The School Belle of the Ninja Academy

"Damn it..."

"What's so great about them? They're just two pretty boys."

"Let's find a chance later to teach them both a lesson!"

The group of girls nearby was shrieking like lovesick fans, which immediately stirred up intense resentment in an upperclassman standing nearby.

"Shh... keep it down!"

"That black-haired one isn't just some ordinary brat."

"I think you must have heard of him, too—the Uchiha Clan's genius, Shisui."

But soon, another boy beside him lowered his voice to warn him.

"Na... Nani!!"

"That brat! He's the Uchiha Clan's genius, Shisui?!"

Clearly, this boy had also heard of Shisui Uchiha's reputation.

Having displayed astonishing talent from a young age, Shisui, much like the genius ninja Kakashi from a few years prior, had already become the household name of "the neighbor's kid" in Konoha at this age.

"Since the Uchiha Clan's genius Shisui is someone we shouldn't mess with..."

"Then we can just deal with that white-haired brat after school, right?"

Just then, a voice filled with malice rang out from behind the group.

"What do you guys think of that suggestion?"

"Hayate, and seniors Kotetsu and Izumo..."

A boy with brown hair, looking to be about seven or eight years old, stared with resentment at Yu, who was out on the playground registering for the Ninja Academy entrance ceremony.

On his palm remained a distinct scar; it was Itachi, who had been soundly thrashed by Yu two months ago.

"That works too..."

"We also happen to want to see what's so special about the brat who beat Itachi up like that."

Behind Itachi sat three boys lounging casually on the desks of the ninja classroom.

One had black hair with bangs covering the right side of his face, and the other had long, black, spiky hair parted down the middle.

They toyed with kunai and shuriken in their hands with a look of contempt, clearly acting like the little bullies of the Ninja Academy.

Only the boy sitting between them was quiet, his heavy dark circles making him look somewhat sickly.

"Yugao..."

"Hayate is messing around with them like this... don't you intend to stop him?"

Seemingly having overheard the conversation between Itachi and the others, Anko Mitarashi, who was sitting boisterously on a desk, curled her lips into a mischievous smile and turned to look at the stunning girl with long purple hair beside her.

"No matter how much they mess around usually..."

"Treating a newcomer who just enrolled today like this is going too far."

Hearing Anko Mitarashi's words, the girl sitting properly in her chair beside her revealed a look of helplessness in her deep, clear eyes.

"Senior Anko, please come with me after school to stop them."

With beautiful long purple hair, a fair and flawless face, deep dark eyes, and vibrant red lips, she was none other than Yugao Uzuki, a character who rarely appeared in the original story.

Two years older than Yu and Shisui, she was the Ninja Academy's famous beauty and school idol.

"Oh? So concerned about a junior newcomer... Haha!"

"Yugao, don't tell me you're like them and have taken a liking to that white-haired brat too?!"

Seeing Yugao Uzuki's reaction, Anko Mitarashi gave a sly smile and teased her.

"Senior Anko!"

Teased by Anko Mitarashi, Yugao Uzuki was instantly embarrassed and flustered, letting out a reproachful cry.

Soon, the two girls were laughing and wrestling together.

The sight of the Ninja Academy's school idol smiling so radiantly left the surrounding boys completely dazed.

"Students! Congratulations on your enrollment!"

"You will all become ninjas in the future, and I hope you all achieve great success..."

Unaware that he had already been targeted, Yu stood on the Ninja Academy playground along with all the other parents and children.

He watched, bored, as the old man on the stage, wearing the red-and-white Hokage hat and the white Hokage robe, droned on with a long-winded speech.

"This is truly sleep-inducing..."

"Is this old man really Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage who has held the position for the longest time?"

He gazed at the Third Hokage, who was standing on the high platform presiding over the Ninja Academy entrance ceremony.

A trace of curiosity flickered in Hane's clear, amber-colored eyes.

If not for the occasional flashes of wise sharpness that pierced through the cloudy eyes of the old man on the stage, Hane would have truly believed that the Third Hokage before him was nothing more than an ordinary old man, rather than the "Professor of Ninjutsu" renowned throughout the ninja world.

The Ninja Academy was founded by Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage of Konoha.

During that era of war, it was specifically established to ensure the stability and efficiency of combat training and education, providing a place for all ninjas to practice the most fundamental skills.

After completing their basic studies at the Ninja Academy, ninjas would be promoted to Genin.

They would then be assigned to different squads to train with their instructors and accept missions of varying ranks suitable for their abilities, providing the village with a large influx of talent every year.

According to Hane's understanding.

The Konoha Ninja Academy was primarily divided into five stages: Enrollment, Basics, Drills, Application, and Graduation.

As long as one completed the training through these five stages, they could successfully become a Genin and head out to execute missions as a ninja capable of standing on their own.

However, in this current era of the Third Great Ninja War, which was raging in full swing.

The academic duration for every student at the Ninja Academy was being shortened as much as possible.

This was to ensure that more combat power could be sent to Konoha's front lines in the shortest amount of time.

Finally, after an entrance ceremony that lasted over an hour.

"Next are the students of Team 3: Yamanaka Kazuya, Aburame Shiro, Inoue Nashida, Hyuga Setsuna, Nara Tomohisa, Yakushi Hane, Shiranui Itsuki..."

The Third Hokage on the stage finally reached the squad assignment portion for this year's academy students.

I didn't get assigned to the same team as Shisui?

But there are quite a few children from prominent clans among my classmates...

Hearing that he and Shisui had been assigned to two different ninja teams, Hane remained unmoved.

However, seeing that there were so many children from Konoha's prestigious clans in his Team 3, Hane couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

"It's a real shame that we couldn't be assigned to the same ninja team, Hane."

After the entrance ceremony concluded, Shisui walked up to Hane and said his goodbyes with a hint of regret.

"We're both still at the Ninja Academy; there's plenty of time ahead."

"See you tomorrow."

Facing Shisui's look of disappointment, Hane didn't share the same sentiment.

Could this kid be gay?

Feeling the unusually intense enthusiasm Shisui showed toward him, Hane secretly grumbled to himself.

Recalling the "gay" bonds between Sasuke and Itachi, and Itachi and Shisui—the trio from the Uchiha Clan in the original story—Hane couldn't help but shudder.

After waving goodbye to Shisui.

Hane set off directly on the path back to the Konoha Orphanage.

"Enough talk! You brat!"

"Hand over everything you have if you don't want a beating!"

But not long after he stepped out of the Ninja Academy gates.

The noisy commotion coming from a nearby alleyway caught Hane's attention.