But no one had expected it.
It had taken only one move.
For Genya to defeat Hyuga Sora.
He had made it look effortless.
Genya was incredibly strong!
"It's already over?" Akimichi Chotei had just opened a bag of chips and had not even taken a bite when the fight ended.
Everyone was stunned.
It had been too fast.
Genya was just too fast!
"He was actually hiding his strength!" Thinking of how he had overestimated himself and challenged Genya earlier, Sarutobi Taro felt a chill run down his spine.
He was glad Genya had not gone all out just now. Otherwise, he might have ended up worse off than Hyuga Sora.
"Boss, Uchiha Genya is so strong. That stepping stone of yours might trip you up instead." The lackey beside him wore a grave expression. He had even begun worrying that Sarutobi Taro would lose to Genya in their competition to become Hokage.
"Shut up!" Sarutobi Taro smacked his lackey on the head, thinking, You really know how to bring up the worst possible topic.
"Boss, that hurt! Go easier!"
"You can endure it even if it hurts!"
Sarutobi Taro's Massive Bleeding
"This kid has been hiding himself well." A smile appeared at the corner of Watanabe Yu's mouth.
Genya's easy defeat of Hyuga Sora proved that he was far stronger than the latter.
Otherwise, he could not have made it look so effortless.
It seemed Class Three, Year One had produced a promising seedling.
Perhaps.
He could compare with Itachi Uchiha?
Over the past two months.
Itachi had performed exceptionally well at school.
He had faintly earned the title of the Ninja Academy's number one student.
After thinking it over, Watanabe Yu shook his head.
A genius like Itachi Uchiha was not some cheap commodity one could find everywhere. Such people were rare indeed.
Watanabe Yu was not angry that Genya had hidden his strength.
He merely sighed at how low-key and steady this young man was. He could accomplish great things.
At the same age.
Watanabe Yu knew he could never have been so mature and composed. The more he looked at Genya, the more pleasing and admirable he found him.
"Uchiha Genya wins!" Watanabe Yu cleared his throat and announced the result.
After winning.
Genya did not show any excitement.
He merely walked quietly back into the crowd.
Defeating Hyuga Sora gave him no sense of accomplishment.
He possessed three bloodline limits.
If he had lost, he might as well have smashed his head into a block of tofu.
"Inuzuka No, Akimichi Chotei, you two carry Hyuga Sora to the infirmary." Watanabe Yu sighed.
"I hope this setback teaches Hyuga Sora a lesson." Watanabe Yu sighed deeply.
Hyuga Sora was arrogant, but he was still his student. Watanabe Yu also hoped he could rid himself of that bad habit.
"Teacher, can't you choose someone else? Look at these skinny arms and legs of mine—I can't carry him." Inuzuka No pointed at his thin little arms and complained.
"Yeah, Teacher. I get out of breath after walking two steps." Akimichi Chotei said indistinctly while eating chips.
The two shared the same disgust for the arrogant Hyuga Sora.
"Akimichi Chotei, don't eat while talking to me. You have no room to bargain. Go, now!" Watanabe Yu ordered.
"Fine."
Inuzuka No and Akimichi Chotei reluctantly lifted Hyuga Sora, who was still twitching on the ground. Because he had vomited, he looked utterly miserable.
"Don't you dare puke on me! You barked like a dog without knowing your own limits, and now you got beaten up, huh?" Inuzuka No mocked him, kicking him while he was down.
"This guy is so heavy. Can't he lose some weight?" Akimichi Chotei grumbled.
Their words nearly made Hyuga Sora cough up blood through the pain. Yet thinking that he still had to rely on them to carry him to the infirmary, he could only swallow his anger.
"Practical combat class will continue!"
The later sparring matches lacked the substance of the previous ones, and soon it was time for school to end in the afternoon.
Watanabe Yu swept his gaze over the students.
"That concludes today's practical combat class. Dismissed!"
"Yeah!"
Getting out of class was the happiest moment.
The students cheered.
Infirmary.
"Nami, are you feeling better?" After class, Genya did not head home directly. Instead, he went to the school infirmary to visit Nami.
Many people in the class disliked Genya because he came from the Uchiha clan, but Nami was an exception. On the first day of school, she had even treated him to takoyaki.
After two months together.
Genya had already come to see her as a friend.
Now that Nami was unwell, Genya felt it was necessary to visit and comfort her as her friend.
"A medical ninja treated me earlier, so I'm fine now. I'll be able to get out of bed and go home soon. Sorry for making you worry, Genya."
Genya's concern deeply moved the sensitive Hyuga Nami. Her eyes misted over, and she looked as though she might cry at any moment.
"Why are you crying?" After comforting her, Genya said, "Since we're friends, you can call me Genya from now on, and I'll call you Nami. All right?"
"Really?" Nami was both surprised and delighted. She asked again uncertainly, "Have we really become friends?"
Genya nodded firmly in confirmation.
Nami treated others sincerely.
She was worth having as a close friend!
"That's wonderful!" Nami clenched her small pink fist.
It was obvious that she was very happy.
"Ge... Genya, we're friends from now on. Please take care of me!" She held out her fair little hand, inviting a handshake.
"All right, Nami!" Genya extended his left hand. The moment they shook hands, he found her little hand soft and warm like jade.
"To celebrate us becoming friends, when you're free another day, I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen!" Nami said excitedly.
"No need!" Genya waved his hand.
"No!" Nami was extremely resolute. She insisted on treating him to a meal.
"I'm free today." Genya stared at Nami's pretty little face and spoke with complete seriousness.
Ichiraku Ramen had long been famous, and Genya had wanted to check it out for ages. But with his empty pockets, he had never been able to make it happen.
Now that a sucker—no, a good classmate—was offering to treat him, of course he agreed.
Why wait for another day when today would do?
"Uh..." Nami fell silent.
"Genya is so direct."
"Then let's go to Ichiraku Ramen now." Nami smiled sweetly, her heart fluttering.
Going to eat ramen with Genya.
Did that count as a date?
"You're going out for ramen?" Sarutobi Taro suddenly poked his round head out.
"Yes, I planned to treat Genya to Ichiraku Ramen. But since my allowance is limited, I can't invite you too, Taro. I'm terribly sorry." Nami said apologetically.
Taro, I hope you won't be a third wheel.
"You're actually letting a girl pay? You have no gentlemanly manners at all!" Sarutobi Taro said disdainfully.
Genya chuckled.
Gentlemanly manners?
Could they fill his stomach?
"I haven't had Ichiraku Ramen in a while either. How about this? I'll treat both of you." Sarutobi Taro said grandly, his allowance plentiful.
During today's practical combat class.
Genya had gone easy on him.
Sarutobi Taro did not want to owe him a favor, so he had followed them over.
"My appetite might be a little big. Are you sure you want to treat me?" Genya scratched his hair and asked.
"My appetite is big too!" Nami forced out a smile while thinking, Taro, I hope you know what you're getting yourself into.
"I'm a man who will become Hokage. Naturally, I keep my word." Sarutobi Taro patted his chest, brimming with pride.
"All right, then thank you, our future Lord Hokage!" Genya clapped happily.
Taro, you interrupted my date with Genya. I'll get my revenge!
Ichiraku Ramen was not far from the Ninja Academy.
The three set off together.
Less than ten minutes later, they arrived.
"Boss, one bowl of tonkotsu ramen."
"Boss, one bowl of chashu ramen."
"One special ramen!"
"Coming right up." The owner, Teuchi, hurried off to prepare their orders.
Half an hour later.
Looking at the empty bowls stacked upright before them, Sarutobi Taro froze and muttered, "You two have quite the appetite..."
Sarutobi Taro counted carefully.
Nami had eaten six bowls.
Genya's appetite was even more outrageous.
He had eaten twelve bowls in total.
His appetite was astonishingly huge.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Taro himself had eaten only two bowls.
And he could not go back on his word.
Before you continue