Staring at the secret treasure like it was a hot potato, the three of them were at a loss. Uchiha Zhuang finally said, "How about this? We'll use this treasure as our capital. I'm going to become clan head—the head of the Uchiha Clan! Let's make this treasure the first step toward building our power!" Then he handed the manual to Genmu. Both Meiko and Genmu voiced their support for Uchiha Zhuang. And so, the first step in Uchiha Zhuang's grand plan was complete.
After wandering around Konoha for a few more days, Uchiha Zhuang discovered many things he'd never seen before. The ninja world was vast, and plenty of things had never appeared in the original story. There were desert travelers leading camels, hunters with leopard-like pets, burly merchants with blond hair and blue eyes, samurai walking around with topknots, and even mercenary squads roaming in groups of three or five. Uchiha Zhuang bought all sorts of curious little things he'd never seen before: bugs trapped in strange stones, golden amber, various eggs, medicinal herbs, and more. After picking up a variety of local goods, he went to a small river in the woods and summoned the system. He submitted the collection quest he'd received a few days earlier—gathering fifty kinds of items from the ninja world—and unlocked the item exchange feature. It let him trade any item from the ninja world for another item according to mysterious odds. He might get a divine treasure, or he might end up with a useless branch or rock. The collection quest rewarded him with a Flame Bracelet (Gold): when releasing fire-aspected magic, spiritual power, true energy, divine power, chakra, or other forms of energy, it increased the energy output by sixty percent. Seeing the Flame Bracelet, Uchiha Zhuang was overwhelmed with joy. His luck was insane! A divine treasure! Finally, he spent two thousand of the points he'd accumulated over the past few days in the shop on Marrow Cleansing Liquid (Purple). It refined the body and removed impurities. With the liquid's enhancement, his physical abilities doubled, and his chakra use, output, and control all rose to elite Jonin level.
On the day the Ninja Academy opened, Genmu and Meiko brought Uchiha Zhuang to the school entrance. Looking at all the parents coming and going to drop off their children, Uchiha Zhuang suddenly felt as if he'd returned to his school days back on Earth. It had been just as lively, with parents bringing their kids to school. He remembered that on his first day, his schoolbag had been completely empty except for a bottle of Dayunbi soda. What a nostalgic memory! Unfortunately, he might never be able to go back. Now he would conquer this place, then set sail for the sea of stars. Coming back to himself, Uchiha Zhuang gave a self-deprecating chuckle and headed for the gate. Wearing a training outfit, old Beijing cloth shoes, and a bracelet patterned with flames, with an empty backpack on his back and a complete ninja tool pouch at his waist, he strolled toward the entrance. Behind him, Genmu and Meiko reminded him to study his theory lessons, not get into fights, and keep a low profile while he developed. Uchiha Zhuang gave them an OK sign and continued through the gate.
He arrived at the auditorium for new student registration. Everyone stood at the back while a ninja teacher wearing a bird-beak-shaped spiral Forehead Protector read out names. Those called were directed to one side, where staff members led them to their classes. Before long, Uchiha Zhuang heard his name and was assigned to Class 2, first year. He followed the staff member upstairs to the second floor. When he opened the door, he saw a tiered classroom half-filled with little kids. He wandered in and sat down beside Hyuga Hinotori, greeting her with, "Long time no see." A few boys nearby seemed disgruntled. Uchiha Zhuang turned and took a look. Huh, it was the little brats from last time—and it looked like the chubby kid had found himself some new underlings, seven or eight of them. He mentally gave the chubby kid a thumbs-up, then ignored the weakling's anger and turned to chat with Hyuga Hinotori.
Gazing at those captivating white eyes, Uchiha Zhuang grew more and more curious. He even leaned close to Hyuga Hinotori and stared into her pale eyes. Then, with a serious expression, he asked, "Are you sure you don't have white-eye disease?" Hyuga Hinotori smiled and replied, "Of course not. I know what you mean, but we can see normally—and we can see farther and more clearly, too." As she spoke, she activated her Byakugan. The skin around her eyes wrinkled as she examined the powerful chakra and high-energy reaction inside Uchiha Zhuang. Hyuga Hinotori was astonished. He's already this powerful at his age? Is he the next heir? How frightening! Unaware of what Hyuga Hinotori was thinking, Uchiha Zhuang looked at her and said, "Akihime, have you ever seen the eyes of the Uchiha Clan?" Akihime shook her head. "Well, now you can." Uchiha Zhuang opened his eyes, and his wine-red irises, with two Tomoe slowly turning, appeared before Akihime. As she looked at the spinning Tomoe, it was as if they were calling to her. She began to sink into some kind of illusion, unable to struggle free, slowly sinking deeper. Seeing Akihime's Byakugan deactivate on its own and her gaze turn hazy, Uchiha Zhuang knew he'd hypnotized her. Well, she was only five, after all. She couldn't meet the gaze of two-Tomoe eyes like his! Their passive effect alone had hypnotized her. He placed a hand on her shoulder and sent a pulse of chakra into her. Akihime slowly regained her senses, then looked at Uchiha Zhuang in amazement. He's so powerful at this age! I'm already one of the rare geniuses in the Hyuga Clan. I awakened my Byakugan at five—after I got bullied, I went home and started hellish training—and I can match Chunin in Taijutsu and Gentle Fist. Ordinary genjutsu doesn't work on me, yet his eyes pulled me into an illusion in an instant. The Uchiha Clan, forged in the Warring States period, really is extraordinary. With a calm expression and even the hint of a smile, Akihime said, "You're amazing, Zhuang. I've heard the Sharingan is the most powerful eye in the world. Even among the Uchiha Clan, not many can awaken it, let alone reach two or three Tomoe. I only awakened my Byakugan at five. I can't believe you already have two Tomoe at your age. You really are a genius!" Hearing a hint of envy in her words, Uchiha Zhuang fired back, "I've heard that among the Hyuga Clan, you usually have to be a Chunin or even a Jonin to activate Byakugan mode. You're a genius too, awakening it at just five. The Byakugan can see through things, can't it? Do you ever peep at other people's underwear?" "Ah! Pervert! I'm not talking to you anymore!" Akihime blushed slightly and turned away, ignoring Uchiha Zhuang. Feeling like he'd come out on top, Uchiha Zhuang couldn't have been happier. Flirting with girls felt great!
The kids around them watched the two flirt and exchange glances, seething with anger. The chubby kid was the angriest of all. He wanted to charge over and beat them both up, smashing into that nasty little brat who looked like an Uchiha and crushing him. The beating he'd taken last time hadn't taught the chubby kid his lesson; instead, it had only spurred his determination to get revenge. Over the past few months, he'd recruited followers and claimed territory. With snacks and fists, he'd become a little street thug near Central Park! He'd been just one step away from earning the title of Konoha Street Thug when his burly parents brought him to school, saying he might as well become a lawyer or a doctor someday—anything was better than fooling around on the streets all day. Then, at school, the chubby kid had run into that nasty brat again. He planned to ambush him after school, but seeing his sturdier frame and five-foot stature made him hesitate.
Ignoring the hesitant chubby kid, Uchiha Zhuang kept telling Akihime about what he'd been up to lately, sticking to kid-friendly parts of his adventures. Sure enough, she was captivated by his fantastical stories. Still, she didn't believe Uchiha Zhuang could have left the village and gone adventuring outside the Land of Fire, then returned safely. She assumed he was just telling her stories about his father's experiences. As more and more students filled the classroom, it was finally packed. A ninja teacher walked in and looked over the roomful of elementary school students. "I'm Koen Kirito. You can call me Teacher Kirito. I'm very happy to see you all. You're the foundation of Konoha and its future. I hope you'll serve the village with all your heart. Study hard for the village, and whether or not you become ninja someday, don't forget the Will of Fire and the spirit you learn at the Ninja Academy." A wave of enthusiastic applause rose from the classroom. After all, most people upheld the Will of Fire. Looking at the ordinary classroom teacher speaking about the spirit of self-sacrifice embodied by the Will of Fire, Uchiha Zhuang felt neither disgust nor fervor. He understood that it was a belief held by many. As long as a belief encouraged people to do good and strive forward, it didn't matter; if you didn't like it, you could simply reject it. He glanced at Akihime, who looked just as uninterested, and smiled. Every major clan had its own ancestral teachings. The village's faith was mainly concentrated among civilian ninja and members of small clans.
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