Challenge

A simple meal, along with Houka cracking a few jokes now and then, quickly brought him closer to Rin and Kurenai Yuhi. Little girls were easy to fool—no, easy to win over. Asuma Sarutobi, on the other hand, was a bit precocious himself, and regarded Houka with a hint of scrutiny.

As Konoha's biggest "Fire Second Generation," he'd received an elite education from a young age. He wouldn't easily believe Houka had changed his personality so quickly.

"Once you're done eating, go wash the lunch boxes." Houka stretched and pushed several lunch boxes toward Uchiha Obito.

"Nani? Why me!" Uchiha Obito had been bragging to his goddess, Rin. There was no way he wanted to do something like that.

"I'll do it!" Rin offered, reaching for the lunch boxes.

"No, no, I'll do it. It's a small thing; no need to trouble you, Rin. Heh heh heh." Uchiha Obito was suddenly thrilled.

"Thank you for the lunch, Houka!" Kurenai Yuhi said cutely. "Next time, I'll treat you to a lunch I made myself."

"Mm, you're welcome." Looking into Kurenai Yuhi's big, adorable eyes, Houka really wanted to pinch her chubby cheeks.

Not long after the meal, the students who'd gone out to eat returned one after another.

Soon afterward, Shin Kiyono showed up and led everyone to the training field outside.

For the afternoon class, Shin Kiyono had arranged for them to practice with Shuriken and Kunai. They couldn't train indoors, and the playground had a dedicated training ground.

"Shuriken and Kunai are so easy. They're no challenge at all for me." Masamune Hyuga held his head high arrogantly, glancing at Houka from time to time with blatant provocation. "Unlike some people, who can't awaken their eyes and faint during Taijutsu practice. Idiot!"

The Hyuga family's Kekkei Genkai was the Byakugan, which they possessed from birth. With diligent training, both Main House and Branch House members could easily awaken it.

It granted a nearly 60-degree field of vision and let them see the flow of Chakra in their surroundings. It also gave them telescopic vision to see faraway places and penetrating vision to see through objects.

They could even use Chakra to amplify their eyesight many times over, seeing things more than a kilometer away. Its perceptiveness far surpassed the Sharingan!

Thus, in the Ninja World, the Byakugan was known alongside the Sharingan as one of the Three Great Dojutsu.

"Bastard, who are you calling an idiot!" As Houka's good friend, Uchiha Obito clenched his fists and charged forward.

Houka smiled as he reached out and caught Obito's hand. Then he said to Masamune Hyuga, "Hey, little Hyuga brat, are you looking for a beating?"

"Hm? Looking for a beating? Hahaha! Uchiha Houka, are you challenging me? Who do you think you are? Have you already forgotten how you challenged Kakashi last semester? But you're in luck. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll help you relive that experience!" Although Masamune Hyuga was a member of the Hyuga Branch Family, he had good talent; otherwise, he wouldn't have been placed in the same class as Asuma Sarutobi. He'd already mastered the Eight Trigrams Two Palms of the Gentle Fist, and at the age of six, few could stand against him.

"Is Uchiha Houka challenging Masamune Hyuga again?"

"Honestly, he's an idiot, yet he keeps stirring up trouble!"

"Masamune Hyuga isn't as good as Kakashi, but he's still really strong."

"Hasn't Uchiha Houka embarrassed himself enough already?"

"I heard a lot of people in the Uchiha Clan are planning to teach Uchiha Houka a lesson. Heh, this semester's going to be fun."

The students' chatter soon caught Shin Kiyono's attention. He glanced back over his shoulder, frowning slightly. He thought Uchiha Houka was a hopeless case, but...

It's better to teach him a lesson now than have him become a ninja and get killed later!

With that in mind, Shin Kiyono decided not to interfere with the challenge between Uchiha Houka and Masamune Hyuga.

Uchiha Obito looked at Houka. He was the only one there who knew how hard Houka had worked over the break and how much progress he'd made. If Kakashi's genius reputation hadn't been so overwhelming, he'd even thought Houka might be able to beat him!

Nearby, the two girls, Rin and Kurenai Yuhi, looked at Houka in confusion. It was hard for them to connect him with the Houka who'd made such delicious food earlier.

"Don't worry, Houka's got this!" Uchiha Obito gave the two cute girls a thumbs-up.

The students eagerly discussed the challenge between Houka and Masamune Hyuga, looking forward to the upcoming fight!

But Houka, the person at the center of it all, suddenly felt a little bored. He clasped his hands behind his head and yawned.

His feelings were complicated. He wanted to grow up quickly and escape the childish games at school, but he also hoped time would pass more slowly so he could build his strength as much as possible before the Third Great Ninja War began.

Looks like I'll have to figure out how to learn the Shadow Clone Technique. From now on, I can send a clone to class while my real body focuses on training.

The Ninja Academy's playground was huge. In the northern corner stood a training ground specifically for practicing with Shuriken and Kunai, with plenty of gleaming weapons laid out nearby.

Being a ninja wasn't a game, so all the equipment was forged from solid iron and was extremely sharp.

Shin Kiyono turned around, about to speak, when Masamune Hyuga couldn't hold back any longer. "Teacher Shin Kiyono, I have something to say!"

Shin Kiyono looked at Masamune Hyuga, then at Houka, and nodded. "Masamune Hyuga, go ahead."

"All right, Teacher Shin Kiyono!" Masamune Hyuga strode forward with a grand air. His white eyes swept across the class before settling on Houka's face. A disdainful smile appeared on his face, and he spoke loudly. "Teacher Shin Kiyono, just now, Uchiha Houka challenged me, Masamune Hyuga! Although I'm from the Hyuga Branch Family, I'll never bring shame to the Hyuga Clan's reputation. So I've accepted Uchiha Houka's challenge. I ask you to referee our duel!"

Houka burst out laughing, amused by Masamune Hyuga.

They were all six-year-old kids. Could he please talk their age?

Talking about the Hyuga Clan's reputation, duels, and referees—what was next, flying up to stand shoulder to shoulder with Kaguya Otsutsuki?!

"Uchiha Houka, what are you laughing at?" Masamune Hyuga glared at him fiercely.

"Huh? Was I laughing?" Houka scratched his head, wearing an infuriating grin.

Shin Kiyono gave a light cough, then looked at Houka and asked solemnly, "Uchiha Houka, have you really decided to challenge Masamune Hyuga?"

"Heh heh, it's just asking for a humiliating defeat."

"There's no doubt about who'll win, but I'm still looking forward to seeing Uchiha Houka get beaten until he's crawling on the ground."

"Me too."

The students nearby were already excitedly discussing it.

Houka glanced at them. They were all on his blacklist. If they didn't cross him in the future, he'd have nothing to do with them for the rest of their lives. If they dared to cross him, he'd make sure their butts were red as flowers!

"Teacher Shin Kiyono, well... I suppose you could call it a challenge."

Shin Kiyono nodded. "Then I approve this challenge. Both of you, come to the center of the field!"