Daily Life

For the first lesson of the new term, Kirito stood at the front, lecturing on the history, school motto, and regulations of the Ninja Academy. "In short, our academy is a five-year program. You must be at least eight years old to enroll, and only after passing a physical examination and a family background check. There are two breaks each year, and at the end of every year, you will face both theoretical and practical exams. If your overall grade is insufficient, you will have to repeat the year. Furthermore, the final graduation exam in the fifth year will be conducted under the direct supervision of the Hokage. Only those who officially graduate from the academy may become ninjas. Of course, you may choose other professions upon graduation; all contribute to Konoha, and no profession is superior to another. We treat everyone equally." While he droned on, Uchiha Zhuang, having gleaned the only useful information, kept his eyes closed to cultivate his chakra and natural energy. Akihime, sitting beside him, could faintly sense the vital energy radiating from Uchiha Zhuang's sturdy frame; the closer she leaned, the calmer her heart became, and she kept inching toward him, savoring the aura. The chubby boy behind them watched this scene, a surge of jealousy rising within him. He decided that after school, he would gather all his lackeys, including those from the streets, to teach Uchiha Zhuang a lesson—that would surely make him beg for mercy. "Haha, I, the great Fat Tiger, am truly the most powerful king of the kids!" Fat Tiger danced with joy as he fantasized, only to be caught by Kirito and sent to the front of the classroom to stand in the corner. So much for his moment of triumph!

At noon, students could eat in the school cafeteria or bring their own meals. Looking at Akihime's exquisite bento, Uchiha Zhuang wondered if she was hiding her true strength, though her delicate, slow chewing didn't seem feigned. He walked toward the cafeteria, pulling a hidden rice basin from his backpack. As a man of the new era who lived to eat, Uchiha Zhuang knew only that he needed to fuel up; everything else was irrelevant. He paid double the meal fee and filled his basin-sized bowl to the brim. It had to be said, the food in the ninja world was well above average. There was large, crispy tempura, fried shrimp, grilled eel, fatty beef slices, two soft-boiled eggs, seasonal vegetables, and a whole platter of sushi. Deciding to return to the classroom to eat, he found that Akihime had only finished half of her meal. He sat down brazenly and began shoveling in the sauce-drenched food, occasionally popping a piece of sushi into his mouth. Seeing Akihime's hand tremble, Uchiha Zhuang's heart skipped a beat. It's over, she must be a bigger eater than me! But, I love girls like this. Sighing inwardly, he looked at her and said, "Young Miss, I might not be able to finish all this. If you don't mind, shall we eat together?" Akihime looked at the sincere Uchiha Zhuang, nodded shyly, and transformed into a voracious eater, scooping up food spoonful after spoonful as the contents of the basin vanished at a visible rate. Seeing this, Uchiha Zhuang didn't hold back, and the sight of the two of them devouring the shared basin at light speed stunned the other children in the classroom.

In the afternoon, the autumn sun was warm and peaceful, casting a gentle glow. Uchiha Zhuang, feeling the autumn lethargy, slipped into meditation. Meditation aided physical development and the stability and purity of internal energy. Beside him, Akihime listened intently as the teacher explained the nature, origin, and extraction methods of chakra. When the bell rang, Uchiha Zhuang waited for the teacher to leave before letting out a massive yawn and stretching his limbs; it was the most comfortable rest he'd had since he began his travels. Looking at his refined face, smooth hair, and unique eyes, Akihime watched as Uchiha Zhuang packed his bag and asked, "Are you really eight? You look like you're fifteen!" Uchiha Zhuang could never tolerate anyone questioning his strength, so he retorted, "How do you know I'm not eight? If I were fifteen, I couldn't possibly be a first-year student! You tell me how old you are, and I'll tell you my real age!" Akihime looked at the slightly serious Uchiha Zhuang and replied, "I'm six this year! Don't let the academy's eight-year-old rule fool you; some of us enroll early! Geniuses start early, while others study within their own clans." After a moment of thought, Uchiha Zhuang said, "I am indeed eight this year. After all, I'm just an ordinary member of the Uchiha clan, and I enrolled through the standard process." With a knowing look, Akihime said, "Well then, see you tomorrow, Zhuang-kun. Do I seem less demure than the other girls? I'm used to speaking like a boy because I started training so early; I had to treat myself like a boy to find the strength and courage to keep going!" Uchiha Zhuang looked at the earnest Akihime, her determined, exquisite face possessing an inexplicable heroic spirit. Oh no, this is the feeling of falling in love. Uchiha Zhuang said, "I think you're beautiful just the way you are, as beautiful as the goddess I dream of every night!" "You're annoying!" Akihime pouted, looked at him, smiled, shouldered her bag, and walked out.

"Come on out. Did you set up a big scene for me, little fatty?" Uchiha Zhuang sat askew, looking toward the back of the podium where Fat Tiger was hiding. Fat Tiger emerged, his physique significantly sturdier than it had been a few months ago. He looked at the seated Uchiha Zhuang, and for some reason, his heart trembled, and his limbs refused to obey him. Forcing a show of composure, Fat Tiger said, "Uchiha brat, come to the alley behind the school! Let's settle our score!" With that, he ran out the door, trembling. Uchiha Zhuang shook his head with a smile; the little fatty was quite humorous, daring to talk tough despite his fear. Fine, I'll give him a lesson. In the alley behind the school, Uchiha Zhuang walked in to find himself surrounded by about thirty little brats, including a few tall teenagers who appeared to be the older brothers of some of the others. Fat Tiger stepped forward, bolstered by his dozens of lackeys, and declared majestically, "Damn it, Uchiha brat! It's too late to beg for mercy now. Wasn't it fun hitting me back then? Now, die!" At the fatty's command, the group of children swarmed forward, some wielding stones and sharpened wooden stakes. Uchiha Zhuang hadn't had a good fight in a long time, and this was the perfect chance to warm up. He delivered a powerful kick to the first child rushing at him, sending him flying seven or eight meters away, then followed up with a series of side kicks, knocking down seven or eight more. The dozen or so in the front dared not advance further, keeping their distance in a standoff. The children in the back were bolder, trying to smash him with rocks, but the alert Uchiha Zhuang executed a roundhouse kick. With a loud bang, a trash can took the brunt of the impact, and a figure groaned and writhed in the pile of refuse. The remaining few cowered, hesitating to step forward. Uchiha Zhuang faced the few teenagers and the little fatty, who realized something was wrong—his dozens of lackeys had been taken down in an instant. This kid was much stronger than before!