Ninja School

When Xian Yu proposed that he hoped Fahai could help test the strength of his newly contracted Summoned Beast, Fahai naturally agreed!

However, the final contest between the Three-Tailed Fox and Shimura Fahai did not leave Xian Yu satisfied.

It wasn't that the Three-Tailed Fox failed to defeat Fahai, but rather...

Perhaps the Three-Tailed Fox had been infected by Xian Yu's previous behavior? It suddenly became a little irritable.

First, it transformed into the size it claimed was most suitable for combat in its beast form. It stood about two meters tall.

As a result, it fought Fahai to a draw?

After all, Fahai was a bona fide, officially registered Chunin of Konoha. His strength was not to be underestimated.

One must never look down on a registered Konoha Chunin just because of the Naruto manga. Reality will tell you that even the background-character Chunin in the manga possess quite formidable combat power in the real world.

Then, the Three-Tailed Fox claimed it wasn't good at melee combat.

And then, Fahai laughed.

"Heh? Not good at melee? Fine, then show me what you're actually good at!" He had been unable to take down a mere, obscure fox that had crawled out of some unknown corner under his cousin's command for so long. And now, this wicked beast was telling him it wasn't good at melee? That it hadn't even used its full strength?

When you're out in the world, I, Fahai, have a reputation to maintain, alright!

And then, there was no "then"...

The Three-Tailed Fox used an illusion, and our Master Fahai perhaps hadn't mastered his Joyous Zen arts to perfection yet.

Deeply trapped in the opponent's illusion and unable to extricate himself... he began to strip off his 'equipment' right on the spot.

That scene was truly an eyesore!

If Xian Yu hadn't been unable to watch any longer and called a stop in time, Master Fahai might not have even been able to keep his last shred of dignity... (/▽＼)

After breaking free from the illusion, Fahai was overcome with shame. With the fastest speed of his life, he put his stripped-off 'equipment' back on and vanished with a Body Flicker Technique, leaving only dust behind.

He never looked back.

"Hmm... well done. This Master recognizes you." Xian Yu patted the Three-Tailed Fox, which had already shrunk back into a pocket-sized raccoon, and gave it high praise.

"Yes, yes, Master, this one is still very useful! So, Master, please, you must never have that terrifying thought from before again, okay?" The Three-Tailed Fox lived up to its species; although it had flexed its 'muscles' in front of its new master, it had absolutely no thoughts of courting death. It quickly slipped into the role of a lackey, its attitude humble to the extreme...

Tsundere? Nonexistent! It was impossible for it to be tsundere in this lifetime! The fox indicated that it hadn't lived enough yet. Given the previous soul-binding ritual, Xian Yu probably only needed a single thought to make the poor Three-Tailed Fox vanish into ashes a hundred times over...

"Hmm, very good. I like a clever fox that doesn't rely on favor to act spoiled. So, do you have a name?" Xian Yu expressed that he was quite satisfied with the opening of this system Black Iron Treasure Chest.

It was a pity there was no after-sales follow-up. Otherwise, Lord Xian Yu would definitely have given it a five-star review.

"Reporting to Master, my name is Bai Sanlang." The pocket-sized Three-Tailed Fox crawled into Xian Yu's sleeve and curled up, its voice drifting out slowly.

"Eh! Judging by the name, you're a male fox?" Xian Yu was a little surprised, and for some reason, felt a tiny bit disappointed.

"Yes, yes, Master, I am a male. You must be clear about my gender..."

Xian Yu was silent for a long time, then suddenly said: "Fine, then from now on, you shall be called Bai Xiaoqi."

"Hoo... hoo... hoo, y-yes, Master, I am Bai Xiaoqi." This time, the Three-Tailed Fox took several deep breaths before responding slowly, word by word, in a deep tone.

Xian Yu then smiled with satisfaction and muttered softly: "Next time, would it be better to let Xiaoqi stay in my pocket? It seems a bit stuffy in the sleeve; look at how stifled he is, it's so hard for him to even speak, it's truly too exhausting."

The fox's inner thoughts: 〒▽〒

Happy days always pass quickly. This morning, the long-awaited day of the Ninja Academy's opening finally arrived!

"Young Master Yu! Young Master Yu! Wake up! Today is the first day of class at the Ninja Academy, you absolutely cannot be late!"

Early in the morning, the beautiful Shinozaki Ayumi had already helped Xian Yu pack all the books and various ninja tools he would need into a scroll. Then, she came to wake Xian Yu up, draped in all sorts of gear.

"Ugh... it's not even light out yet, having to get up so early. Things like the Ninja Academy are just the worst."

Shimura Xian Yu complained while cooperating with Shinozaki Ayumi as she helped him brush his teeth.

Soon, little Xian Yu's teeth were brushed clean by Ayumi.

Next was washing his face.

"Ugh... ptooey. Sister Ayumi, be a little gentler. Rubbing with the towel so hard will damage this young master's handsome and dashing face!"

Shinozaki Ayumi apologized softly and comforted him: "We're almost going to be late, little Yu, be good. Hold your breath, let sister help you wash your face quickly so we can hurry to the Ninja Academy."

"Hmm, and this, help me stick it on." Finally finished with his grooming, Xian Yu mysteriously took out a sticker and asked Shinozaki Ayumi to stick it on his chin.

Xian Yu suddenly fell into deep thought...

When exactly did his life start becoming so decadent?

He remembered when he was just over two years old. The mornings back then were like this:

"Oh, Young Master Yu, don't move, let me help you brush your teeth and wash your face."

"No need, I'm more used to doing these little things myself."

When exactly did it start? Xian Yu fell into deep thought...

Shinozaki Ayumi was draped in scrolls containing various items, carrying Xian Yu on her back as she leaped across the rooftops of others' homes. Finally, they arrived at the entrance of the Ninja Academy.

"This, this, and this! Young Master Yu, you must not lose these scrolls on the way! Inside are the textbooks needed for academic classes, as well as the kunai and shuriken for throwing practice. And your lunch for noon. Yes! This red food scroll contains the bento I made myself, that blue scroll has rice balls, and that purple one holds the ginseng soup I stayed up all night brewing. I made extra portions so you can share them with your good friends!"

Shinozaki Ayumi spoke at a rapid-fire pace, and once she finished her instructions, she immediately urged him, "Hurry inside for class! Class 1-7, don't go to the wrong room!"

Xian Yu had been feeling a bit anxious himself, after all, it was his first day of school. Being late would surely leave a bad impression on the teacher.

However, upon seeing a certain figure appear at the school gate, Comrade Xian Yu instantly became calm and composed.

"Young Master Yu, hurry up and go in! You're really going to be late!" Seeing Xian Yu still squatting on the ground, unhurriedly organizing his scrolls, Shinozaki Ayumi grew truly anxious.

"Na, na, na, Mei-mei, don't be so anxious. Do you see that pineapple-head who just walked into the school gate?" Xian Yu remained calm and composed.

"Eh?" Hearing this, Shinozaki Ayumi glanced toward the school gate and saw a pineapple-headed brat walking toward the school in a slow, swaying, unhurried manner. She was a bit confused, not knowing what her young master meant.

"These pineapple-heads are so annoying! They always arrive exactly on time for class. They always step into the classroom at the very last second!" Xian Yu paused and smiled confidently: "So, as long as I step into the classroom one step ahead of him, I definitely won't be late."

"Eh?" Shinozaki Ayumi looked with surprise at the pineapple-headed brat who was walking closer and closer.

Nara Pengyi slowly bypassed the strange woman and the brat with two crossed scars on his chin who were blocking his path.

As they brushed past each other, Nara Pengyi couldn't help but mutter, "What a drag."

"Huh?" Shinozaki Ayumi looked blank. She had no idea that the pineapple-head was talking about her.

The moment Xian Yu saw the pineapple-head walk past him, he didn't have time to waste words with Shinozaki Ayumi and immediately gave chase.

Hmph, I can't stand you arrogant pineapple-heads the most.

Luckily, I checked the information for Class 7 long ago. This pineapple-head is also in Class 7.

I'll stick right behind you, and I'll even pretend to accidentally step on your heel, just to annoy you to death, you pineapple-head.

Hmph, and when we get near the classroom door, I'll step inside just before you do.

Xian Yu thought to himself, feeling quite pleased.

This was his first time experiencing the ability to arrive safely and worry-free right on time, leaving the teacher with nothing to say.

A few minutes later.

At the entrance of Class 1-7.

"Nara Pengyi! Shimura Xian Yu! You two freshmen dare to be late on your first day! Get to the door and stand in punishment for the entire morning!"

On this day, the roar of the Class 1-7 homeroom teacher, Shimura Xiong Yi, echoed throughout the entire campus...

"Even your Nara clan's mental arithmetic can go wrong?" Standing in punishment alongside Nara Pengyi, Xian Yu's dark, round eyes were wide with disbelief.

Nara Pengyi: "Idiot, it's all your fault, you fool, for following behind me and stepping on my heel over and over, which caused my mental count to break... Calculating the time difference mid-way was too much of a drag... I thought about it and just continued counting from the previous number..."

Xian Yu burst into tears: "Brother Pengyi, I was wrong! I shouldn't have accidentally... stepped on your heel one hundred and eight times..."

Nara Pengyi said in surprise: "So it was one hundred and eight times... No wonder I remembered the count was quite high, but while maintaining my mental arithmetic, calculating how many times you stepped on me... it was just too much of a drag..."

"Yeah, it really was too much of a drag..." The two of them sighed in unison.