Looking for Trouble

Before the matter could get out, Shen Ye hurried over to Mikoto, ready to explain himself.

As Shen Ye walked toward her, Mikoto's face filled with disdain. She clearly wanted nothing to do with him.

But with so many classmates around, Mikoto couldn't bring herself to explain what had happened outright. She could only wait in silence for Shen Ye to approach.

"About the day I was peeping, there's something else I want to tell you."

"With the facts right in front of you, what else could you possibly say?"

Shen Ye shook his head and glanced toward Yue Xing, who was sitting at the back of the classroom. Her training experience was more limited than the others', so she had been seated in the last row.

Of all the villages in the ninja world, Konoha was already one of the most benevolent. Even so, it still had a clear hierarchy.

The strong were respected and the weak looked down on. Even the small Ninja Academy reflected this to the fullest.

"I swear I wasn't the one peeping that day. Hyuga Yuexing can vouch for me. She has the Byakugan."

"Forget it. I don't want to keep arguing with you about this."

Mikoto gently pushed Shen Ye aside and walked to her seat. At this point, not exposing him was already the greatest mercy she could show him.

Mikoto was so certain Shen Ye had been the one peeping that day partly because she had seen his body, but most importantly, because she had already asked Jiraiya about it.

The day a peeper had appeared on the roof of the women's bathhouse, Jiraiya had been at home, looking for inspiration for Icha Icha Paradise.

Between a little kid who had only appeared a few days ago and a famous ninja from the village, Mikoto chose to believe the latter.

Shen Ye knew there was no point in continuing to explain, so he decided to let things run their course and slowly look for a chance to make things right.

Besides, if he kept pestering Mikoto, he might anger her and make her loudly proclaim that he was the peeper.

"Ring, ring..."

The urgent bell rang for class. Shen Ye gave Mikoto one last look, then hurried back to his seat to wait for the teacher.

A few minutes later, an unfamiliar face walked into the classroom, accompanied by someone from the Uchiha Clan. His eyes wandered around as though he were searching for something.

Shen Ye paused. Wasn't that Uchiha Fugaku? Why would he come to the Ninja Academy to deal with a bunch of children for no reason?

"Everyone, quiet down. Today we're having an outdoor combat lesson. Shen Ye only joined the academy recently, so he won't be participating today."

Damn it, he actually looks down on me. Not one person here could beat me.

Shen Ye sneered inwardly, but showed no sign of it on his face. He simply nodded.

Uchiha Fugaku, however, waved a hand, clearly disagreeing with the teacher's decision.

"I came here with the Third Hokage's approval to check on everyone's training. More importantly, I'm here to give our new classmate some pointers."

Uchiha Fugaku smiled at Shen Ye. Shen Ye immediately realized this was a trap waiting to spring on him.

"I bet Uchiha Fugaku came here for Shen Ye. Why else would a genius like him show up?"

"I think so too. Shen Ye bullied Mikoto, who's also from the Uchiha Clan. Fugaku wouldn't just sit back and do nothing."

"Who cares? The trouble isn't coming for us. We can just watch him embarrass himself."

The teacher shook his head helplessly. Uchiha Fugaku was acting under the Third Hokage's orders, so there wasn't much he could do to stop him.

Besides, the teacher was rather simple-minded and hadn't realized that Fugaku had come looking for trouble.

For children who hadn't yet graduated from the Ninja Academy, outdoor lessons consisted of simple Shuriken practice.

At the teacher's direction, everyone made their way to the training ground.

The wooden posts lined up across the training ground caught Shen Ye's eye. He'd only ever seen things like these in anime before, and now they were right in front of him.

Uchiha Fugaku gave him a scornful glance, as though Shen Ye were some country bumpkin who had never seen the world.

Some of the others had already started whispering.

"This is Shen Ye's first time somewhere like this. Look at that dumb expression."

"Yeah. If it weren't for Lady Tsunade, he'd never have gotten to come here in his life."

"He's just a pretty boy. In this world, strength is what matters."

The teacher sighed deeply. Their voices were low, but every word reached his ears.

As a teacher devoted to educating his students, he couldn't allow them to treat each other differently, so he quickly spoke up to put an end to the discussion.

"Today's training is the same as usual. Pair up and practice with Shuriken."

Everyone quickly found a partner. Shen Ye stood in place for a moment, then decided to walk over to Yue Xing.

Out of everyone there, Yue Xing was the only one he knew fairly well. If he went to Mikoto, it would only lead to another argument.

But another girl was standing beside Yue Xing, so Shen Ye stopped and hesitated.

Just then, a Genin came over to him, looking a little uncomfortable.

"Let's pair up. It looks like no one else wants to train with you. I happen to have some unique insights into Shuriken."

Shen Ye shrugged, showing that he didn't mind. Shuriken were nothing worth mentioning to him. No battle had ever been won because of Shuriken.

The training time passed quickly, but Shen Ye didn't touch a single Shuriken the entire time, much to his partner's annoyance.

"Are you trying to act tough? Shuriken are a ninja's basic skill, and you haven't even looked at them."

"I don't know how to use them!"

Shen Ye made no attempt to hide it. He simply explained why he didn't want to practice with Shuriken.

He didn't think there was anything shameful about not knowing how to use them, but his honesty still drew countless laughs from those around him.

"Someone who can't even use Shuriken thinks he can graduate from the Ninja Academy? What a pipe dream."

"Yeah, I've never heard of anyone who couldn't use Shuriken before. Hahaha!"

"Do you guys really think Shuriken are the key to being a ninja?"

Shen Ye folded his arms across his chest and looked around at the others, completely unable to understand their way of thinking.

His words only drew even louder laughter. Everyone stared at him as though he were some kind of monster.