Xiao Qi Reappears

"Yo~ Long time no see, Tuoye."

Just then, a silver-haired boy approached from the distance, with a watermelon-headed boy trailing behind him.

If you asked who Inuzuka Takuya least wanted to see at the Ninja Academy, the answer wasn't the strict Taijutsu instructor, nor the elusive head of discipline. It wasn't even his mom, who blew up at the slightest provocation after every parent-teacher meeting. It was the silver-haired boy standing before him.

Hatake Sakumo, hailed as the pride of the Hatake Clan and its hope for a revival; a genius who had defeated an honors student from an upper grade on his very first day at the Academy, and was destined to become a powerful ninja...

As it happened, that defeated upperclassman had been none other than him, Inuzuka Takuya...

Takuya would never forget that afternoon a few months ago.

As a member of the Inuzuka Clan, known for their keen senses and agility, Takuya had always ranked among the top students in his grade in Taijutsu.

That was why the teacher had assigned him and several other equally outstanding students to help teach a Taijutsu class for the new students.

It was supposed to be a fun activity where the upperclassmen showed their love for their juniors with their fists, while earning the admiration of the girls at the same time.

But when one person showed up, everything began to spiral out of control...

He had lost to the silver-haired brat standing before him.

And that silver-haired brat had caught the attention of the Third Hokage. He had even skipped two grades and ended up in the third year, in the same class as Takuya.

Inuzuka Nao didn't seem to know Sakumo. Her brows furrowed slightly. "Big brother, who's that? He looks so full of himself."

Inuzuka Takuya ignored his sister's question. Staring intently at Sakumo, he assumed a fighting stance and loudly declared, "Hatake Sakumo, fight me! This time, I won't underestimate you!"

Underestimate him? That was right. He had underestimated him.

He'd only lost because he'd underestimated his opponent, letting him take advantage and beat him with a few fierce attacks. Before he'd even had time to react, he'd already lost.

Hatake Sakumo glanced at the watermelon-headed boy behind him, who was covered in bruises, then looked at Inuzuka Takuya. He pressed one hand to his forehead, looking utterly exasperated. "Why is everyone so full of youthful passion...? Fine, make it quick. I've got things to do later."

"Um... sorry to interrupt. If you want to spar with this big-faced senior, you might have to wait your turn." Xian Yu gave Hatake Sakumo an apologetic smile, then stepped forward. He was no shorter than Inuzuka Takuya, and stood a whole head taller than Sakumo, who was the same age as him.

Xian Yu had disliked Inuzuka Takuya for a while now. He'd thought Hiruko's timidity meant he wouldn't have a good excuse to step in.

Then, as if on purpose, Inuzuka Takuya had stopped their group.

From the looks of it, if Hatake Sakumo and Might Duy hadn't shown up, this guy had been planning to teach them all a lesson, hadn't he?

He couldn't just pretend he hadn't seen that...

"Fine, you go first." Sakumo casually waved a hand and stepped aside.

"Kid, you're Xian Yu, right? None of you know how to respect your seniors. Don't... get too arrogant!" Veins bulged on Takuya's forehead. As soon as he finished speaking, he swung a punch at Xian Yu's face.

Xian Yu thrust out his right hand and caught the incoming fist. Calmly, he said, "Yo, ambushing someone isn't what a senior should do, is it?"

Inuzuka Takuya felt his fist caught in an iron grip. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pull it free. A flash of shock crossed his face.

"Besides, are you going easy on your junior, Senior Takuya? Is a punch this weak really supposed to hurt anyone?"

Xian Yu suddenly kicked out with his right foot. "Thump!" His foot struck Inuzuka Takuya in the stomach, sending him soaring through the air in a high arc before he crashed to the ground seven or eight meters away.

"So strong..." The few people who had come with Takuya all looked shocked.

Hatake Sakumo also looked intrigued as he sized up the boy before him, who had crossed scars on his chin.

"B-Big brother got sent flying with one punch?" Inuzuka Nao covered her mouth with one hand, her face full of disbelief.

Xian Yu, who had never been particularly outstanding in class, was actually this strong? He'd sent her brother flying with just one punch...

Only Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Might Duy showed no surprise.

"Xian Yu..." Hiruko's eyes glimmered with tears. He knew Xian Yu was standing up for him.

"Damn it..." Takuya clutched his stomach and struggled to his feet. His eyes were practically spitting fire as he glared at the scarred boy calmly watching him.

"Aomaru! Beast Mimicry Ninjutsu—Four Legs Technique!"

Xian Yu slipped his left hand into his pocket and rubbed his chin with his right. After thinking for a second, he sighed helplessly. "This is getting a little troublesome. Sigh, wouldn't it have been better to let me beat you up without a fuss? Since it's come to this..."

Seeing Takuya and his Ninja Dog, Aomaru, drop to all fours and slowly grow sharp, elongated claws, Xian Yu shook his head and crouched down. He pressed one hand against the ground. "Summoning Technique! Come out, Bai Xiaoqi!"

Just as Inuzuka Takuya finished gathering himself and charged, a mysterious black circle of runes, two meters in radius, rapidly appeared on the ground beneath Xian Yu's hand. Then the enormous form of the Three-Tailed Fox, Bai Xiaoqi, appeared.

"T-This... You've got to be kidding! A Summoning Technique of this caliber... Is he really still a student at the Ninja Academy?" Everyone present gaped in terror.

After consuming Spirit Rice for a long time, the Three-Tailed Fox Bai Xiaoqi had grown to over three meters long. Even lying on the ground, it stood a meter and sixty or seventy centimeters tall—nothing like the little kids gathered there. It was already a veritable war beast! Its sharp claws gleamed with a sinister light, and its fearsome fangs were more than intimidating. Its three thick tails were as terrifying as pythons!

"Jiraiya, Orochimaru, if anyone tries to run, stop them. Xiao Qi, beat everyone except that girl until they're down. Just don't kill them!" Xian Yu gave Bai Xiaoqi a satisfied once-over, then issued his orders with a vicious grin.

"Heh heh, I've been wanting to teach these guys a lesson for ages." Jiraiya cheerfully rubbed his fists.

"Don't worry, Xian Yu. Not a single one will get away." Orochimaru replied calmly.

"Roar~ You finally summoned me. As you command, Young Master Yu." Bai Xiaoqi was extremely excited. Ever since its brief clash with Danzo that day, it had hidden away in the Summoning Space. Trapped in that lightless Summoning Space, its only pleasures besides training had been eating Spirit Rice... It was going stir-crazy.

Inuzuka Takuya remained in his Beast Mimicry stance, but he no longer had the courage to attack. His whole body was trembling.

You've got to be kidding! You've got to be kidding! I must be dreaming... How could this kid summon a ninja beast of this level?

Even without a direct fight, nobody would doubt the giant fox's strength. Its terrifying size alone made it clear that none of them could defeat it—not even if they all attacked together!

"Brat, don't push us too far!" Inuzuka Takuya gritted his teeth, forcing himself to steady his trembling legs. He saw Aomaru trembling beside him too, and steeled himself before charging at the giant fox with everything he had.

"Brave of you." Bai Xiaoqi curled its lip and casually swatted with one paw, as if batting at a mosquito.

The next moment, with a sharp smack, Inuzuka Takuya was sent flying and slammed into a wall more than ten meters away, where he passed out.

Bai Xiaoqi then lashed out with its three tails. Aomaru, a Ninja Dog about the size of an adult wolf in its battle form, narrowly dodged the first two tails, but the last enormous tail wrapped tightly around its body, leaving it unable to move.

Feeling the tail squeeze tighter and tighter, Aomaru glanced at its master's miserable state, then rolled its eyes back and fainted. The entire performance took less than half a second.

Bai Xiaoqi's fox face held the hint of a smile as it muttered, "You've got more sense than your master."

Then, without making things any harder for Aomaru, it let go.

Aomaru lay limply on the ground, eyes rolled back, completely motionless... Its performance was incredibly convincing...

Seeing that Inuzuka Takuya couldn't even withstand a single blow from the fox, while Ninja Dog Aomaru was "as good as dead," the other six third-year students immediately scattered like startled birds.

But just then, Xian Yu, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru sprang into action!

Sakumo and Hiruko, watching from a distance, along with Inuzuka Nao, who was running toward her brother, watched in amazement as those esteemed third-year seniors proved almost completely helpless against the trio. Each one was knocked down in just a few blows, then hauled back by the scruff like a chicken.

"Not bad. Looks like you've reached the level of a Jonin, more or less. But as a giant ninja beast, its usefulness on the battlefield far exceeds that of a ninja of the same rank." After beating up the seven upperclassmen one by one, Xian Yu left only Inuzuka Nao, who was crouched beside her unconscious brother, trembling. Suddenly, he felt guilty, like some spoiled young thug.

But he had to admit, it felt pretty good...