The Runaway Scholar

Uchiha Zhuang returned to the base, stripped off his clothes, and enjoyed a comfortable hot bath served by Ootama and Tsugutama before heading to his bedroom for a quiet sleep. At the first light of dawn the next day, Uchiha Zhuang rose and dressed, brushing off the girls' attempts to make him stay, and activated Echo of the Distance to teleport back. Upon returning to the forest in the clan grounds, Uchiha Zhuang went home, shouldered his schoolbag, and headed toward the academy. Genmu shook his head while reading the newspaper; the brat reeked of women's perfume—who knew where he'd been fooling around again.

Feeling refreshed, Uchiha Zhuang bought a freshly baked loaf of bread at the commercial district. Bread in the ninja world was much the same as on Earth, with a similar texture and nothing particularly novel about it. After finishing his breakfast, he walked to class with a cheerful stride. He sat down to the nervous glances of the chubby boy; Akihime still looked haggard, and though Uchiha Zhuang said nothing, he felt a pang of heartache. Watching Akihime slumped over her desk, Uchiha Zhuang leaned in close and whispered, "Are you still worrying about having to marry a member of your own clan?" Akihime opened her eyes to look at him, then lowered her head again. "I can marry you in the future, so you won't have to marry within the clan." "With what, you poor kid?" Akihime asked, turning her head away. "I don't know why I fell for you. You're so ordinary, snobbish, and have such a temper. You're not the gentle type at all~" Akihime turned to glare fiercely at Uchiha Zhuang before turning away again, staying silent. "But, from the moment I saw you, I inexplicably liked you. When I see you sad, I feel sad too, and when I see you happy, I feel happy. Perhaps this is fate." Hearing this, Akihime looked up at Uchiha Zhuang and said, "That's just your brain being stimulated by male hormones. I believe if it were any other girl, or even a female animal, you'd be the same. You're lewd." "Too bad there's no one else, only you. So I have no choice but to stick to you!"

"Annoying!" After saying this, Akihime slowly sat up straight, smoothed her hair, and said, "I am the only daughter of the head of the Hyuga clan. How could you marry me? Become Hokage? That's a delusion, especially for someone from the Uchiha clan. Become the head of the Uchiha clan? By the time that happens, you'll be an old man. That's how it is for me; if it won't work, give up early. Don't waste your time and feelings."

Faced with such aggressive words, Uchiha Zhuang was left speechless, suffering his first defeat in a confrontation. The detestable Akihime—Uchiha Zhuang didn't argue, but instead pulled her into a tight embrace, ignoring her struggles. Only when class began did he release her and say, "There is only one me in this world, and only one you. Let us share a deep love until our hair turns white, and never let life or death tear us apart." He wrote the words in Xia language on Akihime's soft little hand, speaking in the long-inherited ancient tongue (which was actually just standard Mandarin from Earth), and Akihime instantly surrendered to the sweet embrace. After a boring history of Konoha class, another tedious lecture on the Will of Fire, and a final class praising the life of the First Hokage, Uchiha Zhuang took Akihime and skipped out after a dull morning.

The two did not wander through the bustling commercial district; after all, there were too many people from major clans there, and they could only find peace in places like the "small woods." In the forest above Hokage Rock, Uchiha Zhuang took Akihime for a walk, telling her stories and legends from Earth. "Many of the things you talk about from that other world don't make sense. The Five Great Nations have science and technology, but I don't think it's possible to reach the heights you describe—vehicles that can fly to the moon; nor is it possible to regenerate limbs or reshape organs using only electricity and medical materials; nor could there be drills that go tens of thousands of meters into the earth. But it's very novel to hear as a story, and it has truly opened my eyes!" Akihime said, kicking at the ground. "Also, why do you know so much about that other world? Is it a story, or something you dreamed of?" Faced with Akihime's curiosity, Uchiha Zhuang asked, "Akihime, do you know about the ancient Xia Kingdom?" "I do. It was a great civilization that existed before the Divine Tree. Legend says the language they spoke, the characters they used, and their miraculous creations were completely different from today's. Everyone has always longed for such a world." Akihime recounted what she knew with envy.

"I learned about this knowledge of other worlds in the ancestral grounds of the Uchiha clan. Rather than calling it another world, it's more like the history of the ancient Xia Kingdom from thousands of years ago!" "Nani!?" The astonished Akihime couldn't help but exclaim! Uchiha Zhuang continued, "Yes, I'm not lying to you. Everything I told you that you thought were stories actually happened, and it all took place within the Xia Kingdom. It sounds absurd, and at first, I didn't believe it either, but later, I started having those dreams for a few days every month, experiencing the glorious history and advanced technology of that civilization. In the end, I believed that such a world existed, so I feel that I am the one chosen by fate, the only one between heaven and earth." Uchiha Zhuang, with a serious expression, seemed to unconsciously radiate an aura that commanded respect—a presence that made people want to draw near, yearn for, and submit.

Akihime gradually became intoxicated by this atmosphere, and before she knew it, she was leaning against Uchiha Zhuang. After a long while, she whispered, "Then, will you still hold me this tightly if you become like that?" "Absolutely. If I weren't holding you like this at that time, then it wouldn't be me. Never forget your original intention to achieve your goal; that is my ninja way." Uchiha Zhuang said firmly. Akihime said nothing, holding Uchiha Zhuang tightly.

The two walked slowly, supporting each other, passing through the woods until they reached a stream. Watching the clear water ripple toward the large lake ahead, they sat on the grass, and Uchiha Zhuang said, "I'll show you something fun." With that, he cast "Water Release: Small Animal Technique!" Lifelike little animals made of water appeared before Akihime: a cute giant panda, an adorable rabbit, a brown bear, a piglet, a lively kitten, a puppy, a little bird, and more. They gathered together, dancing and tumbling in play, creating a lively scene. Watching the little animals playing in a group, Akihime giggled and poked them gently with her finger. The little animals seemed to have discovered a new friend, dancing around her and washing her little hands with water. Tickled, Akihime happily forgot her previous worries and played with the little animals. Uchiha Zhuang maintained the shapes of the animals, watching Akihime's smiling face, feeling she was so beautiful and moving, and the warmth in his heart surged even more. He leaned over to her side, kissed her cheek, and seeing Akihime blushing, Uchiha Zhuang knew she had fallen in love with him. A love expert at five years old, Uchiha Zhuang felt his life was incredibly blessed; it truly was a wonderful arrangement by the heavens.

He used Water Release to transform the water into various things he imagined, explaining them to Akihime one after another. Slowly, the sun began to slant westward, and the orange glow of the sunset reflected on Akihime's fair, delicate face, adding to her allure. Uchiha Zhuang stared at her infatuatedly, his dazed expression making Akihime both shy and angry. She hit him to snap him out of it, then said it was time to go home. The two, heading back, did not notice the ninja who had been following and secretly observing them the entire time.