performing ninjutsu.

This was because the mouth was an acupoint, and moreover, the largest one. Not only that, but the mouth acupoint was naturally permeable, unlike other acupoints that required unblocking meridians to circulate chakra.

'To cultivate the Fourth Hokage's Rasengan, I'm afraid I'll first need to unblock several acupoints in my hands.'

'Assistant's Chidori Stream, and Kumogakure's Nintaijutsu probably require unblocking even more acupoints.'

Uchiha Yuan thought to himself.

A moment later, Uchiha Yuan, snapping back to reality, stood up, preparing to leave the classroom.

Then he saw that there was still one person in the empty classroom, looking out the window.

It was Hatake Harukaze.

"Classmate Hatake, why are you here alone?"

Uchiha Yuan walked to Hatake Harukaze's seat and asked.

Hatake Harukaze turned his head to look at Uchiha Yuan, his eyelids drooping as he softly said, "I prefer to be alone and quiet."

After speaking, he turned his head back to continue looking out the window.

Seeing this, Uchiha Yuan merely curled the corner of his mouth and then turned to leave the classroom.

After Uchiha Yuan left, Hatake Harukaze turned his head to look in the direction Uchiha Yuan had gone, a conflicted expression on his face, as if he wanted to call out to him.

But in the end, Hatake Harukaze just turned his head back and continued to gaze out the window.

On the training grounds, the senior students were either practicing throwing shuriken and kunai at targets in the throwing area or practicing basic ninjutsu like the Clone Technique and Transformation Technique.

Some students from ninja clans were demonstrating their clan's secret techniques, showing off to those around them.

A group of junior students watched nearby, their eyes filled with longing and admiration, occasionally letting out gasps of amazement.

"Punch! Hurry up and punch back!"

"Good, that kick was well-placed!"

"Nice hit, put some power into it!"

"Watch out, dodge!"

Uchiha Yuan arrived at the training ground, his attention immediately drawn by the shouting coming from a corner of the field.

He looked over and spotted several familiar figures amidst the crowd of onlookers.

Hyuga Kagami was standing with a few other boys from the Hyuga Clan. Not far from them were several others wearing the Uchiha fan crest, among whom Uchiha Yuan recognized Uchiha Eiji.

In the center of the crowd, two figures were engaged in a Taijutsu spar.

One of them wore the fan crest, identifying him as an Uchiha. Judging by the emblem on the other boy's clothing, he was from the Shiranui Clan.

Watching the two spar, Uchiha Yuan could tell at a glance that the boy from the Shiranui Clan was already losing ground.

Sure enough, after a few exchanges, he was kicked squarely in the chest and sent flying, landing on the ground in a heap.

"Haha, I only used seventy percent of my strength. You couldn't even force me to go all out, yet you think you're qualified to challenge our Uchiha Clan?"

The victorious Uchiha boy said with an arrogant expression.

The boy from the Shiranui Clan flushed red, climbing to his feet with a mix of resentment and humiliation before retreating.

Similar spars were a common sight on the training ground.

The students' minds were simple and direct; when it came to prestigious clans or so-called geniuses, the only way to know the truth was to test it in a fight.

Because the students of the Uchiha Clan were arrogant, overbearing, and domineering, they were frequently challenged by other students.

Just then, a figure leaped out from the crowd, performed the Seal of Confrontation toward the victorious Uchiha boy, and said, "Hello, I am Senju Gen. Please, enlighten me."

A stir ran through the crowd. To everyone in Konoha, the surname Senju carried a special weight.

"Senju?"

"It's actually someone from the Senju Clan."

"A Senju versus an Uchiha—this is going to be exciting. I wonder who is stronger."

"So you're that Senju from Class Nine."

The victorious Uchiha boy looked surprised. He then performed the Seal of Confrontation as well, his expression turning serious. "Uchiha Shinsuke. Please, enlighten me."

Seeing Senju Gen step forward, Uchiha Yuan couldn't help but look on with interest.

Senju Gen was warm and humble, loved and respected by his classmates. He never argued with anyone and went straight back to the Senju compound after school.

Therefore, apart from the sparring sessions during training classes, Uchiha Yuan had never seen Senju Gen fight.

In the past, Senju Gen would always watch others challenge students from the Uchiha Clan. He never expected that today, he would suddenly speak up and initiate a challenge.

Each ninja clan had a different Taijutsu style. The Uchiha Clan, perhaps because of the Sharingan, focused on sharp and swift Taijutsu, with simple and agile moves.

In contrast, the Taijutsu of the Akimichi Clan was grand and powerful, with fierce and unyielding moves.

In the crowd, upon hearing that the boy who appeared was from the Senju Clan, Uchiha Eiji and others showed serious and focused expressions, staring intently at the two who were about to fight.

To the Uchiha, the Senju were different.

"Begin!"

At the loud shout of a boy, Senju Gen and Uchiha Shinsuke moved.

They both charged forward simultaneously, rushing towards each other like arrows released from a bow.

The next second, their figures became entangled. They exchanged blows, and the sound of fists colliding rang out repeatedly.

"As expected of someone from the Senju Clan, so powerful."

"Good, that counter-punch was brilliant!"

"..."

"Indeed, only the Senju Clan can contend with the Uchiha Clan."

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Kagami and a group of Hyuga Clan youths immediately changed their expressions, their white eyes showing intense unwillingness.

In the current Konoha, the only clans that could be called great noble families were the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan.

Furthermore, because the Kekkei Genkai of both clans were eye-related Dojutsu, the Hyuga Clan had always been secretly competing with the Uchiha Clan over whose Dojutsu was superior. This sentiment also influenced the children of the Hyuga Clan.

However, in everyone's subconscious, the Hyuga Clan was actually inferior to the Uchiha. This was something even the Hyuga Clan probably vaguely felt.

Therefore, it made them even more determined to surpass the Uchiha.