The Emotionless Little Rabbit

The next morning, Fuyuki first went to inspect the construction site of the Hot Spring Resort before heading to school at a leisurely pace.

Members of the Hyuga Clan do not need to attend the Ninja Academy; the education provided there is simply not suited for ninjas from bloodline limit clans.

However, this particular year was special. The heirs of Konoha's foundational clans had all flocked to enroll. Fuyuki and Hinata's purpose in attending the Ninja Academy was merely to socialize and get to know the heirs of Konoha's various secret technique clans. Whether they attended class on any given day was of no concern to the teachers or their clan elders.

One of the privileges of being born into the Hyuga Clan was being directly guaranteed a spot in the Chunin Exams; Genin from the clan were essentially exempt from preliminary screenings.

"Good morning, Iruka-sensei."

Pushing open the door, Fuyuki waved at Iruka, completely indifferent to the veins bulging on his homeroom teacher's forehead.

"Fuyuki! You're late again today!"

Iruka's voice nearly brought the ceiling down, startling the slackers in the classroom. Hinata, who had arrived at the Ninja Academy early alongside Neji, looked at Fuyuki standing in the center of the lecture hall with an expression of hesitation.

Hinata was afraid of a real-life PvP match between Fuyuki and Iruka.

She wasn't worried about Fuyuki getting beaten by the teacher; she was worried that Iruka-sensei would lose face later on.

"Apologies, Iruka-sensei. I had matters to attend to this morning. I invested 60 million in Konoha recently, and construction started today; the carpenters insisted I come to verify the blueprints," Fuyuki stated in a flat, factual tone, explaining the morning's events.

"..." Iruka fell silent for a long moment, not knowing how to reprimand Fuyuki. After all, Fuyuki wasn't skipping class to play; he was busy with clan business.

He couldn't exactly conduct a home visit and have a talk with the head of the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Hiashi, could he?

That would just be asking for trouble!

Wait, how many zeros were in 60 million again?

Iruka fell into a state of existential crisis, beginning to wonder if his own savings—which had barely reached six figures after so many years of hard work—would even be enough to marry a virtuous wife before he turned forty.

"Iruka-sensei, Fuyuki-kun isn't lying. The Hot Spring Resort is right next to the Uchiha compound. Fuyuki invested 60 million in the initial phase, and Father added another 40 million."

Seeing the awkward silence in the classroom, Hinata panicked. Thinking Iruka-sensei was still going to reprimand Fuyuki, she quickly stood up to testify for her "stinky" younger brother, terrified that her brother and Iruka-sensei would get into a genuine argument.

"Hiss."

Iruka took a deep breath and waved his hand powerlessly. "Fine, fine. Fuyuki-kun, pay attention to the time next time. Being late affects your academic credits. Developing a habit of tardiness is a major taboo for a ninja."

Facing a wealthy heir, what else could he say?

Should he invite Hiashi-sama to the Ninja Academy, or go there himself to enjoy the sight of a hundred pairs of malicious Byakugan?

He couldn't afford to provoke them; he really couldn't! Whatever you say, you're the boss!

"Understood, it won't happen again." Fuyuki perfunctorily admitted his mistake, then returned to his seat. He placed his Ninja Handbook on the desk and began teasing Akamaru, who was perched on Inuzuka Kiba's head. "I've got a pet, too. I'll bring it next time; I think you two would get along."

One was full of foul language, the other couldn't speak human tongue—the two pets together were a match made in heaven.

"Woof!"

Akamaru barked happily, expressing his anticipation for a new friend.

"Fuyuki, what kind of pet did you get?" Hinata, sitting beside Fuyuki, asked with curiosity.

She ate, drank, and slept in the same courtyard as him, and she had even gone to tuck Fuyuki in last night. How had she not seen a pet cage in his room? Was the pet some large animal kept in the courtyard?

"A fox I caught in the Land of Demons?" Fuyuki thought for a moment. He described Moryo as a "big fox." He really didn't know how else to describe Moryo—he couldn't exactly mention a mountain-sized body with countless Black Dragon heads that could fire energy blasts containing Senjutsu Chakra, could he?

"Hm?" Naruto, half-asleep, lifted his head. He thought he heard someone calling him.

"Not you. I'm talking about a black-furred fox I'm keeping outside!" Fuyuki signaled for Naruto not to misunderstand; the fox he mentioned wasn't him, but a new one.

"Oh." Naruto slumped back down to continue sleeping.

Iruka-sensei's classes were always like this: the commoner students sat in the front rows listening intently, while the lucky winners and "pay-to-win" whales sat in the back chatting and gossiping. If they went too far, Iruka-sensei would use sanctions (standing in the hallway for a period) to warn the lucky winners and whales.

Well, although they were in the same classroom, the atmosphere between the front and back was worlds apart.

"Bang!"

In Iruka-sensei's class, the second latecomer kicked the door open violently. He entered with a murderous aura, looked at Iruka-sensei, and said coldly, "My apologies. The doctor only allowed me to be discharged today. I am officially reporting for duty."

Although his entire clan had ascended to the afterlife, leaving Sasuke filled with negative emotions, he hadn't lost his manners. Unless it involved matters related to Uchiha Itachi, he wouldn't go "dark."

"Mm, return to your seat!"

With Fuyuki having gone first, Iruka didn't reprimand Sasuke and let him return to his seat.

He hadn't managed to lecture Fuyuki, and instead, he'd been forced to witness that damn wealthy heir flaunting his riches.

Lecture Sasuke? He was afraid Sasuke would go on a rampage. He had heard rumors about the Uchiha Clan massacre.

He felt deep regret and immense sympathy for Sasuke.

"Tch."

Feeling the sympathetic gazes of the teacher and his classmates, Sasuke knew they meant well, but he didn't need it. He was an Uchiha Clansman; he didn't need anyone's pity!

Every word of comfort, every look of sympathy or pity, only made the proud Uchiha feel stifled. He didn't need pity!

He needed strength—the strength to kill Itachi!

Immediately, Sasuke turned his gaze toward Hyuga Fuyuki, who was sitting in the very center of the lecture hall like a young master. In the entire grade, the only one stronger than him was Fuyuki, who also possessed a bloodline limit ocular technique. Using him as a whetstone to hone his own strength would be a very good idea!

First, defeat Fuyuki, then overturn the Ninja Academy, master his clan's Fire Release, and awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Then, he should be able to kill that man!

"Hyuga Fuyuki! I challenge you!"

Sasuke had a straightforward personality, no different from a blockhead; he did whatever came to mind without ever reflecting on or summarizing why he kept getting beaten up by Fuyuki during taijutsu class.

"Are you serious?" Fuyuki asked with a look of confusion.

In a routine sparring match between classmates, Sasuke shouldn't have called out his full name. By doing so, the subtext was that he was challenging the Hyuga Clan; this was a battle wagering the honor of their families, and at the very least, it would end with someone in the ICU!

"That's right, I, Uchiha Sasuke, am serious!"

Whoosh.

The classroom instantly erupted into a commotion. Even Iruka could not stop Fuyuki and Sasuke; they were now dueling for the honor of prestigious ninja clans, and unless the Hokage stepped in, nothing could stop them.

No one else, not even a Jonin, had the right to interfere in a duel between these two unless their surname was Senju.

Sasuke said coldly, "Let's go, to the training ground!"

"Sigh," Fuyuki let out a sigh.

"E-eh?" Hinata cried out in alarm, shouting, "Tokuma, Tokuma, hurry home and call for a medical ninja! My brother is going to cause a fatality later, the Uchiha Clan is going to be wiped out!"

Three chapters again today, begging for votes and support for this chapter.

Now that I'm on the recommendation list, every single vote is extremely, extremely important to the author. Please vote, dear readers!