Dominating the First Term

"Hey, move out of the way!"

A well-meaning warning echoed through the corridor. If one were to take a punch from the Akimichi Clan head-on, a dislocation or fracture—landing them in the hospital for a fortnight—would be considered a light injury!

Yet, a scene that left the onlookers stunned unfolded: the little guy, three grades their junior, did not retreat but instead surged forward, clenching his fist to meet the strike head-on in a display of pure, unadulterated force!

"Gods!"

"Which teacher taught this student?"

"Did he not see that massive 'Food' character? Does he not know that it symbolizes the crest of the Akimichi Clan?"

"Does he really think he'll be treated differently just because he's young?"

"Ridiculous."

A sneer of disdain curled the corner of Rin Sarutobi's mouth.

"That brute Akimichi Hishi, who only knows how to use raw strength, is someone even I wouldn't want to face. This foolish brat actually dreams of trading blows with him? He is courting humiliation!"

Of course, there were a few boys and girls in deep blue ninja uniforms present who showed no surprise; instead, their arrogant eyes held a hint of mockery and pity.

"Ignorant fool. To underestimate the Uchiha, to underestimate that kid, is an incredibly unwise choice."

"You should know, Arata is called the second Itachi even by Yashiro!"

"Savor the despair!"

"Just like those before them."

In contrast to the confidence of his clansmen, Izumi Uchiha could not help but clench her hands.

Although she also believed that Arata could fight above his grade and possessed strength that was invincible within the academy, that was limited to one-on-one combat. The three blocking the path were the current "Ino-Shika-Cho" trio, whose private relationship was akin to brothers. If Akimichi Hishi suffered, then Yamanaka Reki and Nara Mori would certainly not stand by and watch.

The Sharingan was strong, but facing three upperclassmen with formidable strength and excellent coordination, it was not guaranteed to hold the advantage.

As the girl pondered, their fists collided.

Hishi did not hold back at all; being cruel and strict with his junior now was a form of responsibility.

After all, the elders of his clan had warned them that although the era they lived in seemed peaceful, undercurrents were still surging.

Arata did not retreat in the slightest, his expression as calm as water. The hulking figure before him was like a training post he used daily, unable to provide even a shred of intimidation.

"Crack."

A crisp sound of bone grinding echoed through the corridor, causing everyone's heartbeats to skip a beat.

In the end, whose strength was superior?

The answer was revealed quickly.

"Ah!"

After letting out a shrill scream, the bear-like Akimichi Hishi fell to one knee in the corridor.

His features were twisted in agony, his round face flushed bright red, and his right arm hung limp. His left hand trembled as he tried to touch the injured limb, yet he feared causing further damage.

The Akimichi Clan, known for their strength, had actually lost in a contest of power? Such a result was completely beyond the expectations of these upperclassmen!

That was Akimichi Hishi!

In their daily sparring and competitions, they had suffered plenty of losses due to his raw power.

Conversely, Arata Uchiha remained calm and collected. After retracting his fist, his posture as he stood straight was like a towering pine; to say he had struck casually and still had strength to spare would not be an exaggeration!

The impact of such a contrast was truly immense.

"Hishi!"

"Arata, you've gone too far!"

A sharp shout suppressed the surrounding noise.

Seeing his friend injured, Nara Mori was the first to move. As his fingers interlaced, a black shadow darted out from beneath his feet. At such close range and in such a narrow corridor, the little guy before him had nowhere to run.

It wasn't just Mori; although Yamanaka Reki was a beat slower, he also formed hand seals in an instant.

Let them bear the reputation of bullying a junior; besides, this was a form of "encouragement" from his seniors!

"Arata, watch out!"

Izumi Uchiha could no longer suppress the agitation in her heart. Ripples appeared in her calm eyes, and a pair of tomoe quietly manifested within her pupils.

"They actually want to go three-on-one!"

"That's too much!"

However, before she could push past the students in front of her to join the fray, the little guy standing at the "center of the storm" moved again—or more accurately, his eyes moved.

Without even looking at the shadow about to touch him, Arata stared straight at Yamanaka Reki. A single tomoe on his crimson pupil radiated an invisible deterrent.

He would not allow others to invade his consciousness and turn him into a puppet.

"Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique."

Surging ocular power erupted in an instant.

"Damn it!"

The moment he saw those scarlet pupils, Yamanaka Reki wanted to close his eyes.

No one would ever want to look directly into a Sharingan, not even he, despite his mental strength far exceeding his peers!

But it was still too late.

He never could have imagined that even though it was Mori who had made the first move—using that roar as his usual petty trick to distract the opponent—the little guy before him had chosen to prioritize attacking him instead.

However, it did not matter.

There were three of them on his side, and they had long since mastered the methods to break a Sharingan during their sparring matches with classmates.

Yet, despite these thoughts, when those wedges nailed themselves into his spiritual body, Yamanaka Reki could not help but let out a shriek even more harrowing than Hishi's.

One had to know that Uchiha genjutsu was a dual torment of both body and mind!

At this moment, Nara Mori's Shadow Possession Jutsu had already reached Arata's feet, but at that very fraction of a distance, he suddenly ceased his control over the ninjutsu!

It was not because he had also fallen under a genjutsu.

It was because a sharp icicle had quietly manifested right before his pupil; with just a gentle nudge, his right eye would be gone!

Following the icicle back, he saw that the little guy they had looked down upon had raised his right arm, his extended finger pointing straight at him.

Clearly, the originator of this Ice Release ninjutsu was none other than him!

"Distracted while fighting two at once?"

"How is that possible?"

"Doesn't he need to weave hand signs to perform ninjutsu?"

Countless questions roared through Nara Mori's mind, and cold sweat uncontrollably seeped from his spine, sticking his clothes to his back. The icicle, radiating a bone-chilling cold, was on the verge of blinding him before it even made contact.

"Dual Kekkei Genkai!"

"Is this what a dual Kekkei Genkai is?"

Mori's heart trembled, his pupils constricted, and his memory flashed back to three years ago, when the clan elders had warned their younger generation: "A new genius has appeared in the Uchiha clan who has mastered a second Kekkei Genkai. His name is Arata; do not provoke him if you have no reason to."

But in his youthful arrogance, he had felt that the bond of the "Ino-Shika-Cho" could crush any enemy, and he had paid it no mind.

He never thought that on the day of graduation, he would truly taste the powerlessness of being crushed.

And it was not just the three little ones from the "Ino-Shika-Cho" families; the surrounding upperclassmen were all struck dumb, silenced by fear. From the moment Akimichi Hishi made his move, to Yamanaka Reki's scream, and Nara Mori's surrender, it had all happened in the blink of an eye.

Yet that single moment was enough to etch Arata's name into their hearts, just like that Itachi who had applied for graduation after only one year!

It was even more direct than the shock left behind by that person!

Not far away, the savage grin on Rin Sarutobi's face froze, and the mockery in his eyes was gradually replaced by a surging tide of terror.

"If it were me, how long could I last?"

He did not know.