I'm Very Disappointed in Him!

Houka and his group stood in a corner of the Ninja Academy's playground, quietly watching the assessments at the training grounds some distance away.

Young, childish figures poured their sweat into training. Kunai shot from their hands, some striking the bullseye with precision, while others missed the target by a ridiculous margin. Gasps, boos, and jeers rang out from time to time.

"It's really lively," Guy said, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

"Yeah. It feels like just last year we were still taking classes at the academy." Genma Shiranui sighed repeatedly. Time had passed far too quickly—he had been single for over twenty years in the blink of an eye!

Suddenly, waves of cheering and encouragement rose from the training grounds. Everyone looked over and saw a handsome little boy with the Uchiha crest on his back.

"That's Uchiha Sasuke?" Kurenai Yuhi asked curiously.

"Yeah, that's him. Uchiha Fugaku's second son, Itachi's younger brother," Houka said with a smile.

"He's so popular at school," Kurenai Yuhi exclaimed.

"Just average. He was nowhere near as popular as I was back then," Houka said narcissistically.

At his words, Kurenai Yuhi, Guy, Kakashi, and even Genma Shiranui all wore strange expressions.

If their memories were correct, Houka had seemed to be a dead last at the academy. Later, he had challenged Kakashi and been knocked unconscious with a single kick, becoming a laughingstock. Back then, the academy had been full of people mocking him.

Kakashi looked at Guy, asking with his eyes, How thick does this guy's skin have to be to say something like that?

Guy shrugged with a solemn expression, indicating that even he could not fathom the depth of Houka's shamelessness.

"By the way, how's Rin doing?" Houka asked Kakashi with a peculiar look. "Has she confessed to you yet?"