Most afraid of going to jail?

The Hell Viewing Technique allows an opponent to see the terrifying phenomena they most fear in their hearts!

However, this terror is broad in scope. When applied to an individual, some might see the death of a loved one, others might see ferocious monsters, and some might even see themselves being forced into intimate acts by a dozen burly men—the possibilities are endless.

Houka used the Hell Viewing Technique on himself. What, exactly, did he see?

In a solemn courtroom, several armed police officers stood guard. Rows of reporters sat in the gallery, their cameras and lenses aimed at him. He sat in the defendant's seat, hands cuffed, when a judge wearing a Buddhist prayer bead headband walked up to him, pulled out a wooden gavel, and thwack, thwack, thwack—smashed it down onto his forehead.

"Houka, you are sentenced to twenty years in prison, deprived of political rights for life, and fined two million!!!"

Click, click!

The cameras behind him fired in unison, recording this historic moment.

Wah!

Houka jolted awake, instantly snapping back to reality.

Damn it, what was that?

Houka wore an expression of pure embarrassment.

I didn't do anything heinous in my past life, so why on earth would they lock me up for twenty years?!

Houka was so angry he wanted to use the Hell Viewing Technique on himself again, just so he could beat that judge to a pulp!

How dare he use a wooden gavel to smash my handsome face?

Hoo!

After a long while, Houka finally calmed down and lay back down, exhausted.

"Who would have thought? The thing I fear most is going to jail?"

The next morning, Houka prepared his lunch bento and, after eating breakfast with Uchiha Obito, headed to the Ninja Academy.

On the way, Uchiha Obito was his usual self, crying and shouting as he rushed to help an old lady cross the street. Having learned his lesson, Houka ignored him this time and walked toward the Ninja Academy on his own.

Hum...

As he approached the Ninja Academy, Houka noticed more and more people around. There was chatter everywhere, along with the crisp, chirping sounds of countless children shouting.

"What's going on?"

Houka looked around and noticed that the children all had excited expressions, possessing the pride of a kindergartner graduating to the first grade.

Could it be new student orientation?

"Hey, classmate Houka!"

Suddenly, a slightly sycophantic, childish voice came from nearby.

Houka looked over to see a freckled boy who was in his class. However, because the boy had been arrogant yesterday and only became obsequious today, Houka had already blacklisted him. He simply nodded at the greeting and walked quickly toward the school gate.

The freckled boy awkwardly kept his hand raised, his eyes showing anger and grievance, but thinking of Houka's current "genius" reputation, he could only harbor resentment in his heart before walking into the school with his head hung low.

Just as Houka had guessed, today was the day the Ninja Academy enrolled new students. Hundreds of brats who had passed the ninja entrance exam gathered together under the guidance of their parents, respectfully listening to the Third Hokage's lecture.

This was the first time Houka had seen the Third Hokage in the flesh.

He was a middle-aged man wearing a white haori. Though short in stature, his back was straight, his expression resolute, and his eyes calm—he had the air of a high-ranking security captain.

Houka glanced at him from afar and left the playground without lingering. Back in the classroom, he could still faintly hear the Third Hokage explaining the Will of Fire from the playground.

"As expected, education starts with the children."

When Houka returned to his seat, his two desk-mates treated him completely differently. They were incredibly polite, calling him "little brother Uchiha" and "big brother Houka," their fawning behavior giving Houka goosebumps.

Seeming to notice the disdain in Houka's eyes, the two desk-mates looked at each other and fell silent, looking quite aggrieved.

"Houka, where did you go yesterday?" Kurenai Yuhi suddenly ran over, her wide, innocent eyes filled with curiosity, her chubby cheeks full of natural collagen.

"Ah, I was dragged up the mountain by that crazy woman to catch a breeze—on the Hokage Rock, that is." Houka sighed. "Kurenai Yuhi, you must never become a woman like that in the future."

The latter couldn't understand what he meant at all, but she nodded blankly.

After saying a few more words to Houka, Kurenai Yuhi trotted back to her seat.

Then, Rin walked over, expressing her request to learn Medical Ninjutsu.

"Please!" Rin bowed very solemnly to ask.

"Even if you're so sincere..." Houka scratched his head. That guy Uchiha Obito was practically turning into a century-old jar of vinegar; whenever he got even slightly close to Rin, he would get jealous, acting as if he had to guard against fire, theft, and Houka.

Rin was a girl and observant; noticing Houka's hesitation, she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. "Is it not possible?"

"It's not that it's impossible..." Houka was just about to speak when a figure rushed over with lightning speed.

"Ahahaha, Rin, Houka is too busy with his training, so if you want to learn Medical Ninjutsu, just come to me!" Uchiha Obito said enthusiastically to Rin while panting heavily. Then, he turned his head and glared fiercely at Houka, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear, "You bastard Houka, how dare you leave me behind!!!"

Houka rested his head on his hands, leaning back in his chair as he turned to look at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window.

"Is that so? But Obito, do you know Medical Ninjutsu?" Rin looked at Uchiha Obito in surprise.

As someone who consistently ranked at the bottom of the grade, Uchiha Obito's grades were always stable and immovable, and his reputation was known throughout the entire grade level, so it was no wonder Rin was skeptical.

Uchiha Obito's face stiffened, and he scratched his head with a dry laugh: "Well, Rin, you must never underestimate me. I, I am going to become Hokage in the future, so how could I not know Medical Ninjutsu?"

Fine, Uchiha Obito was determined to see this through to the end, even if it meant puffing himself up to look bigger in front of the goddess.

Houka curled his lips into a smile.

"Really? That's wonderful! Obito, can you teach me Medical Ninjutsu during the lunch break?" Rin clasped her hands together, looking delighted.

Uchiha Obito felt like he was on the verge of tears: "Lunch? This, uh, this..."

He turned his head to look at Houka behind him, signaling him repeatedly with his eyes.

"Eh? Obito, are your eyes cramping?" Houka decided to play dumb.

"You bastard..." Uchiha Obito gritted his teeth; he was actually grinding them, the sound of teeth against teeth audible.

"Obito?" Rin tilted her head as she looked at him.

Uchiha Obito hurriedly turned his head back and let out a dry, awkward laugh: "Of course, no problem. Then it's... decided."

By the time he finished, Obito felt deeply aggrieved.

Just then, a sudden commotion erupted outside the classroom.

Shortly after, many people from the class ran out, shouting and yelling, clearly heading off to watch the spectacle.

"What's going on?" Houka craned his neck, but unfortunately, he couldn't see what was happening outside from his position.

Immediately following, a series of gasps and cheers drifted in from outside.

Houka's curiosity was piqued. He glanced at the dejected Obito and the excited Rin beside him, then walked outside on his own.

The corridor outside the classroom was already packed with students, forming a circle around two people engaged in close-quarters combat.

"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Two Palms!" (To be continued)