Ninja Academy

That was why, out of his fifty jin of body weight, 49.99 jin was pure rebellion.

Today was the opening ceremony.

After getting ready and packing his lunch, Genya changed into the new clothes and backpack Mikoto had bought for him, then pushed open the door and headed out.

The brilliant sunlight was dazzling.

Genya narrowed his eyes slightly. As he turned around, he saw Itachi leaning against the wall. He seemed to have been waiting there for some time.

"What are you doing here?" Genya asked in confusion.

"Father knew you weren't familiar with the school, so he told me to go with you," Itachi said flatly, expressionless.

Genya gave an "Oh," then headed toward the Ninja Academy with him.

The Uchiha clan lived on the outskirts of the village, while the Ninja Academy was in central Konoha. It took more than half an hour to walk there.

After a moment of silence, Itachi asked, "Do you think that if the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha keeps worsening one day... war will break out?"

Itachi was very smart.

He knew the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha was constantly intensifying, but he was still too young to change anything. A sense of helplessness rose within him.

"Who knows? We'll leave it to fate," Genya said lightly, clasping his hands behind his head as he stared at the sky.

He couldn't exactly say—

Hey, Itachi!

In seven years, you'll slaughter your parents for the village, right?

The rest of the way passed in silence.

The two of them walked toward the Ninja Academy.

There were people coming and going along the road.

Genya did not resist the idea of studying at the Ninja Academy.

On the contrary.

He believed that only by systematically learning about the ninja world could he better survive in this dog-eat-dog world.

However, after graduating from the Ninja Academy and becoming a Genin, he would have to accept the assignments of Konoha's higher-ups.

Not only would he have to undertake all sorts of dangerous missions, but if war broke out, he would have to go to the battlefield as well.

Naruto Uzumaki's first escort mission had run into Zabuza, a Jonin of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and Haku, who possessed a Kekkei Genkai.

If Naruto had not used the Nine-Tails' power in his rage at the end, Sasuke might have already died at Haku's hands.

The ninja world was dangerous.

Fortunately, Genya had a system!

After walking for more than half an hour, Genya and Itachi finally arrived at the entrance of the Ninja Academy.

Itachi glanced at Genya with slight surprise.

Under Fugaku's guidance.

Itachi had trained for more than two years and possessed excellent stamina. Even after walking for more than half an hour, his expression did not change.

But he knew Genya's family situation. The fact that Genya was not even out of breath exceeded his expectations.

What Itachi did not know was—

After Genya awakened his Sage Body to Level 1, his physical abilities had greatly improved. His stamina was far superior to Itachi's.

He could even run dozens or hundreds of laps around the Uchiha training grounds.

Following the signs, the two arrived at the school's field.

It was already packed with people.

Three minutes later.

An elderly man wearing a Hokage Haori slowly walked toward the red-carpeted podium, surrounded by the school's higher-ups. He was Konoha's Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen!

Behind him stood three other elderly people: Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu, all prominent figures among Konoha's higher-ups.

The moment Hiruzen appeared, deafening cheers erupted from the crowd.

A gratified smile appeared on Hiruzen's aged face.

"Parents and new students, hello. I am Konoha's Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. I welcome you all here!"

Immediately.

Warm applause broke out across the field again.

It was deafening.

On the podium, Hiruzen gently raised a hand. The crowd below immediately fell silent.

"Where the leaves of Konoha dance, fire burns endlessly. The firelight will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout..."

He delivered his speech with great emotion, explaining to the new students below what the Will of Fire was.

Hearing this impassioned speech, many of the new students grew excited and clenched their fists, hoping to become powerful ninjas, protect Konoha, and carry forward the ideals of the Will of Fire.

Genya, meanwhile, felt sleepy and even yawned.

Konoha burned itself to light the way for new leaves?

Are you sure?

His personal experiences over the past year had made Genya clearly realize that the so-called Will of Fire was nothing but empty rhetoric.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was Konoha's Hokage, the village's highest leader. Everything he did had to be considered from the village's perspective.

His beloved disciple Orochimaru had captured hundreds of people for human experiments, including children only a few years old.

Yet Hiruzen ultimately chose to spare such a man whose crimes were beyond count.

In Hiruzen's mind, Orochimaru was his most beloved and exceptionally gifted disciple. Perhaps he would realize his mistakes and change.

Hiruzen gave Orochimaru a chance.

But who gave those dead villagers a chance?

Yet when it came to the Uchiha, one of Konoha's founding clans, Hiruzen displayed a different kind of ruthless cruelty.

For the sake of so-called peace in the ninja world, he hypocritically demanded that Itachi wipe out his clan.

Konoha's higher-ups had long viewed the Uchiha through tinted glasses.

If they had not pressed them step by step and made things difficult at every turn, how could the Uchiha have reached the point of wanting to rebel?

Was this the Will of Fire Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke of?

Genya scoffed!

The atmosphere in the field grew increasingly fervent.

Many students were shouting, "Long live the Third Hokage!"

Genya joined in and shouted himself hoarse, "Long live the Third Hokage!"

When in Rome...

Ninja Academy

For over an hour.

Amid the crowd's deafening applause, Hiruzen ended his speech with a smile. His final bow of thanks earned another wave of cheers.

This made Genya, whose waist ached from standing for so long, sigh in admiration. It turned out their Lord Third Hokage was not only skilled at wielding a massive Ruyi Staff, but was also an incredible speaker.

After the opening ceremony ended, the parents behind the field left the Ninja Academy under the guidance of the school's teachers.

According to the earlier class assignments, Genya and Itachi returned to their respective classrooms, though they were in different classes.

Genya was in Class 3 of the first year, while Itachi was in Class 1.

Because Itachi was exceptionally gifted and had graduated from the Ninja Academy at the age of seven, the academy was merely a temporary stop for him.

Genya was indeed strong, but he would not foolishly graduate early.

He had to upgrade his bloodline first!

When Genya entered the classroom, he noticed many gazes falling upon him, some carrying faint hostility.

The Uchiha did not have the best reputation. Since he wore his clan uniform, people knew who he was.

Genya ignored them and calmly walked toward his seat by the corridor.

After sitting down, he began looking around the classroom.

His classmates came from many different clans.

There were members of the Inuzuka Clan, with a white puppy perched on their heads.

Members of the Akimichi Clan, eating and drinking heartily as they frantically crunched on potato chips.

Members of the Nara Clan, who used shadow techniques.

As well as members of clans such as the Yamanaka and Aburame...

"Hello, classmate. Could you let me in?" Not long after Genya sat down, a little girl gathered her courage and spoke to him.

As soon as she finished speaking, the little girl lowered her head again. She did not dare meet Genya's eyes and looked extremely socially anxious.

"Oh, sure. Go ahead." Genya casually stood up and made room for her to pass, introducing himself at the same time.

"My name is Uchiha Genya. Please take care of me."

"Hello, Genya. My name is Hyuga Nami," the girl said softly, her voice as quiet as a mosquito's buzz.

The moment she finished speaking, Hyuga Nami's face flushed red. As she answered, Genya got a clear look at her.

Hyuga Nami was very pretty. She had an oval face, fair skin, large watery eyes, and long black hair that was smooth and glossy. When she pursed her lips in a smile, faint dimples appeared on her cheeks. It was clear she would grow into a beauty.

Most eye-catching of all were her pair of pure white eyes, immaculate and flawless.

"The Hyuga Clan." Genya shifted his gaze away from the girl's eyes and murmured inwardly.

The Hyuga Clan was one of the veteran clans that had joined the Hidden Leaf Village during the founding of the Land of Fire. They possessed a Kekkei Genkai known as the Byakugan.

To protect the precious Byakugan, the Hyuga Clan was divided into the main family and branch family.

The main family inherited the Byakugan bloodline generation after generation, wielded lofty authority, and could place the Caged Bird curse mark on the foreheads of branch family members to control them.

To deal with a branch family member, the main family only needed a thought to activate the Caged Bird curse mark and destroy the nerves in the other person's brain.

They truly held the branch family's lives and deaths in their hands.

The Caged Bird mark was proof of the Hyuga main family's authority, as well as a symbol of the branch family's humiliation.

Genya noticed that Hyuga Nami had a strip of white silk wrapped around her forehead. When she realized he was looking at her, she involuntarily lowered her head, appearing deeply insecure.

"Hyuga Nami should be from the branch family." Genya sighed softly, feeling a bit of sympathy for her.

After all, the Caged Bird was an ugly mark.

While Genya was distracted, Hyuga Nami took a pink lunch box from her backpack. A faint fragrance spread through the air.

"Genya, I made these takoyaki myself. Please try some."

"My mother said that when I came to the Ninja Academy, I should get along well with my classmates. I'm young and don't have much spending money, so I could only make some takoyaki myself!"

"My cooking might not be very good. If they don't taste good, please forgive me."

After speaking, she placed the cute pink lunch box before Genya. She looked pitiful and expectant.

Genya was slightly surprised. He had not expected her to prepare snacks for him. She had put a lot of thought into it!

"I'll try one!" Genya picked up a bamboo skewer and stabbed a takoyaki ball.

"It's delicious!"

Genya quickly ate two more and could not help giving her a thumbs-up!

Hyuga Nami was indeed a good cook.

"Really?" Hearing the praise, Hyuga Nami smiled happily. "My mother said my cooking was good enough to set up a stall, but I didn't believe her before. Now I do!"