Konoha's Rise

Physical training was in the afternoon, while the morning class was "Konoha History."

"Today's lesson is about the Third Hokage."

Eiichirō stood at the podium and said, "Please pay close attention. This entire chapter is the most important part of the Final Exam and will definitely be tested."

Hikawa casually propped the book Konoha History upright on his desk.

That way, it blocked the gaze drifting down from above.

To unlock the 'Scholar' trait, Hikawa had already mastered most of the material and did not need to follow the lesson step by step.

Moreover, he had performed exceptionally well lately. Even if Eiichirō noticed something, he would selectively ignore it.

"The Third Hokage came from the Sarutobi Clan and is the current Hokage. Under his leadership, Konoha has flourished."

As Eiichirō mentioned the Sarutobi Clan, his gaze involuntarily drifted toward Sarutobi Asuma.

He was not the only one. Most of the students did the same.

Sarutobi Asuma curled his lip.

Although his relationship with Sarutobi Hiruzen had eased somewhat because of the lesson on breaking genjutsu, the way others viewed him still irritated him.

He wanted people's first thought to be Sarutobi Asuma, not the Hokage's son.

"The Third Hokage was the direct disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and could skillfully use every ninjutsu in Konoha."

Eiichirō continued, "He has many titles outside the village: the Strongest Hokage, Professor of Ninjutsu, Hero of Shinobi..."

Many students revealed looks of admiration and yearning.

You were right, but you forgot the beginning, forgot the middle, and forgot the end. In short, this was the Strongest Hokage.

Hikawa casually took out a math workbook and began solving problems.

Whether he could rank first in the written exams depended on whether he could get the math questions right.

The morning classes ended, and it was time for the noon break.

Sarutobi Asuma let out a breath.

That rotten old man was terrible. The entire chapter was nothing but praise. It was disgusting!

When he became Hokage someday, he would definitely... take it even further.

Sarutobi Asuma put down his textbook. When he turned around, he saw Yuhi Kurenai carrying a bento box over to Hikawa's seat.

His expression immediately stiffened.

That damn Hikawa brat!

He could not take it anymore! He was going to throw down with him!

"Hikawa."

Sarutobi Asuma stood and walked over to them. "I want to duel you!"

Yuhi Kurenai instinctively looked at him, surprise appearing on her face.

In her eyes, Sarutobi Asuma had lost so badly last time that he was completely no match for Hikawa.

Even if they fought again now, the outcome would not change.

"I'm not the same person I was before!"

Noticing her expression, Sarutobi Asuma immediately declared.

Why were you yelling so loudly?

Hikawa thought for a moment and said, "There's a practical combat class in a couple of days."

They could fight during class and not waste any extra time.

"Fine!"

Seeing him agree, Sarutobi Asuma perked up and said confidently, "This time, I'll definitely win!"

Over the past half month, he had not only learned how to break genjutsu but had also sparred with genjutsu users.

How could he lose now? Could Hikawa one-shot him? Absolutely impossible!

He would make the school field his stage, and everyone would stand up and cheer for him!

"Good luck."

Hikawa smiled.

"..."

Sarutobi Asuma could not help but choke on his words.

Hikawa's attitude only made him seem arrogant and overbearing.

Just as guilt rose in his heart, he suddenly noticed Yuhi Kurenai's reaction.

You're such a baby!

Sarutobi Asuma realized that his image in Yuhi Kurenai's eyes was getting worse and worse.

Was Hikawa doing this on purpose, or by accident?

He gritted his teeth and returned to his seat.

At this point, no explanation would help. The only solution was to defeat him.

"Let's eat."

Hikawa casually handed Yuhi Kurenai a pair of chopsticks.

"Are you confident?"

Yuhi Kurenai picked up a fried shrimp and asked, "He is the Hokage's son, after all. He must have found a way to deal with genjutsu."

"I know."

Hikawa nodded.

This time, he had decided to win in a different way.

"That's good."

Yuhi Kurenai relaxed.

At a desk not far away, Rin Nohara opened three Bento Boxes.

She picked up her chopsticks and handed a pair to Obito Uchiha first.

"Thank you, Rin!"

Obito Uchiha smugly glanced at Hatake Kakashi.

But Hatake Kakashi was looking elsewhere.

Obito Uchiha followed his gaze and found Hikawa.

He could not help saying, "He only beat Asuma because he got lucky once."

As a ninja of the Uchiha Clan, he looked down on genjutsu users from the bottom of his heart.

"Could you beat Asuma with luck?"

Hatake Kakashi accepted the chopsticks from Rin Nohara and asked blandly.

"Why couldn't I?"

Obito Uchiha snorted. "If my ninjutsu had gone off last time, Asuma would have lost long ago!"

"There are no ifs for a ninja."

Hatake Kakashi said mercilessly, "A loss is a loss. A win is a win."

"You!"

Obito Uchiha trembled with anger.

"Obito."

Rin Nohara tugged gently on his sleeve. "Try the tempura I made. How does it taste?"

"The tempura Rin made has to be unbelievably delicious!"

Obito Uchiha immediately said with a grin.

The lunch break ended, and it was time for the physical training that many students dreaded.

"Start with one hundred laps around the field!"

Eiichirō stood before the starting line and gave the order.

The entire class rushed out.

Obito Uchiha was the one leading the pack.

He accelerated right from the start, gaining an advantage, and even glanced back repeatedly in an attempt to catch Rin Nohara's attention.

"Idiot."

Hatake Kakashi suddenly spat out two words.

Rin Nohara could only look helpless.

Who sprinted right from the beginning?

Hikawa kept his breathing steady and ran at an even pace alongside Yuhi Kurenai.

As time passed, the gaps began to show.

Obito Uchiha was the first to exhaust his Body Energy and fell to the back of the pack.

At the front were Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy.

Hikawa, Yuhi Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma, and the others were in the second group.

After ninety laps, the situation changed again.

Sarutobi Asuma watched helplessly as Hikawa ran past him.

He had the will to fight, but not the strength to turn things around.

His steps had already become unsteady.

Hatake Kakashi glanced at Hikawa, who had been following him all along, and could not help frowning slightly.

He clearly remembered that during the last physical training session, Hikawa had not even made the top ten, much less second place.

Yet now, he was actually keeping pace with him.

He could clearly hear Hikawa's breathing.

It was a little uneven, but still orderly.

A solemn look appeared on Hatake Kakashi's face as he continued running forward.

By the final lap, most of the students were already exhausted and sitting on the ground to rest.

Only Hatake Kakashi, Might Guy, and Hikawa were still running.

"What is going on with this guy?"

Hatake Kakashi was gasping heavily, his rhythm already in disarray.

Whenever he thought Hikawa's Body Energy was about to reach its limit, Hikawa always seemed to recover a little more.

Was he going to lose?

Though Hatake Kakashi had never specifically trained his body, the intensity of his sword practice was not low.

Combined with his talent, his physical strength had already surpassed that of most genin.

Hatake Kakashi gritted his teeth, drew on his last breath, and began accelerating.

"This is youth!"

Watching the two chase each other, Might Guy suddenly trembled all over, excited to the extreme.

Hikawa's mouth twitched.

But... what a good opportunity!

Here I go!

For the final stretch, he stopped holding back and burst forward.