Early in the morning, in the classroom of the Ninja Academy's first-year Elite Class, everyone sat in their seats. Some chatted quietly, some ate snacks, and a few were already resting their heads on their desks with their eyes closed.
Clatter!
Someone pushed open the classroom door. Hearing the noise, everyone assumed the teacher had arrived, fell silent, and looked toward the entrance.
"Ha~choo!"
With his left hand in his pocket, Kizaru lifted his right hand from the door and scratched the back of his head. Sleepy-eyed and yawning, he walked into the classroom.
When they saw it was Kizaru, the classroom fell quiet for a moment before erupting into a flurry of discussion.
The news that Kizaru would challenge a Jonin from the Uchiha Clan during his early graduation exam had already spread through the village, at the instigation of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo.
When facing an Uchiha Clan Jonin who had awakened the Sharingan, you couldn't win in a one-on-one fight. That was a widely circulated saying in the Shinobi World.
Kizaru was only six years old, and the fact that he planned to challenge a Jonin in his graduation exam was already astonishing. But now, he wasn't just challenging a Jonin—he was challenging a Jonin from the Uchiha Clan!
This wasn't just astonishing. It was terrifying!
Most of the students in the Elite Class were descendants of ninja clans or civilian ninja. They had a much clearer understanding of just how difficult Kizaru's early graduation exam would be.
The more they understood, the more they knew how difficult it would be. So when everyone saw Kizaru return to class, they erupted into heated discussion.
Some were jealous. They thought Kizaru was showing off and that the Uchiha would teach him a good lesson during his graduation exam;
Some admired him. They thought Kizaru's actions were incredible and cool. Children in the Shinobi World always admired the strong;
Some were angry. They thought Kizaru was challenging a Jonin from the Uchiha Clan instead of one from the Hyuga Clan. Wasn't the great Hyuga Clan the strongest ninja clan in Konoha?
That person was none other than Hyuga Toda. When he heard about Kizaru's decision yesterday, he had been furious.
I, Hyuga Toda, am clearly your lifelong rival, Kizaru! My Hyuga Clan is the strongest ninja clan in the village. Why aren't you challenging a Jonin from my clan? Why challenge the Uchiha instead?
Angry and worked up, Hyuga Toda had declared loudly in front of his father yesterday—who was also an elder of the Main Family—that he was going to find Kizaru and make him change his mind, so he would challenge the Hyuga Clan instead. Better yet, he should challenge Toda's own father directly.
Faced with such a dutiful son, so devoted to his clan and father, Hyuga Toda's father had been deeply moved—and rewarded him with two hard slaps!
Kizaru was clearly challenging the Uchiha Clan because of their doubts about him, as well as the enmity between the Shimura Clan and the Uchiha Clan. And yet his clever son wanted to bring that feud to their doorstep???
After hearing his son's declaration, Hyuga Toda's father could only regret that he hadn't had another child.
With his clever son's intelligence, how could he ever take on the duties of a Main Family elder?
Unlike his angry and worried father, the dazed Hyuga Toda hadn't understood why his father was angry at all. He assumed he'd simply gotten carried away and shouted, breaking the etiquette his father always demanded of him.
So Hyuga Toda swallowed his grievances and bowed to his father, apologizing with a solemn expression.
His son's apology had utterly depressed Hyuga Toda's father. He made a decision then and there: starting tonight, he would work hard on making another baby!
Hyuga Toda, still unaware that his position in the Main Family was in grave danger, sat upright in his seat, staring fixedly at Kizaru as he entered the classroom.
Hyuga Toda's gaze was so intense that Kizaru felt it as he walked in.
It was barely morning, and he was already getting hostile looks from his classmates. Kizaru felt a little baffled.
As he walked from the doorway toward his seat by the window in the back row, Kizaru stopped when he reached Hyuga Toda.
"Hyuga, is there something you want to say to me?" Kizaru stopped and looked down at Hyuga Toda, who was sitting beside him.
Hearing Kizaru's question, Hyuga Toda clenched his fists. He really wanted to tell Kizaru what he'd thought yesterday, but his father's stern warning had kept him from doing so.
Though he couldn't share what he truly thought, Hyuga Toda still had something to tell Kizaru. He stood up and looked at him, visibly worked up.
"Kizaru, I know! The mere Uchiha Clan is no match for you. I'll train hard and catch up to you. I'll become a worthy rival!" Hyuga Toda declared firmly, looking Kizaru in the eye.
As soon as Hyuga Toda said this, the whole classroom fell silent again.
Everyone knew there was plenty of competition between the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan, and that they were hostile toward each other. But they'd never met anyone who mocked the Uchiha Clan as openly as Hyuga Toda.
Crash!
The sound of someone bumping into a desk rang out especially clearly in the quiet classroom.
Uchiha Inabi, unable to hold back after being mocked by Hyuga Toda, stood up, furious and agitated.
"Hyuga Toda, you bastard! Are you picking a fight with my Uchiha Clan?"
"Shut up, you idiot who's six years old and still hasn't awakened! What gives you the right to speak to me?" To make his taunt sting even more, Hyuga Toda activated his Byakugan as he spoke.
At that moment, Uchiha Inabi's body began to tremble with anger.
Your Hyuga Clan's Byakugan awakened in practically everyone. How could that be the same as the Sharingan of my Uchiha Clan?
So what if I haven't awakened at six? Did I take food from your family? What's it to you, you bastard?
The angrier he got, the tighter he clenched his fists. His whole body trembled as Uchiha Inabi glared at Hyuga Toda with a look that could have torn him limb from limb.
Uchiha Inabi's small chest heaved as he glared at Hyuga Toda. Just as he was about to attack, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his eyes.
"Ah!" Uchiha Inabi cried out in pain.
"Inabi, are you all right?" The little ray of sunshine, Namikaze Minato, who sat not far from Uchiha Inabi, hurried to his feet. He asked with concern as he walked over.
Kizaru, standing beside Hyuga Toda, stared at Uchiha Inabi clutching his eyes and crying out, completely stunned.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"
Kizaru glanced at Uchiha Inabi, then at Hyuga Toda, who had his chin raised and looked smug. His eyes filled with astonishment.
Hyuga's mouth really is something! It's like he's got a blessing on his words—he actually helped Uchiha Inabi awaken the Sharingan.
"Hey, what are you doing? Don't put on an act!" Hyuga Toda looked at Uchiha Inabi clutching his eyes. At first he had seemed smug and dismissive, but little by little, concern crept onto his face despite himself.
With Namikaze Minato supporting him, Uchiha Inabi's pain gradually subsided. Once he had adjusted, he lowered his hands from his eyes.
As a member of the Uchiha Clan, he understood what had happened. He realized he had awakened the Sharingan.
With his blood-red, One-Tomoe Sharingan open, Uchiha Inabi looked at Hyuga Toda again.
He felt a little pleased, but also strangely conflicted. He had actually been angered into awakening the Sharingan by Hyuga Toda's taunts.
Uchiha Inabi felt both delighted and furious. The look he gave Hyuga Toda grew strange as well.