A Messy Brawl

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success

Time Limit: 6 days. Use your index finger to release chakra and create one hundred water droplets on the surface of the water that do not disperse, maintaining them for thirty seconds (0/100).

Reward: Improved chakra control]

Byakuya was not woken by an alarm clock today; he pulled up his Fate Grid Panel and looked at the newly issued task.

The sunlight outside the window spilled onto his thin quilt, warm and inviting.

His mood was equally warm.

Cultivating Senju Tobirama's Water Release: Water Severing Wave required chakra control so demanding it was practically inconceivable.

Now, the Fate Grid was providing help just when it was needed most.

The S-rank ninjutsu Water Severing Wave was indeed impossibly difficult; even with the significant improvement in the quality of Byakuya's chakra, he still couldn't master it.

Actually, the Flying Thunder God Technique is just as difficult. The "spatial energy" that belongs to natural energy alone is enough to make countless ninjas shrink back in fear, but I have a cheat—I have experienced natural energy.

The slight increase in his Sage Art talent and Sage Art affinity (natural energy affinity) kept Byakuya itching to learn Sage Art and enter Sage Mode.

It was precisely for this reason that when he reported the mission situation to Danzo, he specifically mentioned his encounter with the Azure-Black Serpent in the Land of Rivers.

Asking for information regarding Ryūchi Cave afterward wouldn't seem too abrupt.

Of course, if he could go to Mount Myoboku to learn Sage Art, Byakuya would be just as happy.

However, he had no reason to approach Jiraiya or Namikaze Minato and ask them to take him to Mount Myoboku.

That was why, last night, he had planted a seed in Hatake Kakashi, a student of Namikaze Minato, to see if it would take root and sprout.

He found some thicker clothes to put on; his body had grown taller and sturdier, and his old clothes no longer fit.

"Time to buy new clothes."

Moreover, the increases in his physical strength, speed, and chakra stats had caused Byakuya's body to grow robustly, leaving him with a fit, athletic physique that made him look heroic and spirited.

He ate egg-fried rice, drank a glass of milk, and consumed his fixed portion of eggs.

Byakuya headed to the Ninja Academy for work.

A batch of students had graduated, and a new batch was coming in.

It was like an assembly line, mass-producing ninjas who identified with the Will of Fire.

Outside the school gate today stood several people wearing the Uchiha clan's fan crest; Byakuya ignored them and went straight to the warehouse.

He opened the three large doors, and before long, teachers from the Ninja Academy came to request teaching tools.

"Twenty Kunai?"

Byakuya held the application form and said, "That's a bit much, isn't it?"

"Ah? Is the warehouse running low?"

"If I give them all to you, there won't be enough when other teachers come to request them."

"Didn't the village send new ninja tools?"

Byakuya shook his head: "In these troubled times, supplies are all being prioritized for the front lines; they aren't looking after the Ninja Academy."

"That's true. Will twelve Kunai do?"

"That works. Wait a moment, I'll go get them for you."

Byakuya reorganized the various ninja tools in the warehouse so that picking them out would be easier in the future.

He piled the Kunai into a wooden box and handed it to the teacher.

"I'll also get you some chakra test paper and wooden Shuriken."

"Much obliged."

The chakra test paper was for measuring the students' chakra natures.

After sending that teacher off, someone else soon came to request tools.

"Byakuya, are there any Kunai left?"

"How many do you need?"

"Twenty."

"Only fourteen left."

"Wooden ones will do."

"Alright."

Byakuya sorted through the tools in the box and turned his head to ask: "Everyone is very busy today."

"The new students have arrived. The Hyuga, Uchiha, Inuzuka, Aburame, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara, and Sarutobi clans have all sent quite a few students."

"That's truly rare. I thought these prestigious clans preferred to educate their children themselves."

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"The Hokage is putting pressure on them."

"I see."

"Sigh, these prestigious clans act as if they are superior, as if they are a different breed from us commoner ninjas. You know, even on the battlefield, ninjas from prestigious clans forcefully order us commoners to scout dangerous intelligence, only moving themselves once they have the information. How many commoner ninjas have died in vain because of this?"

Having finally sent off the chatterbox, Byakuya looked up to see Vice Principal Hiroya standing at a nearby corner, calling his name.

"What does the principal need from me?"

Hiroya's face looked exceptionally haggard, as if he hadn't slept well in days, his spirit and energy withered: "Come to my office for a chat?"

"Alright, let me lock up the warehouse."

On the seat in the warehouse lay the books Byakuya had borrowed from the library, concerning the nature transformation and shape transformation of Earth Release chakra, the characteristics of Earth Release ninjutsu, and the research achievements of Iwagakure's Earth Release ninjutsu.

Apart from the books on nature and shape transformation, the rest all had eye-catching, gimmicky titles, while the content was common knowledge known to everyone. It was fortunate he had borrowed them from the library; if he had spent money on them, he would have been furious.

Hiroya, heavy with worry, entered the office and feebly gestured for him to sit.

He closed the door tightly.

Hiroya whispered: "The Hokage scolded me! He berated me mercilessly, accusing me of sowing discord during a time of crisis for Konoha! He, he ignored the good intentions I expressed! How preposterous!"

Last time, Byakuya had mentioned the Hokage with a tone of indifference.

Hiroya imitated Byakuya's manner, trying his best to appear indifferent, though in reality, his voice was trembling.

"Congratulations."

"Ah?" Hiroya asked in surprise, "What is there to be happy about?"

"You will soon be the principal of the Konoha Ninja Academy."

"This, this, this... but the Hokage just gave me a dressing down!"

"Otherwise, what would you have the Hokage say? Praise you?"

Hiroya suddenly realized, took a deep breath, and exhaled heavily, feeling a sense of relief: "That's right, if he had praised me, that would have been bad! It would imply the Hokage lacks magnanimity and has grown suspicious of Danzo. If I were to tell Danzo about this, it would truly become sowing discord."

He gave a thumbs up.

"The Hokage is brilliant! Truly brilliant! If I become principal, I will vigorously promote the Will of Fire to the students! Byakuya, every position in the Ninja Academy, except for those like class heads involved in teaching duties, is yours to choose!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Principal, but the warehouse manager position suits me just fine."

"Ah? Your ambition is only to be a warehouse manager?"

Byakuya spoke the truth: "Let's wait until the war is over."

"Fair enough, I admire geniuses like you who... uh, uh, accumulate strength and bide their time!"

"Heh, no need for that, Principal. With you as the principal of the Ninja Academy, I won't have to rack my brains to avoid the front lines."

"Oh my, look at you, we are all contributing to Konoha, there is no distinction between us." Hiroya laughed heartily.

Byakuya asked: "Have any major events occurred in the last two days?"

Hiroya hurriedly gathered his thoughts and informed him of the major and minor events he was aware of.

Iwagakure invaded the Land of Wind; after a great battle, the Iwagakure Ninja were narrowly defeated and retreated. The confirmed news had just reached Konoha.

Kirigakure Ninja were making frequent moves along the coast of the Land of Fire, seemingly plotting a conspiracy.

Kumogakure and Iwagakure had suddenly clashed for unknown reasons; it was rumored that both the Tsuchikage and the Raikage had mobilized.

The entire ninja world was becoming increasingly chaotic, descending into a complete mess.