Top Student, New Friend

The first-year Survival Exercise was even more boring than the taijutsu matches.

After all, the only technique first-years could learn at this point was the Invisibility Technique.

That was precisely why Ryusuke had stunned everyone when he displayed the Body Flicker Technique.

If he had also used the Shadow Clone Technique, Iruka might have felt, just like Uchiha Itachi's teacher, that the Ninja Academy had nothing left to teach him.

The Survival Exercise assessment was very simple. Everyone received an item and used it to disguise themselves within the designated training grounds.

Anyone Iruka found within the allotted time would receive either a low score or a high score.

Those who remained unfound past the time limit would receive full marks.

However, in Ryusuke's eyes, whether anyone could get full marks in this assessment depended entirely on Iruka's mood.

Trying to hide from Iruka, a Chunin, with the Invisibility Technique was impossible.

So this assessment was simply meant to pick out the best users of the Invisibility Technique.

And naturally, Ryusuke was among the best.

He received full marks in Shuriken Throwing, the taijutsu matches, and the Survival Exercise.

Once the academic scores were released, the first-year teachers would select the year's best student from each class based on their grades, quizzes, and routine pop tests. That student would become the Top Student representing the entire grade.

In Ryusuke's previous life, that would have been called first place in the grade.

There was no need to wait for the results. Ryusuke already knew the Top Student title was his.

If he had not been matched against Sasuke Uchiha in the taijutsu match, Sasuke might still have had a chance to compete with him for the Top Student title.

After all, Ryusuke and Sasuke Uchiha had both received full marks in every quiz and pop test that year.

But Sasuke Uchiha's defeat in the taijutsu match had already guaranteed that he would not receive full marks in this major exam.

That meant his overall score was lower than Ryusuke's.

Aside from Sasuke Uchiha, no one else was even qualified to compete with Ryusuke.

All that remained was the announcement of Ryusuke's Top Student title.

After the Survival Exercise assessment ended, Ryusuke left the Ninja Academy with Ino and Sakura.

Watching their retreating figures, Hinata, who had been paying attention to Ryusuke all along but lacked the courage to greet him, deeply envied Ino and Sakura.

Everyone else had their own circles, but Hinata did not have a single friend.

It was not until after graduation that she gained Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino as companions.

If she had not had a younger sister, Hinata might have been alone until she was twelve.

After all, Hizashi Hyuga's death, along with Hinata being utterly crushed by Hyuga Neji, had already left Hyuga Hiashi disappointed in his timid daughter.

Fortunately, Hinata had the status of a young lady from a prestigious clan, and this was a world with supernatural powers rather than an ordinary world without them.

Otherwise, Hinata might have suffered bullying from her classmates, just like certain female leads in Japanese anime.

Even so, in the original story, Hinata had not escaped bullying from students in other grades and had been picked on twice.

As though he had noticed Hinata's gaze, Ryusuke suddenly stopped and turned to look at her.

The moment her eyes met Ryusuke's, Hinata lowered her head in alarm and unconsciously began twisting her fingers together.

Seeing this, the corners of Ryusuke's lips curved up slightly.

"Ryusuke, what's wrong?"

Seeing Ryusuke stop, Ino asked curiously. She followed his gaze, but failed to spot Hinata, who had slipped into the crowd.

Ryusuke shook his head with a smile. "Nothing. I thought I heard someone calling me just now. I must have misheard. Let's go!"

Before parting ways with Ino and Sakura after leaving the Ninja Academy, Ryusuke suddenly asked, "Tomorrow marks the start of the break. Do you want to train with me?"

"Sure, sure..."

Ino immediately raised her hand. "I've been practicing really hard lately. When the time comes, I'll show you my results."

"Mm." Sakura nodded firmly as well.

After seeing that they had both agreed, Ryusuke added, "Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to a new friend. But I'll need your help, Ino."

"A friend? What do you need me to do?" Ino asked curiously.

Ryusuke crooked a finger at her, and Ino immediately leaned over.

Once Ryusuke had finished whispering into her ear, Ino looked at him with surprise. Still, she patted her chest and said, "No problem. Leave it to me."

Watching the two speak in riddles, Sakura looked curious, but she did not ask any questions.

"Ryusuke, we've come to see you."

"The sun's already shining on your butt, Ryusuke. Are you up yet?"

The next day, at eight in the morning.

Ryusuke, who was at home reading a ninjutsu scroll, heard Sakura and Ino's voices.

Putting away the scroll, Ryusuke stood and walked out of the house.

"Let's go. We're going to meet our new friend."

Rather than taking the two girls to the training grounds, Ryusuke brought them outside a large estate.

A closer look revealed a large plaque hanging over the estate gates, bearing the words "Hyuga."

That was right. This was the Hyuga Clan Compound.

Ryusuke smiled at Ino. "I'll leave the rest to you, Ino."

"Watch me."

Ino patted her chest, then jogged over to the entrance of the Hyuga Clan Compound and spoke to the two guards without the slightest hint of nervousness.

After carefully examining Ino, one of the guards suddenly entered the estate.

Before long, the guard came back out and invited Ino inside.

Seeing this, Sakura could not help asking, "Ryusuke, how did you get to know Hinata?"

When she and Ino had come to find Ryusuke, Sakura had already learned from Ino who the new friend Ryusuke intended to introduce to them was.

Ino and Sakura both remembered Hinata, their classmate, though not very clearly.

They only knew that this young lady from a prestigious clan was exceptionally "aloof." She never spoke with anyone, belonged to no social circle, and did not have a single friend.

They had never expected Ryusuke to be friends with her.

After all, Ryusuke had never said a single word to Hinata at school.

Ryusuke did not hide it. Smiling, he said, "I helped her twice. What she went through was like what you went through before, Sakura. The two of you will definitely get along well."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Like me? Does that mean she was also..."

"Mm."

Seeing Ryusuke nod, Sakura suddenly understood. "No wonder she's always so quiet at school. I thought she just didn't like talking to people, but it turns out..."

Her voice abruptly trailed off as Sakura looked somewhat incredulous.

Clearly, she had never imagined that even a young lady from a prestigious clan could be bullied.

Those people who bullied Hinata really had some nerve!

But after hearing Ryusuke say that, Sakura had already developed a bit of goodwill toward Hinata. It was the resonance of kindred spirits.

At that moment, Ino came out from the Hyuga Clan Compound.

Beside her was a girl about the same height—Hinata.